Witch's Night Out

Every year at holiday times, my family always watches the same specials. Come Halloween time, this is one of our favorites. My only complaint with this special is the colors. Every single person is a different color, and it is kind of annoying and distracting the first couple of times that you watch it. But it has a great voice cast, and is worth seeing.

Witch's Night Out is a bizarre late 70s Halloween cartoon with some surprisingly adult subtexts. It follows the adventures of a witch who helps some trick or treaters by changing them into their favorite monsters.

There are a number of things that set this special apart, starting with its soundtrack. It has an electronic, disco-influenced score, reminding one a bit of Electric Light Orchestra. This goes well with the at times psychedelic animation style. Although the animation itself is rather clunky, the character designs are rather interesting, with the witch looking like a dominatrix.

However, the film's most distinctive quality is a subtext of emotional and even sexual repression. For example, one timid character ends up transformed into a very sexualized vampire. It'll go over the kids' heads, but adults might have a laugh.

I love, love, love this movie! I remember watching it as a kid. Then, when I was lucky enough to find a copy on a "bargain basement" online shop, I was thrilled! My three year old watched it 4 times, yesterday (It's 26 minutes long, so I suppose that wasn't long enough for her). The only questionable portion, for me, is the suggestiveness of the females in the animation. It's not terrible, but when one of the characters becomes a vampiress, It's kind of funny that her costume is a bikini.

A great holiday film!

I saw this when it first aired, I was 9 at the time and loved it, it was different, it had a bizarre yet oddly engrossing animation style, and a clever wit about it. Now 29 years later I found an old rental copy (this was out briefly on VHS and has never been out on DVD). This is just as odd and cool as I remembered. I don't understand why this never became a yearly special on TV. After its initial broadcast, it just seemed to fade into obscurity. Hopefully someone will see fit to release it on disc. I mean copies on ebay routinely sell for $20 - $60, so someone remembers this sucker other than me. Well, I'm glad I found a copy, as now my kids who are crazy for anything Halloween, will be one of the very few of their generation to ever see it.

Oh, it also has one of the coolest theme songs, it stuck in my head for 29 years.

Although its been nearly 29 years from the first time I viewed this on its original TV broadcast. It still rings with humor in my memories. The animation is a bit choppy but the uniqueness of the story line and not the same old, same old; has made me wonder. Why this cartoon never made it to any classic so called status? Let alone sequels. Have found it recently here @ "IMdb" on line. And learned that the cast was as special as the story. But also so surprised that it is not carried at my local library. If you find it. Here, or there. It should be a definite hand me down to be enjoyed by all. There was an all-star cast of voices utilized in the production of this movie; for example Gilda Radner, one of the most talented and epic comedic talents of the 20th century! Again this animated, made for television movie should be viewed by all!!! REA