I used to fear that monsters lurked under my bed and in the closet, waiting for me to drift off to sleep. This fear of the dark grew into a fear of the unknown; of not having the answers. As a kid, I always thought adults knew everything. But eventually, we grow up and realize that no one has the answers. There is so much that remains unknown in the world.
One show that captures the fear of the unknown perfectly is Over the Garden Wall. This dark fantasy animated mini-series aired in November 2014 on Cartoon Network. With only ten episodes that ran eleven minutes each, the show was able to capture the attention of audiences of all ages. Though its fandom started small, it has since grown and is now considered a cult classic. The show follows two brothers, Wirt and Greg, who find themselves in a mysterious forest called “The Unknown,” though they have no memory of how they got there. As they journey home, Wirt and Greg meet peculiar friends and enemies, uncovering hidden secrets and venturing even further into The Unknown. Many characters have their own musical numbers, featuring numerous folk songs throughout the show. The series’ soundtrack was scored by The Blasting Company, an American nouveau-folk and jazz band, who have scored for many animations. The vintage music is accompanied by vintage-looking visuals, capturing old America in its peacefulness, yet unnaturalness.
The songs of Over the Garden Wall fit into the folk, jazz, and blues genres. They bring a sense of comfort and coziness, but they also serve as warnings, acting as cautionary tales for the two brothers as they travel through the labyrinth-like woods. The theme song for the show is called “Into the Unknown,” referencing the forest. Lyrics such as “Dancing in a swirl / Of golden memories / The loveliest lies of all,” capture the beauty of the forest, but also the forest’s manipulation. The Unknown is this inescapable labyrinth, consistently leading the brothers to danger and evil lurking forces. “Into the Unknown” is sung by Jack Jones, who has a haunting voice, accompanied by an ominous piano. The last line of the song, “the loveliest lies of all,” ends with a deep vibrato, held for a moment as the song fades out. It leaves you with a chill. The song also includes questions: “But where have we come? / And where shall we end? / If dreams can’t come true / Then why not pretend?” These questions pertain to Wirt and Greg who don’t fully know where they are and if they’ll get home. Throughout the series, it is revealed that this world might all be a dream or an afterlife of sorts. Interestingly enough, these concepts can also be applied to America. The question of “but where have we come?” asks if we’ve advanced as a society. Although America has grown in a lot of ways, much of it is still stuck in the past. This false idea of “the good old days” in both reality and the show, prevents further change. It keeps us trapped, distracted by false promises. The show captures old America in a romantic and nostalgic way through its music, though its lyrics and history make us question if the past was really all that good.
The autumnal look of the show creates a warm sense of nostalgia, yet also a feeling of isolation. Many shots of the forest make Wirt and Greg feel small, surrounded by endless trees of autumn colors. What begins as an autumnal wonderland slowly becomes a winter nightmare. Winter appears as a threat; the boys come closer to encountering the Beast, the antagonist of the show. The show has a number of supernatural and fantastical elements, many inspired by old fairy tales: Hansel and Gretel, Baba Yaga, and Babes in the Wood. These cautionary tales share the idea of staying away from the woods; a place of evil. In the beginning, the use of a light color palette of reds, oranges, and rustic browns makes the scenery feel inviting. It evokes feelings of warmth and childlike nostalgia, reflecting happy memories. However, towards the end of the show, it becomes colder and darker, with a greater contrast between the light and shadows. This gray, cold world creates a sensory detail of anxiety and emptiness. The show demonstrates these evident differences in themes of comfort and eeriness, constantly shifting between the two throughout. Over The Garden Wall allows the audience to view the forest through the lens of a child. There is a beauty and curiosity to it, yet also an unknown aspect; the monsters under your bed. When reflecting on childhood, we often feel a wave of nostalgia. But is nostalgia masking the unknown forces and questions that existed and still exist? Whether it’s our past, or even the history of America, the lines of truth and fiction blur together. Thus, maybe our memories are just “the loveliest lies of all.”
Maddy Dombrow is a first-year writing for film, tv and emerging media major who loves to travel into The Unknown every fall. She can be reached at [email protected].