How Horror for Kids Dominated in the 90's

A quick video about how Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and Goosebumps lead to a decade of horror made specifically for kids.
Footage used from My Little Thrifter. She has a lot of great conent on horror novels, check her channel out here: / @thebookubus
Instagram : / zane_whitener_art
Prints and Stickers: www.zanewhitener.com

[@raelaash4759]

To quote Neil Gaiman: Being brave doesn’t mean you aren’t scared. Being brave means you are scared, really scared, badly scared, and you do the right thing anyway.

[@user-sb8ks1ij7b]

I love his book Coraline

[@maddison5120]

Neil Gaiman has such an interesting perspective on things!

[@KatieLHall-fy1hw]

@@user-sb8ks1ij7b that story is SO creepy, I love it! The movie was awesome too, even with the added characters.

[@user-sb8ks1ij7b]

@@KatieLHall-fy1hw I agree. I like that they added Wybie. :D

[@JP-1990]

I work with kids and I frequently quote that to them.

[@catharticreverie]

I feel even with children's media diminishing on tv, kids still sought it out on the internet. Like the massive boom of scary indie game let's plays that dominated youtube almost a decade ago.

[@matthewwilliams8267]

It's hard to create horror. Games make it easier, since you control the character, but it also end on a happy note of hope, rarely on one of pure helplessness. Horror stories themselves can continue, since the star isn't the protagonist, but the antagonist. But, that's draws people, especially creative ones, to horror. Anyone can slap a sharp blade in a crazed man's hand, but it takes a sharp mind to show the truth that any thing and anyone can become the hunter or the hunted. One of my favorite stories from Goosebumps is Monster Blood. There is no evil person, no sharp blades, no excessive violence, yet it still terrifies me. Why? Because the Blood is a FORCE, like most things in Goosebumps.

[@sarahlott8755]

The children that grew up in the 90s reading Goosebumps would go on to be the teens and young adults creating creepy pasta and horror let's plays. We kept Tim Burton in relevance

[@vinnie830]

Same about creepypastas. Kids will always find a way to scare the shit out themselves :D

[@nothanks7263]

i agree! there's shit loads of kids who're into scp and a lot of the adult fans are like "hurr durr shuld kids rlly b here?"

[@veemie8148]

@@nothanks7263 I'm 17 and me and my little brother have been a fan of scp for years. There's some really well written horror if you search.

[@battiebumpkin]

When I was being abused, Courage the Cowardly the Dog actually saved me; Because of that show I’m still here due to putting myself in Courage shoes. I suffer from anxiety and even though Courage would get really anxious or timid too about situations, he’d still confront them or find a way through it and that makes the show much more than just a “spooky” kids show to me. It is a lesson of resilience and has a special place in my heart ❤️ By the way, Courage’s catch phrase being “The things I do for love” could also be viewed as finding things to hold onto during dark times, that was Courage’s, his love for Muriel.

[@InPraiseofShadows]

Glad to hear that the show helped you during a hard time in your life, that’s one of the best things any form of art can do. I hope that things are going better for you now. Courage’s relationship with Muriel is one of my favorites in anything, it is very wholesome. I haven’t watched any in a while but I would love to sit down soon and do that, it holds a special place in my heart as well.

[@battiebumpkin]

I wholeheartedly agree and thank you so much. I also wanted to mention that I actually started a GoFundMe since I had to return to my abusive situation(I explain why in the GoFundMe)..and need help getting out again. I can’t reveal my face nor my name since relatives on my mom’s side are nosey and will tell my mother which will in turn cause more problems for me. If you or anyone else can donate or share, it’d mean so much to me. www.gofundme.com/f/1w5a1z5u2ou?+share-sheet&rcid=759cb586a4bd4a5db53b22b691b1bdc3 Keep making videos and thank you for covering great topics like this 😊

[@GLM4222]

This made a tear come down my eye

[@itsclemtime2357]

Big oof

[@kazmiller7195]

There always has to be one of these comments lmao

[@seymourbones]

weird how you said the 2000s is when horror in kids show abruptly stopped, as i’m a 2000s kid (born 2003) and most of the 90s shows you listed were a huge part of my childhood

[@sooperpork391]

He means either canceled or just no new type of content with themes of horror.

[@Jim-Mc]

My perception is that after 9/11 and the cultural changes that came, a lot of children's media gradually got more sensitive and sterilized.

[@sooperpork391]

@@Jim-Mc Thats a good point

[@najaallen883]

Me too

[@normalgarlicbreadtm2854]

@@Jim-Mc why would 9/11 affect what kids see?

[@TheMisterDavis]

This will probably be shown as spam, but R. L. Stine tweeted your video!

[@InPraiseofShadows]

Oh wow! Thank you for letting me know, I had not seen! That really is the coolest thing that has ever happened to me, and I feel really honored that he liked it!

[@Murkrust]

shared your vid on reddit, hopefully you get tons of views !

[@InPraiseofShadows]

Thanks!

[@detBits]

I met him in Calgary a few years back, really kind man. I grew up on his work. Great video.

[@kidv2]

This is very cool, congrats :)

[@vinx3078]

The older demographic that likes the horror cartoons nowadays are the same kids that's grew up with courage the cowardly dog and all that stuff

[@urbanumbra6170]

Dwyn you’re telling me that people that grew up with horror cartoons like horror cartoons?

