Witch's Night Out

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 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.

I am on a search since i was 9 for this man. I am a animator working in the bizz . his film was the reason I went into animation. I was able to talk to a person that knew him but had know idea where he is now. Tony molesworth the voice of Small was very nice but had know idea where he is. If anyone has any info on this great man please let me know. I would like to thank him for putting me on the path of what I love to do. And it all started with Witch's Night Out that I watched over a million times. So much that I broke the tape back in 89. LOL. But with the power of DVD I was able to burn it. I mean really the art work the BG"s I was in love from day one. People started looking like these characters to me. i wanted to live in a world were we are all different colors. I loved the voice work as well as the music. I wish he would have used these characters more.

Great for kids! A classic must have for your Halloween munchkin. A wonderful look at a washed up witch, & a town that has forgotten how much fun Halloween can be. Gilda Radner is hilarious! The animation although a little outdated is still engaging. So pick up a copy, & enjoy!

Now many people may not know but Leach and Rankin , the husband and wife team, was one of the earlier Canadian animation studio's. The backgrounds are gently rendered by Jean Rankin and the animation is drawn by JohnLeach and a small crew. The voice of Gilda Radner supplies a beautiful Gloria Swanson , Sunset Blvd type witch . Having had success with another earlier film " Gift Of Winter" , John and Jean managed to get this film produced. Their animation process was unique in both how the backgrounds and animation were rendered. The animation was drawn directly on cel with ink pens and with no predrawings . This was Johns way of forcing himself to let it happen and quite frankly his animation was odd yet terrific. He was a powerful painter and his hand was sure and dynamic because of it . It blended beautifully with Gildas eccentric witch voice and is still unique after all these years . The two creators broke up later just before John started work on the ill fated "Lets Play Grown Ups" but they have left a wonderful film that is worthy of being rescued and restored as a Canadian Classic. Definately worthy of watching.