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Released by: Warner Archive
Released on: August 28, 2012.
Director: Mario Piluso
Cast: Ray Bradbury, Leonard Nimoy
Year: 1993
The Movie:
This 1993 made for TV Halloween special from Hanna-Barbera will instantly be of interest to some readers simply because it was written and narrated by none other than the late, great Ray Bradbury and is based on his 1972 story of the same name. It also features voice work from Leonard Nimoy, obviously best known as Spock from Star Trek.
The story is set in a typical small town on Halloween night as four friends are getting ready to head out and go trick or treating. Tom is dressed up as a skeleton, Jenny as a witch, Wally as a mummy, and Ralph intends as an ogre. Through a series of strange circumstances they wind up chasing someone they believe to be their friend Pip through the woods that surround their suburb. Their chase leads them to the creepy old house of a creepy old man named Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud (Nimoy) who is confused by the appearance of the four kids who have landed on his doorstep.
From here, Moundshroud takes his guests to the Halloween Tree on his property where he asks the kids why they chose to dress they way they did. When they can't offer him a reasonable explanation, he whisks them off into the sky to travel with him through time to see the origins of the creatures that they represent. As such, they tour through ancient Egypt, to Stonehenge, to Paris and then to Mexico to learn about different Halloween celebrations and their cultural significance as well as the impact that they had on Halloween as we know it.
The Halloween Tree is a very entertaining mix of fun entertainment and educational information. Working with his own material here, Bradbury crafts the story in such a way that nothing ever feels like it's being shoved down anyone's throats, meaning, the entertainment comes first, the educational side of things here is far more subtle and in many ways almost unnoticeable. Filled with colorful characters and interesting creatures, the story moves at a good pace, lasting just under seventy minutes, and features some nice line work and a clean, accessible animation style that's easy on the eyes.
The voice work, particularly from Nimoy, does a very good job of bringing the characters to life, and there's plenty here for kids of all ages and adults alike to enjoy. A nice mix of humor with some dashes throughout of spooky (albeit family friendly) Halloween atmosphere, it's easy to see why this one has remained a bit of an unsung cult classic since it debuted twenty-five years ago.
Video/Audio/Extras:
Warner's video quality here is surprisingly good. Colors look excellent, really popping the way only goofy old cartoons can, and detail is about as good as the source material could probably realistically allow for. There's a little bit of print damage here and there but if you're not looking for it you're probably not going to notice and even if you do, generally you won't care. The video quality on this disc is a very pleasant surprise indeed.
The no frills Dolby Digital Mono sound mix is in English with no alternate language dubs, subtitles or closed captions provided. The audio is clean and clear and you won't have any problems understanding the dialogue. The levels fluctuate a bit here and there and there are a few spots where the effects are a bit loud, but these are minor complaints. Generally the audio sounds just fine.
Extras? Outside of a static menu and episode selection, not a one.
The Final Word:
The Halloween Tree may not be as well known as perennial holiday classics like It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown but in many ways it's just as good. This fun, colorful family film is as enjoyable as it is briskly paced and stylish, and if Warner Archive's DVD-R release is barebones, it does at least present the feature in fairly nice condition.
