ArkaEvren
Over the Garden Wall

TV SERIES · 2014–2014 · USA

Over the Garden Wall

Created by
Patrick McHale, Katie Krentz
Network
Cartoon Network
Seasons
1
Episodes
10
Studio
Cartoon Network Studios

103 archived facts 8 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026

Two brothers, Wirt and Greg, find themselves lost in the Unknown; a strange forest adrift in time. With the help of a wise old Woodsman and a foul-tempered bluebird named Beatrice, Wirt and Greg must travel across this strange land, in hope of finding their way home. Join them as they encounter surprises and obstacles on their journey through the wood.

  • Over the Garden Wall — production image

103 Interesting Facts About Over the Garden Wall

Interesting Facts (24)

  1. #001

    The Beast's true appearance is visible briefly and only during the climax.

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  2. #002

    After the opening titles in each episode, a distant train horn can be heard. The boys meet this train in episode nine, "Chapter 9: Into the Unknown".

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  3. #003

    In episode nine, "Chapter 9: Into the Unknown", Gregory (Collin Dean) hides behind Quincy Endicott's (John Cleese's) gravestone.

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  4. #004

    The opening shows Lorna (Shannyn Sossamon) sorting bones of her victims.

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  5. #005

    Although Wirt (Elijah Wood) and Gregory (Collin Dean) arrive in The Unknown on Halloween and return to the real world only a few seconds later at the end of the mini-series, it was originally planned for the boys to come back on Christmas day.

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  6. #006

    As the camera pulls out from the hospital at the end of this mini-series, you can see the city in which the brothers live. It has a very strong resemblence to a city from another Cartoon Network show, Clarence (2013).

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  7. #007

    The moon phase shown in the series had to match the actual moon phase on the night each episode first aired.

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  8. #008

    The series was originally intended to run for eighteen episodes.

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  9. #009

    One of the episodes that did not make the final cut featured a man who made dice out of children's bones.

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  10. #010

    The names Gregory (Collin Dean) gives his lucky frog (Jack Jones) are Kitty, Wirt, Wirt, Jr., George Washington, Mr. President, Benjamin Franklin, Dr. Cucumber, Greg, Jr., Skipper, Ronald and Jason Funderberker.

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  11. #011

    Originally, the Unknown was meant to be a purgatory-like world, and the Beast (Samuel Ramey) was meant to serve as a guide who would bring Wirt (Elijah Wood) and Gregory (Collin Dean) back to life.

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  12. #012

    One of the paintings in Endicott's mansion in the fifth episode, "Chapter 5: Mad Love," also appears on the dinner table in the Cartoon Network series Adventure Time (2010).

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  13. #013

    It was the first miniseries created by Cartoon Network.

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  14. #014

    The character of Gregory, the younger of the two brothers, was based on the son of executive producer Patrick McHale.

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  15. #015

    Creator Patrick McHale came up with the original concept for the miniseries in 2004.

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  16. #016

    In the soundtrack, "Langtree's Lament" reveals that Jimmy Brown (Thomas Lennon) has been missing for only three days, yet Miss Langtree (Janet Klein) says it feels like eight.

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  17. #017

    Despite being the main antagonist, the Beast appears in only four episodes.

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  18. #018

    The Beast's true appearance can be seen only briefly and only during the climax.

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  19. #019

    In the opening, Lorna (Shannyn Sossamon) is picking the bones of her victims.

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  20. #020

    Wirt's original name was Walter.

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  21. #021

    The Tavern Keeper (Audrey Wasilewski) is believed to be based on Betty Boop.

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  22. #022

    At the end of the miniseries, as the camera pulls away from the hospital, you can see the town where the brothers live. It looks very similar to the town in Clarence (2013), another Cartoon Network show.

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  23. #023

    It was originally planned to be a regular series.

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  24. #024

    Elijah Wood will continue to appear in the TV series Yellowjackets, in which Melanie Lynskey also stars. Over the Garden Wall is their first collaboration.

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport

Production Story (40)

  1. #025

    The soundtrack for the show is one of the most requested. The mixtape, "For Sara", from episode nine, "Chapter 9: Into the Unknown", was available on cassette for a limited time (now available on Soundcloud), and the full soundtrack, on vinyl only, is soon to be released for a limited time (Executive Producer Patrick McHale actually unboxed it on his YouTube channel). The full soundtrack is going to be released on Soundcloud.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  2. #026

    Based on the award-winning animated short Tome of the Unknown (2013).