[@vinx3078]

@@urbanumbra6170 no shit This idea is revolutionary It's like never been thought before wow Yeah, the video skipped over it so I'm just adding it as a duh

[@CaptainShears]

Not true. My friend and I both loved Courage the cowardly dog, but hate watching anything horror related.

[@vinx3078]

@@CaptainShears y'all are two people out of a whole generation bro

[@vinx3078]

@Fidlam Ben's I'm not reading all of that Literally what are you even saying

[@JimmyChampane]

"Return the slab" guy still gives me nightmares. I subscribed. Keep up the great work!

[@InPraiseofShadows]

Thanks for subscribing and watching! I'm glad you like it! Freaky Fred was always my favorite, I don't know what that says about me though, I went as him for Halloween in 2013 too haha

[@fadedjate7230]

That was one of my favorite episodes. I used to watch Courage the Cowardly dog all the time. King Ramsey always stood there in the distance you never saw him up close nor did you want too. With that dark fog and him saying "Return the slab." Gave me chills and honestly helped foster my interest in Sci-fi and horror.

[@rubycroxton466]

Return the slab was hands down the scariest, like when it zooms in on his unexpectedly realistic face

[@fadedjate7230]

I don't ever remember it zooming in on his face.

[@asaiyannamedgokublack]

What's your offer

[@artemisarrow179]

Courage the Cowardly Dog’s episode: “The Mask” is probably the most prolific episode in the entire show. While Curse of King Ramses was spooky for a kid, watching The Mask as an adult you can clearly see the themes of domestic abuse and it chills you in a new adult way

[@imaginaryblue1400]

I remember a time in my childhood when my parents wouldn't let me watch cartoon network because the content was too intense for a kid my age, but I still found horror in other mediums, they encouraged me to read so I looked for horror books in the library, there I found Goosebumps, it was only after at least 5 of those(i used to put covers on them so that they couldn't see the pictures on front) that they realized what they were, but at that point they also realized that I wasn't being scarred by those books. And thus, my passion for horror truly began to spread, books, movies, tv series, I watched everything I could find back then, and with time I even started to research real life occurances of the supernatural, I'm also thankful for the oportunity to also a experience a few myself. Great video man, really brought back a lot of beautiful memories.

[@SoThatHappend]

Grimnir A book called Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman was reas to us when I was I n the 3rd grade, though I was scared O was intrigued and loved reading anyway so, I went to the line at and read as many horror books as I could many including the goosebumps series

[@MichaelFrazierTube]

Why are you copying my life! lol, this is exactly my childhood...like exactly. okay...like 92% identical...but still!

[@emeraldblack842]

Same here. I spent most of my childhood (6 to 11) reading gossbumps and other things horror related never being satisfied and always wanting more to read. Now I'm a teenager who's spends his days studying the occult and supernatural incidents and phenomenon but I still hold on to my goosebumps collection and ocassionally add to it as to this day. R.L Stine still writes some good stuff.

[@darealberrygarcia]

Now you are a grown up and can watch whatever you want

[@rob5541]

I worked with R.L. Stine on a short film a few years ago, and he told me about the giant replica cockroach in his work office and how much fun he had writing every morning. I've very happy to report that one of my favorite childhood author's is a great guy.

[@mossyraven6973]

That's so lovely to hear, as the Goosebumps books were my go-to's when going to my school's library

[@CaptainDonliski]

I can see exactly why Mr. Stine tweeted this out. You've put into words the thoughts I've always had about the medium growing up but found difficult to explain. Excellent video.

[@InPraiseofShadows]

Thank you, glad you liked it!

Dude, Courage did tackle the child abuse thing. Remember the hair-shaving obsessed guy?

[@xuannguyenpham1715]

I love that episode! It's creep me out till this day even back then I don't know any English.

[@disssociated]

Naaaaaaauughtyyy

[@awkward_bomb]

hows that child abuse

[@bloodymary9404]

Awkward_ Bomb he was a creepy family friend that took Courage off by himself and used courage for his own enjoyment “the hair cut” that left Courage with a sense of shame and fear. The underlined concept is targeted at child molestation.

[@LacerationGravity]

Awkward_ Bomb it’s a metaphor. he’s using courage’s body to gain pleasure (despite courage’s pain) and the family member are either unaware or they don’t care. freddy is a family member as well, which is how most cases of child sexual abuse/assault happen. if you rewatch the episode, you’ll find it’s full of parallels with real life tragedies, and it also contains a message for kids in that situation which is to call for help from authorities

[@crod9905]

Wow, this was a really good video! Your analysis brings up something I hadn't thought about before. Children's horror is never nihilistic or shocking just for the sake of it unlike in "adult" horror. It actually has value and a deeper meaning that many people overlook. I think this is why the controversy arises in the first place. I'm glad it were series like Goosebumps and Scary Stories to tell in the dark that got me into reading just like they did for other kids. If that's what it takes to breed a new generation of readers, then the horror genre is truly worthwhile.

[@InPraiseofShadows]

Thank you I am glad you liked it!

[@crod9905]

In Praise of Shadows No problem! You did a really good job! I look forward to more videos.

[@coldreaderNETNEWS]

no.

[@fatbitch7168]

there are a lot of lessons in horror stories for children and they are highly valuable

[@Cerecyte1221]

The older i get. The more i realize how different the 90's was. Things were just different that decade.

