My Top 10 Favorite Trick R’ Treat Specials

Ever sense I was a kid, I always viewed Halloween as a mini-adventure, a time when kids face their fears, journey out into the night, and share an exciting experience with friends. In a nutshell, Trick or Treat was the event that made Halloween my childhood favorite holiday. Beyond simply collecting candy, it was also the theatrics of dressing in costume, and the excitement of going out into the night that made it so captivating. 

By extent, I feel the best Halloween specials are the ones that revolve around the experience of Trick or Treat itself, seeing recognizable characters dress-up, and how their experiences can be viewed as an overnight adventure. Thus, I felt I was long overdue to countdown a list of my own personal Top 10 favorite Trick or Treat specials. As a side note, I won’t be including any movies on this list … so don’t expect any “Hocus Pocus”, “The Halloween Tree” or even the 2007 “Trick R’ Treat” film, this is just a countdown of specials and episodes, which put the focus on Trick or Treat and not just the holiday.  

 

#10 “Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Halloween” 

As her title suggests, Buffy is no stranger to fighting off dark creatures of the night. However, Halloween night has a distinct power all on its own, and can twist the bravest of vampire slayers into cowards. A mysterious costume shop opens just in time for trick r’ treat, and everyone, including Buffy and her friends all get new costumes. Buffy, feeling a disconnect to her femininity wants to go out as a fair maiden from mid-evil times, while her timed boyfriend goes as a soldier. 

In an exciting twist, the costume shop was a trap set by the villains, and now a curse is unleashed, transforming everyone into what they dressed as for trick r’ treat. Kids dressed as little monsters become monsters, Buffy’s closest friend becomes a real ghost, while her boyfriend gets to be a heroic trooper, and Buffy herself is now a frightened damsel ... making her easy prey for the real vampires. The concept of becoming what you wear for Halloween has been done before in “The Simpsons” and “Halloweentown” movies, but it’s pulled off with great skill here, and turns out a very fun Halloween venture with our titular vampire slayer.

 

#9 “Winnie the Pooh: Boo to You Too!” 

Way back when I was just a little boy, this Winnie the Pooh special marked one of my very first Halloween special experiences, and highlighted Trick or Treat as an adventure in concurring one’s fears. While nothing supernatural happens, Winnie the Pooh, Piglet and friends still made this an exciting night out, as their imaginations run wild, and bring about all kinds of spooky fun. From the opening title sequence, this animated special captures a magical sense of the holiday, as it’s both eerie and ominous, yet still enticing and engaging. It may be slight stuff, but for me, this was a special animated trick or treating experience from my childhood, and I just had to include it.

 

#8 “Hotel Transylvania: The Legend of Pumpkin Guts” 

2017 marked the premier of a 2D animated “Hotel Transylvania” TV series, which focuses on Dracula’s daughter Mavis during her younger teenage years at the hotel. The franchise already had a heavy lean on Halloween … but “The Legend of Pumpkin Guts” is the special one to bring Trick or Treat into the mix. In a clever twist, Halloween night is a dangerous time for monsters, but Mavis and company are eager to venture out, and discover the joy of trick or treating. 

Participating in a human pass time for Halloween is where all the trouble comes in, as it unleashes a giant pumpkin creature hellbent on transforming all other monsters into Jack O’ Lanterns. It’s about as crazy as it sounds, but still kind of clever, and bursting with decorative Halloween animation. Beyond that, it’s the novelty of monster characters dressing up for Trick or Treat that makes this stand out with its own unique spin and personality.

 

#7 “Wishbone: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” 

Another childhood staple of mine, Wishbone was a dog who introduced kids to classic literature, as he imagined himself taking on the likeness of characters from the source material. Halloween brings on thoughts of Legend of Sleepy Hollow, in which Wishbone takes on the likeness of Ichabod Crane. For a kid’s program, it doesn’t change too much of the tale, including the dark ending in which the lead character mysteriously disappears, and even the image of the Headless Horsman is quiet striking.  

Meanwhile, as Wishbone relays the story, his owners are naturally out in costume, and trick or treat takes on a new twist as a scavenger hunt, leading to an exciting venture into a spooky house. It’s shot and lit like any great spooky outing, and there’s even some effective creepy imagers for a program of its target audience. Naturally it’s still on the level of a kid’s program, but still a very fun trick or treat venture to experience at a young age, and to look back on as an adult with great fondness.

