It no longer October, but the spooky season (in my heart) hasn't officially ended! I’ll be reviewing some of the most amazing animated projects out there, all of which combine horror and a story that I promise you won’t forget. But no worries at all, the next list is horror friendly. You’ll get some good scares but also a good night's rest. So, get ready for some screams and grab your popcorns because you’re in for a spooky treat!

Coraline

Coraline is one of the greatest Halloween movies out there! It’s a classic. It follows Coraline Jones, a girl who moves into a new house. Neglected by her parents, Caroline, in her wandering, discovers a small door in the house. Where does it lead? 

Coraline has a compelling fierce protagonist and a world that makes us wonder if there’s another dimension where everything seems better, or at least at first sight. Through an epic adventure, we discover that everything that shines is not gold. If you want a film that makes you appreciate the normal family you already have, this one is for you.

The House

Another stop motion project, The House is composed of three chapters, where the protagonist is a house. You read that right, we follow a house on its own story throughout time. The people come and go, but the strange house remains. It’s probably one of the quirkiest projects I’ve seen, and it will definitely give you chills. One chapter represents the origins and the past of the house, the next one is about the present, and the last one is about its future.

If you like artsy, horror films, this one is for you. The first chapter is like if Kubrick and Stephen King made something together. This project reminds us that places can be haunted, and it plays with our fear of getting to live in a damned place.

Over the Garden Wall

This animated limited series is an epic horror tale paying homage to animated classics and following the story of two brothers trying to get home. On their wandering, they will encounter places and characters that will bring the best and the worst of them. It’s a hero’s journey with twists and turns that you won’t see coming. 

Over the Garden Wall remains as an ultimate favorite for those who love pilgrim’s tales and oddly enough, jump scares and comedy.

Gravity Falls

Imagine being a kid and getting to spend all summer in a mysterious town. That’s what twins, Mable and Dipper, get to do. This one is a family classic for Halloween, and honestly, a classic all year round. 

Gnomes, an evil guy from another dimension, a secret society and many more villains that await to be found. Each episode is packed with adventure and some conspiracy theories. Gravity Falls attempts to solve mysteries and navigates through the unknown.

The Kirlian Frequency

This is an amazing independent show. From Argentina, this series talks about a remote place where creatures lurk after dark. Our protagonist is a host on a radio show, one that tries to keep company to those in need. This series will send shivers down your spine. Beware of the dark and keep your door closed.

This show is more like a podcast, the narration gets you so deep into de story that you will forget you’re in your living room.

The Cuphead Show

This animated series is inspired by the video game. It follows two brothers who made a deal with the devil, and now the devil is after them to cash its prize. This show also pays an homage to the old Disney animation era. The animation style is worth seeing on its own, but the adventures the brothers embark on will make you come back episode after episode.

Frankelda’s Book of Spooks

A Mexican stop-motion series that follows a female writer and the horror stories she tells to the children. Each story has a special message, an eerie cautionary tale. This one will bring you back to reading horror stories for the first time; it will connect you to the roots of horror –spooky tales told from generation to generation. With creatures that crawled straight from your childhood nightmares.

Courage the Cowardly Dog

A Cartoon Network classic and the reason a lot of children had nightmares. Courage is a frightened dog that encounters all types of creatures, but he’ll need to be brave if he wants to save his owner Muriel. 

What is compelling about this cartoon is its protagonist. A dog that chooses kindness in the middle of nowhere to defeat monsters and curses.

Monster House

Although its 3D animation is not ageing graciously, its story is. Monster House sets the tale we all encountered as kids –the creepy old house in your neighborhood. That place where no children would want to enter! A reminiscence of childhood in the form of fears. A house that’s living and breathing revenge. A trio of friends that try to find the truth behind this place.

Dead End: Paranormal Park

A new Netflix show that’s hilarious, sentimental, quirky and spooky at times. Two kids are summoned to an amusement park for a strange job interview, only to find out that there’s a story hidden in this place. Demons, ghosts, drama, this show has it all. It’s a mystery hidden in plain sight that you get to resolve while having the time of your life. You will not regret to give this a try.

Bonus: City of Ghosts

Small scares for the little ones in the house and a show that will keep your heart warm. I wish this show existed when I was little. It shows you about history, kindness, diversity, cultures, and the best part is-- you learn it through ghosts! 

There you go, a small list to keep you busy this winter. Animation is a medium like no other, here, stories never age. Explore some of your greatest fears through these projects: the dark, the unknown, the boogie man, isolation, and more. And let us know if you watch any of it on our Tongal social media! 

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Note From Tongal: This blog is part of a series of Tongal Community-written blog posts that were originally sourced in the Tongal Blog Open Call Project. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Tongal. Read more Tongal Community-written posts here!