Greetings, Boils & Ghouls...
... and welcome to 'Day One' of "Abnor Mal's Guide To Creepy Cartoon Classics on Roku" where I aim to bring you the first creepy cartoon classic from the plethora of spooky animated short films that have been released throughout the course of animation history - any of which can be streamed on TV via the magic of Roku media players - so, let's dim down those lights... for some fun & frights! :-O ;-)
If you read my special hallowe'en blogathon preview - FOUND HERE - which I published yesterday, then you'll know that I plan to post one Hallowe'en / Horror related article every day, throughout the month of October, featuring one vintage cartoon classic with spooky overtones each and every day. With recommendations for thirty-one of the most spook-tacular shorts I can find, by the end of the month, this means you'll have plenty of great choices for your creepy cartoon viewing as we count down the days to Hallowe'en... as well as ensuring lots of laughs & screams come October 31st! :-D
To get things started I'm going to ease us all in gently with an educational animated short from the studios of Walt Disney which was created in 1983, and released as "Disney's Haunted Halloween", although it's actually more of a montage: featuring multiple clips from Disney's animated classics of the 1940's & 1950's and even as far back as "Lonesome Ghosts" (1937). Interspersed with further footage taken from "Disney's Halloween Treat" (1982), this 8-minute animated short discusses the origins of Hallowe'en plus various superstitions and traditions associated with it. Starring Hal Smith as (the voice of) 'Goofy', and featuring the same pumpkin host as 1982's "Disney's Halloween Treat", it's also a useful tool for teaching kids about "stranger danger" in preparation for when they go out to "Trick or Treat" for candy (or, "sweets", to you and me) on All Hallows' Eve. The reason I've decided to go with this particular animation, for the inaugural post in my month-long blogathon for this year, is that it's the 35th anniversary of the original release for "Disney's Haunted Halloween" in 1983.
From the moment the opening narrative begins, with "The bats are out tonight. The ghosts are getting ready. Things will give you such a fright, I hope your nerves are steady!" you are instantly drawn-in and, if your own children are just starting to get curious about Hallowe'en, much like 'Goofy' in this educational animated short... they may just learn a thing or two about the origins of this special day. Afterall, who can resist a talking pumpkin teaching you about ancient Druids who staunchly believed that the spirits of the dead returned to Earth on this mystical night and so would dress-up like ghosts, hoping that the "real" spirits would leave them alone!?! Curious to know more? Here's the video:-
Of course, in addition to watching this embedded version of the cartoon right here on this blog, you can also choose to stream it on your big screen television by using the "cast" function built-in to the 'YouTube' app(s) for mobile devices on both the iOS (Apple) plus Android platforms. For those who may have missed my special hallowe'en blogathon preview posted yesterday, to "cast" the video to your Roku player and/or NowTV device(s), you will first need to have the Roku channel (app) for 'YouTube' installed to act as a receiver for the stream you are casting. If you're not sure how to go about casting from your mobile device to your Roku there's a help article from 'Roku Support', which can be found on the official Roku website, that can walk you through the process step-by-step! ;-) :-D
YOUTUBE..........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "WEB VIDEO" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
Whichever platform you decide to watch this video on, just remember the lesson(s) of the pumpkin host from "Disney's Haunted Halloween" and, if ever you go out to "Trick or Treat" around your neighbourhood when the time comes for Hallowe'en, be sure to heed this warning message:
Meanwhile, if you'd like to know more about the origins of Hallowe'en - as celebrated by the Druids of Ireland and England many centuries ago - then (perhaps) this article from the October edition of "Boys' Life" (1963) will shed a little more light on some of the customs associated with Hallowe'en:-
Anyhow, that's all I've got time for today... but do remember to come back again tomorrow, for my next creepy cartoon recommendation from the archives of animated film history, when I will suggest another spooky short for 'Day Two' of "Abnor Mal's Guide To Creepy Cartoon Classics on Roku" you can stream right here on this blog - as well as through the equivalent channel on your Roku player(s). Meanwhile... please be sure to visit the "Countdown To Hallowe'en" website & show your support for this annual online Hallowe'en extravaganza PLUS don't forget to use the links you find there and check out all the other 'Cryptkeepers' taking part this year. I know they'll appreciate it, if you visit their blogs and share your thoughts on the contribution(s) they've made.
ONE LAST THING, BEFORE I GO: Don't forget that, aside from the Hallowe'en / Horror-themed ghastliness going on around these parts for the next month, you can also keep up with the UK Roku action (as it happens) by checking-out my regular 'Weekly RoundUp' posts each weekend where you will find up-to-the-minute info on all things Roku-related is posted on a weekly basis (well, almost).
Until the next time, then...
