Over the Garden Wall: A Delightfully Bizarre Animated Outing for All Ages (Blu-ray)

The Show:

Back in 2014, a small, curious animated outing called "Over the Garden Wall" appeared on Cartoon Network from creator Patrick McHale ("Adventure Time") that utilized the rather simple premise of two young brothers trying to get home in order to take the viewer on quite a strange adventure. Told in ten episodes of about 11 minutes each, the miniseries was not only popular with audiences, but was a major critical success as well, a wave that it rode all the way to the Emmys where it garnered the award for Outstanding Animated Program (notably beating major contenders like "The Simpsons" and "South Park").

For one reason or another, the show never received a US Blu-ray release in the 12 years since it aired, leaving fans to settle for a standard DVD. However, Warner Bros. is rectifying the situation at last, bringing the full miniseries to HD and throwing in a few special features as well (including the original 2013 pilot), so now it's time to delve into this intriguing little journey to see how it was able to captivate viewers & critics alike on its road to success.

The show begins by dropping us right in the middle of things, with brothers Wirt (Voice of Elijah Wood) and Greg (Voice of Collin Dean) lost in a forest as they try to find their way home. They meet a talking bluebird by the name of Beatrice (Voice of Melanie Lynskey), whom Greg rescues when she gets tangled in a bush, leading her to offer them help on their journey. She decides to take them to see Adelaide of the Pasture (Voice of John Cleese), a witch that can supposedly help them get home, but first they'll cross paths with many unusual people & creatures along the way, all the while being warned about "The Beast" (Voice of Samuel Ramey) by a mysterious woodsman (Voice of Christopher Lloyd). Will our trio be able to reach Adelaide and get the help they require?

"Over the Garden Wall" does indeed start with a somewhat simple premise, though it also starts with a rather intriguing mystery. What were these young boys doing in the woods in the first place? How did they come to be so lost? And who or what is this malevolent Beast that they've been warned about? As we quickly come to discover, that simple premise merely ends up being the foundational launching point for the journey, as not only does it have the aforementioned mystery layered on top of it, but it also comes to include a plethora of fascinating characters that our trio meets as they attempt to get to Adelaide.

With eccentric characters like The Woodsman, the pumpkin-wearing residents of Pottsville, wealthy businessman Quincy Endicott, Auntie Whispers, and a boat full of music-loving frogs, the show plunges forward at a surprisingly fast pace, leaving the viewer constantly wondering who Wirt, Greg, and Beatrice could possibly run into next. Combine this unpredictability with its gorgeous animation & a remarkable vocal cast, which includes Elijah Wood, Christopher Lloyd, John Cleese, Melanie Lynskey, and Tim Curry, and you get a delightfully bizarre adventure that stays with you long after its over.

Sure, you could try to make the argument that it's still relatively lightly-plotted, but for a fascinating cartoon like this, the plot is almost beside the point. "Over the Garden Wall" is more about our trio's journey and the people they meet along the way. These end up being the driving force of the entire endeavor and are what end up making it such a compelling experience. By the time the credits roll on that final episode, it becomes perfectly clear how it was able to take the Emmy over shows with a much higher profile. It's simply charming, amusing, and yes, quite strange, but that only makes it all the more appealing, not just for kids, but for anyone of any age looking for a fun little adventure.

Video/Audio:

"Over the Garden Wall" comes to Blu-ray in a 1.78:1, 1080p High Definition transfer of outstanding quality, presenting a beautifully clear & sharp picture that does a wonderful job of highlighting its gorgeous animation. Likewise, the 2.0 DTS-HD MA track is marvelous, giving you all of the dialogue, sound effects, and music in excellent quality. Overall, Warner Bros. has done a fantastic job in both departments for the show's long-awaited US Blu-ray debut.

Special Features:

Commentaries on All Ten Episodes with Creator Patrick McHale and Art Director Nick Cross

Composer's Cuts for All Ten Episodes

Behind Over the Garden Wall (8 Minutes): A neat behind-the-scenes look at the making of the show.

Original Pilot: Tome of the Unknown (9 Minutes)

Alternate Title Cards (1 Minute)

Deleted Animatics (4 Minutes)

Conclusion:

"Over the Garden Wall" may start off with a deceptively simple premise that has two young brothers trying to find their way home, but we soon find out that its merely a foundation upon which to build their fascinating adventure, which encompasses an eccentric cast of characters that ends up being the driving force of its compelling narrative. Combine this with its gorgeous animation & a remarkable vocal cast, and you get a wonderful & unforgettable animated outing for all ages.

Score: 4/5

Now available on Blu-ray.

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