Stunning New Look at Sam in Restored ‘Season’s Greetings’ Short

Long before Trick ‘r Treat became a Halloween staple, Sam made his debut in a very different form.

Taking to Instagram, Michael Dougherty has shared a gorgeous new look at the beloved Halloween spirit from his newly restored 1996 animated short Season’s Greetings, giving fans their best look yet at the character’s origins.

The image comes from a brand-new 4K restoration of the hand-drawn short, complete with remastered 5.1 audio, which recently screened at the Fantasia International Film Festival.

For longtime fans, it’s a fascinating glimpse at where one of modern horror’s most recognizable icons began. Created while Dougherty was a student at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Season’s Greetings introduced the mischievous, burlap-masked spirit nearly a decade before Trick ‘r Treat cemented him as the unofficial mascot of Halloween.

Even more exciting, Dougherty suggested this won’t be the last time fans see the restored short.

“I couldn’t ask for a better place to kick off what’s shaping up to be a very busy spooky season,” he previously teased. “Because this is just the first stop. More screenings, events, and a few more tricks are on the way…”

That’s welcome news for Trick ‘r Treat fans; it feels like Dougherty is giving the character’s legacy the celebration it has long deserved.

Tags: Michael Dougherty Sam Season’s Greetings Trick ‘r Treat

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