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  3. #027

    Creator Patrick McHale came up with the original concept for this mini-series in 2004.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  4. #028

    There were originally supposed to be eighteen episodes.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  5. #029

    Wirt was originally named Walter.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  6. #030

    Episode six, "Chapter 6: Lullaby in Frogland" was originally supposed to be a two-part episode.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  7. #031

    The phase of the moon in the show was meant to match up with the phase of the moon on the night each episode originally aired.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  8. #032

    One of the episodes that didn't make the final cut was a man who makes dice out of the bones of kids.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  9. #033

    Originally, the Unknown was supposed to be a Limbo world, and The Beast (Samuel Ramey) was supposed to be a guide for Wirt (Elijah Wood) and Gregory (Collin Dean) to bring them back to life.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  10. #034

    The first mini-series created by Cartoon Network.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  11. #035

    Originally planned to be a regular television series.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  12. #036

    In the epilogue at the end of the tenth episode, Lorna is seen holding a book titled "The Tome of the Unknown," which is also the name of the short story that formed the basis of the series. The production was adapted from the award-winning short animation Tome of the Unknown (2013).

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  13. #037

    It was actually planned to be eighteen episodes. One of the episodes later cut featured a man who made dice from children's bones.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  14. #038

    Initially, the Unknown was conceived as a purgatory-like world, and the Beast was to guide Wirt and Gregory in order to bring them back to life.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  15. #039

    It holds the distinction of being the first mini-series created by Cartoon Network.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  16. #040

    Although Wirt and Gregory arrive in the Unknown on Halloween and return to the real world only a few seconds later at the end of the series, the original plan was for the children to come back on Christmas Day.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  17. #041

    The series' music is among the most requested. The "For Sara" cassette from the ninth episode was released for a limited time (it is now on Soundcloud), and the full soundtrack will be released only on vinyl, for a short time (executive producer Patrick McHale did an unboxing on his YouTube channel). The entire soundtrack will be released on Soundcloud.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  18. #042

    Creator Patrick McHale developed the original concept for this mini-series in 2004.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  19. #043

    The sixth episode, "Lullaby in Frogland," was originally planned to be a two-part episode.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  20. #044

    It was initially conceived as a regular television series.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  21. #045

    After the credits of every episode, a train whistle is heard in the distance. The children encounter this train in the ninth episode, 'Into the Unknown'.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  22. #046

    In the opening of the first episode, 'The Old Grist Mill', all the main characters appear briefly. The boat the brothers will travel in during the sixth episode, 'Lullaby in Frogland', can even be seen being lowered into the water.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  23. #047

    Gregory (Collin Dean) gives his lucky frog, Jack Jones, exactly these names: Kitty, Wirt, Wirt Jr., George Washington, Mr. President, Benjamin Franklin, Dr. Cucumber, Greg Jr., Skipper, Ronald and Jason Funderberker.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  24. #048

    The younger of the two brothers, Gregory, was created by producer Patrick McHale and inspired by his own son.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  25. #049

    The tavern owner character (Audrey Wasilewski) is thought to have been designed with inspiration from the cartoon icon Betty Boop.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  26. #050

    Elijah Wood and Melanie Lynskey came together for the first time on Over the Garden Wall; Wood later appeared as a guest actor on Yellowjackets, in which Lynskey stars.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  27. #051

    Christopher Lloyd and Elijah Wood had previously appeared together in the 1989 film Back to the Future Part II.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  28. #052

    Although the characters Auntie Whispers and Adelaide of the Pasture are women, they were voiced by Tim Curry and John Cleese, respectively.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  29. #053

    In the epilogue at the end of the tenth episode, Lorna is seen holding a book titled "The Tome of the Unknown"; this is also the name of the short story that formed the basis of the series. The production was adapted from the award-winning short animation Tome of the Unknown (2013).

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  30. #054

    It was actually planned to have eighteen episodes. One of the episodes later cut featured a man who made dice from the children's bones.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  31. #055

    It holds the distinction of being the first miniseries created by Cartoon Network.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  32. #056

    Although Wirt and Gregory arrive in the Unknown on Halloween and return to the real world only a few seconds later at the end of the series, the original plan was for the children to return on Christmas Day.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  33. #057

    The series' music is among the most requested. The "For Sara" cassette from the ninth episode was released for sale for a limited time (it is now on Soundcloud), and the full soundtrack will be released only on vinyl, for a short time (executive producer Patrick McHale did an unboxing on his YouTube channel). The entire soundtrack will be released on Soundcloud.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  34. #058

    Creator Patrick McHale developed the original concept for this miniseries in 2004.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  35. #059

    The sixth episode, "Lullaby in Frogland", was originally planned to be a two-part episode.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  36. #060

    In the second episode, "Chapter 2: Hard Times at the Huskin' Bee", Gregory, Wirt and Beatrice pass through the town of Pottsfield, which is full of skeletons. The name is a compound of Potter's Field, meaning a graveyard reserved for those who cannot afford burial fees. A Pottsfield resident refers to the town's strange nature by saying, "Vegetables can't move on their own, can they?" In the series' precursor Tome of the Unknown, Wirt, Beatrice and Greg encounter a singer named John Crops made entirely of fruits and vegetables.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  37. #061