[@santiago.minchaca4536]

No shit

[@michaelcoulter1725]

The older I get the more I noticed how beautiful the 90s was especially if you're where a kid the good old days man growing up watching Nickelodeon Cartoon Network watching shows like Ren and Stimpy Are You Afraid of the Dark The Secret World of Alex Mack all that wild and crazy kids Johnny Bravo Swat Kats Dexter's Laboratory I could go on and on and on

[@itshoneychilee]

Oh gosh why does you talking about the end of children's horror and the cancellation of certain shows hit me in the chest? I felt like crying for a split second. Now that you mention it, children's horror books are exactly the reason I fell in love with reading and now as an adult, I find myself constantly trying to find something horror-related to watch to relax, but I'm always lacking because nothing seems up to par with what I expect. Most are cheap scare thrillers now instead of true horror. This really was the prime of our youth. Great video. You explained it beautifully.

[@justpaddingtonbear]

I love your reply. Absolutely agree.

[@shanelucas8036]

I never realized (until after watching this) how huge children’s horror was while I grew up. Some of my earliest memories involve watching and reading Goosebumps. Even when I got a bit older and explored all the R rated horror films, they all seemed so relevant and so successful. Now I’m an adult and it seems like horror themed movies have lost all their spark. It’s always the same story over and over again, and everyone forgets about them, if they even bother giving them a chance in the first place. I thought it was maybe just cause I’m older now and into different genres, but I think you’re right: horror came and went.

[@tyler2610]

I have been a life long lover of the horror genre as well and growing up with books and shows like Goosebumps and Are You Afraid Of The Dark surely helped to mold that not to mention the adult horror that was being churned out in the 80’s and 90’s that I eventually discovered. I am a lot more picky about horror films now at 37 than I was say at 13. In the 90’s and early 00’s as a pre-teen and young teenager I enjoyed movies like Halloween 4 or Friday the 13th Part 3. Now I see them for cheap gore thrills but they can still be guilty pleasures and nostalgic reminders of our childhood but now I want the story to have some substance and some base in reality to really scare me. I seek out horror and good thrillers and they are still being made but in much less quantities than the generic gore thrills. I’m not sure that is so different than it ever was though.

[@martimpardal]

Growing up with some of these shows you mentioned, i had never really stopped to reflect how children's horror does feel like a trend that has vanished. Interesting video for sure. But just like you mentioned the influence of Goosebumps in creators that followed, slowly things are starting to feel that the creators starting to rise now have grown up in the same things that i have. Point being that hopefully this leads to a push to 90's horror influenced shows, particularly in animation. And can't wait to see what these next few years will bring.

[@InPraiseofShadows]

I am with you on that! I know for sure that I bring a lot of these influences into my work as a comic creator, and I hope it is a trend that continues with other creators because I feel there really are valuable lessons to be learned. But I am with you and hope that in the next few years we see some of these things return.

[@spaceycaveco.698]

In Praise of Shadows This video you made defines a culture I’ve lived through and am still a big fan of. I’m a fellow comic writer like yourself who is also inspired by that era of animated horror and gross factor, also including adult programs like those of Troma and Full Moon. I’d like to see your work, please!? You can see mine here www.spaceycave.com/spacey-cave-newsletter if you’d like. And btw, let’s start a petition to bring Pogs back!!!🤟

[@lukewarner3503]

I love how you explain why you enjoy horror. I always feel weird trying to explain why I love horror to people, but it's about learning to confront darkness and become stronger from it.

[@CyberZebbe]

This was really well written, and I love your voice. Was shocked to see you only having 150 subs. Can't wait to brag about this when you hit 1 million ;)

[@RatSlayerGaming]

25.1k now a year later!

[@faceless2302]

@@RatSlayerGaming 34.8k now. They blow up so fast

[@lemonboy5498]

F̡ac͜e͡l̨e̶ss͟ 46.2k now, this channel’s growin fast

[@faceless2302]

@@lemonboy5498 He's been favored by the Algorithm

[@LukeWayne1939]

Just found him at 102k

[@tallerwarrior1256]

Kids: I’ve finally conquered horror! Adult horror movies: Are you sure about that?

[@dogvtf]

yeah... adult horror movies... i think you mean tits, bad writing, and repetitive jumpscares.

[@dot.7475]

@@dogvtf that's just horror now lol

[@vincentlaw1415]

I remember waking up on the couch, next to my older brother playing Silent Hill the Room.......at the age of 8. It took a while until he realized that I was awake........

[@dogvtf]

@@dot.7475 thanks for explaining the joke.

[@dot.7475]

@@dogvtf I didn't explain crap lol I was just stating that's basically just half the cliche's of horror films today

[@scyllamonster]

This is quality, bruh. Great job!

[@zebraman7703]

I was born in early 2000s and I always used to fell melancholy watching reruns of courage the cowardly dog on boomerang and reading goosebumps books from the library knowing what was there was a finite amount and there wouldn’t be any more ounce I was done.

[@danyg1400]

zebra man same

[@jacobbrown4721]

zebra man I miss those days.

[@P3891]

Not me I spent my childhood watching these as they came out. Looking back on the reruns and reading goosebumps it gave me a happy feeling from my childhood. Whenever I finished the last episode I’d just go back to the first episode and start the journey all over again.

[@cassualtea2040]

ye same, also stop motion animated movies like Nightmare Before Christmas and Coraline, but recently I realized I can make my own so thats what I decided to dedicate life to...

