Summary

• Cartoon Network Halloween episodes are less scary and more focused on weirdness and humor.
• The best episodes offer a unique kind of fun for viewers of all ages to enjoy every year.
• These episodes showcase the distinct brand of animated content that has lured both kids and adult audiences over the years.

The best Cartoon Network Halloween specials and episodes represent some of the funniest and most entertaining shows for younger viewers to enjoy during the spooky season. Cartoon Network was officially launched in 1992 and aimed at providing animated content. Though it operates under the same mindset as Disney Channel and Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network has never had as much success as the other children's networks. However, it has cultivated a home for it's own distinct brand of animated content that has lured both kids and adult audiences over the years.

Since Cartoon Network is geared toward children, their Halloween-themed episodes tend to be less scary. Instead, they leaned into their weirdness (and sometimes grossness) to create fun and compelling holiday-themed episodes. The best Cartoon Network Halloween episodes offer a unique kind of fun that viewers of all ages can return to every year to celebrate the spooky holiday.

15 Chowder: "The Spookiest House In Marzipan"

Season 3, Episode 2

Chowder premiered in 2007, ran for three seasons, and even won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation. During that time, the series aired several Halloween episodes, but the best arrived in season 3 because of its zany and hilarious plot. The episode, titled "The Spookiest House In Marzipan" opens with a puppet, Gazpacho, as he narrates the spooky story behind the distinct title.

From there, the focus shifts to Chowder, who has been tasked with making a special delivery to the haunted house located in their town. The episode offers the typical wacky fun Chowder is known for, but with plenty of horror-movie references only older viewers will get, including a hilarious parody of Psycho.

Where To Watch Chowder

14 Cow And Chicken: "Halloween With Dead Ghost, Coast to Coast"

Season 2, Episode 2

When Cow and Chicken began airing in the late 1990s, it marked the third "Cartoon Cartoons" to air on the network. It was also the last Cartoon Network series to be produced by the legendary cartoon company Hannah-Barbera. Always quirky in nature, the Halloween episode of Cow and Chicken was no different. The installment centers on Cow and Chicken, who desperately want to go trick-or-treating. Taking advice from a Dead Ghost, they dress up as adults, which leads to plenty of mishaps and shenanigans. The episode is also a great use of the show's eccentric villain, Red Guy, who Cow and Chicken blame for their terrible Halloween.

Cow and Chicken is available to buy on Apple TV.

13 6Teen: "Boo, Dude!"

Season 1, Episode 26

6Teen is a Canadian animated show that aired and found its United States home on Cartoon Network. The series revolved around a group of teenagers who all work and hang out at their local mall. "Boo, Dude!" is the first Halloween episode of the series and centers on the guys trying to prank Ron, while Jen gets forced into her boss's Halloween antics leading her to wear a pig costume.

The episode is a hilarious look at the attitude older kids take when they get "too old" for Halloween and attempt to become more mature. The premise provides a great setup for some Halloween hijinks to ensue, and this is definitely among the more grounded of the best Cartoon Network Halloween episode.

6Teen is available to stream on Tubi.

12 Camp Lazlo: "Hallobeanies"

Season 2, Episode 1

Camp Lazlo might be one of Cartoon Network's great forgotten cartoons. Despite this, the series ran for five seasons and even won three Primetime Emmy Awards. "Hallobeanies" was a fan-favorite episode because the show managed to create an authentic Halloween-themed show, even though the show takes place at a summer camp.

Instead of going home for the school year, Lazlo and his two friends decide to hide out in their cabin in the hopes of trick-or-treating around camp. The Jelly Beans' presence freaks Scoutmaster Lumpus out to the point where he thinks he's hallucinating. The kind of comedic misunderstandings that lead to some frights is a well-worn yet entertaining approach, with the summer camp setting of Camp Lazlo also making for a unique spin on the October holiday.

