Casper the Friendly Ghost is a children's comic and cartoon character that tells the story of a young ghost boy who tries to make friends with the living instead of scaring them. Since his creation, he has gone on many adventures and made friends with other famous cartoon creations like Richie Rich. As the decades continued, Casper's popularity grew, even earning him a live-action family film in 1995 titled Casper. The movie revolutionized what fans thought of the character, and its fantastic sets were even part of another memorable '90s moment with the popular boy band, the Backstreet Boys.
The Backstreet Boys got their start in 1993 and helped usher music into the new Millenium with their catchy and iconic songs. They've won multiple awards and continue to maintain their momentum even today by touring and performing for fans. In 1997, the band released what may be considered their most famous song, "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)." The song alone has been nominated and earned multiple awards and the music video features a haunted house aesthetic similar to Michael Jackson's Thriller. However, this haunted house may look familiar to fans of Casper.
In earlier versions of the character, Casper has always lived in a haunted house, except when he decides to go on adventures. However, the new film sought to give his home just as much "spirit" as the characters and created Whipstaff Manor. To Casper, the house is more than just a place for him and his uncles to reside. It's also his childhood home and the place where he passed away. However, while it feels like a typical home to the spirits within, it has an eerie yet whimsical aesthetic that is comparable to something from The Addams Family.
The house is nestled on a cliffside and features uncomfortably organic architecture that extends into the interior. The entrance to the house into the ballroom continues this aesthetic, as the staircase has uniquely molded banisters. The spiral pattern on the floor also makes the location appear as if it was made for some sacred ritual rather than a home. However, it's because of these stylistic choices that the location was perfect for the Backstreet Boys.
In "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)," the group finds themselves needing a place to stay after their bus breaks down, and they stumble upon a creepy, old mansion. As they settle in, they begin to turn into monsters like werewolves and mummies. Since it's a music video, they proceed to have a massive party in their creepy attire. Ultimately, they wake up to find they were all having a shared nightmare and try to leave, only to learn that the person who took them there was a ghost as well.
The Whipstaff Manor location helped to set the tone perfectly. It also allowed the director and the Backstreet Boys to craft a fun and energetic story that carries the same light-hearted scares as Casper. As a result, the video has become a perfect addition to the Halloween season and one of the best pop songs of all time.