Parents' Guide to

Spookley the Square Pumpkin

By Renee Longstreet, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Delightful musical tale of pumpkin who doesn't fit in.

Movie G 2005 41 minutes
Spookley the Square Pumpkin Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 4+

Based on 12 parent reviews

Caregan3
Caregan3 Parent of 4-year-old
October 30, 2020
age 5+

Not as friendly as you hope!

We had to turn it off for our 4 year old! So much bullying right from the start. He didn’t like it at all and asked for something else. Then, the parents decided to watch til the end. A bad thunderstorm, scarecrow on fire, pumpkins rolling away, flying away.... I’m so glad we turned it off!!! He would have been horrified. Not at all what we were expecting and not for the better.

This title has:

Too much violence
1 person found this helpful.
Fiona F.
Fiona F. Adult
October 3, 2019
age 4+

first 10mins - pumpkins mean singing to a square pumpkin.

The kids don’t get a chance to get into the characters and enjoy the movie before the tension/bullying/sadness begins. My 4.5yr son, was holding back the tears after 10mins. The movie just starts off with some dialogue between bats. Then the WHOLE FIELD of ‘normal’ round pumpkins singing mean songs to the square pumpkin. Whilst I couldn’t hear the lyrics. I could see the normal pumpkins mean faces and square pumpkin cowering behind leaves. We don’t watch too much tv at home. And def. not the family that can do Disney Movies yet. Too much tension/suspense.

This title has:

Too much sex
1 person found this helpful.
See all 12 parent reviews

What's the Story?

A kindly narrator tells the story of SPOOKLEY THE SQUARE PUMPKIN, which takes place on a pumpkin farm just before Halloween. Jack, the Scarecrow (voiced by Craig Francis), has discovered a small, square fellow amidst all the other pumpkins that have been growing in the patch. The little guy, Spookley (Sonja Ball), quickly realizes that he's the only square pumpkin in the patch, and that makes him sad. And it makes at least one of the other pumpkins mad. Spookley doesn't belong with us, Little Tom (Rick Jones) declares. It's up to Jack, who watches over pumpkins, to give Spookley a chance to join with the others. But after he flops badly in the annual Jack-A-Lympics Competition, Spookley is inconsolable. Then, threatened by an unexpected storm on the day before Halloween, the scarecrow, the other critters who live in the patch, and the pumpkins themselves are all in danger. It's up to Spookley to prove his worth by using his smarts and his courage to save them all.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (12):
Kids say (12):

Bright, witty, and with an abundance of terrific musical numbers and engaging characters, this short feature is a Halloween treat that families can enjoy together. The messages about being different and inclusiveness are familiar, but they're solid. Even the "villainous" round pumpkin who doesn't love Spookley at first sight is funny rather than frightening. Usually spiders and bats perpetuate the "bad guy" tradition, but in Spookley the Square Pumpkin, they couldn't be more likable or distinctive. The production is all first-rate, with exceptional performances, fine animation, and wonderful attention to detail in every facet. Funny and just the right length for little kids, this movie is highly recommended.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the popularity of movies about characters who don't "fit in" with the crowd. Like its iconic predecessors, The Ugly Duckling and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Spookley is "different" from others when we meet him. What message(s) are these stories trying to convey?

  • Bats and spiders are often made to be scary or villains in movies for kids. How were the bats and spiders portrayed in Spookley the Square Pumpkin? Did Boris, Bella, Edgar, Allan, and Poe change your opinion of such critters? How?

  • What is meant by the statement: "You'll never know if you never try?"

  • The spiders strongly announced that they were not "bugs," but "arachnids." What is an "arachnid"? Do the words "insect" and "bug" mean the same thing?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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