Into the Unknown [Remastered] | A Critical Examination of Over the Garden Wall

[@eggonbread7054]

There’s something about this show that brings my soul a sense of longing. The painted backgrounds, the music, the story. I crave more of this, but I’m not sure where I can find anything like OtGW.

[@Spellweaver5]

I've heard it compared to the game Don't Starve. That might be what you're looking for.

[@melissagarrett9719]

I rewatched the entire show recently because I played the game Inscription. The whole first act of that game reminds me of Over the Garden wall. Might be something similar for you

[@-overdooo-]

Hawaii Part II I'm so sorry the rabbit hole I just sent you on

[@robrules]

If you do art you can make stuff like it?

[@6Haunted-Days]

@@Threetailsmuch much more complex and layered then that! And goes much further back…..

[@samanthaharris2094]

the part where Greg goes YOU HAVE BEAUTIFUL EYES is so funny to me lol

[@basilisarsenaut2404]

This is by far the best research and analysis of Otgw I've seen. Great job

[@suisui7481]

This video is amazing and really well put yet I do want to ask you if you watched uncivilized elk's videos about the series

[@ramcams]

I just rewatched over the garden wall yesterday, and it's such a joy to be able to watch something this clear, well researched and interesting about a show I love

[@porchcollapse8612]

Rei Camilala exactly - it is a pure masterpiece.

[@opalmistic5364]

One thing i love about over the garden wall is that its one of those shows that if you watch it young enough, when you get older it suddenly pos into your head and you get that "oh yea" feeling. and if you watched it when you were really little chances are that you don't remember the plot and theres a pretty big chance you'll come to love it again if you re watch it and appreciate it. over the garden wall is memorable but it isn;t afraid to be forgotten, in fact if you re watch it years later its a long forgotten story reveled to you as you travel through the woods.

[@like.clarkwork]

This is too true for me. I just remembered that this existed like last night after at least 8 years (I'm 16 now and 8 when the show was promoted). I remember being uninterested in the show, flicking past Cartoon Network when the commercial appeared because it almost intimidated me back then. The art style and colors were more muted than the shows I were into at the time. It frankly scared the crap out of me, especially when I just had a little sister and was scared that it could happen to me. (Obviously it did not happen back then and 8 years later now but damn did that show mess with me for a few days.) Over time, I slowly forgot about it and it didn't occur to me that this existed until last night. I was playing a game with some friends over Discord and one of my friends' playlist came up. One of the songs was the opening theme to OTGW and it all clicked. Suddenly I had the urge to watch the show. So I spent 2 hours live watching it with my friends. Needless to say, it became my favorite animated show of all time. You're completely right about the value that the forgotten-ish nature the show has. It made me appreciate it more, knowing how I forgot about it, watched it for the first time, and greatly appreciated it.

[@AS-ug2px]

wow

[@arthurkassabian2528]

This is the best video essay of Over the Garden Wall that I've seen. Your analysis of It's art style is something that I haven't found elsewhere. Well done.

[@HenryKathman]

Thank you! Not to throw shade at any of the other videos that discuss cartoons and animation, but it sometimes feels like the visually artistic elements of the medium don't get the attention they deserve. Then again, there are few shows whose art direction help to thematically reinforce the ideas of the show like OTGW.

[@nightowl8477]

32:28 suicide, in fact. As does Come Wayward Souls; _"Sorrow and fear are easily forgotten, when you submit to the soil of the earth."_

[@HeavenlyEchoVirus]

“...What do you call the beast. Well, since you asked...” “DRY, SENSITIVE SKIN” according to the Aveeno ad

[@IrvingIV]

Accurate

[@lovemylillie1]

The Brothers Grimm were part of the literary romantisism movement in Germany. So it really ties together what you said about those two things seperately. Not really important, just thought it might be an interesting fact to some people.

[@HenryKathman]

Thank you for sharing, that was interesting

[@tedsowards]

I'm watching it and I'm like "I've seen this before..."

[@diromiz]

I STARTED WATCHING YOUR 2017 VERSION YESTERDAY AND HAVEN'T FINISHED WATCHING YET! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS REMASTER BECAUSE THE SOUND IS MUCH BETTER HERE AND I LOVE IT. Happy Halloween, enjoy some potatoes and molasses

[@HenryKathman]

Thank you! FUN FACT: Actual Potatoes and Molasses tastes like garbage! Learn from my mistakes, kids.

[@diromiz]

Oh trust me, I have never been less tempted to try a combination of foods. I'd rather eat an Oreo cookie with a slice of salami in between. Also, you're welcome!!