    In "Langtree's Lament", one of the series' songs, it turns out that Jimmy Brown has been missing for only three days. However, Miss Langtree says that the time has felt like eight days to her.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  38. #062

    In the episode "Lullaby in Frogland", as Wirt looks at the angry crowd, two frogs resembling Luke and Professor Layton stand out among them. This is a fun nod to popular culture.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  39. #063

    At the end of the miniseries, as the camera pulls away from the hospital, the city where the brothers live comes into view. This city closely resembles the city in Clarence (2013), another Cartoon Network production.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  40. #064

    In the dream scene in the eighth episode, "Babes in the Wood", a pink rabbit playing a drum is seen. This rabbit resembles the Energizer Bunny advertising character.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport

Behind the Scenes (5)

  1. #065

    The moon phases in the series were designed to match the actual moon phase on the night each episode first aired.

    BEHIND THE SCENES · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  2. #066

    After the credits of every episode, a distant train whistle can be heard. The children encounter this train in the ninth episode, 'Into the Unknown'.

    BEHIND THE SCENES · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  3. #067

    In the ninth episode, 'Into the Unknown', Gregory hides behind Quincy Endicott's gravestone.

    BEHIND THE SCENES · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  4. #068

    In the opening of the first episode, 'The Old Grist Mill', all the main characters appear briefly. In fact, you can even spot the boat the brothers will travel in during the sixth episode, 'Lullaby in Frogland', being lowered into the water.

    BEHIND THE SCENES · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  5. #069

    In the opening scene, Lorna is shown picking the bones of her victims.

    BEHIND THE SCENES · SOURCED

    ShareReport

Characters & Cast (13)

  1. #070

    The character of Gregory, the younger of the two brothers, was based on Executive Producer Patrick McHale's son.

    CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  2. #071

    Although being the main antagonist, The Beast only appears in four episodes.

    CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  3. #072

    The Tavern Keeper (Audrey Wasilewski) has been believed to be based on Betty Boop.

    CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  4. #073

    Auntie Whispers and Adelaide of the Pasture were played by Tim Curry and John Cleese, respectively, despite both characters being female.

    CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  5. #074

    Gregory (Collin Dean) gives his lucky frog Jack Jones exactly these names: Kitty, Wirt, Wirt Jr., George Washington, Mr. President, Benjamin Franklin, Dr. Cucumber, Greg Jr., Skipper, Ronald and Jason Funderberker.

    CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  6. #075

    Gregory, the younger of the two brothers, was created by producer Patrick McHale and inspired by his own son.

    CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  7. #076

    The series' main villain, The Beast, appears in only four episodes, and his true face is revealed only briefly, at the climax.

    CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  8. #077

    The character Wirt was originally conceived with the name Walter.

    CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  9. #078

    The tavern owner character (Audrey Wasilewski) is thought to have been designed with inspiration from cartoon icon Betty Boop.

    CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  10. #079

    Elijah Wood and Melanie Lynskey came together for the first time in Over the Garden Wall; Wood later appeared as a guest actor in Yellowjackets, in which Lynskey starred.

    CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  11. #080

    Christopher Lloyd and Elijah Wood had previously acted together in the 1989 film Back to the Future Part II.

    CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  12. #081

    Although Auntie Whispers and Adelaide of the Pasture are female characters, they were voiced by Tim Curry and John Cleese, respectively.

    CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  13. #082

    Elijah Wood is exactly 24 years older than Collin Dean.

    CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

    ShareReport

Easter Eggs & References (12)

  1. #083

    In episode two, "Chapter 2: Hard Times at the Huskin' Bee", Gregory (Collin Dean), Wirt (Elijah Wood), and Beatrice (Melanie Lynskey) pass through Pottsfield, a town full of skeletons. This is a portmanteau of Potter's Field, a term for a graveyard for people who can not afford to buy a burial plot.

    EASTER EGGS & REFERENCES · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  2. #084

    During the epilogue at the end of episode ten, "Chapter 10: The Unknown", Lorna (Shannyn Sossamon) can be seen reading a book called, "The Tome of the Unknown", which is also the name of the short story on which this mini-series was based.

    EASTER EGGS & REFERENCES · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  3. #085

    The bell Auntie Whispers (Tim Curry) used to control Lorna (Shannyn Sossamon) resembled Lorna.

    EASTER EGGS & REFERENCES · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  4. #086

    Christopher Lloyd and Elijah Wood appeared in Back to the Future Part II (1989).