[@zebraman7703]

Cass Ual Tea I hope that works out making a stop motion movie has to be one of the most rewarding things. To able to watch something that is so self evident of the effort and care placed into it and know that was made by you. But I strayed away from making them because of the soul sucking tedium required.

[@seaj_94]

I loved courage the cowardly dog 😍 I always loved horror based cartoon/shows as a kid, its a shame it died out. I think its why i find anything horror based comforting now 😊 Great video, and meaning 😁

[@InPraiseofShadows]

Seaj94 thank you so much for watching! I’m glad you liked the video! I feel a lot of people got their start in horror this way, which is why I wanted to make this one in particular.

[@c0smicbr0wni3s9]

SarahJ Same. I absolutely *ADORE* horror-ish cartoons and now I'm really sad that they disappeared.

[@davidpinette9656]

Fantastic. Im a big fan of 90's cartoon, being a 90's kid myself. You did an incredible job. Very well done my friend!

[@bassemb]

Love it, love it! It's like you read my mind. I had this discussion with my gf recently after she watched Coraline with me. She said "this is a movie for kids??" I love Coraline because it reminds me of the movies and stories I grew up with in the late 80s and early 90s. Do you remember those "choose your own adventure" booklets? Always really scary stuff. Tales From The Crypt. Movies like the Goonies or Neverending Story, that did not shy away from scary scenes. It's exactly as you said in your video. Fear is a part of adventure, and at the end there's always the light of hope.

[@InPraiseofShadows]

Bassem Boustany Thanks! Glad you liked it! Yeah I always loved the choose your own adventure stuff, the goosebumps ones were always really fun. I really loved The Neverending Story also, I plan at some point doing a video on scary fantasy for kids like that and Return to Oz that was big in the 80’s, but I’m going to have to do a bit of research for that one. I’m excited to make that one though!

[@se602]

Oh man! I forgot about choose your own adventures. I had to get at least one with every library haul

[@brinklebros7136]

These early videos were good. I like them because you do not talk politics or slander others.

[@mollysockmonkey]

I wasn’t a nineties kid, but I still managed to indulge in all of these great pieces of horror media. Some recent stuff has still been cool like R.L Stine’s the Haunting Hour was a great and even darker show than goosebumps that really impacted my childhood and made me the lover of horror I am today.

[@TheVerucAssault]

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark: best illustrations ever.

[@rayrivers_]

This is so beautifully crafted, straight out of my childhood. I have a great feeling the horror kid's genre is going to come back very soon. 🎃

[@InPraiseofShadows]

Thanks! Glad you liked the video, I really hope it does!

[@MrRemorseless]

Let's see who knows this reference: "It happened to a friend of a friend of mine."

[@KaylaNoelle1]

Freaky Stories! Canadian kid's horror and spooky shows were bomb! I feel like we were less sheltered from it than American kids in the early 2000's. Ruby Gloom, Tales from the Crypt Keeper, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, and Mona the Vampire were Canadian too! (well Mona was technically produced in partnership with Canadian, French, and Hong-Kong studios). Honestly, as a horror-loving kid I got lucky growing up in Canada, that stuff was all over YTV.

[@joseenrique4927]

@@KaylaNoelle1 just gold bro

[@KaylaNoelle1]

@launzi Cute and spooky is a really good combo tbh it was such a great show!

[@thatnerdrachel]

YES! I loved Freaky stories! I had them on tape!

[@Hyp3rion]

Ah, the maggot and the cockroach.

[@Tj-oh8qf]

Spirited away creeped the hell out of me as a kid but got me to love Japanese animation and anime

[@Raptor-tooth]

I feel like children's horror is still alive and well, if having shifted mediums a bit with the death of tv and animated media in general being in a bit of a weird spot right now. After the boom of more adult horror games earlier on both in the games industry in general and on youtube, there was then an influx of horror games for a younger audience. I don't think some of the first were made for that initially but it eventually became this way. The effective scares with a lack of on-screen blood and violence as well as the popularity of youtube let's plays offering a way to experience the piece of media for children who for one reason or another (not able to buy the game, the game being too difficult to finish) couldn't otherwise enjoy it to the fullest. I was genuinely surprised to see my 10 year old brother taking such an interest in games like these when FNAF came out (which he did make me play and sat to watch instead of playing himself because he was afraid), and even more surprised to see it being marketed towards children. At this point even somewhat obscure horror-aligned games (if not outright horror titles) from developers who have had a hand in the market in the past seem to be getting toy deals pretty quick and are definitely aimed towards children and young teens. It's a pleasant if unexpected shift. Even if I may not enjoy these specific types of horror games myself, I know they have fostered a growing love of horror in my now 14 year old brother and it's something that we can bond over as I introduce him to a few more intense titles, novels, and tv shows as he ages and I know he can handle it. I grew up with Courage, he is growing up with FNAF, but we can both sit down and enjoy the same things at times, and more and more of that as he gets old enough to handle some of my favorites. Also as a small side note, I believe the influence of early children's horror in animation stayed strong for far longer than you gave it credit for. Shows like the grim adventures of billy and mandy persisted until around 2008, as while flapjack lasted until 2010 and still other shows employed small moments of shots that rode the line between horror and the surreal. I feel like a lot of that residual horror in the 2000s in animation eventually lead to a rise in more surreal fantasy elements instead with the occasional hint of more horrific or shocking scenes. There may come a time when horror in children's animation rises again though, especially if this boom in horror aimed at children in the form of games bleeds into the animations industry once again.

