Led through the mist by the milk light of the moon All that was lost is revealed Our long-bygone burdens mere echoes of the spring But where have we come, and where shall we end? If dreams can't come true, then why not pretend? How the gentle wind beckons through the leaves
As autumn colors fall...
—Opening theme of the first episode
is an American animated television miniseries created by Patrick McHale for Cartoon Network. The series centers around two brothers who travel across a strange forest in order to find their way home. The show is based on McHale's animated short film, Tome of the Unknown, which was produced as part of Cartoon Network Studios' shorts development program.
The series centers around two brothers, Wirt and Greg (Elijah Wood and Collin Dean respectively), who become lost in a strange forest called the Unknown. In order to find their way home, the two must travel across the forest, apparently magic, with the help of the Woodsman (Christopher Lloyd), and an irritable bluebird named Beatrice (Melanie Lynskey).
Tropes used in Over the Garden Wall include:
Toe-Tapping Melody: A moment of this actually saves the brothers when they hopped on a frog ferry without paying the fee; Greg had tossed the pennies away impulsively, so they have to disguise themselves as band members to hide from security. When Greg and Wirt accidentally knock out the bassoon player, Greg and Beatrice the bluebird encourage Wirt to play, with Beatrice suddenly not wanting them to go see Adelaide. Wirt picks up the bassoon and plays... and Greg's new frog suddenly belts a beautiful melody. The frogs sing along, and they allow the humans to stay on the boat as long as Wirt keeps playing. They even offer Greg's frog a musical contract, but he chooses to stay with the trio.
Ottawa International Animation Festival Grand Prize Winners
1976–2001, 2003
The Street - Caroline Leaf (Canada, 1976)
Rowing Across the Atlantic - Jean-François Laguionie (France, 1978)
Ubu - Geoff Dunbar (UK, 1980)
Crac - Frederic Back (Canada, 1982)
Chips - Jerzy Kucia (Poland, 1984)
The Frog, the Dog, and the Devil - Bob Stenhouse (New Zealand, 1986)
The Man Who Planted Trees - Frederic Back (Canada, 1988)