[@raew.1782]

@@diromiz one of my siblings used to make "bologna cookies" when we were kids. A piece of bologna on a vanilla Oreo. Just reminded me of that.

[@diromiz]

@@raew.1782 That must have been a delight :')

[@Shroomish_Art]

I am not exaggerating when i say that this show is the closest thing to a perfect cartoon i have ever seen. The music, the art, the message, the plot, the charecters and well... EVERYTHING comes together perfectly! There is no filler, no spin offs, no unessecery season 2. It's just... perfect. It's untouched by capitalism, untouched by greed. There wasn't a single second that I didn't like about this show. And I think that BECAUSE it's so short that it's perfect. There is no time for filler episodes or B plots. It's just a good story.

[@LittleMongoosie]

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this! Otgw is my favorite piece of media probably ever. While I see your point of view interpreting the Beast as a personification of the Unknown itself, I still remember watching the show the first time and meeting the Beast in episode 4. From the moment I saw him, he struck me as the perfect personification of depression; preying on complacency and feeding on the lost lives of those who give up hope. You were so in depth with so many facets of the show from the narrative archetypes to the visual themes to the social commentary-- i'll be watching more for certain!

[@HenryKathman]

Yeah, there is much to be said about how this show can be used to discuss depression.

[@resistancepublishing]

As a 48 year old man, I’m an avid fan of animation. One thing that irritates me to my core is when people say that cartoons and comic books are only for kids. First of all, stories of any levels can be told in any form of entertainment. I can give any grown up a hundred comics and a hundred cartoons with some serious themes that would invoke all types of emotions in the toughest person. Stories are as old as mankind and are the foundation of every civilization. So when someone says cartoons and comics are for kids, just recommend Avatar the last airbender or Over the gardenwall and tell them to come back to you after and to see if they didn’t experience any type of emotions whatsoever.

[@alexbenavidez4500]

When you were talking about that rotoscoping sequence inspired by the Fleischer brothers, it's just so strange to me how viscerally familiar it was. I instantly knew what scene you were talking about, but the weird thing is, I don't remember anything specific from the Fleischer brothers that was it's inspiration. I remember the inspiration, but I also don't remember it. It's so familiar, but I can't recall what it is specifically, and it has such a striking, strange mood, that I instantly knew that was the scene you were talking about. It's so difficult to explain.

[@duchi882]

*What I hate about your channel* is that it doesn't have enough subscribers

[@HenryKathman]

What a coincidence. I also hate that about my channel! CURSE YOU, IRRATIONAL DESIRE TO GAIN SOCIAL NOTORIETY BY HAVING NUMBERS GO UP!!!!

[@kaleycooper9111]

I gotta admit, he had us in the first half-

[@DustyCrow6]

This is absolutely PIRFECT for my collage art project! You have no idea how happy I am to find this with its analysis, context, artists, art movements and literary figures

[@HenryKathman]

What a great coincidence! This essay was originally written as a project for a Gothic literature class that I was taking, I’m glad I could help pay it forward. Just make sure you don’t ape TOO many of my points in your project 😉

[@DustyCrow6]

@@HenryKathman I won't. Fear not😁 it will mainly be a brief summary alongside a deeper analysis of the artists and art movements. Funnily enough last project we covered Dante's Inferno

[@kaelang12]

There's something I noticed, but for some reason no one talks about. In every episode, there's a blurry border around the screen. I think this is foreshadowing about the Unknown, and its dreamlike quality.

[@esthelleg7037]

Excellent! I think it’s worthwhile to add that Beatrice is named for another Dante character, his lost love who serves as his spiritual guide.

[@hand-drawnanimations8763]

23:51 I certainly didn't expect The Adventure Zone to be referenced in an analysis of Over the Garden Wall.

[@ms.pirate]

I didn't expect this type of video, i was expecting the song "into the unknown" in an over the garden wall style

[@HenryKathman]

I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless

[@samuelbott6104]

That feel when you do a video essay in the middle of a forest to fit the subject matter

[@birigby236]

I’ve been searching reviews from this show, I think this one is by far the most complete and the best review from otgw on youtube

[@laotasurfs1110]

I was just watching the older version of this video, having a hard time getting through it, due to having trouble with processing sounds and language. What an improvement! Thumbs up!

[@yugrif4403]

I've just finished to watch the 2017 version bruh. This video is very good and I think it's the best OTGW analysis on youtube, I think I will recommend to watch it to people who like the show. (and I can't put a commentary to complain about the audio anymore now :) )

[@EatingEnchiladas]

23:54 - EarthBound reference made me smile! What an excellent examination of the show. Nice work!