 

#6 “DuckTales: The Trickening” 

Scrooge McDucks four kids Huey, Dewey, Webby, and Louie set-off to go trick r’ treating, only for Louie to lead the group into a haunted house, where he thinks he’ll find mountains of candy left behind by frightened kids. Naturally, the house is haunted, and the kids find themselves trapped, with a number of horrific obstacles threatening to scare them … to death. 

The premise of combining trick or treat with a haunted house venture is a winning formula, and this special manages to transcend its premise, by giving it more twists and turns, and with a slightly dark edge. Turns out the haunts were all staged by the classic monsters in the vein of the Wereduck, Witch Hazel, Nosferatu, and Frankenstein, who’ve lost the ability to scare kids, and thus are resorting to contemporary scares. 

It becomes a fun game of “name that horror movie”, with visual references to “Poltergeist”, “The Ring”, Steven Kings “IT”, “Dead Silence”, and especially “The Shining” … which is utilized brilliantly in the final shot. This is also a gorgeous looking episode, with phenomenal details, atmospheric lighting, twisted angels, and elaborate backdrops. It’s a solid, spooky Halloween adventure that packs all the wright chills, visuals, and laughs in one tight package.         

 

#5 “Garfield’s Halloween Adventure” 

Garfield’s never-ending love for sweets entices him and his buddy Odie to go out Trick or Treating on Halloween night, and as the title suggests … the night turns into quiet the adventure. They discover monster costumes are real monsters in disguise, they get lost on the river, venture into a spooky house, discover pirate gold, and get chased by ghost pirates. This completes a special animated Halloween trilogy of sorts for me, with Charlie Browns “Great Pumpkin” being my first, then Winnie the Pooh’s “Boo to you Too!” being my second, and finally, “Garfield’s Halloween Adventure” was the third big trick or treating special from my childhood. 

It had the same laid-back charm, and warm holiday atmosphere of the previous two, but this time, the adventure raised the stakes, with characters getting lost, and having supernatural encounters. It’s great stuff, with Garfield’s pirate costume feeling as iconic as any holiday mascot, and the special is a fitting example of Trick or Treat taking on a life of its own as an all-night Halloween adventure.

 

#4 “Goosebumps: The Haunted Mask” 

Back when I was a kid, “Goosebumps” was hands down my favorite “Spooky Themed” TV program, and featured a number of episodes that became personal staples for Halloween. The big one being “The Haunted Mask”, which put a new spin on Trick or Treat, and the dangers that come with putting on a new face. Young Carly Beth can’t go anywhere without being picked on by either bullies or family members, and now she’s out for revenge. Desperate, she steals a Halloween mask from a new Spirit Store, against the storekeeper's warnings. However, the mask begins to change her personality and melds with her body when she wears it. 

Clearly, she got more than she bargained for, as she’s now taking on the appearance of a living monster, leading into an internal battle to see if the real person can break free from this monstrous new form. There’s just something about the look and feel of this episode that’s always stuck with me as eerie, yet exciting, and even thoughtful in its resolution. It’s just a classic “Goosebumps” venture, with a memorable center villain, and it has a great premise to go along with Trick or Treat.

 

#3 Donald Duck: “Trick Or Treat!” 

Our favorite Disney Ducks are back for another Halloween treat, and for me, it’s just as much a classic as Charlie Browns “Great Pumpkin” special. When Donald Duck cruelly mistreats his nephews, a kind old Witch named Hazel comes to their aid, and gives them a healthy dose of ... Trick or Treat! Old Witch Hazel is one of the most memorable guest characters from the Disney cartoon roster, and her hex casting antics lead to some bouncy animation highlights. 

The catchy “Trick or Treat” theme song alone makes this one of the best of these specials. The animation, like I said, is just bursting with memorable holiday visuals. It's neither the darkest, nor spookiest of Disney shorts ... but it's the one that I love watching the most around this time of year. A lot of people say that 1968’s “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown” is what really started the notion of classic animated Halloween specials, but look at this short, which came out almost a decade before it, and is just swimming with holiday delights.

