In paying tribute to the spooky month of horror, it's time to look back at old relics not often talked about due to their obscure presence. One notable example is the Canadian animated Halloween special, Witch's Night Out, a peculiarly corny cartoon from 1978. Despite being played on FOX and the Disney Channel throughout the 80s and 90s, the special became relatively unknown outside of those who grew up with it. Nowadays, it has garnished a minor cult following amongst cheesy Halloween enthusiasts, and there is a lot of charm to see why, albeit more so for the reasons one might not expect.
The special follows a witch who feels as if her magical powers are not what they used to be. Upon overhearing a little boy and girl wishing to be scary themselves, the witch transforms them into classic spooks, as well as the rest of the town the film takes place in. While a fairly straightforward Halloween tale for children, what makes the special stand out is how dated it feels, in the best possible way too. The corny humor, quirky tone, strange voices, groovy music, and squiggly character designs sets the film in a world all its own, giving it its own unique style beyond anything else in the competition. The spirit of Halloween remains intact during the film's short runtime, even if it does go a bit all over the place in embracing the witches' endless magic. In delivering its themes of proving how much people care for the spookiness of Halloween, the special holds up more for its alienesque charm than anything else.
As far as any highlights are concerned, the real star of the show is Gilda Radner as the witch herself. Just from hearing her performance alone, it's easy to tell how much fun she had letting loose as this old tired empress feeling so ecstatic to spread magic and terror in so long, aided by some hysterically grotesque facial expressions. The remaining cast are pretty solid in their own right too, although some sound a lot more distorted and cartoony than others. Fitting for the kind of special this is, the art direction and animation style feel like an overly simplistic children's book brought to life, complete with basic shapes and colors for each character design. Had the special gone in a more realistic visual direction, it might've taken away from what is otherwise a trippy embrace for Halloween decor. On top of everything else, the music score feels oddly experimental and scratchy, adding into the cosmically bizarre tone already established. As soon as the opening / ending song plays, the audience will know exactly what kind of thrill ride they'll be in for.
If one were to discover a Halloween special that indulges itself in cheesy horror fun rather than cynical pandering, one just needs to look towards works like Witches Night Out. While by no means timeless, the delightful cheesiness makes the special hold up just enough as a fascinating relic of its era, the late 1970s. If you're in the mood for an appropriately corny Halloween cartoon that doesn't take itself too seriously or if you've got a family audience, then definitely give this flick a watch. Besides, once you're off a sugar high from all the candy and ghouls, this will be worth letting the spirits roam free.