That's all folks !!
If you read my special hallowe'en blogathon preview - FOUND HERE - which I published yesterday, then you'll know that I plan to post one Hallowe'en / Horror related article every day, throughout the month of October, featuring one vintage cartoon classic with spooky overtones each and every day. With recommendations for thirty-one of the most spook-tacular shorts I can find, by the end of the month, this means you'll have plenty of great choices for your creepy cartoon viewing as we count down the days to Hallowe'en... as well as ensuring lots of laughs & screams come October 31st! :-D
To get things started I'm going to ease us all in gently with an educational animated short from the studios of Walt Disney which was created in 1983, and released as "Disney's Haunted Halloween", although it's actually more of a montage: featuring multiple clips from Disney's animated classics of the 1940's & 1950's and even as far back as "Lonesome Ghosts" (1937). Interspersed with further footage taken from "Disney's Halloween Treat" (1982), this 8-minute animated short discusses the origins of Hallowe'en plus various superstitions and traditions associated with it. Starring Hal Smith as (the voice of) 'Goofy', and featuring the same pumpkin host as 1982's "Disney's Halloween Treat", it's also a useful tool for teaching kids about "stranger danger" in preparation for when they go out to "Trick or Treat" for candy (or, "sweets", to you and me) on All Hallows' Eve. The reason I've decided to go with this particular animation, for the inaugural post in my month-long blogathon for this year, is that it's the 35th anniversary of the original release for "Disney's Haunted Halloween" in 1983.
From the moment the opening narrative begins, with "The bats are out tonight. The ghosts are getting ready. Things will give you such a fright, I hope your nerves are steady!" you are instantly drawn-in and, if your own children are just starting to get curious about Hallowe'en, much like 'Goofy' in this educational animated short... they may just learn a thing or two about the origins of this special day. Afterall, who can resist a talking pumpkin teaching you about ancient Druids who staunchly believed that the spirits of the dead returned to Earth on this mystical night and so would dress-up like ghosts, hoping that the "real" spirits would leave them alone!?! Curious to know more? Here's the video:-
Of course, in addition to watching this embedded version of the cartoon right here on this blog, you can also choose to stream it on your big screen television by using the "cast" function built-in to the 'YouTube' app(s) for mobile devices on both the iOS (Apple) plus Android platforms. For those who may have missed my special hallowe'en blogathon preview posted yesterday, to "cast" the video to your Roku player and/or NowTV device(s), you will first need to have the Roku channel (app) for 'YouTube' installed to act as a receiver for the stream you are casting. If you're not sure how to go about casting from your mobile device to your Roku there's a help article from 'Roku Support', which can be found on the official Roku website, that can walk you through the process step-by-step! ;-) :-D
YOUTUBE..........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "WEB VIDEO" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
Whichever platform you decide to watch this video on, just remember the lesson(s) of the pumpkin host from "Disney's Haunted Halloween" and, if ever you go out to "Trick or Treat" around your neighbourhood when the time comes for Hallowe'en, be sure to heed this warning message:
"The call is going out for you... yes, there are ghouls that lie in wait. They know exactly what to do, they're on the prowl and you're the bait... YOU'RE THE BAIT!" :-O ;-) :-D
Meanwhile, if you'd like to know more about the origins of Hallowe'en - as celebrated by the Druids of Ireland and England many centuries ago - then (perhaps) this article from the October edition of "Boys' Life" (1963) will shed a little more light on some of the customs associated with Hallowe'en:-
HINT:- Please CLICK on the above image TO ENLARGE IT for easier viewing !!
*********************************************
Anyhow, that's all I've got time for today... but do remember to come back again tomorrow, for my next creepy cartoon recommendation from the archives of animated film history, when I will suggest another spooky short for 'Day Two' of "Abnor Mal's Guide To Creepy Cartoon Classics on Roku" you can stream right here on this blog - as well as through the equivalent channel on your Roku player(s). Meanwhile... please be sure to visit the "Countdown To Hallowe'en" website & show your support for this annual online Hallowe'en extravaganza PLUS don't forget to use the links you find there and check out all the other 'Cryptkeepers' taking part this year. I know they'll appreciate it, if you visit their blogs and share your thoughts on the contribution(s) they've made.
*********************************************
ONE LAST THING, BEFORE I GO: Don't forget that, aside from the Hallowe'en / Horror-themed ghastliness going on around these parts for the next month, you can also keep up with the UK Roku action (as it happens) by checking-out my regular 'Weekly RoundUp' posts each weekend where you will find up-to-the-minute info on all things Roku-related is posted on a weekly basis (well, almost).
Until the next time, then...
That's all folks !!
No comments:
Post a Comment