History Main / HalloweenCostumeCharacterization

* ''WesternAnimation/BobsBurgers'': Louise Belcher tends to dress as characters from darker works like [[Literature/NoCountryForOldMen Anton Chigurh]] and [[Film/{{Drive}} the Driver]]. The kids in general have a fondness for [[PungeonMaster pun-based costumes]]; in "Nightmare on Ocean Avenue Street" Gene dresses as [[Music/{{Outkast}} André 3000]] [[Wrestling/AndreTheGiant the Giant]], Tina dresses as a nun with a briefcase ("Nun of Your Business"), and Louise dresses as [[Literature/TheGirlWithTheDragonTattoo The Dragon with the Girl Tattoo]].

* On ''Series/LastManStanding,'' Mike Baxter suggests his family all dress up like each other for Halloween. He however, being a staunch Republican ([[Creator/TimAllen like his actor]]), dresses as President Trump. Chuck Larabee, Mike's [[ItMakesSenseInContext Blaa..fricanAmerican]] friend and neighbor, also dresses like President Trump, but with a Devil's Tail. Chuck looks at them both and says that him dressing like that is ironic, Mike dressing like it is a tribute.

[[folder: Comic Strips ]]

[[folder: Film - Animated ]]

[[folder: Film - Live Action ]]

[[folder: Literature ]]

[[folder: Live-Action TV ]]

* In ''{{Series/Bones}}'', Brennan, the show's co-hero, dresses up as Wonder Woman. Angela also counts as she�s a go-go dancer, which does fit her free spirited pre-marriage lifestyle. The others, interestingly, avert it. Hodgins is Captain Smith of ''Titanic'' fame, Cam, despite being one of the good guys, is Catwoman. Zach is the rear end of a cow with a paleontologist as the front, while Booth is a nerd.

[[folder: Theatre ]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

[[folder: Web Animation ]]

[[folder: Webcomic ]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

[[AC:Comic Strips]]
* ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'':
** Discussed in one strip where Calvin defines a Halloween costume as the scariest thing you can think of. Proud tiger Hobbes thinks [[ForHalloweenIAmGoingAsMyself the scariest thing is himself]], while Calvin, the cynically gruesome child [[WiseBeyondTheirYears with frequent concerns about what humans do to the planet]], says his costume will be a barrel of toxic waste.

[[AC:Film - Animated]]

[[AC:Film - Live Action]]

[[AC:Literature]]

[[AC:Live-Action TV]]
* In ''{{Series/Bones}}'', Brennan, the show’s co-hero, dresses up as Wonder Woman. Angela also counts as she’s a go-go dancer, which does fit her free spirited pre-marriage lifestyle. The others, interestingly, avert it. Hodgins is Captain Smith of ''Titanic'' fame, Cam, despite being one of the good guys, is Catwoman. Zach is the rear end of a cow with a paleontologist as the front, while Booth is a nerd.

[[AC:Theatre]]
* In ''Theatre/BeMoreChill,'' Jeremy wears a cyborg costume to the Halloween party, representing how the SQUIP implanted in his brain has essentially made him part-robot. Christine wears her [[Theatre/RomeoAndJuliet Juliet]] costume to the party since her life practically revolves around doing theater. Brooke wears a "sexy dog" costume, and as a later scene demonstrates, she is practically [[AlphaBitch Chloe's]] [[BetaBitch lapdog]]. As for Chloe herself, her "sexy baby" costume hints at her disturbing view of sexuality, as demonstrated during [[DoubleStandardRapeFemaleOnMale "Do You Wanna Hang?"]]

[[AC:Video Games]]

[[AC:Web Animation]]

[[AC: Webcomic]]

[[AC:Western Animation]]

* ''WesternAnimation/BobsBurgers'': Louise Belcher tends to dress as characters from darker works like [[Literature/NoCountryForOldMen Anton Chigurh]] and [[Film/{{Drive}} the Driver]]. The kids in general have a fondness for [[PungeonMaster pun-based costumes]]; in "Nightmare on Ocean Avenue Street" Gene dresses as [[Music/{{Outkast}} André 3000]] [[Wrestling/AndreTheGiant the Giant]], Tina dresses as a nun with a briefcase ("Nun of Your Business"), and Louise dresses as [[Literature/TheGirlWithTheDragonTattoo The Dragon with the Girl Tattoo]].