[@canyouwhenyourdrunk]

Growing up in the 90's was the best! Eerie Indiana was my favourite horror show.

[@InPraiseofShadows]

I actually haven't seen that one, thanks for letting me know about it, I will look into it more!

[@arky8515]

Parents are often scared of long lasting nightmares but in reality the scares don’t stick with us it’s what the hero did to overcome it is what we all remember even the spooks that really rocked us we eventually learn to leave them behind and set the line for what reality is and these shows make it easier to sit through horror films as we get older I’m only really upset because this genre died out almost right as I was getting old enough to enjoy them.

[@sherlockfan2000]

Parker Yancey-You make a really good point, even the scares from our childhoods that did really stick with us didn't do us any real harm, in fact I found watching horror themed content for kids as a child helped me figure out how to properly cope with my own fears once I grew up. I have fond memories of watching Are You Afraid Of The Dark & Goosebumps growing up, & as I got older the ocassional horror movie like The original Halloween & The Changeling with my parents & younger brother, & it's a real shame that horror themed content made for kids is so rare now.

[@Moosemoose1]

Even if things scared people to the point it gave us nightmares, it's not like they created some lifelong, long-term trauma, if anything, it created nostalgic childhood memories - kids are far more resilient than we give them credit for

[@iw7623]

Wow...this actually made me really emotional.

[@robee1602]

As a kid I always loved when a cartoon had a Halloween episode, for some reason those were the episodes that stuck with me and I still remember till this day

[@JYJnKumi]

I started reading Edgar Allen Poe when I was 4. His bizarre horror gave me an escape from my real horror that I was forced to live day-to-day. Getting into the unreal horror allowed me to cope with mine - I could delve into that which was worse than mine, even if it was fictional. I still love horror, if only for a different reason.

[@cosslogan1043]

Was the same for me. Why do you love horror now, what so you use it for now ?

[@rozepyracantha5574]

Four years old huh

[@JYJnKumi]

@@rozepyracantha5574 you know kids can read, right?

[@JYJnKumi]

@@cosslogan1043 I use it as an escape still. My job sees real horrors and fictional horror is a nice brain escape.

[@rozepyracantha5574]

@@JYJnKumi There’s a difference between sounding out some letters and really comprehending anything that you’re reading, let alone material that is typically set at a late middle school level to high school. Lol yeah it doesn’t mean shit that you “read” at age 4.

[@madmady8278]

when i was younger I remember watching the dark crystal for the first time and being petrified and scared whittles and I went crying to my dad, saying that it was scary and I didn't want to watch it. He gave me an opportunity to think about it; he'd ask me questions like "why is it scary?" "can it hurt you?" "is it real?" and it gave me an opportunity to think and comprehend what I saw. He told me this: "It challenged you, it was challenging. you are scared because you are not sure what to do, it cant hurt you- so you have to defeat it" and it ended up being my favourite movie among other "children's horrors". You need to challenge kids and show them that not everything is pleasant. What is the point in beating the monster if you never believed it was a threat? Children's horror is an important genre for development, I'd say its up there with romance, action, adventure and educational programming. Kid's need to be tested and learn to try things they don't like. Don't discourage morbid curiosity, kids that peek between their fingers to look at the ghosts are also the kids that will flick through science books and look at big scary encyclopaedias because they are curious. Fuel curious minds! If you tell them to avoid things that make them uncomftorable how the hell are they ever going to learn to study or exercise, or work in a job?

[@Jetsudo]

I had this playing and listening while doing some writing. I love supernatural horror films, not because they are scary, but because they aren't real and through the arts, we can explore 'what ifs' or things that cannot be. I don't care for real world horrors like drugs, divorce, murderers etc as horror films as much as ghosts or ghouls and so on. Because I live in this horror-style world of drugs and divorce etc and I know you can grow through them, but you'll never over come the problem- the drugs will always be there for others to use, other people will divorce and so on. But when a group of people defeat a monster, that's their experience and theirs alone. IT was great and because it was reoccurring, made it ever more scarier. But only to the children nearby and not anyone had access to this horror. That's their stories they get to share, not everyone elses. If that makes sense.

[@InPraiseofShadows]

Absolutely! I love that about It, and some other genre stories around this time. Thanks for watching!

[@SpookyCrypt]

I swear you just went right into my psyche and explained how I'm the horror lover and artist I am today. Great video! You got yourself a new sub from me!

[@Idfkleavemealone420]

Goosebumps is the reason why I’m such a horror junkie... and the reason why Stephen king is one of my favorite writers. RL Stein has some good adult novels as well!!

[@ArtofLunatik]

I was such a bookworm back then, i miss book fairs 😩

[@pundertalefan4391]

Saaaaaame.

[@davidhurst4883]

This was beautiful to watch. Had me in tears at the end. Thank you for sharing

[@InPraiseofShadows]

That makes me really happy, thank you for sharing that with me, glad it made you happy!

[@davidhurst4883]

I'm excited for what you have in store next

[@SprinkledFox]

VERY well said. I absolutely loved and still cherish the old children’s horror media. It really inadvertently taught me many lessons. Those books and cartoons allowed me to really escape my abusive childhood. We really do learn to appreciate these kinds of things as we grow older. This video really hit home and brought a tear to my eye.

