Review: Kiff “The Haunting of Miss McGravy’s House”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

Kiff and her friends haunt a house on Halloween to save it from being sold.

Our Take:

Kiff is another animated comedy series on Disney Channel that I occasionally watch every weekend until I eventually fall off.  Based on what I’ve seen in multiple episodes, I generally enjoyed the series that reminded me of the other animated slice-of-life shows I grew up watching.  It’s not without its sense of surrealism, but it adds to the comedy and charm that both kids and adults can appreciate.  Plus, Kimiko Glenn is genuinely charismatic as the titular red squirrel, continuing her impressive filmography regarding her animation roles.  So, I was honored to return to this surprisingly solid series by reviewing its full-length Halloween special ahead of its season two premiere.

Like previous episodes, the plot in this half-hour special is as simplistic as it sounds.  Kiff, Barry, and their friends discover that the house belonging to Miss McGravy is being sold.  So, to save it, they decide to make it haunted so that people are too frightened to buy it.  Unfortunately, they didn’t realize the house may have already been haunted.  It’s as straightforward as any slice-of-life series could get, animated or otherwise.  However, watching the special reminded me why I enjoyed watching Kiff in the first place.  Sure, the humor and entertaining plots are some of those reasons, but it’s also the heart that comes with them.

The episode showcases Kiff and their friends’ desires to save the house because of the memories they built there.  They used the house’s yard as a shortcut to their school and hung out at the treehouse in the backyard.  This sequence reflects the childhood wonder of friends yearning to keep their memories alive, even when their efforts usually lead them to trouble.  But, as it turns out, amid its kid-friendly frights, the spirits haunting the house are actually its residents.

It may not have many surprises in its plot, but “The Haunting of Miss McGravy’s House” is still an enjoyable and humorous first Halloween special that offers the same kinetic and humorous spirit of Kiff.  Additionally, it included the original song, “Creeping Closer”, which we heard parts of during the commercials, and yes, it’s as catchy as it sounds.  It’s hard to say where I would place this on my list of favorite episodes.  But, I will say that as the show’s first holiday-themed special, it’s a solid start to its upcoming second season and the other special episodes that come our way.