 

#2 “Gravity Falls: Summerween” 

While the show is set during the summertime, the people of Gravity Falls love the holiday so much that they celebrate it twice, and one of the events is during the summer, in which it’s lovingly called “Summerween”. That premise alone is ingenious and makes me wish I could have grown up in that town. As the episode continues, we see that one of the shows lead child hero’s named Dipper is ready to grow up, and spend the holiday with the older guys as opposed to Trick or Treating with his sister Mable. 

This causes a rift between the two as Mable wants to savor every Trick or Treat she can with her brother before they become teenagers. To make matters worse, the kids are soon chased by a deadly entity called The Trickster, who threatens to harm all who don’t keep the holiday spirit alive. The details in this episode are great as it creates a perfect Halloween atmosphere, as well as the personality of any special I’d watch yearly around the season. 

Naturally, it puts trick r’ treating front in center, and makes it feel like more of an adventure than the majority of the specials I’ve mentioned. It’s a special that just seems to combine everything I love in one perfect package, including nostalgic childhood ties to the season, a mythos surrounding a mysterious creature, a sweet sibling story, thrilling monster action and no shortage of funny jokes.

 

Before I reveal my number one favorite, here are some quick Honorable Mentions …

“Ed, Edd N’ Eddy: Boo-Haw Haw”

“Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space”

“The Simpsons: I've Grown a Costume on Your Face”

“A Pup Named Scooby-Doo: Ghost who's Coming to Dinner”

“Season’s Greetings” (1996)

 

#1 “It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” 

As Far back as I can remember, this was the very first Halloween special I ever saw, and naturally, whenever I think of Trick or Treat, it’s Charlie Brown and the gang in their costumes that always seems to spring to mind first. For this outing, things are as simple as they get, with a group of kids going out Trick or Treating, followed by a party … and that’s it. There are no stakes, no supernatural oddities, not even a real sense of excitement, and I think that’s why it’s made such a lasting connection with viewers over the years. 

Without question, it’s the most grounded and relatable Halloween special, and just seems to capture something special that many of us can either relate to or identify with. It’s hard to describe what makes a special a classic, but it’s also easy to just watch this group of kids doing everything we associate with October, from carving a Jack’ O’ Lanterns, to trick or treating, to making individual costumes, to Halloween parties, and it’s all so genuine, nostalgic, memorable, and for me has a secure spot as my favorite Trick or Treat special.

Thanks for reading my countdown … and continue to enjoy the holiday specials you Love!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!    

All 21 Tim Burton Opening Credit Scenes Ranked

  It may seem like a minor thing to highlight, but I absolutely love opening credit sequences in movies. This is the moment when a movie can suck you into what kind of world, personality, tone or environment the film has to offer, and when done right, they can effectively establish my feelings on a film before it even gets started. I love it when there’s something creative, something animated, something musically engaging, or just something very atmospheric to go along with the opening credits, which can get me so hyped up for a film. 

In recent years, opening credits have appeared less frequently in movies, much to my disappointment. However, there are still two reliable sources that always deliver with their opening titles, one of them being the James Bond franchise, and the other being any kind of movie directed by Tim Burton. He always seems to relish the art of building-up the movie experience, and utilizing his opening credits in very distinct ways. As such, I thought it would be fun to stop and rank all 21 opening credit sequences from the openings of his directed movies (including “The Nightmare Before Christmas”, which I know he didn’t direct), on my own personal scale from least favorite to absolute favorite.

 

#21 The opening credits to “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure” (1985) 

This marked Tim Burton’s very first theatrically directed movie, and for me, it was his weakest opening credit sequence, as both the title and ensuing credits are presented against a flat, black backdrop. Aside from the crayon colored title, there’s very little to look at to get me excited … but the one saving grace is Danny Elfmans accompanying music score, which at least helps set the playful mood of the film. Elfman’s music will be a reoccurring highlight in the majority of Tim Burton’s films, and by extent, his opening credit sequences.  

#20 The opening credits to “Big Eyes” (2014) 

In this Tim Burton directed Biopic, we get an opening title sequence that looks like the lead into a documentary, right down to the very basic text credits on display. The credits themselves don’t last long, but it suitably leads into a nice title card, matched with a somber, yet soothing theme song.

 

#19 The opening credits to “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993) 

While this movie features one of my favorite opening musical numbers, it really can’t be counted as part of an opening credit sequence. In fact, there’s little more than the title card, once again presented against a black backdrop, accompanied with suitably moody music. It works okay, but it’s still only a foot note compared to the actual opening credits that are still to come. 

