Produced by the Nickelodeon Animation Studio in Burbank, California, Hey Arnold is an iconic cartoon. The animated comedic drama followed the life journey of a football-headed fourth grader. It showcased countless memorable episodes, including the 30-minute special Arnold’s Halloween. Arnold and his best friend Gerald prank their city with an elaborate radio hoax. However, this prank takes inspiration from a real-world event with similar results.
The Not-So-Normal World of Hey Arnold
Hey Arnold originated from three claymation shorts made by the show’s creator, Craig Bartlett. They depicted a kindergartner named Arnold, who frequently daydreamed to escape his dull life. One short was even used on Sesame Street to teach kids to use their imagination. While working on Rugrats, Bartlett presented his short films to Nickelodeon producer Mary Harrington. She was immediately impressed and greenlit the production of the actual Hey Arnold series. Bartlett changed Arnold from an imaginative toddler to a sensible fourth grader.
The animated show premiered on Nickelodeon on October 7, 1996, and portrayed Arnold’s childhood exploits. Such adventures ranged from going camping to trying to impress a crush. The one thing the episodes had in common was their situations were grounded in realism. However, Arnold and his friends often took on the paranormal. They explored haunted caves for treasure and investigated an undead bride. There was one instance when Arnold decided to terrorize and accidentally created a mass panic.
A Football-Headed Halloween Special
Phil and the boarders plan their annual party in the special Arnold’s Halloween. Arnold and Gerald want to help but are considered too young and dismissed. The boys begin planning a Halloween prank involving aliens to get back at the adults. At the same time, Bob Pataki, Helga’s father, about his close encounter with extraterrestrials. Helga gathers and convinces her classmates to dress up as aliens for trick-or-treating. Arnold also invites them over as unknowing pawns in their prank against the adults.
Halloween night arrives, and the best friends put their plan into action. They intercept the radio used for the adult’s party and perform a radio show. Using various props and equipment, Arnold and Gerald make everyone believe aliens are invading Earth. Smitty, a television station employee, hears the boys’ radio show and thinks it’s real. He records Arnold’s costumed classmates and sends it to his alien-obsessed boss, Douglas Cain. Cain reports aliens are invading Earth and throws the entire city into a panic.
Alien Invasion Over the Radio
Arnold’s Halloween takes inspiration from the War of the World radio drama. Narrated by Orson Welles, the broadcast stemmed from the H.G. Wells novel. It aired on the CBS Radio Network on October 30, 1938. Like in Arnold’s Halloween, the radio show was about aliens invading Earth. The broadcast even used revolutionary techniques, like realistic sound effects, to help enhance the narrative.
Listeners believed everything was happening, and panic spread across the nation. The exact scale is unknown since the radio network had a small following. Also, the fear mostly came from people who tuned in late. Unlike the one in Arnold’s Halloween, the real-life broadcast wasn’t supposed to be a hoax. It was supposed to be a simple story reading for entertaining audiences nationwide.
Arnold’s Halloween Pays Tribute to Welles
Arnold’s Halloween holds other War of the World aspects, mainly referring to Orson Welles. Douglas Cain, played by Maurice LaMarche, is an allusion to Welles. LaMarche even adjusts his voice to sound like Welles from the original broadcast. Cain’s surname is a play on Welles’ best-known film, Citizen Kane. There’s even a location where everyone gathers in Arnold’s Halloween called Welles Ridge.
Final Thoughts
Arnold’s Halloween perfectly captured the spirit of the War of the Worlds radio show. Even though audiences know about the prank, there’s still a sense of fear. The overall special was entertaining and is considered one of the program’s best episodes. Arnold’s Halloween and the rest of Hey Arnold are available on Paramount+ and Hulu. People can even find the original War of the Worlds broadcast on YouTube.
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