Halloweentown
Official film series logo
Created byPaul Bernbaum
Owner
Years1998-present
Films and television
Film(s)
Short film(s)Halloweentown As Told By Chibi (2020)

Halloweentown is a series of four fantasy films released as Disney Channel Original Movies: Halloweentown (1998), Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge (2001), Halloweentown High (2004), and Return to Halloweentown (2006).

Background

Halloweentown proposes that fantasy beings such as warlocks, vampires, werewolves, mummies, ghosts, trolls, ogres, zombies, pumpkin heads (a race of people with jack-o'-lanterns for heads), skeletons, goblins, and humanoids with varying numbers of heads, limbs, and sensory organs are real, but have separated themselves from Earth's history to escape humans' fear and persecution. These characters created their own community, "Halloweentown", a thousand years ago in an alternate universe.

Travel between Halloweentown and the ordinary, historical world (which Halloweentown residents call "The Mortal World") is only possible with magical aid, and only at regulated times (on Halloween), until the portal seals at midnight. In the second film, they permanently open the portal between the Mortal World and Halloweentown, and events of the third film breach the gap even more.

It is stated that many of the traditions of Halloween in the Mortal World are parallels based on regular traditions in Halloweentown. An example of this is how mortals wear costumes that mimic the creatures of Halloweentown, and are often depicted as being more frightening than they are naturally. In Halloweentown, the residents dress up every day, and most are much friendlier than humans generally depict them.

Although magic is present in many of the details of daily life of Halloweentown, it appears that only a limited number of persons actually practice or control magic. These people are mainly human, and are called witches (female) and warlocks (male). These beings appear human, but possess some sort of biological extra-sensory ability that allows them to harness magic unlike their "mortal" counterparts. Magic is also hereditary in their families.

The Halloweentown films concern episodes in the lives of the Cromwell–Piper family. The family matriarch, Agatha Cromwell, has been a pillar of Halloweentown society for centuries. Her daughter, Gwen Piper, married a mortal and chose to leave Halloweentown for a life in the Mortal World. At the time of the films, she is apparently widowed. She has decided to raise her three children (Marnie, Dylan and Sophie) apart from magic, and thus rejects contact with Halloweentown and the influence of her mother.

Films

Title U.S. release date Director Screenwriters Story by Producer(s)
Halloweentown October 17, 1998 Duwayne Dunham Paul Bernbaum
and Jon Cooksey & Ali Matheson		 Paul Bernbaum Ron Mitchell and Brian Pogue
Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge October 12, 2001 Mary Lambert Jon Cooksey & Ali Matheson Peter Lhotka
Halloweentown High October 8, 2004 Mark A.Z. Dippé Dan Berendsen Don Schain
Return to Halloweentown October 20, 2006 David S. Jackson Max Enscoe & Annie DeYoung
and Juliet Giglio & Keith Giglio

Halloweentown (1998)

In the first film, Marnie Piper (Kimberly J. Brown), her brother Dylan (Joey Zimmerman), and her sister Sophie (Emily Roeske) discover they come from a family of witches.

Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge (2001)

Two years after the first film, an angry warlock named Kal (Daniel Kountz) has stolen a magic spell book and plans to turn everyone into the costume they're wearing at midnight on Halloween.

Halloweentown High (2004)

Two years after the second film, Marnie Piper (Kimberly J. Brown) organizes a student exchange program between her mortal school and Halloweentown High. The first students to participate in this program are a witch named Cassie (Eliana Reyes), a warlock named Ethan Dalloway (Lucas Grabeel), a troll named Natalie (Olesya Rulin), and an ogre named Chester (Clayton Taylor).

Return to Halloweentown (2006)

In the fourth film, Marnie Piper (Sara Paxton) arrives at the Halloweentown University, known to everyone as Witch U. The teachers have been waiting for her arrival to fulfill a prophecy.

Future

In October 2017, producer Sheri Singer expressed interest in doing a fifth film, but would need Disney to sign off.[1] Actress Kimberly J. Brown had previously expressed interest in reprising her role as Marnie Piper should a fifth film ever materialize.[2][3] In a 2020 interview with E!, Phillip Van Dyke expressed interest in returning for another film if the rest of the cast also returned.[4]

Novelization

Tales From Halloweentown: The Witch's Amulet (2007)

In 2007, Disney produced the book Tales From Halloween: The Witch's Amulet, heavily based upon the fourth installment in the franchise, Return to Halloweentown. Set during summer break at Witch University, the plot follows Marnie becoming a Resident Advisor by keeping an eye on her young sister, Sophie, who is enrolled in the University's junior sorcery school. At Witch University, Dylan is working as a lab assistant to Professor La Biel, a powerful warlock who is developing a youth serum. When La Biel steals The Gift, an amulet that gives its wearer ultimate power over hearts and minds, it's up to Marnie to stop the cunning warlock before her entire family falls into La Biel's spell. The ending of the book leaves plenty of room for a sequel.