[@dearines]

My parents HATED me watching courage the dog 😂 I loved it tho, whenever they were not around I would watch it. Also Sakura card captors used to terrify me but I loved it

[@archangel5627]

Just like you, my favorite time of the year back in grade school and I think even in middle school was the scholastic fall book fair. I was fortunate enough that my parents gave me money to buy a few books of my own choosing and I always gravitated towards the horror themed books. I think everyone can agree that if you were a child in the late 80’s and 90’s, the Goosebumps were a collection of books that everyone loved. The cover art immediately jumped out at you and you couldn’t help but want one of these cool tales. I’ll never forget the first time I looked at one of the three Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark! The insanely creepy art and stories gave me nightmares for years to come but I just couldn’t get enough of them. The other type of books I purchased at the fair were Books on drawing. Those early book fairs were the beginning of my life long love for drawing comics like you. Those were good times. Great little video and I appreciate the throwbacks to our childhoods! 👍🏻👍🏻

[@Thebossstage1]

I recommend the British show "Grizzly tales for gruesome kids" which aired from the early to mid 2000s.

[@thegurch7313]

Superb animation to that so freaky and fun to watch

[@samanthaghost]

I grew up in a small town in northern Maine so we had to order our scholastic books from the catalog. One year they had the entire Goosebumps collection and I talked my mom into ordering it for me, I’ll never forget walking into class a week later and seeing Goosebumps books overflowing my desk. I read every single one and I still have them. Horror was such a big part of my life growing up in the 90’s, I used to stay up late watching Tales From the Crypt, Twilight Zone and horror movies with my dad and my brothers. I would have sleepovers where my friends and I would just binge watch scary stuff and eat snacks. The older I got the more I started writing and I was in “gifted and talented” being the only one writing in depth horror stories. Those were awesome times

[@InPraiseofShadows]

Thank you for sharing that, that was very nice to read and made me smile. Really glad you had that experience, it sounds like we had similar upbringings.

[@samanthaghost]

In Praise of Shadows Thank you for making this video, it brings back a lot of memories. I started my channel about a year ago and I hope someday my videos are as good as this 👻

[@robertcute164]

Anyone else get an "Every Frame a Painting" vibe from the video? I love it!

[@fuegoeterno3607]

As someone born in the 90s and an actual ilustrator for horror today i feel greatly represented by your videos and your words, and i would like to thank you for giving us these videos. It brings great calm to my mind to find others with the same ideas and tastes, others with a great desire to continue this culture. I would love to follow your drawings if i could find you on any site, you can check out mine if it interests you, i can be found on instagram under the name "fuego.sempiterno" i hope i can find you over there aswell, cheers! continue this great work, i've subscribed and hope to see more of it soon.

[@wendigo6188]

I remember reading the haunted school while watching courage at my babysitters when I was 7 and drawing what I imagined the grayworld classroom would look like after finishing the book. Now I’m 14 and I watch old horror movies and read Stephen king and short horror stories in my free time, this vid spoke to me on a spiritual level Also everyone here should read scary stories to tell in the dark rn I would read them every day and beg my librarian to buy all the books in middle school they’re really good and Harold gave me nightmares for like a month. Also over the garden wall is my second favorite behind courage so I think it’s amazing

[@amerikatt]

Ok first of all: I LOVE your videos. You've got heart and talent. Also: horror is a great tool for kids (and adults) by which they learn to cope with anxiety, sorrow, fear, identity and the scary coming of age and growing into a sexual being with an identity and set boundaries. This is so not talked about, even though kids and teens have always sought out scary things and stories. Adults tend to diminish that and want to protect them, but it is a very important part of being human and coming into adulthood

[@ruliak]

Did anyone ever read those "lawn weenies" books? In hindsight they were really tame, but they scared the hell out of me as a kid and were personally my intro to horror. That and Scary Stories of course.

[@ruliak]

@PianoManiac for me never really scared, I think meeting that ghost as Pu scared me more (the one that takes all your limbs and such, eek!). But it definitely stuck with and disturbed me, especially the music and the fetus imagery.

[@maggiemay7403]

Me and my siblings loved the lawn weenies books! The fairy in the jar story made me terrified of fairies for a while though. 😂

[@aaronmarks9366]

Goosebumps and Are You Afraid Of The Dark were huge parts of my childhood. Halloween is still my favorite holiday. The 90s were such a special time, I hope younger generations will get to experience a decade like that again.

[@Kignak24]

I feel like the series So Weird doesn't get mentioned as much as it should. It was such a big part of my childhood and will forever love Fi.

[@abdelnajjar8191]

This video gives me that warm and fuzzy feeling

[@alexk9614]

This is all near and dear to my heart. I can't wait to watch horror media with my children.

[@fatbitch7168]

this got me tearing up a bit. I'm glad and proud I got to grow up in a time in which Cartoon Network was at its darkest, in which Tim Burton released tons of epic movies and in which I fell in love with horror and fantasy ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@coolbeans5911]

Really enjoying your channel!!!!! 6:23 damn i haven't watched Courage in over a decade but hearing this song just gave me nostalgia chills

[@THEMFRHINO]

Omg this is my new favorite video on KZbin, I was born in 2001 but my parents introduced me to courage the cowardly dog at a young age and I appreciate that show to the fullest. It really did change my life and always had such a wholesome conclusion, even using the antagonists in the episodes to have happy endings at times to show that even the monsters we make people out to be still have some good deep down inside them. Thanks for bringing back these great memories!