Where To Watch Camp Lazlo

11 We Bare Bears: "Charlie's Halloween Thing 2"

Season 4, Episode 18

Based on a webcomic, We Bare Bears eventually became a beloved Cartoon Network animated series. The success of the series led to a We Bare Bears movie in 2020 and a spin-off prequel series that began airing in 2022. Throughout the show, We Bare Bears aired a few Halloween episodes, but none were as well received as season 4's "Charlie's Halloween Thing 2."

The best Halloween episode of We Bare Bears revolves around Charlie telling four scary stories, which include the bears and their friends. Much like The Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror specials, the Cartoon Network show takes an anthology approach to create a handful of incredibly memorable horror-themed adventures.

Where To Watch We Bare Bears

10 Ed, Edd, N Eddy: "Ed, Edd N Eddy's Boo Haw Haw"

2005 Special

Ed, Edd, N Eddy was known for its grotesque kid humor, and that certainly didn't change in the Halloween-themed special, which aired in October 2005. The episode followed the Eds as they set out to find the mysterious "Spook-E-Ville" town on Halloween night. Despite having a map, the adventure proves to be extremely difficult, especially when Ed begins to see the trick-or-treaters as scary and gross monsters. The special is also beloved because it's full of fun wordplay puns and Easter eggs to classic Halloween movies.

Where To Watch Ed, Edd, N Eddy

9 Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends: "Nightmare On Wilson Way"

Season 5, Episode 10

When Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends premiered in 2004, it became an instant hit. With six seasons and seven Emmy Awards, the series is one of Cartoon Network's best classic shows. So it's no surprise that season 5's "Nightmare of Wilson Way" is one of the best Halloween episodes from them too. The episode also earned extra praise from fans and critics because it was released both in 2D and 3D animation.

A lot is going on in the Halloween episode of Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends, which is partly why it's so memorable. Mac spends most of the night tied to Bloo's bed so he can't eat any candy and get a sugar rush. Meanwhile, Bloo sets out to pull his version of the best Halloween prank ever, which leads to a zombie wreaking havoc on the home.

Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends is available to buy on Apple TV.

8 Craig Of The Creek: "The Legend Of The Library"

Season 4, Episode 1

Craig of the Creek began airing in 2017 on Cartoon Network and quickly became one of the network's most popular and successful shows of the 2010s. Still on the air today, the series is heading into season 5 and is gearing up for a spin-off and original movie. Though the episode doesn't take place on Halloween, "The Legend of the Library" is full of spookiness, making it perfect for the season. It centers on the Stump Kids, who head to the library just as it loses power and kids start disappearing. The great use of scares that are accessible to a younger audience makes it an ideal Cartoon Network show episode for Halloween.

Where To Watch Craig Of The Creek

7 Codename Kid Next Door: "Operation: T.R.I.C.K.Y."

Season 3, Episode 11

Codename Kid Next Door has an interesting history with Cartoon Network because it was a pilot voted on by the network's own young audience members to be turned into a full show. That decision proved to be a smart one for Cartoon Network, as the series ran for eight seasons. The show was great because it felt authentically child-focused and playful, and the Halloween episode was no different. Set on Halloween night, Numbuh 2 and Numbuh 4 get into an argument over Halloween, which leads to a bet. Now, Numbuh 4 must figure out a way to get more candy than the rest of the kids in KND.

Where To Watch Codename: Kids Next Door

6 Johnny Bravo: "Bravo Dooby Doo"

Season 1, Episode 3

While Johnny Bravo might not be a cartoon that seems ideal for a great Halloween episode, the Cartoon Network comedy series did air a Halloween-themed episode during the first season. The episode was so iconic, largely because it was an amazing crossover TV episode that featured the Scooby-Doo gang. After his car breaks down, Johnny is picked up by the gang in the Mystery Machine, who happen to be driving by.

They all end up at Johnny's aunt's haunted mansion, where they discover that the aunt is mysteriously missing. Seeing Johnny's arrogant and ridiculous persona mixing with these iconic cartoon characters is hilarious as is Velma taking a liking to him.