Short films

Halloweentown As Told By Chibi (2020)

In 2020, Disney Channel ran a short titled Halloweentown As Told By Chibi. This continues the trend started by Big Hero 6: The Series shorts spin-off Big Chibi 6 The Shorts and continued with Amphibia and Phineas and Ferb as Chibi Tiny Tales. The first short, released on September 28, simplifies the plot of the first Halloweentown.[5] A second one titled Haircut was released on October 11,[6] followed by a third titled First Date Fright on October 18.[7]

Cast and characters

Characters Films
Halloweentown Halloweentown II:
Kalabar's Revenge		 Halloweentown High Return to Halloweentown
Aggie Cromwell Debbie Reynolds Debbie Reynolds
Sara Paxton
(young)
Marnie Piper Kimberly J. Brown Sara Paxton
Gwen Piper Judith Hoag
Dylan Piper Joey Zimmerman
Sophie Piper Emily Roeske
Luke Phillip Van Dyke
Benny Rino Romano Richard Side Uncredited
Kalabar Robin Thomas
Harriet Judith M. Ford
Kal Daniel Kountz
Astrid Xandra Radley
Alex Peter Wingfield
Gort Blu Mankuma
Ethan Dalloway Lucas Grabeel
Edgar Dalloway Michael Flynn
Cody Finn Wittrock
Cassie Eliana Reyes
Principal Phil Flanagan Clifton Davis
Pete Todd Michael Schwartzman
Chester Jessie Harward
Natalie Olesya Rulin
Bobby Bob Lanoue
Scarlett Kristy Wu
Sage Katie Cockrell
Sapphire Kellie Cockrell
Silas Sinister Keone Young
Chancellor Goodwin Leslie Wing
Professor Priscilla Persimmon Periwinkle Millicent Martin
Dr. Grogg Scott Stevenson
Aneesa Summer Bishil
Burp-Urp-Snurt-Pfsfsfsfst III Christopher Miller

Additional crew and production details

Film Crew/Detail
Composer Cinematographer Editor Production
companies		 Distributing
companies		 Running time
Halloweentown Mark Mothersbaugh Michael Slovis Martin Nicholson Disney Channel Original Movies,
Singer-White Entertainment,
Ventura Valley Films		 Disney Channel,
Buena Vista Television		 1hr 24mins
Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge Tony Westman Sharon L. Ross Disney Channel Original Movies,
Just Singer Entertainment		 Disney Channel,
Buena Vista International,
Disney–ABC Domestic Television		 1hr 21mins
Halloweentown High Kenneth Burgomaster Bob Seaman Terry Blythe Disney Channel Original Movies,
Just Singer Entertainment,
Reel FX Creative Studios		 Disney Channel,
Disney-ABC Domestic Television		 1hr 22mins
Return to Halloweentown Denis Maloney Mike Grant Disney Channel Original Movies,
Just Singer Entertainment		 Disney Channel,
Disney-ABC Domestic Television,
Walt Disney Television		 1hr 28mins

Viewership ratings

Film Ratings (in millions)
Halloweentown 3.4[8][9]
Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge 6.1[8][10][11]
Halloweentown High
Return to Halloweentown 7.5[8][12][13][14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Bricker, Tierney (October 30, 2017). "Is a Fifth Halloweentown Movie in the Works?". E! Online. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022.
  2. ↑ Devoe, Noelle (October 13, 2016). "Kimberly J. Brown Talks Being Recast in 'Halloweentown': 'I Was Disappointed For The Fans'". Seventeen. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  3. ↑ McPhee, Paige (October 30, 2017). "We Finally Found Out Why 'Halloweentown' Recast Marnie And We Are NOT Pleased". Narcity. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  4. ↑ Bautch, Hillary (October 31, 2020). "Could There Be a Halloweentown Reboot? Phillip Van Dyke Tells All". E! Online. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Halloweentown As Told By Chibi 🎃 | Chibi Tiny Tales | Halloweentown | Disney Channel Animation". YouTube. Disney Channel. September 28, 2020. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Haircut 💇‍♀️ | Chibi Tiny Tales | Halloweentown | Disney Channel Animation". YouTube. Disney Channel. October 11, 2020. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  7. ↑ "First Date Fright 😱 | Chibi Tiny Tales | Halloweentown | Disney Channel Animation". YouTube. Disney Channel. October 18, 2020. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  8. 1 2 3 Denise Martin (October 23, 2006). "Disney bewitches young aud". Variety. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  9. ↑ Stacey Grant (March 7, 2016). "What Is The Best Disney Channel Original Movie of All Time? Vote Now". MTV News. MTV. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  10. ↑ Janice Rhoshalle (November 14, 2004). "When 'No Sex' Really Sells". Multichannel News. Retrieved October 5, 2018. Over those five showings, Halloweentown High delivered 22.6 million viewers, including 6.1 million for its premiere.
  11. ↑ Matthew Dort (December 2, 2004). "Guest Column: State of the Disney Channel". laughingplace.com. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  12. ↑ Kimberly Nordyke (October 24, 2006). "'Halloweentown' draws big audience". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  13. ↑ Anthony Crupi (October 24, 2006). "Disney Beats ESPN to Lead Cable Ratings". AdWeek. Archived from the original on November 12, 2007.
  14. ↑ Mike Reynolds (October 30, 2015). "Disney Gets 'Halloweentown' Treat". Multichannel News. Archived from the original on November 26, 2006.
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