[[caption-width-right:350:L -R: TheSmartOne, the [[PluckyComicRelief comic relief]], the TeamPet, TheChick, and TheLeader.

--->'''Jill:''' Why would you want to be the Stooges? They're obnoxious, they're always hitting each other -- [[ExplainExplainOhCrap it just became clear]].

* In the ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' episode "Pinkeye", Cartman dresses as Adolf Hitler, Stan dresses as Raggedy Andy (Wendy was going to go as Raggedy Ann), Kyle goes as Chewbacca (and so does pretty much every other student), Chef dresses as Evil Knievel, and Mr. Garrison dresses as Creator/MarilynMonroe. Meanwhile, everybody thinks Kenny (who has been turned into a zombie) is going as Edward James Olmos.

** Huey goes as [[ScienceHero Gizmoduck]], Huey being [[TheSmartGuy the smartest and most tech-savvy]] of the triplets.

** Louie goes as Huey. More specifically, [[CheapCostume he just wears his hat]], playfully mocking his sibling while also [[LazyBum not putting in any real effort]].

* The upcoming ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'' revival will have an HalloweenEpisode that has the Warner siblings dressed up as another famous ComicTrio, the Creator/MarxBrothers.

* The upcoming ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}} revival will have an HalloweenEpisode that has the Warner siblings dressed up as another famous ComicTrio, the Creator/MarxBrothers.

* In ''{{Series/Bones}}'', Brennan, the show’s co-hero, dresses up as Wonder Woman.

* Louise Belcher of ''WesternAnimation/BobsBurgers'' can dress as dark characters from violent works like [[Literature/NoCountryForOldMen Anton Chigurh]] and [[Film/{{Drive}} the Driver]] and still come off as adorable, in her way.

** [[FoolishSiblingResponsibleSibling Della and Donald]] are a demon and an angel respectively, Della being a [[{{Pun}} devil]]-may-care adventurer that tends to cause problems for everyone else, while Donald is the put-upon MoralGuardian.

** Louie goes as Huey. More specifically, [[CheapCostume he just wears his hat]], mocking his sibling while also [[LazyBum not putting in any real effort]].

'''Edd:''' NO! Not plaque! Plague! ''Plague!''

* ''Series/HomeImprovement'':
** One year, the Taylor boys announce that they want to be Film/TheThreeStooges for Halloween. It takes their mom a moment to make the connection:

** In the same episode, Tim complains about how Jill got him a corpse costume while she dresses as the widow. Jill explains that the costume shop didn't have much to pick from, but Tim's still praying the costumes don't become literal since he's being stalked by a LoonyFan. ([[spoiler:He's being pranked and Jill's in on it; and while never stated, it's possible she picked the costumes specifically to keep him on edge.]])

* ''Film/TheAddamsFamily'' ends with [[EnfantTerrible Wednesday]] being asked why she isn't dressed up for Halloween.
-->'''Wednesday''': I'm a homicidal maniac. TheyLookJustLikeEveryoneElse.

* In ''Literature/EleanorAndPark'', Park reminisces on some Halloween costumes he wore as a child that nobody got, such as Doctor Who and Groucho Marx. This ties into both being a geek and his difficulties fitting in to his predominantly white and non-geeky community.

* One year in ''Series/HomeImprovement'', the Taylor boys announce that they want to be Film/TheThreeStooges for Halloween. It takes their mom a moment to make the connection:
-->'''Jill:''' Why would you want to be the Stooges? They're obnoxious, they're always hitting each other -- [[ExplainExplainOhCrap it just became clear]].

** In an early ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' episode, the whole cast has costumes that fit with their personalities: Jason is Myth/RobinHood, Zack is a pharaoh, Billy is Literature/SherlockHolmes, Trini is UsefulNotes/{{Pocahontas}}, and Kimberly is a princess. ThoseTwoGuys Bulk and Skull go as "punks" -- which shows off their stupidity since that's what they ''are''.
** ''Series/PowerRangersOperationOverdrive'' also has a Halloween episode, with the most notable costumes being Mr. Hartford as a MadScientist and his son Mack as a robot; {{Foreshadowing}} that [[spoiler:that's what they literally are; it comes out later that Hartford built Mack to be his son]].

