Honestly, if you've ever sat through the 45-minute whirlwind that is the 2004 Spookley the Square Pumpkin movie, you know it's a trip. While everyone fixates on the square-shaped hero or those judgmental round pumpkins, the real heavy lifting—and the best musical numbers—usually comes from the bats. Specifically, Boris and Bella. They aren't just background fluff; they are the catalyst for the entire plot.
Without these two, Spookley probably would’ve just sat in the corner of the patch being ignored.
It’s easy to dismiss them as just "the bat sidekicks," but their dynamic is surprisingly layered for a direct-to-video kids' special. You’ve got a pair of twins who represent the classic sibling struggle between tradition and progress. One wants to eat bugs and hide in the dark; the other wants to revolutionize the entire "brand" of being a bat.
Who are the bats in Spookley the Square Pumpkin?
The bats in Spookley the Square Pumpkin are Boris and Bella, a pair of fraternal twins who live at Holiday Hill Farm. They serve as the eyes and ears of the farm, acting as the bridge between the pumpkin patch and the legendary Jack the Scarecrow.
Boris is the brother. He’s basically the comic relief, driven almost entirely by his stomach. If you listen to his dialogue, he’s highly excitable and prone to panic. He represents the "old school" bat lifestyle—bug-eating, night-flying, and generally staying out of the spotlight. Norman Groulx provided his voice, giving him that jittery, high-energy vibe that makes him stand out during the more frantic scenes.
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Bella, voiced by Holly Gauthier-Frankel, is the brains of the operation. She’s essentially a visionary. Bella is on a mission to rebrand bats as something more than just creepy nocturnal creatures. She’s the one who initially advocates for Spookley, seeing his "difference" not as a flaw, but as something interesting. She’s also a vegetarian (or at least bug-averse), which creates a constant, funny tension with her brother.
The "Bugs" Song and Cultural Impact
You can't talk about these bats without mentioning the music. The "Bugs! I Love 'Em All" song is arguably the most memorable part of the film's soundtrack.
It’s a bizarrely catchy ode to entomophagy (eating insects). Boris goes into detail about his favorite snacks—horse flies, house flies, slugs, and grubs. The lyrics are surprisingly clever, with lines like "Don't knock it till you taste it" and references to "yellow jackets" being a favorite midnight snack.
Why does this matter? Because for many kids in the mid-2000s, this was their introduction to the concept of dietary differences and sibling conflict. Boris is obsessed with the "old ways," while Bella is trying to push for a more modern, enlightened bat identity. It's a tiny bit of character depth tucked into a movie about a square pumpkin.
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Why Boris and Bella Actually Matter to the Plot
In Joe Troiano’s original 2001 book, The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin, the bats aren't as prominent as they are in the movie. The film adaptation needed to expand the world, and that’s where Boris and Bella come in.
They serve three critical narrative functions:
- The Discovery: They are the first ones to find Spookley and report back to Jack the Scarecrow. Without their intervention, Spookley doesn't get the "official" recognition he needs to eventually save the day.
- Emotional Support: While the other pumpkins (especially Big Tom and Little Tom) are busy bullying Spookley for his "square roots," the bats are consistently kind. They offer a perspective from above the patch, showing Spookley that the world is bigger than just one field.
- The Moral Compass: Bella, in particular, mirrors the movie's central theme of tolerance. Her desire to change how the world sees bats perfectly aligns with Spookley’s journey to be accepted as a square pumpkin.
Common Misconceptions About the Spookley Bats
People often confuse Boris and Bella with the spider trio—Edgar, Allan, and Poe. While the spiders are also friends of Spookley, they have a completely different vibe. The spiders are more "street-smart" and a bit cynical, whereas the bats are more whimsical and flighty.
Another common mistake is thinking there are more than two bats. While you might see silhouettes of other bats in the background of Holiday Hill Farm, Boris and Bella are the only ones with names, speaking roles, and distinct personalities.
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Actionable Takeaways for Parents and Fans
If you're revisiting the world of Spookley with your kids or just feeling nostalgic, keep these points in mind to get more out of the experience:
- Watch the Movie for the Subtext: Next time the "Bugs" song comes on, talk to your kids about Bella’s reaction. It’s a great, low-stakes way to discuss how siblings can have different opinions and still work together.
- Compare the Book and Movie: If you have the book The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin, notice how the bats are missing or minimized. This is a classic example of how "sidekick" characters are invented for film to help externalize a protagonist's internal thoughts.
- Use the Bats to Teach Tolerance: Bella’s mission to "change the way the world sees bats" is just as important as Spookley's journey. It teaches that you can proactively change your own reputation through your actions.
The bats might not have their names in the title, but Boris and Bella are the glue holding Holiday Hill Farm together. They remind us that even if you're "up all night" and "highly excitable," you still have a place in the patch.
To get the most out of your Spookley experience, consider watching the 2004 film alongside the 2019 sequel, Spookley and the Christmas Kittens, to see how the world of Holiday Hill Farm expands beyond the Halloween season. You can also find the official "Bugs" music video on the official Spookley YouTube channel if you want to relive Boris's culinary adventures without rewatching the whole movie.