It’s autumn here in the Northern Hemisphere, and it’s my absolute favorite season. It’s no longer 
grossly hot and humid, but not yet cold enough for the winter coats. The leaves are changing colors, the squirrels are frolicking, there are spooky decorations in people’s yards… the list goes on! Aside from the chilly nights being perfect for curling up with a good book, it’s also a perfect time to curl up with some good TV. There are plenty of anxiety-inducing factors in our daily lives right now, so allow me to recommend some cartoons I guarantee will boost your mood!
1. Over the Garden Wall
This is an absolute must-watch for the fall! My best friend and I watch it together every year around Halloween, which makes for an excellent tradition. The show is about two brothers, Wirt and Greg, and their frog of many names, lost in the woods. It’s the perfect fall show, from the scenery to the spookiness. It’s not overly scary, though, so anyone who’s not a fan of creepy stuff would probably still enjoy it. Although the show has a dark undertone, the humor, mostly thanks to Greg being such a goofball, keeps it fun and pleasant. There’s a snarky bluebird named Beatrice, a town full of people wearing pumpkins, a school for animals, a riverboat cruise for frogs, and so many more whimsical situations. Watching OtGW will make you feel like you’re a kid pumpkin picking on a crisp, sunny day, with a haunted hayride to follow up. Definitely one of the best shows to watch any time, but I highly recommend watching during the fall for maximum enjoyment.
2. Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun
OK, so this one isn’t fall-specific, but if you want to laugh your head off and feel absolutely delighted, this is the show for you. The story follows Chiyo Sakura and her attempts at telling her crush, Umetarou Nozaki, that she likes him. However, Nozaki is one fry short of a Happy Meal, so her message never lands. Instead, she finds out he’s the creator of a highly popular shoujo manga called Let’s Fall in Love, and he recruits her as one of his art assistants. Chiyo quickly learns that, even though his manga is about high schoolers falling in love, Nozaki has zero experience in the romance department and spends a lot of time doing “research.” As the series progresses, more characters join the cast, and together they all have about one brain cell between them. If there’s one thing we all need right now, it’s an anime about a bunch of high schoolers being dumb and drawing manga together. It’s currently on Netflix, so do yourself a favor and add this one to your watchlist.
3. Hilda
I wrote about Hilda before, so I won’t go on about it too long, but I think it’s the perfect show to watch right now. For one thing, we can all live vicariously through Hilda and her adventures while we’re stuck at home. Just a sweet little show about a girl and her pet deerfox having adventures in the magical wilderness and the charming yet mysterious city of Trolberg. The second season comes out this December on Netflix, so catch up now and get ready!
4. Song of the Sea
To wrap up this list I have not a show, but a movie! Song of the Sea is about Ben, the son of a selkie, and his selkie sister Saoirse on a quest to help Ireland’s faeries return to Tír na nÓg. Most of the story takes place on Halloween, when the veil between worlds is thinnest, making it the last night Saoirse has to sing her song and save the faeries from Macha, the Owl Witch, who’s been draining them of their emotions and turning them to stone. Aside from an enchanting story and the very well-written sibling relationship between Ben and Saoirse, the animation in this movie is absolutely gorgeous. If you’ve seen The Secret of Kells or The Breadwinner, then you know you’re in for a treat. Cartoon Saloon, the animation studio behind these films, always does amazing work. Song of the Sea is like watching a watercolor painting for an hour and a half. Here’s the trailer, so you can see for yourself:
So here we have a good mix of comedy, fantasy, adventure, and a dash of spookiness to absorb us for a little while. If you decide to watch any of the shows on this list, I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!