[@michaelbarfield7510]

I really like the idea of a channel that does video essays on horror/suspense. Pacing felt a bit slow, though; seems like you're still finding your voice. I look forward to seeing where you go with it.

[@InPraiseofShadows]

Thank you! I am for sure trying to make each one better as I go along, I feel like the third one has a few of the same issues with pacing that I am trying to fix. So that will be my main priority with the fourth one for sure. Thank you for sticking with it while I figure this out as I go along, and I am glad you are liking it so far!

[@nimblejoe2284]

Those last words where beautiful. Horror isnt about getting scared it is about coping with ones own experiences and fears.

[@NEScRETRO]

This is great! Keep it up! I loved horror as a kid, and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark were amazing.

[@InPraiseofShadows]

NEScRETRO Thanks for watching! I’m glad you liked it!

[@NEScRETRO]

In Praise of Shadows of course! Please make more! I just watched your Twilight Zone episode and enjoyed it very much. Very excited to see where your future videos go!

[@InPraiseofShadows]

NEScRETRO thank you so much for your support! I’m glad you like them, I will have new videos out every other Friday from here on :)

[@davidsmith-jj4iq]

Beautifully put,this type of horror ,doesn't deny ,there are things you need to be afraid of,or wary,but ,that even if you do encounter them,you can overcome them,a message of hope,sorely needed in a cynical world ,a comforting thought,exposing kids to a reality ,that while, at times scary ,can be overcome,nicely presented,and a welcome optimism.

[@by_toffie]

The 90s and early 2000s had great content for kids. We even had a lot of science like ZOOM, Bill Nye the Science guy and Strange days of black Holsey High. 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

[@MrSmiffles94]

I'm so happy you brought that courage episode with the depressed doctor up. I had almost forgotten about it and Courage is one of my all time favorite cartoons to this day. But,that episode in particular,I remember even as a child put me in a sort of awe. Like something clicked in my brain and said,"Oh,oh this is what cartoons are really capable of." It was beautiful.

[@joannagaga04]

I really only liked the creepy books in school . The other ones didnt interst me because they weren’t exciting at all for me. But i know so many kids that would be very scared and could not sleep for days because of small things.

[@Cakenattyy]

I always loved courage, I saw myself as him, and Muriel as my grandmother. My grandfather is a big fat drunk and he scared me to death when I was little. But my love for grandma couldn't hold me back. Courage helped me through my childhood.

[@ManubibiWalsh]

So what you’re saying is 9/11 destroyed horror for children, right?

[@mayanpictures3000]

Really valid point. Might not be exact cause, but the cultural repercussions it caused

[@pundertalefan4391]

Oh. That's sad.

[@willmistretta]

It's always interesting to me how a horror fan gets their start. I was too early for things like Goosebumps and Courage the Cowardly Dog. For me, Gremlins in 1984 was pretty formative. Then I got into "real" paranormal accounts from tv shows like That's Incredible. Their "haunted Toys 'R' Us" segment, silly as it was in hindsight, was mesmerizing to a young kid at the time. The Scary Stories books were naturally sought out. Then there was getting lost in the horror section at the video store, of course. Back then, VHS case designers tended to put their best gore effects right on the box to draw you in. I was soon staying up whenever possible to catch every horror movie and anthology show I could on late night tv, in addition to renting them whenever possible. That's where I first "met" Elvira and Joe Bob Briggs, long before I was able to in person. I'm glad I had able opportunity to become the freak I am. I wouldn't wish anything less on any generation.

[@Knights_of_the_Nine]

Kids born outside of the 80s and 90s have it rough. I feel for yall.

[@MmaSmarty87]

I turned 34 today...I wouldnt trade my childhood for a iphone or android tablet 😂😂

[@RBPhantomTilt]

It's like listening to myself. I can still picture so many Goosebumps covers and will never forget watching the VHS of the Werewolf of Fever Swamp (I think it was called) and veing terrified but loving it. Growing up in the 90s with Children's horror and with a father who loved and introduced me to Steven King was such a gift. Another great video. Cheers man!

[@jacobv8447]

Just discovered this channel. So damn well done. Bravo and keep it coming!!!!

[@rtchoke4333]

i must have read all of the scary stories to tell in the dark books 40 times from 3rd to 5th grade. i was absolutely in love with the stories and the incredibly detailed and twisted illustrations that came with them. i just got all 3 books for christmas this year. i look back at them and i’m rlly glad i read them as a kid. i think they are an aspect of my life that made me who i am today.

[@tinastina01]

loving the message at the end, it is about survival

[@Todomo]

i was born in 2004, and everything you’ve mentioned here had a huge impact on my love for horror. in elementary school (2010-2015) i adored scary stories to tell in the dark, courage the cowardly dog, stephen king movies, and the goosebumps show. then in 5th grade i started reading stephen king, and i’ve just been more and more in love each year

[@c0smicbr0wni3s9]

"If dreams can't come true, why not pretend?" I found Over the Garden Wall a few weeks ago while looking at fan art for a different fandom (don't judge me I like to look at fanart) and because I love spoopy stuff, I instantly got hooked and watched the whole 10 chapters in a week. I actually ended up dragging my friend with me but because the Coronavirus had to exist, she didn't get the chance to watch the full thing with me. I absolutely loved the mix of horror with old timey music because older music does seem a little creepy (looking at you, Put Your Head On My Shoulder), but it did give it a nice feel instead. I plan on being an animator when I'm older actually! Also, I too have an unhealthy addiction to watching cartoons and animated films (preferred over live action) at age 12 **SPOILER ALERT** I broke down in tears and screeched at Wirt when he didn't immediately free Greg from the trees growing around him. I screamed at Greg too when he admitted that everything was his fault and wanted the beast to take him instead of Wirt.

