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
33 archived facts 6 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.
33 Interesting Facts About Over the Garden Wall
Interesting Facts (9)
- #001
One of the episodes that didn't make the final cut was a man who makes dice out of the bones of kids.
- #002
The Beast's true appearance is visible briefly and only during the climax.
- #003
Wirt was originally named Walter.
- #004
Elijah Wood is exactly 24 years older than Collin Dean.
- #005
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'.
- #006
In the ninth episode, 'Into the Unknown', Gregory hides behind Quincy Endicott's gravestone.
- #007
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.
- #008
The sixth episode, "Lullaby in Frogland", was originally planned to be a two-part episode.
- #009
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 (6)
- #010
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.
- #011
Creator Patrick McHale came up with the original concept for this mini-series in 2004.
- #012
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.
- #013
One of the episodes that didn't make the final cut was a man who makes dice out of the bones of kids.
- #014
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.
- #015
The first mini-series created by Cartoon Network.
Characters & Cast (3)
- #016
The character of Gregory, the younger of the two brothers, was based on Executive Producer Patrick McHale's son.
- #017
Although being the main antagonist, The Beast only appears in four episodes.
- #018
Auntie Whispers and Adelaide of the Pasture were played by Tim Curry and John Cleese, respectively, despite both characters being female.
Easter Eggs & References (13)
- #019
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.
- #020
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.
- #021
The bell Auntie Whispers (Tim Curry) used to control Lorna (Shannyn Sossamon) resembled Lorna.
- #022
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.
- #023
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.
- #024
One of the paintings in Endicott's mansion depicts the Beast.
- #025
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.
- #026
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).
- #027
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".
- #028
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
- #029
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
- #030
Contains a major spoiler — show
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).
- #031
Contains a major spoiler — show
The opening shows Lorna (Shannyn Sossamon) sorting bones of her victims.
Deeper Meaning (1)
- #032
The bell Auntie Whispers uses to control Lorna has a shape similar to Lorna herself. This detail symbolically emphasizes the bond between the characters.
Career & Awards (1)
- #033
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.
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Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
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