[@sophiekoester5214]

amazing video dude!!! i love the way you structured this, and i especially loved the section about otgw's art influences!! i learned somewhere that a lot of the bg art is also based on postcards of new england and whenever i drive around my new england hometown in the fall i think of this show :) also, i was chatting with a friend who works in opera about this show last week and she was telling me that the song the beast sings is from the opera hansel and gretel, and a lot of the scenes in the show are from hansel and gretel as well (like the dream in babes in the woods). anyway just wanted to drop a line and say i rly enjoyed this video and i think ur great!!

[@suzymcdoozy]

incredible!! i am currently doing an expository essay on the parallels between Dante's Inferno and Over the Garden Wall and this brought new perspectives based on gothic literature and the importance of the time our story is set in. also love your attire, its very swell. thank you for this incredible in-depth examination.

[@rocotaco5517]

Man just as I thought this show was great it has so much thought into it that's like god damn

[@PineMountainMusician]

I think the unknown might be several time periods. I only say this as one of the band members in the tavern episode is playing a soprano sax (which was first invented in the 1950s

[@springrolls-tm5qj]

Man, this is a really good review. I'm so happy to have clicked on it, 11 months late or not. It deserves so much more attention and I hope it blows up some time in the future

[@nicolasa-g1038]

Wow, I'm so glad youtube recommended me this video. OtGW is my favorite show and this is one of the most comprehensive and interesting videos I've seen on the topic. I'd write more but I should have been asleep an hour ago lol, but yeah this was just great

[@DragonFang409]

I’m really glad you remade this, I just watched your older one a few days ago and this one is definitely an upgrade, especially with the audio. Great job, I hope your channel grows big! I’d also like to note the placement of the ads, I never thought I’d say this but they’re brilliant! It feels like I’m watching a documentary with ad breaks in between and it doesn’t feel like it’s interrupting the video at all, you’ve thought about every aspect of this video, amazing job!

[@kryptickodex3846]

Great analysis and breakdown. I miss the gritty fairytale content. I grew up with the old disney animated alice in wonderland, bedknobs and broomsticks, oz, poppins.

[@bowarner7711]

Your superbly detailed examination of the art, story, characters and history is something to behold. I love the way you analized with words that almost sounded like poetry of your own. I can't commend you enough. I didn't think it was possible to love OTGW more than I already did. Also, where was the filming location? It was perfect!👌

[@raew.1782]

25:30 frickin stylish my dude!

[@abigailmaturana741]

i really like that you remastered this… and pronounces hanna barbara properly 😂💖

[@basilzamarripa-gray6925]

Thank you for making this!!! Been trying to explain ti a friend why I love this piece if media so much and now I can just be like "Watch this" lol. 10/10

[@nastyaissor7825]

Great work! In my humble opinion it is the best analysis of OTGW out there.

[@HenryKathman]

Aw thank you!

[@SpectrumSwordtails]

You know. Everytime I see this show. I get reminded of on of my favorite tabletop games. Changeling the lost.

[@porchcollapse8612]

This is such a thorough review! Instant sub.

[@adamsanda2333]

Man such a great video. I was a big fan of the original essay and just rewatched the series and came back to your essay and wow look at this gem. Props to you for remastering it. Love it.

[@Failfer]

Holy shite, first time viewer here but I can feel the quality from the start

[@Merfderf]

Thank you sooo much for this video This is definitively the most in depth and interesting analysis of the show I've seen so far! This cartoon truly influenced me on an artistic level and your video greatly helped me to understand and put words onto some key concepts that I could vaguely sense but couldn't research without knowing about the influences behind it.

[@HenryKathman]

Always happy to see people learning from this!

[@PoorBritishBoy]

My only note is the audio level difference from when you're in the forest versus you just speaking over clips from Over the Garden Wall. Other than that, amazing analysis, 10/10

[@nexto3032]

Would you answer a personal question? Everytime i see this kind of masterpiece in KZbin, i can't help but wonder if you gathered all the artistic references by yourself or if you actually took all of it from a specific blog, if you took half of it from another video but realized half of it by yourself... I really wish you could answer me this, because if all the historical and artistic references were in your head and you could relate everything with the show completely by yourself, then you are a literal genius. Anyway, i wish i could do critical analysis like you someday, but i don't see how would I be able to do that because i do not know as much as i should about art, history, philosophy, literature, animation or whatever, so I end up setting extremely high 'study goals'

[@HenryKathman]

Part of the inspiration for this video came about when I was in a class learning about Gothic Literature, which provided some of the books that I found acted in parallel to the series. The rest of the inspiration came about through basic research about gothic literature, the show, and the different forces that influenced them over time. As difficult as it might seem, I believe that anyone is capable of analyzing media like this, all it takes is a willingness to research and learn as much as you can about the topic you are talking about. And the nice thing about this is that if you feel like you don't know enough about the topic, you can always learn more.

