Hey Arnold!: A Spooktacular 30th Anniversary Screening

ABOUT THE EVENT: This festive event supports Silverlake Shorts, a monthly short-film screening series championing independent filmmakers and animators in Los Angeles. Proceeds from the event will also support the work of Saturday Morning Cartoons United ™, a Los Angeles 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to celebrating legacy cartoons and strengthening local communities through shared cultural experiences. ABOUT THE SHORTS: “Parrots,” 2023, Dir. Jennifer Nie, 6 Mins, USA “Parrots” is a 6 minute slice-of-life short film about two girls growing up in the San Gabriel Valley, language and the mundane moments that don’t feel big when they happen, but end up defining a big part of who we become. As they observe and repeat things they don’t yet understand, they live and grow in a world more connected than they realize. FORMAT: DCP “Arnold Escapes from Church,” 1988, Dir. Craig Bartlett, 2 Mins, USA Our favorite football head Arnold goes to church and daydreams about the 23rd Psalm. FORMAT: DCP ABOUT THE EPISODES: “Pilot Episode,” 1996, Dirs. Craig Barlett and Tuck Tucker, 11 Mins Arnold accidentally knocks out a bully named Harold during a baseball game, and Harold gives Arnold 24 hours to live before he beats him to a pulp. FORMAT: DCP “Stoop Kid,” 1996, Dirs. Kelly James, Larry Leichliter and Jamie Mitchell, 11 Mins When Arnold finds out that Stoop Kid is afraid to leave his stoop, he feels sorry for him and decides to help him overcome his fear. FORMAT: DCP “Arnold’s Halloween,” 1997, Dir. Jamie Mitchell, 22 Mins Arnold and Gerald team up to carry out the ultimate Halloween prank, by deliberately faking a news radio broadcast of an alien invasion, causing widespread panic throughout town not seen since Orson Welles inadvertently did so in 1938! FORMAT: DCP “Haunted Train,” 1996, Dirs. Larry Leichliter, Jamie Mitchell and Juli Murphy, 11 Mins On a boring summer night, Grandpa tries to liven things up by telling a story about haunted Train Number 25. FORMAT: DCP ABOUT THE SERIES: HEY ARNOLD!, 1996, Nickelodeon, USA Created by Craig Bartlett, HEY ARNOLD! premiered on Nickelodeon in 1996 and quickly became one of the defining animated series of its generation. Set in the fictional urban neighborhood of Hillwood, the series followed fourth-grader Arnold Shortman and his friends, family and neighbors as they navigated childhood, friendship, school and growing up. Known for its distinctive visual style, memorable characters, heartfelt storytelling and acclaimed music by composer Jim Lang, HEY ARNOLD! balanced humor with surprisingly thoughtful stories about family, identity, friendship and life in the city. From Arnold and Gerald to Helga, Phoebe, Harold, Rhonda, and the unforgettable residents of the Sunset Arms boarding house, the series created a world that felt both imaginative and deeply relatable. Originally airing for five seasons, HEY ARNOLD! became a lasting part of Nickelodeon’s legacy and continues to inspire a devoted fanbase decades after its debut. In 2026, fans are celebrating 30 years of HEY ARNOLD! and the enduring heart, humor, music and characters that made Hillwood feel like home.