Ray Bradbury is known for his very unique stories. When I was younger I had to read The Martian Chronicles. Back then I hated that book and I couldn’t wait to finish it. Years later I re-read the book and loved it.
Ray Bradbury has written many books, several of which I have read. Oddly enough I never heard about his story about the Halloween Tree. That is not until I learned about a movie based upon his book by the same name.
I love the holiday season, most especially Christmas and Halloween. My family and I try and watch every holiday special available. For some reason we’ve never seen, or heard of, the Halloween Tree before.
I 1993 Hanna-Barbera turned the book into an animated film. In 1994 the film won an Emmy Award for best feature length animated TV special. How I never heard of this movie until now I’ll never know.
I received a copy of the film to review, just in time for the Halloween season.
The Halloween Tree is the story of a group of friends who always get together to go trick-or-treating on Halloween. It’s a night that they look forward to year round.
The friends meet up to set out for the night except one of their friends, Pipkin, is no where to be found.
The friends race over to Pipkin’s house to make sure he’s OK, only to find an ambulance pulling away from the home. Pipkin is no where to be found. Was he the one in the ambulance?
The kids see a ghostly image of their friend Pipkin who takes off running into the woods. The kids chase Pipkin. Deep in the woods they come across a creepy old house where they meet a man name Moundshroud.
While the friends are at the house they witness their friend’s ghost climbing up a huge tree out back. The tree is covered with eerie pumpkins.
Confused by what is going on the kids turn to Moundshroud to find out what is happening and why is their friend Pipkin a ghost? The children learn that their friend Pipkin has gone on a journey that can determine if he lives or dies. The friends are anxious to help their friend and together with Moundshroud’s help they chase Pipkin through time and space. Along the way they learn about the origins of Halloween and how different cultures and traditions helped to shape it into the Halloween we celebrate today.
Through their travels the children explore Ancient Egyptian, Ancient Greek, Roman cultures, Celtic Druidism, Medieval Paris and the Day of the Dead in Mexico.
Will the friends be able to help Pipkin before it’s too late? Will this be the last Halloween they share with their good friend? To find out you need to pick up a copy of the Halloween Tree. Look for it where movies are sold.
The movie got mixed reviews from my family. I liked the movie. It wasn’t something I thought I would enjoy, but I did enjoying learning about the various customs and traditions that helped shaped the Halloween that we know today. I found it all very interesting.
My 13 year old son liked the movie too. My 15+ year old daughter didn’t like it and my husband wasn’t keen on it either. I think it’s because they are used to “cute” Halloween programs like Charlie Brown. This cartoon is not cute by any means. Plus it was done back in the early 90’s, so the qualify isn’t the same as it is today.
If you are looking for Halloween entertainment with an educational spin to it, or if you are looking for something a bit different, then you will enjoy the Halloween Tree.
Kimberly
*I received a free screener copy in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and are not influenced in any way.