[@nexto3032]

@@HenryKathman thank you for answering, you have no idea how important this is for me, i was desperate for answers to give me hope on doing this kind of job i really apreciate your work and wish you all the best greetings from brazil😊

[@tonjolley6422]

What do you mean this man has not even 5k subscribers?! This is some of the best video (style) analysis I've seen on this site.

[@lindenshepherd6085]

Thank you so much!!!!! I loved your old video, but the audio was a bit hard to get through. I'm so glad that you put in the extra work to remaster it!

[@HenryKathman]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Sleepygraveyard]

This vide is by far the best analysis of the show, as a fan of gothic literature and otgw I have been looking exactly for something like this, thanks!

[@heyImPaul]

Does anyone know the name of song that begins to play at 2:25? I first heard it from the Ambient Loop that CN put on KZbin a while back, and it's absolutely gorgeous (especially when precedes the instrumental version of One is a Bird)! Would love to learn to play it on the piano as well!

[@HenryKathman]

It was never officially released in the soundtrack, but if you were to watch the composer's cut of the show (which is a version with only the background music), you could find the song there. Unofficially, it's been called 'A Place to Wait Out This Rain'. Which can be found in a lot of places online. kzbin.info/www/bejne/f2SvaXekiZmZiZY

[@heyImPaul]

Henry Kathman Thank you thank you thank you so much! Really appreciate it! 😁😁😁

[@keith_o6434]

There’s a woods behind my high school I venture into sometimes and it just goes in deeper and deeper and deeper. I wanna go there in the night

[@joshelderkin9592]

Greg doesnt need development because hes a perfect specimen

[@emmaviridian]

Thank you for making this video!!!!!! I loved learning about the origins of the art style and artistic intentions of the show! This is an amazing youtube video and I'm really appreciative that you took all the time to research, record, and edit it for your fellow fans. Mad props!!!

[@greentea4439]

"What do you call the beast?-" "Grammarly" according to an ad at least

[@Failfer]

I love how you went over the garden wall footage, info, and Nature

[@phylippezimmermannpaquin2062]

i appreciate that my opinion on the two brothers switched as the serie moved on

[@cutiepie120048]

WOW, wonderful anaylsis - just finished rewatching your 2017 ver. and can I just say the improvement is phenomenal - especially in sound. Keep Up The Good Work~!

[@palabricasamuelcarlosl.hum2546]

how come I just found this out this year? Dude, this is the best analysis I've seen!!!

[@wholucy]

what an amazing video. I love so much this cartoon, but now I think I love it even MORE. thank you so much for this. I'm just sharing to everyone I know to watch it. 🎃

[@HenryKathman]

Aw thanks

[@jaibifox]

Thank you so much for this amazing piece of analysis. You managed to capture a lot of this show, and to sublime it. You are wonderfully underlying the artistic aspects of the show, the scenery and the many influences, and how this show is a legacy. You're a talented narrator, you're not telling, you're giving us a story, in style ! We feel your passion man ! P.S. who the f*ck is Beatrice ?! What do you think of Beatrice as an image of society's conventions and outlook ?

[@jonathanvais1326]

That one dislike was from the beast

[@Mathadar]

Yay! I saw the original when you posted it, watching the remaster just now.

[@profex.]

This is amazing dude, Great video!

[@tinytimm5905]

this is what i’ve been looking for

[@raew.1782]

I loved that little nod to merle highchurch

[@HenryKathman]

Yeah! A great example of the Knight of Faith archetype!

[@johncoleman1930]

PBS idea channel That's the name I have not heard in a long time, glad to see some people still remember thier work😌

[@HenryKathman]

Oh yeah! Rugnetta’s work was a real inspiration back in the day. Honestly idea channel is kind of an ideal that I have set for myself with my videos and how I discuss topics

[@Sasukeheart2]

Absolutely a fantastic video. So much research was done and your explanations are wonderful, thanks so much!

[@sarahconnors8909]

this is incredibly well done i have no words. this show is one of my biggest interests and this was so fascinating to watch

[@jakeb.6487]

Can't believe this has hardly any attention. Amazing and so insightful !!