Johnny Bravo is available to buy on Apple TV.

5 Ben 10: "Ghostfreaked Out"

Season 2, Episode 11

The Ben 10 series was so successful during its initial run that it spawned four movies based on the TV show, and was even rebooted in 2016 for a short time. While the series never had a shortage of alien creatures for Ben to encounter, the season 2 Halloween special pulled out all the stops in creating the most unique alien monster of all: Ghostfreak.

After living in Ben's watch for a long time, Ghostfreak manages to escape the watch and tries to terrorize the town. However, he quickly realizes that he can't survive without Ben's DNA, so he hatches a plan to merge himself with Ben once and for all. Despite Ben 10 not being the same kind of zany comedy as many other Cartoon Network shows, this Halloween episode is a solid sci-fi horror outing for younger viewers.

Where To Watch Ben 10

4 The Amazing World Of Gumball: "Halloween"

Season 2, Episode 9

Over time, The Amazing World of Gumball has become known for its lighthearted comedy episodes, which is why the season 2 episode, "Halloween," is so difficult to forget, as it gets a little spookier than the tone of the show usually would. On Halloween night in Elmore, Carrie convinces Gumball, Darin, and Anais to skip their usual trick-or-treat antics and instead gets them to attend a Halloween Party for the undead at a haunted house. The kids try to convince the other partygoers that they're undead too, which proves to be easy as they begin to transform into ghosts themselves.

Where To Watch The Amazing World of Gumball

3 The Grim Adventures Of Billy & Mandy: "Billy & Mandy's Jacked-Up Halloween"

Season 2, Episode 15

Of all Cartoon Network's original shows, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy is the one that doesn't have to try to feel appropriate for Halloween. Every episode is suitably spooky. Because of this, the Billy & Mandy Halloween specials had to push to be unique, and it was accomplished with this unique and hilarious season 2 episode.

In "Billy & Mandy's Jacked-Up Halloween", Grim tells the kids about Jack O'Lantern, a man who escaped death but was forced to live with a pumpkin on his head, forcing him to hide away for most of the year. When Billy shows up on Jack's doorstep with Grim's scythe, Jack steals it and plans to use its power to make it Halloween forever so he doesn't have to hide.

Where To Watch The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy

2 Regular Show: "Terror Tales Of The Park"

Season 3, Episode 4

Regular Show became one of Cartoon Network's most popular shows due to its ability to appeal to both children and adult audiences with its dark humor and constant sexual innuendos. Like The Simpsons, Regular Show created an entire Halloween series called "Terror Tales Of The Park," which they added to every season. There are several "Terror Tales Of The Park" episodes, and season 3's remains the best.

In it, Mordecai and Rigby find a Victorian doll that manages to come to life and convinces them to pull pranks on the others. Meanwhile, Muscle Man and High Five find a haunted RV that they want to crash into the Death Metal Crash Pit. The storylines are truly unique, the humor suitably dark, and like every one of the Regular Show "Terror Tales Of The Park" specials, stands out among the best Cartoon Network Halloween episodes.

Where To Watch Regular Show

1 Victor and Valentino: "Puzzlemaster"

Season 3, Episode 11

Victor and Valentino was one of the first Cartoon Network animated shows to feature a Latinx cast of characters when it began airing in 2019. Despite amassing a cult following, the series was canceled in August 2022 after three seasons. Still, Victor and Valentino had several memorable Halloween-inspired episodes out, including season 3's "Puzzlemaster."

This thrilling Cartoon Network episode follows half-brothers Victor and Valentino, and their two friends, who wake up in a series of room-like puzzles. Together they must figure out how to solve the puzzles, or else they'll perish. It is a surprisingly intense and exciting Halloween special that shows the series' creativity and daring storytelling.

Victor and Valentino is available to buy on Amazon.