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Among other legendary TV show intros, I posted the intro to PBS’ Mystery! the other day, and the enthusiastic response from our readers who hadn’t seen it in some time but remembered it fondly convinced me that we need more on the site in that vein, and stat. Unfortunately, that intro was Edward Gorey only animated piece; fortunately, there’s plenty of material out there that either inspired Gorey or was inspired by him. Let’s take a look.
The Tell-Tale Heart
This classic 1953 animated short features James Mason as the narrator (film buffs will remember him as the lecherous protagonist of Kubrick’s Lolita, among countless other roles) and an understated, subtly creepy style that seems way ahead of its time. A classic rendition of a classic American story.
Vincent
Tim Burton’s breakout short film (well, besides Frankenweenie) was clearly inspired by Gorey, a stop-motion animation that seems to both hearken back to the old days of animation and foretell the coming of films like Corpse Bride and The Nightmare Before Christmas (which he produced).
David Lynch’s “The Alphabet”
OK, this isn’t exactly inspired by Edward Gorey, but it’s another macabre master’s breakout short animated film, and I just had to share it. So experimental — so creepy!
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Gorey did the illustration for a series of children’s books in the 1970s. Can’t remember the author, but the first book was “The House With A Clock In It’s Walls.” The book was very good (hence the series), but the illustration on the cover was SCARY (at least for me).
posted by Beth on 8-20-2008 at 11:10 am
I’ve kept a “Gashlycrumb TInies” poster on my bathroom door since my college days. It gives party-goers something to read whilst waiting.
Also, for Christmas one year, the folks gave me a lovely pop-up miniature version of the set Gorey designed for “Dracula”. Complete with characters and coffin. Amaze your friends! Startle the elderly!
posted by Boggy Creek Creature on 8-20-2008 at 11:35 am
Beth, the series you are thinking of is by John Bellairs. Gorey illustrated Bellairs’s initial trilogy about Lewis Barnavelt (House with a Clock in its Walls, Figure in the Shadows, and The Letter, the Witch, and the Ring), as well as several John Bellairs “Johnny Dixon” novels. Those original covers were amazing! Sadly, they’ve re-released those books minus Gorey’s artwork. Those were my absolute favorite books when I was a kid. :)
I picked up a framed poster of “The Utter Zoo Alphabet” at a book fair a few years ago that is in my bedroom, and I have a pretty big Gorey collection on my bookshelves, though it barely scratches the surface of his huge body of work. I just love Gorey’s bizarre and morbid sense of humor.
posted by Brigid on 8-20-2008 at 12:27 pm
OMG, I didn’t know the House With a Clock in its Walls was a series. I loved that book and think of it every time I eat chocolates while reading. Although not this topic, thanks for reminding me of a favorite childhood read.
posted by Emma on 8-20-2008 at 2:25 pm
The scariest cartoons, Edward Gorey is too beautiful and intriguing to be considered scary. What gave me the big creep factor was Unico, 1981. Specifically Unico in the Island of Magic, where the evil Lord Kuruku plans to turn all living creatures, animals and people alike, into zombie-like beings called “Living Puppets” to be his slaves. It is disturbing.
posted by Haylia Jones on 8-21-2008 at 10:37 am
i was always scared of the cartoon “the cat came back”
posted by sheya on 8-21-2008 at 2:17 pm
Where is “Watership Down”?
posted by John on 8-21-2008 at 9:59 pm
LOL, I love scaring kids! I cant wait to try this out on some of them!
RD
http://www.decrypt.net.tc
posted by Jim Dawson on 8-21-2008 at 10:00 pm
One of the scariest cartoons from when I was a kid was the 1971 animated version of A Christmas Carol directed by Richard Williams. I remember Marley’s ghost being scary, but the depiction of Ignorance and Want were really creepy!
posted by Peter on 8-21-2008 at 10:12 pm
Have a look at ‘billy’s balloon’ if you want to scare the kids.
posted by John on 8-21-2008 at 10:15 pm
I didn’t realize those books were so old! I was born in 89 but somehow I got a hold of the whole Bellairs series and those were my favorite books to read, along with my giant Edgar Allen Poe collection. That’s really cool, I didn’t know if anyone else had read those books.
posted by kyle on 8-21-2008 at 10:38 pm
Sheya, I totally agree. The Cat came Back was one of the creepiest things ever. That song gets stuck in my head for days.
and John, Watership Down was super creepy. I just rewatched it for the first time since childhood, and was still totally freaked out! (and I’m 23!)
posted by Lara on 8-21-2008 at 11:45 pm
Watership Down is pretty #$%$#ing scary
posted by dfgfdhsk on 8-22-2008 at 3:09 am
While it’s one of my favorite piece of animation that I own, Fantastic Planet scares the heck out of me whenever I watch it.
posted by drfoongoggles on 8-22-2008 at 8:32 am
Roger rabbit may not scare kids, but it one cartoon that definitely wasn’t for kids.
posted by BoredQuiz on 8-22-2008 at 2:31 pm
Thanks so much for this! I always loved the Mystery intro as a kid and was always disappointed it wasn’t longer. These are excellent finds, and remind me all the more why Halloween was always my favorite holiday, and The Haunted Mansion my favorite Disneyland attraction.
BTW- totally agree about Watership Down. Totally unnerving!
posted by Becca on 8-24-2008 at 2:26 pm
There was a pbs cartoon way back in the early 70s that was of a man in a cave being chased by a spider…I for the life of me cannot remember its name!!! It frightened the life out of me and I want to see it again!
HELP!!
posted by Jodi on 1-11-2009 at 9:30 am