If you were in elementary school in the ‘90s, some of the most coveted books to check out from your school’s library were the Goosebumps novels. For boys and girls alike, there was just something about being creeped out by talking dummies, haunted masks, and deadly cameras. We have author RL Stine to thank for this freaky reading phenomenon, who, when asked why he writes these creepy books, said that he just likes to scare people. Mission accomplished, sir.
RL Stine had previously written the young adult horror series Fear Street beginning in 1989. Following those books’ success, the co-founder of Parachute Press, Joan Waricha, persuaded him to write books for a younger audience. Stine chose the name for the series after seeing an ad in the TV Guide that said, “it’s goosebumps week on Channel 11.” He quickly wrote the first book in the series, Welcome to Dead House, which was released in July 1992 — and thus the phenomenon began! He was only contracted to write six books originally with Scholastic, who distributed the books, but would go on to write 62 in the original series.
What made these books special was the fact that Stine always wanted to make sure there was a hint of humor in them as well. And apparently, he was extremely fast in writing these books, sometimes only taking six days to complete a full novel. Dang, dude, that’s impressive! He got his inspiration not only from his own childhood, but also drew from other media — Slappy the Dummy was inspired by Pinocchio, for example. He was also inspired by the comic book series Tales from the Crypt, which of course went on to become a famous television series. Goosebumps would follow suit as well, quickly being optioned for a TV anthology series that began airing in 1995.
The TV series would last four seasons, and typically each episode would cover one of Stine’s Goosebumps books. Many of these episodes were released on individual VHS tapes after they had aired — I definitely remember my brother having The Haunted Mask on VHS. Did these episodes ever freak you out? They definitely freaked me out — I couldn’t handle it! But not my brother. Like most kids who weren’t wimps like me, he loved all things Goosebumps. I bet my mom even still has some of the original books hiding away in her house somewhere.
With such a popular and iconic book series, you’d expect more than just a Canadian-produced TV adaptation, right? Indeed, a film series had been kicked around since 1998 when Tim Burton was attached to produce, but it never came to fruition as Burton and Fox Family Films (now known as 20th Century Animation) couldn’t decide on a story. Fast-forward a decade, and Columbia Pictures bought the rights, but it would still take seven more years until audiences were sitting down in a cineplex to watch a Goosebumps movie in 2015. Jack Black starred as a version of RL Stine in the film, which took a different take than the TV series — instead of focusing on one of the books as the story of the film, instead it is a fake biographical story about RL Stine, featuring his books coming to life.
Though the original Goosebumps series was published from 1992 – 1997, there were many different spinoffs also published until 2001 when Stine took a break. But thanks to fans writing to him asking for more scares, he re-entered the Goosebumps realm in 2006, and hasn’t quit since. The spinoff titled Goosebumps Slappyworld is still releasing new Stine-penned books multiple times a year — in September of 2021, the 15th book in the series will be released. Mr. Stine, we salute you and your dedication to bringing the Goosebumps world to a new generation.
Did you read the Goosebumps series? Have you read any of the spinoffs? What were/are your favorite tales? Let us know in the comments!
- The Goosebumps series has sold over 400 million books worldwide in 35 different languages, making it the second-best-selling book series in history, behind Harry Potter.
- In April 2020, it was announced that a new live action TV series is in the works from Scholastic Entertainment, Sony Pictures Television, and Neal H. Moritz’s production company Original Film.
- There have been at least 9 different spinoffs from the original Goosebumps series, including Tales to Give You Goosebumps, Goosebumps Horrorland, Goosebumps Hall of Horrors, and Give Yourself Goosebumps, which was the series’ way of doing Choose Your Own Adventure. Check out our article on CYOA: Choose Your Own Adventure: You’re (Still) The Star of the Show.
- Disney’s MGM Studios in Florida featured a Goosebumps Horrorland Fright Show from 1997-1998, a show that consisted of a stage play with characters from the series. There was also a Hall of Mirrors, which featured props and gags from the series.
- Tim Jacobus illustrated almost all of the original Goosebumps series of novels, and has done at least 100 in total. He has also illustrated many other book and game covers. On his website, he sells prints of his Goosebumps artwork in posters of two different sizes.
- The Goosebumps series has sold over 400 million books worldwide in 35 different languages, making it the second-best-selling book series in history, behind Harry Potter.
- In April 2020, it was announced that a new live action TV series is in the works from Scholastic Entertainment, Sony Pictures Television, and Neal H. Moritz’s production company Original Film.
- There have been at least 9 different spinoffs from the original Goosebumps series, including Tales to Give You Goosebumps, Goosebumps Horrorland, Goosebumps Hall of Horrors, and Give Yourself Goosebumps, which was the series’ way of doing Choose Your Own Adventure. Check out our article on CYOA: Choose Your Own Adventure: You’re (Still) The Star of the Show.
- Disney’s MGM Studios in Florida featured a Goosebumps Horrorland Fright Show from 1997-1998, a show that consisted of a stage play with characters from the series. There was also a Hall of Mirrors, which featured props and gags from the series.
- Tim Jacobus illustrated almost all of the original Goosebumps series of novels, and has done at least 100 in total. He has also illustrated many other book and game covers. On his website, he sells prints of his Goosebumps artwork in posters of two different sizes.
