Over the Garden Wall's live-action/puppets spiritual sequel is ‘ready to hatch,’ creator says

Patrick McHale's latest project, The Elephant, debuts on Adult Swim this week

If you're reading this, there's a good chance that, at some point between Oct. 1 and Thanksgiving of this year, you rewatched Over the Garden Wall. The delightfully spooky animated miniseries has become an annual tradition for many, who revisit its gorgeous animation, hauntingly beautiful music, and autumnal vibes every year. Since its release in 2014, creator Patrick McHale has offered up a few spinoff projects, including various comics and even a stop-motion short from Aardman Animations, but nothing that comes close to being a genuine follow-up. But perhaps, he still can.

Back in 2020, I interviewed McHale for an Over the Garden Wall retrospective, and he told me that he has plans for another "spiritual successor" that "comes from a similar place in my heart and brain." In the five years since, nothing materialized. So when I had the chance to interview McHale again for his new project The Elephant (more on that in another article soon), I had to ask if this was that successor — or if it was still in the works at all.

"No, this was definitely not that spiritual sequel, haha," McHale tells Polygon via email. "That other project is still waiting impatiently in its egg, ready to hatch. If anybody with millions of dollars reads this and wants to fund a live-action & puppet hybrid film that's a wintertime spiritual sequel (of sorts) to Over the Garden Wall, please reach out."

For anyone who's been waiting patiently (or impatiently) for a follow-up to Over the Garden Wall, those words are probably enough to pique your interest. Mixing live-action and puppets is intriguing, and the shift from fall to winter would certainly make this other project fit naturally next to Over the Garden Wall. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like we're any closer to this spiritual successor becoming a reality, but if you're reading this, and you do have a few million dollars to spare, please consider giving it to McHale. The rest of us will be extremely grateful.

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Over the Garden Wall is streaming on Hulu. The Elephant airs Dec. 19 at 11 p.m. Eastern Time on Adult Swim, and will be streaming on HBO Max on Dec. 20.