    Over the Garden Wall (2014) — Christopher Lloyd, at the card table
    Over the Garden Wall (2014): Christopher Lloyd, at the card tableImage: Wikimedia Commons · Gabriel Tyner, CC BY 2.0

    EASTER EGGS & REFERENCES · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  5. #087

    All of the names that Gregory (Collin Dean) names his lucky frog (Jack Jones) are: Kitty, Wirt, Wirt, Jr., George Washington, Mr. President, Benjamin Franklin, Dr. Cucumber, Greg, Jr., Skipper, Ronald, and Jason Funderberker.

    EASTER EGGS & REFERENCES · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  6. #088

    In the dream scene in episode eight, "Chapter 8: Babes in the Woods", a pink bunny can be seen hitting a drum, resembling the Energizer Bunny.

    EASTER EGGS & REFERENCES · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  7. #089

    One of the paintings in Endicott's mansion depicts the Beast.

    EASTER EGGS & REFERENCES · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  8. #090

    In the soundtrack, it was revealed in "Langtree's Lament" that Jimmy Brown (Thomas Lennon) has only been gone for three days. However, Miss Langtree (Janet Klein) says that it feels like eight.

    EASTER EGGS & REFERENCES · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  9. #091

    In episode five, "Chapter 5: Mad Love", one of the paintings in Endicott's mansion is also seen above the dining table in the Cartoon Network series Adventure Time (2010).

    EASTER EGGS & REFERENCES · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  10. #092

    All of the main characters of this mini-series are briefly shown in the introduction to episode one, "Chapter 1: The Old Grist Mill". One can even see a launching of the boat on which the brothers will travel in episode six, "Chapter 6: Lullaby in Frogland".

    EASTER EGGS & REFERENCES · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  11. #093

    One of the residents of Pottsfield remarks "Well, sure. Vegetables can't move around on their own, can they?" On the prequel short to Over the Garden Wall, Tome of the Unknown, Wirt, Beatrice, and Greg encounter a singer named John Crops who is made entirely out of fruits and vegetables

    EASTER EGGS & REFERENCES · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  12. #094

    In the episode "Lullaby in Frogland", when Wirt is looking at the angry crowd, there are two frogs resembling Luke and Professor Layton in the crowd

    EASTER EGGS & REFERENCES · SOURCED

    ShareReport

Deeper Meaning (7)

  1. #095

    In the second episode, "Chapter 2: Hard Times at the Huskin' Bee", Gregory, Wirt and Beatrice pass through the town of Pottsfield, which is full of skeletons. The name is a compound of Potter's Field, meaning a cemetery reserved for those who cannot afford a burial plot. One Pottsfield resident remarks, "Vegetables can't move on their own, can they?", a nod to the town's strange nature. In the series' pilot, Tome of the Unknown, Wirt, Beatrice and Greg encounter a singer named John Crops who is made entirely of fruits and vegetables.

    DEEPER MEANING · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  2. #096

    In the fifth episode, "Mad Love", one of the paintings in Endicott's mansion also appears above the dining table in Cartoon Network's Adventure Time (2010). The painting depicts the series' dark figure, the Beast.

    DEEPER MEANING · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  3. #097

    In "Langtree's Lament", one of the series' songs, it emerges that Jimmy Brown has been missing for only three days. Yet Miss Langtree says that the time has felt like eight days to her.

    DEEPER MEANING · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  4. #098

    In the episode "Lullaby in Frogland", as Wirt looks at the angry crowd, two frogs among them stand out as resembling Luke and Professor Layton. This is a playful nod to popular culture.

    DEEPER MEANING · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  5. #099

    At the end of the miniseries, as the camera pulls away from the hospital, the town where the brothers live comes into view. This town closely resembles the town in Clarence (2013), another Cartoon Network production.

    DEEPER MEANING · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  6. #100

    The bell Auntie Whispers uses to control Lorna has a shape similar to Lorna herself. This detail symbolically emphasizes the bond between the characters.

    DEEPER MEANING · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  7. #101

    In the dream scene in the eighth episode, "Babes in the Wood", a pink rabbit playing a drum appears. This rabbit resembles the Energizer Bunny advertising character.

    DEEPER MEANING · SOURCED

    ShareReport

Career & Awards (1)

  1. #102

    Elijah Wood would go on to appear on the TV series Yellowjackets in which Melanie Lynskey stars in. Over the Garden Wall marks their first collaboration.

    CAREER & AWARDS · SOURCED

    ShareReport

Life & Family (1)

  1. #103

    Elijah Wood is 24 years older than Collin Dean.

    LIFE & FAMILY · SOURCED

    ShareReport

Continue through the archive

Sources & editorial notes

Reference databases

  • Wikipedia English Wikipedia article
  • IMDb IMDb title page (trivia)

Information from external sources is independently selected, consolidated and edited by Arka Evren. Sources are listed for verification and further reading. Encyclopedia text is used under its licence (CC BY-SA). How we work