* In ''Series/VeronicaMars'', Mercer goes as Alex from ''Film/AClockworkOrange''. [[spoiler: He's the Hearst College serial rapist.]].
* In ''Series/{{Frasier}}'', Niles has a costume party where everyone dresses up as their favorite character from literature. Roz dresses up as 'O', from the 'Story of O' (unsuitably dressed in typical BDSM leather harness instead of O's long gown).
* In ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', this is inverted for our eponymous heroine in their HalloweenEpisode. Buffy chooses not only a GirlyGirl costume but also a GorgeousPeriodDress because it reflects what women were wearing when Angel was actually alive. This causes major problems when [[WeirdnessMagnet (of course)]] a curse hits Sunnydale, turning people into the reality of their costumes. As [[OnlySaneMan Willow]] bemoans, "Why couldn't she have [[ShoutOut dressed up]] as [[Series/XenaWarriorPrincess XENA?!?]]"
* On ''Series/LastManStanding,'' Mike Baxter suggests his family all dress up like each other for Halloween. He however, being a staunch Republican ([[Creator/TimAllen like his actor]]), dresses as President Trump.
** In the same show, Chuck Larabee, Mike's [[ItMakesSenseInContext Blaa..fricanAmerican]] friend and neighbor, also dresses like President Trump, but with a Devil's Tail. Chuck looks at them both and says that him dressing like that is ironic, Mike dressing like it is a tribute.

** [[TheSmartGuy Huey]] goes as [[ScienceHero Gizmoduck]], Huey being the smartest and most tech-savvy of the triplets.
** [[LazyBum Louie]] goes as [[CheapCostume Huey]]. More specifically, he just wears his hat, mocking his sibling while also not putting in any real effort.

* ''WesternAnimation/ItsTheGreatPumpkinCharlieBrown'': Lucy says that the key to a good Halloween costume is to pick something that is the opposite of your personality. She chooses a witch, the joke being that it's actually in line with her crabby personality.

* In ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'', "[[HalloweenEpisode The Legend of Boo-Kini Bottom]]" has Mr. Krabs, who is very greedy and cheap, dress up as a dollar bill. Sandy dresses as a mad scientist, and [=SpongeBob=], who doesn't like how scary Halloween is, dresses as a lovely flower.

* Most of the Duck family's costumes in the ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales2017'' episode "The Trickening!" are rather character-appropriate. [[FoolishSiblingResponsibleSibling Della and Donald]] are a demon and an angel respectively, [[TheSmartGuy Huey]] goes as [[ScienceHero Gizmoduck]], [[LazyBum Louie]] goes as [[CheapCostume Huey]], Dewey wears a Hawaiian shirt and eyepatch to be a pirate on vacation, and Webby goes as Balor from Irish mythology.

* In ''WesternAnimation/ScaryGodmother'', the kids' costumes reflect an aspect of them.
** Daryl appears as a piece of candy because he wants more of it and invokes this in the hopes of getting more.
** Katie is a black cat and relishes in the fun and scares of Halloween.
** Bert is a baseball player in an SUV showing off how he's more level-headed and has big aspirations.
** Jimmy is a devil, reflecting his personality and being all into scaring his cousin Hannah.
** Hannah is a fairy princess, reflecting her innocence and naivety.

* ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'': Every Halloween (and one [[YouMeanXMas Decemberween]]), the entire main cast dress up as characters that often go hand-in-hand with their own personalities. For example, Strong Sad goes as celebrities or fictional characters from the 1960s to the 1980s (Tony Clifton, Vyvyan from ''Series/TheYoungOnes'', Andy Warhol, Mikhail Gorbachev, and the fat kid from ''ComicStrip/TheFarSide'') while the King Of Town goes as characters with facial hair such as ComicStrip/HagarTheHorrible, Cap'n Crunch, and Franchise/SuperMario (or he goes as characters related to food). Coach Z ends up being the most consistent as he dresses as a rapper almost every Halloween. The Poopsmith seems more than a bit of a nerd, favoring niche sci-fi and video game characters like [[VideoGame/StreetFighter M. Bison]] and [[WesternAnimation/ThundarrTheBarbarian Ookla the Mok]].

* If [[BigBadFriend Gary]] hadn't already established himself as being up to no good in ''VideoGame/{{Bully}}'' up to that point, his showing up for Halloween pranks [[PuttingOnTheReich dressed as an SS officer]] ([[NoSwastikas sans the swastikas]]) certainly seals the deal.

* If [[BigBadFriend Gary]] hadn't already established himself as being up to no good in ''VideoGame/Bully'' beforehand, his showing up for Halloween pranks [[PuttingOnTheReich dressed as an SS officer]] ([[NoSwastikas sans the swastikas]]) certainly seals the deal.