 

#18 The opening credits to “Dumbo” (2019) 

Perhaps the most usual entry on this countdown, as it’s an opening credit sequences … without any credits displayed. We have a nice little opening montage of the traveling circus train, complete with cartoony transitions and edits, and even a pleasant rendition of the classic animated Disney movie score, but for some reason, only the studio credit and title card are displayed during this whole sequences, which is clearly meant for the credits.  

 

#17 The opening credits to “Dark Shadows” (2012) 

Once again, we have an opening montage set on a train, but this time with the credits properly presented. We follow a girl as she travels to the films central spooky house, which is a basic, yet practical use for an opening credit sequence. The one big difference to note is that it’s not matched to a Danny Elfman score, and instead is matched with a pop-song, 1967’s “Nights in White Satin”, performed by The Moody Blues. It’s an odd choice, but it gives this opening a different feel from any other Tim Burton movie.  

 

#16 The opening credits to “Alice in Wonderland” 

Here’s yet another opening that’s a title card only, and no real opening credits, but with that said … this is a terrific opening title card. The way it appears through smoke stakes, fills the whole screen, and matched to Danny Elfmans catchy chant … it gets me hooked. Personally, this is my least favorite of Tim Burtons directed movies, but this title card gets me excited like it’s one of my favorites.

 

#15 The opening credits to “FrankenWenie” (2012) 

For one of Burton’s more gentle and relaxed family films, we get an opening credit sequence that appropriately compliments the tone moving forward. It’s as simple as they get, as we see the daily activities of our lead boy with his dog, and it’s all very nice. The Dany Elfman score sounds derivative of his earlier work, but it’s okay, and this opening title sequence is fine for what it needs to be.   

 

#14 The opening credits to “Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice” (2024) 

In a loving nod to the original “Beetlejuice”, we get an opening credit sequence that’s an overhead shot of the town, this time it’s not the model, and there’s edits giving us different angles. Danny Elfmans score is likewise that same as the first, just with more bells and whistles added in. Personally, I would have preferred an original opening credit sequence, but this was still a nice tribute to the first, and got me excited for this long-delayed sequel.

#13 The opening credits to “Corpse Bride” (2005) 

Just like with the previously mentioned stop-motion animated picture “FrankenWenie”, this opening title sequences is short, simple, and gets the job done with very little on display. We get our first glimpse of our main character, and it sets the personality of the London setting as being more lifeless than the afterlife setting that will appear later. Dany Elfmans score this time around isn’t big or bombastic, nor is it overly moody, it’s just the right marriage of blissful, but with a pinch of melancholy.  

 

#12 The opening Credits to “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” (2016) 

Now we come to the more traditionally stylish and fun of Tim Burton's opening credit sequences. For this lead in, our opening credits are presented with a montage of photos, newspaper clippings, sightings on maps, and all done in this unique photo inverted effect. The musical score is ominously building in tempo, while matched to the sound of a ticking clock or metronome, and it’s all very exciting.

#11 The opening credits to “Big Fish” (2003) 

Perhaps the longest of Burtons opening credit sequences, as it’s spread throughout the opening five minutes of the film, in which we’re introduced to our main characters. Also, while Dany Elfmans whimsical score is present, most of the tone is set through narration by Ewan McGregor’s lead character. The imagery on display is peaceful, and this whole lead-in is very comforting, like we’re about to see a modern fairytale come to life.

#10 The opening credits to “Batman Returns” (1992) 

This opening credit sequence follows a baby carriage floating through Gotham’s elaborately designed underground sewer channels. The Batman franchise is another one with great opening title sequences, and while this isn’t one of the absolute best, it’s still something to savor as it’s the last time we’ll get a title opening matched to Danny Elfman’s iconic Batman score.

#9 The opening credits to “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” (2007) 

Without question, this is the darkest of Tim Burton's movies, and naturally, its opening title sequence is arguably the most ominous and unsettling of the whole collection. This time we’re given an animated visuals montage that foreshadows the bloody and horrific events of the film. Complementing the Gothic imagery is a score comprised of deep organs, and it absolutely sets me on edge. It’s an effective title sequence to set the mood of the film … and it promises to be dark.

