Parents' Guide to

Over the Garden Wall

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Whimsical, adventurous tale has some scary moments, too.

TV Cartoon Network Kids' Animation 2014
Over the Garden Wall Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 9+

Based on 15 parent reviews

Dan R.
Dan R. Parent of 9 and 9-year-old
December 28, 2020
age 8+

Need to mention the voice talent...

Sam Ramey? Deborah Voigt? Whoever had the idea of using top opera singers as voice talent in an animated series was brilliant. There is no greater villain than Sam Ramey, whether he’s playing satan in an opera or the beast in Over the Garden Wall.
1 person found this helpful.
danny800
danny800 Adult
April 21, 2019
age 14+

Over the Garden Wall was not for little kids

i think Over the Garden Wall is a amazing show but its not for little kids because its rated TVPG and is very creepy and dark the show is about 2 brothers getting lost in a mythical world theres a episode with pumpkin heads that are people who passed on a bird named Beatrice was going to sell the kids to a witch for slavery a monster called Loren wants to eat the kids theres a character called the highway man sings a dark song and runs his finger across his neck like a knife and a woodsman wants to turn the kids into eldewood trees so he can harvest there souls and greg tries to sacrifice himself to save his brother with that being said Over the Garden Wall is for preteens and teens and i dont reccomend it for anyone under the age of 14

This title has:

Too much violence
1 person found this helpful.
See all 15 parent reviews

What's the Story?

OVER THE GARDEN WALL is the adventurous tale of two brothers' journey through a magical forest to get back home. The story opens with Wirt (voiced by Elijah Wood) and Greg (Collin Dean) lost in a wood called the Unknown, which is home to a mysterious Beast (Samuel Ramey) that stalks the boys. With the help of an old Woodsman (Christopher Lloyd); a temperamental bluebird named Beatrice (Melanie Lynskey), who accompanies them to repay a favor they did for her; and Greg's loyal pet frog, Wirt and Greg set out to find Adelaide of the Pasture in the hopes that she can point them in the right direction. But every turn brings them face to face with the Unknown's mysterious residents, who often waylay their progress home.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (15):
Kids say (50):

Over the Garden Wall blends comedy, whimsy, and touches of the horror genre in a unique 10-part animated miniseries. Its scares aren't the jump-out-of-your-skin type; they're more along the lines of The Twilight Zone in that they create the notion that even the most seemingly benign situations can hide frightful secrets. Because it's more suggestive than blatant, the show is more in tune with older kids' and tweens' interest level than it is for younger kids', but even adults will find something to like in its unique storytelling.

The show's most notable selling point is its visual appeal. The characters truly look the part of folksy fairy tale personalities, and their jaunts through the Unknown invoke images of classic adventurers such as Little Red Riding Hood or Goldilocks. It's fun to get swept up in Wirt and Greg's experiences, and the swirling cast of quirky people and creatures -- particularly snarky Beatrice -- keeps the content enticing as well.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about this show's target audience. Is it geared toward kids or an older crowd? What in the story makes you think so? Are there any positive messages you can glean from the boys' adventures?

  • Kids: Did any moments scare you in the show? Do you think its creators wanted to scare you? What kinds of content is most frightening to you? Is it ever hard for you to distinguish between what's real and what's fantasy?

  • In what ways did Wirt and Greg's relationship seem similar to your kids' with their siblings? Do they handle challenges well as a pair or a team? What kinds of activities do they enjoy together?

TV Details

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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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