Product Details

• Format: NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Warner Archive
• DVD Release Date: August 28, 2012
• Run Time: 70 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (119 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00936A12O
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,431 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Spock (Leonard Nimoy) waxes spooky as Death personified in this video retelling of Ray Bradbury's classic Halloween adventure. A Hanna-Barbera animated presentation, The Halloween Tree tells the story of four close friends who must face their greatest fears as they travel through time to save their dear comrade, Pip. It's Halloween night, Pip's favorite holiday, and the friends are baffled to spot his spirit running through the woods when they've just seen his body hauled off in an ambulance. Mustering their courage, they follow the spirit and meet Moundshroud (Nimoy), the mysterious black-caped proprietor of a haunted house. Moundshroud challenges them each to gain a deeper understanding of the origins of this ghostly holiday as he leads them on an educational journey through faraway places and time periods. From Egyptian sarcophaguses to Mexican graveyards, the children learn the legends behind Halloween and the importance they place on their friendship with Pip. Imaginative, not too scary, well-acted, and nicely drawn, this hour-long treat will appeal to little spooks ages 5 and older. A short Yogi Bear "classic" involving a witch vacationing in Jellystone Park opens the show; parents not into reminiscing might wish to fast-forward past this dated time-waster. --Liane Thomas

Product Description

Sit on the edge of your seat and enjoy master storyteller Ray Bradbury's classic adventure of four youths who try to save the spirit of their friend Kip from the ghosts of Halloween past. The four encounter a mysterious character, Moundshroud who takes them on a magical journey that sweeps them back as far as 4,000 years and touches down in exotic places all over the world like Egypt, England, France and Mexico. Along the way they discover the magic and meaning of Halloween - and friendship. This enchanting adventure features the voice talents of Leonard Nimoy as Moundshroud and the animation wizardry of Hanna-Barbera. It's a story as timeless as Halloween itself - a bubbling cauldron of thrills and suspense that will stir the imagination of the entire family. Bradbury's popular story is destined to become a perennial Halloween favorite.

This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.

This product is expected to play back in DVD Video "play only" devices, and may not play in other DVD devices, including recorders and PC drives.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Very entertaining, spooky treat February 22, 2003

By microjoe TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:VHS Tape

First let me warn you, this is a little too spooky for kids 7 and under. But it won both an Emmy Award, and an award from the Film Advisory Board. The film is based on a story by Ray Bradbury, and he narrates the movie. The movie is very different than the book, but than what movie isn't? The scary "Moundshroud" character keeps you guessing as to whether his intents are good or evil. He is wonderfully voiced by Leonard Nimoy, and if you have never heard him voice animated films, not only is he really good but you can't tell it is him!

In the story 4 kids,(3 boys and 1 girl) are preparing for Halloween night and find that their buddy Pippin is being taken away in an ambulance. No one seems to know whats wrong with him, and the kids seem lost without him as he is the one they all look up to. A mysterious character shows up by the name of Moundshroud, who tells them that his spirit has been taken by ghosts of Halloween past and they must come with him to capture Pippins spirit and return it to its body. But can they trust him, as it seems he has his own secret motive for capturing Pippin. Each of the kids is dressed as a classic Haloween character Moundshroud takes them across the world and through time itself to discover the origin of that classic Halloween costume character. For example the hunt for the mummys origin leads them to ancient Egypt and its dark secrets. The skeleton takes them to old Mexico for "Day of the Dead" celebrations. The Witch takes them back to the bards of England. They also learn what real friendship truly means, and must freely give a huge personal sacrifice if they want to save the soul of their friend.

This movie is bigger in story than it seems, and my wife has watched this tape about 6 times. The animation is good, very fluid, good character design. The movie will keep you guessing until the end. Suspenseful, imaginative, and educational without looking like it is trying to be.

UPDATE: Thanks to E. Von Ray for alerting me, this has finally been released in DVD in September 2010 after it's original VHS release in 1996. The new DVD is only a DVR print on demand copy by Warner Archives, so we will see how the quality is. Some DVD players do not like the DVR format. If I buy one I will update here, and hang on to my VHS copy for now.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastical view of Halloweens past October 9, 2001

By cr0wgrrl

Format:VHS Tape|Amazon Verified Purchase

This animated made-for-television Halloween special has captivated me since the first time I saw it back in 1994. Based on Ray Bradbury's novella of the same name, the plot weaves together the Halloween traditions of cultures gone by with four modern-day children's quest to save the life of their friend, whose soul is also being sought by the mysterious and sinister Moundshroud (voice-acted superbly by Leonard Nemoy).

The only confusing section in this cartoon comes from the updated Celtic Samhain tradition. In his original novella, Bradbury included the wildly incorrect belief that the Celtic Druids worshipped Sam Hain, the god of death (of which there was actually no such thing). For the special, that horribly inaccurate section was re-written to discuss pagan witch traditions. While the end result of this content switch is much more satisfying, the story line does feel a little bumpy in this part.

This is spooky fare, but only mildly so. Little kids can watch it without having nightmares, and should come away from it both entertained and enlightened. A wonderful addition for your Halloween traditions.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars It's About Time! September 21, 2012

By McG

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

If you're like me, you've been waiting for The Halloween Tree to be released officially on DVD for a long, long time...and now it's finally here! This is a bare-bones "burn on demand" release which means they make them as they are ordered (still very fast shipping). Because of this, we won't be seeing it sold in stores or at least for the time being. The only option on the disk is to "play movie" but the quality is just fine and a lot better than an old VHS tape, which was the only way to get it until now.

Due to the movie being straight from the Warner archives, it has not been remastered or restored from the original version but looks and sounds just as it would if you saw it on TV the day it aired. The packaging and art is great, except for the minor spelling error; "Kip" instead of "Pip".

This is an essential movie for any Halloween lover and has been a Halloween tradition of mine for quite some time. It's the perfect movie to get you in the Halloween spirit. So hurry up and grab your copy before it's too late!