#8 The opening credits to “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” (2005) 

While this second adaption of Roald Dahl’s book has always been one of my lesser favorites of Tim Burton’s offerings … I will admit that the opening credit sequence is wonderful. The titles this time around are set to a montage within the chocolate factory, which looks like a technical marvel, but still with elements of fantasy and enchantment on display, like parashooting chocolates and so forth. Danny Elfmans score this time around is also very distinct, and couldn’t be confused with anyone of his other Burton collaboration scores.   

#7 The opening credits to “Beetlejuice” (1988)

After a striking title card, we’re presented with a single tracking shot over a model city, which is a fairly standard presentation for an opening credit sequence. However, what puts this above all the previous films naturally is Danny Elfmans wild and bombastic score. It conveys so much personality and fun, that it sets the mood without the need of a big visual presentation. 

#6 The opening credits to “Planet of the Apes” (2001) 

This outing begins with an awesome opening credit sequence, with a foreboding overtone, eerier music, and lots of cool imagery. While Tim Burton’s remake of the classic “Planet of the Apes” was unnecessary, I just can’t dismiss how much I love this title sequence. Danny Elfmans music score is emphasized with low, moody percussion instruments, similar to the original Jerry Goldsmith score, but with a synthesizer beat that builds to a satisfying final image, with a pair of eyes looking at the camera … it’s great.

#5 The opening credits to “Sleepy Hollow” (1999) 

This is personally one of my favorites of Tim Burton’s movies, and Danny Elfmans score once again is outstanding. This time around, for our opening titles, the movie goes for the subtle abroach, as we follow Ichabod Crane on his coach ride to the titular Sleepy Hollow. The deep scenic views of the forest setting, all-encompassing wide-shots, and striking imagery, laced with Danny Elfmans foreboding music cues hook me in every time I watch this. This title sequence once again highlights how the little things can go a long way, and an elaborately designed visual montage isn’t always required.  

#4 The opening credits to “Mars Attacks” (1996) 

As the title would suggest, this movie is about aliens from Mars attacking Earth, and to really hit the point home, the whole opening sequence is watching a fleet of flying saucers leaving their base, and heading to our beautiful blue planet. The effects on display are a fine mix of cheesy and appealing, and in a creative touch, the credits themselves spin like ships. I know I sound like a broken record, but it's Danny Elfmans score that makes this one of the best lead-in’s to any of Tim Burton’s movies, as it conveys a sense of both goofiness and dread for the approaching Martians. 

#3 The opening credits to “Ed Wood” (1994) 

While Burton commonly takes an artistic approach to his openings, this one stands out with a distinct charm and personality. Real life director Ed Wood made some of the cheapest horror movies of all time, and the opening title sequence to Tim Burton’s 1994 biopic titled “Ed Wood” is very crafty in celebrating his films in every possible way. We begin with a creepy house in the middle of a stormy night, there’s lots of lightning, the cast names are carved in cheap looking gravestones, we get a stop motion octopus, flying saucers, and some excellent background music. The score this time around was composed by Howard Shore, and it’s a loving nod to 1950’s B-list Sci-Fi pictures. It’s a great intro, and without question is one of Tim Burton’s best opening credit sequences.

#2 The opening credits to “Batman” (1989) 

Not only one of Tim Burton’s best opening title sequences, but one of the best of the whole Batman film series. The camera travels through a lot of dark tunnels, the music builds and then in a big pullback shot it’s revealed to be the Batman logo. It gives me chills every time, and the classic score by Danny Elfman is one of the greatest music themes ever composed for a superhero movie. It fits the character perfectly, and it’s one of Elfman’s greatest achievements.

#1 The opening credits to “Edward Scissorhands” (1990) 

At last, we come to my favorite of all Tim Burton’s opening credit sequences. The look and feel is dripping with Burton’s signature gothic atmosphere, but also punctuated with this whimsical and enchanting personality. The imagery on display is so elaborate, with odd shapes and figures in this crazy castle, laboratory interiors, and framed in these cold colors. It’s all mixed with Danny Elfmans unforgettable score which is just so haunting and beautiful … I’d say it’s my favorite of all his movie scores. This is the opening that really draws me into this crazy yet brilliantly crafted world from Tim Burton, and it leaves me with goosebumps every time.

Thanks for reading my countdown … and continue to enjoy the movies you Love!