Remembering an old favorite - Scary Godmother: Halloween Spooktakular
As we start getting closer to the Halloween season, I always start thinking of some of my favorite Halloween movies. My mind often wanders back to a favorite Halloween special that aired in the early 2000s: “Scary Godmother: Halloween Spooktacular”
Based on the children’s book series by Jill Thompson, this animated film first aired in 2003 and quickly became a favorite in my house. The story follows Hannah Marie, a young girl whose Halloween night takes an unexpected turn when she’s whisked away to the magical “Fright Side” by her Scary Godmother.
What made this movie so special was its perfect blend of spooky and sweet. The colorful cast of characters included Scary Godmother herself – a quirky, purple-haired witch with a flair for the dramatic – along with a lovable skeleton named Skully Pettibone, Bug-A-Boo the closet monster, and a family of vampires led by the endearingly vain Count Max.
While the film didn’t have a big budget, its animation style was unique, bringing Jill Thompson’s illustrations to life with a vibrant, almost storybook quality. It felt like stepping into a world where Halloween lasted all year round, filled with whimsical monsters and magical beings who were more fun than frightening. I remember wishing I had a Scary Godmother too!
One of the most memorable aspects of “Scary Godmother” was its message about facing your fears and embracing the joy of Halloween. Through Hannah’s adventure, viewers learned that sometimes the things we find scary can actually be quite wonderful when we give them a chance.
During its run, it was easy to find it on tv and you could watch it several times during the Halloween season. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case now – I’m sure due to the aging animation style that was used. Luckily it seems to be available for streaming through Roku so you can get your fill of Halloween nostalgia whenever you want.