[@spinningpeanut]

the ambiguity of the message as well can be meaningful to others in their own ways. To my friend it is about death 100%. To me it's about acceptance. Accept that nothing is what it seems, don't worry about the simple things and go with it. Greg may have been the focus for me on what you can do when facing the unknown. You don't need to be concerned about the animals in pants or the tavern full of people who appreciate their titles far more than their names, they just simply are what they are. It helped that another friend we showed this lovely story to for the first time kept saying "what the fuck" the entire time. She was sucked into the weirdness and kept wondering why rather than the why not. Imagination can provide the most creative answers to the biggest questions and allow you to relish in the smaller novelties. I think the angles each person can tackle the unknown by their own means is shown within this story very well. It's a fantastic Halloween tradition to revisit this tale once a year, especially at the start of the month.

[@marcosmoritz1957]

This video deserves so many more views! Congratulations!

[@darkestuberwald1725]

Wow this is impeccable

[@lyla4895]

This is spectacular thank you !!!

[@solaris_cc4353]

Wow. Loved the Symbaroum reference. This is a work of art, not differently from the show :)

[@solaris_cc4353]

Also, as a student in Literature, I love the precise bibliography in the description.

[@xxx1x47x41x3]

damn, wish I found this video 30 minutes ago... oh well. This is great tho. My only issue with the original video was the audio. Nice

[@nkbujvytcygvujno6006]

... Why 30 minutes specifically?

[@theveil1132]

This show will always be in my heart

[@SuperRosel]

Thoroughly interesting stuff ! Thank you !

[@TedExTheGreat]

Amazing video, very well put together!

[@moonpaperr95]

GREAT job on this video. I need to rewatch this

[@ВенциславаТенева]

That was the best *diving into the story* of the "Over the garden wall". I myself found inspiration to write something about this "kids show" although I watched it when I was around 10/11 years old, I never understood one thing . Why do I relate to Wirts pessimistic personality and Greg's optimisticpersonality? Probably I will find my answer later but this gave me a bigger vision on the different times (like neoclassical ) that are like playable memories in a box.

[@nicole-ls4jb]

Amazing research, and clearly explained. Thank you!

[@divad7137]

29:00 Wait the beast reminds me so much of the cube escape and the rusty lake games

[@ravenpotter3]

I think I know what show I’m going to watch tonight :) i love Over The Garden Wall

[@collincolson1614]

this video is so good, thank you so much for making it. I love love the passion.

[@curnelmillette9620]

This video came out on Halloween and day of my birthday when I turned 12.

[@pandapandaco]

Othaにおいて、これ以上深く考察されたもの私は知らない。 とても良かった。thank you

[@BuriedHatchetProductions]

Amazing job. this was great!

[@ack5372]

I dont know if anyone will see this but ive always wondered the significance of adleades name (adleade/adlewood) she mentioned she worked/was affiliated with the beast, and so did auntie whispers. I wonder if she was more like the woodsman, where she was someone who was manipulated by him, or more like the adlewood, where its a form of him/kind of his creation.

[@jamiesettle4348]

Ya Adelaide and auntie whispers are probably the two biggest mysteries that were left unfinished

[@samuelbattershell3413]

Greg follows a Flat Character arch, the world doesn't change him, he trains the world

[@paysonterhune290]

The illustrations remind me of the original L.Frank Baum illustrations for his Wizard of Oz books...

[@WitchApprentice]

Wow, this was an amazing video! I love Over the Garden Wall.

[@cakwe9161]

i love this video dude keep up the good work!

[@zubunure_hanataba]

Amazing analysis!!! Thank you :D

[@NiamhSinclair]

What an incredible and informative video!

[@HenryKathman]

Thanks!

[@Computerdude123]

I don’t think Greg has been already to the unknown already. I think that his interactions are kind of like Alice’s from Alice in Wonderland, just being an innocent kid who won’t question the logic of something and just have fun with it.

[@HenryKathman]

Uhhh yeah, was it a question of whether he has been to the unknown before? Cause idk where someone would get that idea.

[@aprezdesign]

Majestic, thank you, this an outstanding work.

[@PJA264]

Awesome stuff. Subbed.

[@matrixiekitty2127]

This is incredibly well done! Amazing work!!

[@HenryKathman]

Thank you very much!

[@claracalhoun5041]

and that's a rock fact

[@victorthecollector9198]

20:55 Omg who drew that fanart tho, it's so beautiful