Something about the shift to October sets the mood for all of fall's delights. And that includes streaming platforms packing their lineups with classic content like It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. But plenty of new content can bring a little magic to the month.
The biggest streaming services don't disappoint and punch up the laughs and screams through October. From the fearsome to family programming, pull up a spiced pumpkin treat or something warm and covered in whipped cream. Here are highlights of what's coming in October.
Wendell & Wild Is a Perfect Halloween Movie
Henry Selick, stop-motion animator of Coraline and The Nightmare Before Christmas, has a new Goth heroine, Kat. With Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele on the project, Wendell & Wild will surely bring broad appeal to this genre. As if with the following Coraline and The Nightmare Before Christmas wield, Selick's newest movie needs help. But who's going to argue against bringing more talent to the team?
Kat's tragic backstory opens the door to a connection with demon brothers Wendell and Wild. They embark on a rollercoaster ride while all three grapple with what plagues them. Wendell and Wild might be a little scary for small children, but it's perfect for the rest of the family to enjoy together. It's visually intense and fast-paced, full of gross-out humor and deep characters.
Watch Wendell & Wild on Netflix starting Oct. 28.
Netflix After School Brings Lovable Misfits in Oddballs
Netflix is a strong performer when it comes to animated content for all ages. Netflix After School houses the platform's projects aimed at older children, though they also tend to do a good job making the programs watchable for adults. Oddballs appears to be yet another program that parents can get a laugh out of while letting their kids dominate the TV.
Nothing beats a new after-school cartoon, especially when it makes being weird so much fun. Mismatched friends James, Max, and Echo take on life's minor problems in the oddest ways possible. Full of laughs at the ridiculous, Oddballs is lighthearted fun.
Catch Oddballs on Netflix beginning Oct. 7.
Netflix's Exception Isn't Standard Horror Anime
Fans of anime know the art form encompasses a whole world of genres and material. For those who haven't explored beyond Pokémon or are stuck in clichés, now's the perfect time to explore. There's a wide array of horror anime to fill October with gruesome viewing, but Netflix hosts a substantial selection with many in-house titles.
This month the streamer is debuting Exception. At first glance, it might look like any monster anime, as it's packed with frightening encounters. But Exception then dives into profound questions about what exactly constitutes a monster and where the line between monsters and humans blurs.
Catch Exception on Netflix starting Oct. 13.
Oni: Thunder God's Tale Brings the World of Japanese Legends to Cartoons
Netflix After School adds another animated option with Oni: Thunder God's Tale. This selection drops the gods and monsters of Japanese mythology just in time for Halloween. However, since Oni: Thunder God's Tale is aimed at kids, it's more spooky than scary.
Oni: Thunder God's Tale follows Onari, the daughter of one of those creatures, as she tries to take the path of legendary heroes, namely her father. She'll have to find her strength in order to take on the enemy of the gods, the Oni. Blending CGI and stop-motion, Oni: Thunder God's Tale is another great October contender.
Oni: Thunder God's Tale starts streaming on Netflix Oct. 21.
Netflix's Romantic Killer Is All About Chocolate
While Halloween and the spooky dominate October, magic can get messy in other ways. Sometimes life calls for a laugh instead, and Romantic Killer is here to deliver. Netflix anime brings this new show to its lineup with perfect timing for those who want the magic without the scare.
Anzu is living life exactly how she wants -- until a match-making wizard pops into her life, determined to help Anzu fall in love and hold the three things she loves: chocolate, cats and video games, hostage until she submits. Determined to protect her way of life and get her chocolate back, she calls herself the Romantic Killer and sets out to avoid the tropes tossed at her by the wizard by squashing them one at a time.
Romantic Killer will be available to stream on Netflix Oct. 27.
Abominable and the Invisible City Brings the Movie Characters to Their Own Series
In an era of reboots, spin-offs and follow-ups, Hulu is debuting a follow-up series to DreamWorks 2019 animated movie Abominable. The characters and world will give kids an easy place to jump right back into the world of yetis. This monster selection is easy on the littles so that they can enjoy the October spirit, too.
In Abominable and the Invisible City, the kids, Yi, Jin and Peng, are back together with their yeti friend, Everest. The group finds the world around them teeming with magical beings. The series follows their adventures to give a hand to creatures in need.
Catch Abominable and the Invisible City on Hulu Oct. 5.
A Man Becomes a Demon in Chainsaw Man
For those who just want the horror, Crunchyroll is debuting Chainsaw Man on its streaming service this month. And what says Halloween and horror better than a story filled with demons and featuring carnage with chainsaws? With plenty of blood and action, this should satisfy those gory cravings.
An adaption of the manga Chainsaw Man, follows Denji in his struggle to live a normal life despite the horrors unfolding around him. Events finally push him into a deal with a demon which gives him the power to turn parts of his body into chainsaws and unleash himself on the world with a vengeance. Not for the squeamish, this new anime will undoubtedly get the pulse racing.
Watch Chainsaw Man on Crunchyroll Oct. 11.