* In ''WesternAnimation/ScaryGodmother'', the kids' costumes reflect an aspect on them.

** Katie is a black cat who relishes in the funs and scares of Halloween.

** Double subverted in another Halloween strip where Calvin appears to not be wearing a costume, but claims he's going as "another resource-consuming kid in an overpopulated planet" who will take over the world once the adults die out. This "costume" demonstrates his cynical but egocentric philosophy.

* [[ZigZaggingTrope Zig-zagged]] in ''Film/TrickRTreat'', in which it's a recurring motif that one's costume hints at their personality, like a girl wearing a witch costume being knowledgeable of the traditions and superstitions of Halloween. But sometimes this is inverted; examples include a young woman dressed as Little Red Riding Hood [[spoiler:turning out to be a werewolf]], and a girl dressed as an angel turning out to be a massive {{Jerkass}}.

* In ''Literature/EleanorAndPark'', Park reminisces on some Halloween costumes he wore as a child that nobody got, such as Doctor Who and Groucho Marx. This ties into both being a geek and his difficulties fitting in to his predominantly white and non geeky community.

* In the Halloween episode of ''Series/{{Euphoria}}'', the costumes all say something about the characters' personalities. Rue and Jules dress up as ''[[Film/WilliamShakespearesRomeoAndJuliet Romeo and Juliet]]'', reflecting that they're doomed lovers. Nate dresses up as a convict, mocking the fact that he just escaped a serious assault charge. Kat dresses up as Thana from ''Film/{{Ms 45}}'', reflecting her desire to avenge herself on all the boys who've supposedly ignored or abused her over the years. And Maddy dresses up as Alabama Whitman from ''Film/TrueRomance'', because she's Nate's "outlaw lover".%% Meanwhile, Lexi dresses up as Creator/BobRoss, because why ''wouldn't'' you dress up as Bob Ross if you could get away with it? %%Commented out until we can confirm that the gushing about Bob Ross occurs within the story.

** In an early ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' episode, the whole cast has costumes that fit with their personalities: Jason is Myth/RobinHood, Zack is a pharaoh, Billy is Literature/SherlockHolmes, Trini is UsefulNotes/{{Pocahontas}}, and Kimberly is a princess. ThoseTwoGuys Bulk and Skull go as "punks" -- which shows off their stupidity, since that's what they ''are''.

* In ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', this is inverted for our eponymous heroine in their HalloweenEpisode. Buffy chooses, not only a GirlyGirl costume, but also a GorgeousPeriodDress because it reflects what women were wearing when Angel was actually alive. This causes major problems when [[WeirdnessMagnet (of course)]] a curse hits Sunnydale, turning people into the reality of their costumes. As [[OnlySaneMan Willow]] bemoans, "Why couldn't she have [[ShoutOut dressed up]] as [[Series/XenaWarriorPrincess XENA?!?]]"

** In the same show, Chuck Larabee, Mike's [[ItMakesSenseInContext Blaa..fricanAmerican]] friend and neighbor, also dresses like President Trump, but with a Devil's Tail. Chuck looks at them both and says that him dressing like that is ironic, Mike dressing like it it a tribute.

* In ''Theatre/BeMoreChill,'' Jeremy wears a cyborg costume to the Halloween party, representing how the SQUIP implanted in his brain has essentially made him part-robot. Christine wears her [[Theatre/RomeoAndJuliet Juliet]] costume to the party, since her life practically revolves around doing theater. Brooke wears a "sexy dog" costume, and as a later scene demonstrates, she is practically [[AlphaBitch Chloe's]] [[BetaBitch lapdog]]. As for Chloe herself, her "sexy baby" costume hints at her disturbing view of sexuality, as demonstrated during [[DoubleStandardRapeFemaleOnMale "Do You Wanna Hang?"]]

* Most of the Duck family's costumes in the ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales2017'' episode "The Trickening!" are rather character appropriate. [[FoolishSiblingResponsibleSibling Della and Donald]] are a demon and an angel respectively, [[TheSmartGuy Huey]] goes as [[ScienceHero Gizmoduck]], [[LazyBum Louie]] goes as [[CheapCostume Huey]], Dewey wears a Hawaiian shirt and eyepatch to be a pirate on vacation, and Webby goes as Balor from Irish mythology.