[@saladnander3690]

I was born in 2000, and I remember my grandma recording these on vhs as they started fading out of tv, because nothing new was ever as good. I'm somewhat estranged from my father but Courage still is one of the only things we ever bonded over, and that show really sparked my love for the spookier things. Thank you for making this.

[@atlas1102]

I like how in the thumbnail you have two horrifying abominations and then just Courage who just looks absolutely sick of everyone's s#^%

[@surrealdynamics4077]

Beautiful video and topic! It's sad how the horror genre meant for children has been put down so much... I share good memories with so many people about creepy characters, scenes, stories at a young age... Without all these shows, movies, books, I feel I wouldn't be the person I am today, I wouldn't have my taste in this great genre

[@beccaelena8718]

That’s why we’re the horniest and depressed generation

[@steviedarko6322]

becca elena 🤯🤯🤯

[@beccaelena8718]

Øath betrayer we all had shitty parents 😂 emotionally detached and authoritarian/permissive dynamics brought on by the generation that raised them. but god bless em for trying

[@leonchan3157]

@@ChristopherStrider what are kids called again millennials? Centurians? Hell I hate internet language Someone dump me a overview I'm too old for this.

[@prixe12]

@@leonchan3157 It doesn't matter its all artificial bullshit meant to devide us anyway

[@fallinghairlesscat]

I think we're the most borderline. Anecdotally I see many on the extreme ends and rarely it seems anyone can survive riding the centre line. Personally, I have no sex drive because I'm depressed. Just my reaction, mind you

[@DoctorWhoovz]

That speech at the end was really something, actually made me tear up a bit. Excellent video man!

[@TonaldDrumppp]

great vid, the 90s were a great time, miss it.

[@ashleyeades3804]

Thank you! You reminded me why the horror genre gave me comfort as a child and still does to this day.

[@chaoscommentary2179]

I was born in 1995 and I remember renting goosebumps stay out of the basement, the werewolf of fever swamp and the hunted mask. Now looking back I miss goosebumps I kinda want to read them but I know I’m to old and there kids books I could read in an hour

[@user-ep4yk3td2u]

I get the feeling that my comfort and sometimes interest in morbid topics was nourished by my childhood being spent watching the old scooby doo, courage the cowardly dog, nightmare before christmas, etc, and reading stuff like goosebumps and scary stories to tell in the dark. I think it's really important to introduce the harder, darker side of life to children in an age-appropriate way that will help them develop into more resilient and brave adults later in life.

[@colddarkness1798]

Courage the Cowardly the Dog is best cartoon ever made.

[@noiJadisCailleach]

I just discovered this channel. This is the kind of video essay i jam with. It's like Nerd Writer, but towards the things that i like more. I wish you'll blow up soon! This is art!

[@shadcovert1160]

"I'm not Stu!" Scared the shit outta me.

[@user-mg8sh5nf6j]

This hit so hard im putting it in my IG bio, instantly one of my fave yt videos EVER! You captured this time and space flawlessly.

[@mothermahapp5338]

2020: No those films is too much for my kids!!!!! Cancel the WHOLE SHOW!

[@eddy5750]

Just different times now. Crazy to start getting old enough to see how things really change over time

[@matthewjames3637]

Your channel is amazing and so underrated. Keep it up and the subs will come, I'm confident.

[@InPraiseofShadows]

Thanks man, I’m glad to hear it. I’m confident in it as well, I’m just happy making videos though and am glad that people enjoy them. Working on a really big series currently for next month that I am really excited about.

[@charlotte96ify]

You almost made me cry. When I was a kid I was obsessed with horror media and I watched literally all the shows and red all the books you mentioned, I would force my older cousins to read me goosebumps when I still couldn’t read and watch even more mature horror movies with them, getting terrified. I never even thought ab the fact that this genre for kids is not out there anymore, and it makes me so sad cause it was my childhood, the most interesting part of it, where the only things that could scare me where ghosts zombies and vampires.

[@dadandvideogames]

You've got a new subscriber here! Very cool vid.

[@InPraiseofShadows]

Horseticuffs thanks for your support! I’m really glad that you like it and that other people are digging it so far!

[@colinbadertscher4128]

I think i know least of these shows because they weren't that big back then in Europe, but the video was super heart warming. Almost cried... thank you for making videos like these, im always happu to see there is still valuable content on this platform

[@patrickdavis99]

"Unhealthy amount of cartoons" Lies, there is no such thing.

[@TalDITO]

Wow this is one of the best videos i've ever watched on KZbin, it made me realize so much about myself, why i loved this kind of horror shows as a kid, why i love such difficult games such as Dark Souls and all theyre franchise. thank you so much for donating this content to us. ❤️

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

4:37 oh, this movie was the shit, not even Satan could convince me otherwise

[@1ThousandRoads]

I was born in the mid-eighties and grew up on Goosebumps and other 90s horror children's classics, which did indeed serve as my gateway to Stephen King and the wider world of literature, with a lifelong love of the strange, eerie and scary. This video, so well thought-out and so well eloquated, has made me understand myself and my formative years more (along with so many others of the same generation). I can't praise it enough. Brilliant work, and thank you.