Brooke Martin
Candle Cove is a fictional TV show within the horror series Channel Zero. The first season of Channel Zero is about a TV show that only children can see, and Candle Cove is that show. Candle Cove has also been described as a creepypasta, which refers to horror fiction posted on the internet. While Candle Cove is not real, the premise of Channel Zero has led some viewers to believe that it is, with some claiming to have seen the show as children.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of show | Experimental puppet TV show |
| Aimed at | Children |
| Original name | Pirate Place |
| Based on | The Nickerbocker's Tale (1767) |
| Produced by | HeyKids Studio in Ironton, Ohio |
| First announced | 1970 on local Channel 58 |
| Number of seasons | 2 |
| Number of episodes | 15 each season |
| Main characters | Pirate Percy, Janice, Horace Horrible, The Skin-Taker, Milo |
| Fan base | Large and dedicated |
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What You'll Learn
Candle Cove's first season
Candle Cove is not a real show, but rather a fictional show-within-a-show. It is an American experimental puppet TV show aimed at children. The fictional show was created by Kris Straub as an online creepypasta horror story in 2009. It was self-published on his website, ichorfalls.com, under a Creative Commons license.
The fictional Candle Cove is based on a short story called "The Nickerbocker's Tale" from 1767 and was locally produced by HeyKids Studio in Ironton, Ohio. The first announcement of the fictional show was made in 1970 on the local Channel 58. The plot of the first season of the fictional Candle Cove follows the adventures of the Laughingstock crew as they sail through the land of Candle Cove. The crew is introduced to many friends and foes throughout the season, with three main antagonists. The Earl of Wax, who hates pirates, the one-eyed Horace Horrible, and the most unsettling, a skeleton in a tattered cape and top hat calling himself The Skin-Taker. The Skin-Taker is a skeleton pirate who wears clothing made out of children's skin. The first season also features a young girl named Janice, who is the protagonist of the show, and Pirate Percy, a cowardly buccaneer who captains the Laughingstock, a living pirate ship with a wide mouth across its bow. The Laughingstock repeatedly commands the scared Percy, saying, "YOU HAVE… TO GO… INSIDE." There is also an episode where everyone screams throughout the episode.
The actual show Channel Zero: Candle Cove, which is based on Kris Straub's fictional Candle Cove, received generally favorable reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an approval rating of 86% based on 21 reviews, with an average rating of 6.83/10.
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Candle Cove's second season
Candle Cove was an American experimental puppet TV show aimed at children. It was produced by HeyKids Studio in Ironton, Ohio, and first aired in 1970. The show is said to have been loosely based on a short story called "The Nickerbocker's Tale" from 1767.
The second season of Candle Cove was aired a year after the first and consisted of 15 episodes, just like the first season. This season did not feature the Earl of Wax and the Rubber Fishes, the antagonists from the first season, but instead introduced a new main character, Milo, who became a villain through his obsession with beating Percy. Horace and the Skin-Taker remained as the main antagonists. The Skin-Taker was a skeleton in a tattered cape and top hat.
The show's framework remained the same, but viewers noted that the themes became more warped and disturbed, which was believed to be due to the director Emerson Grimes' increasing mental instability. The macabre subject matter led to decreasing viewership and ratings. The studio was given an ultimatum to clean up their act or get cancelled, which led the director to create the alleged "Screaming Episode", which was the last episode to properly air and is seen as the show's finale.
The first season of Candle Cove followed the adventures of the Laughingstock crew, who sailed through the land of Candle Cove and encountered many friends and foes. The crew was led by Pirate Percy, a cowardly buccaneer, and joined by a young girl named Janice, who was the protagonist of the show. The Laughingstock was a living pirate ship with a wide mouth across its bow, and it repeatedly commanded the scared Percy to "YOU HAVE… TO GO… INSIDE”.
The second season of Candle Cove likely continued the adventures of the Laughingstock crew as they explored new lands and faced off against new antagonists. The season may have delved deeper into the backstories of the characters and expanded upon the world of Candle Cove. It is also possible that new characters and storylines were introduced to freshen up the show and keep viewers engaged.
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Candle Cove's puppets
Candle Cove was an American experimental puppet TV show aimed at children. It was produced by HeyKids Studio in Ironton, Ohio, and first aired in 1970 on local Channel 58. The show featured a mix of puppetry and live-action segments, with the puppets serving as the main form of storytelling.
The puppets of Candle Cove were designed and built by students from the University of Ohio's fine arts department: Caroline Barker, Mary Prescott, and Tom Thrives. These puppets were intentionally designed to have a "`cheap`" and "disturbingly human" appearance, which some critics found off-putting. However, others defended the aesthetic as fitting within the show's blend of fantasy and reality.
One of the most iconic puppets from the show was Captain Horace Horrible, a one-eyed pirate with a handlebar moustache and tall, narrow teeth. Horace Horrible's design restricted his facial expressions, so the show relied on erratic movements and exaggerated voice acting to convey his emotions. Another notable puppet was The Skin-Taker, a skeleton in a tattered cape and top hat who served as the show's main antagonist. The Skin-Taker stole the skins of wayward pirates and made direct threats to the other puppets and the audience, becoming the source of nightmares for many young viewers.
The puppets of Candle Cove left a lasting impression on those who watched the show, with some fans even creating their own artwork and videos inspired by these characters. The blend of the whimsical and the macabre in the puppet designs contributed to the show's unique appeal and enduring legacy in the world of children's television.
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Candle Cove fan theories
Candle Cove is a fictional show that has spawned a dedicated fan base and numerous fan theories. The show is about a television show that only children can see, which turns them into murderers.
One of the most prominent theories is that the show exists in Janice's imagination. Janice is the protagonist of the show within a show. Some fans believe that the world of Candle Cove falls apart when Janice no longer needs it, perhaps because she has grown up. This theory is supported by the fact that the show appears as static to adults but is real to children, perhaps due to high-pitched frequencies.
Another theory is that Candle Cove is another world inhabited by living puppets. Fans have noticed the realistic movements of the puppets, such as the drooping strings of Poppy and the Skin-Taker, which seem to be unsupported. Some fans believe that Janice imagined this world to deal with torment in her real life. There is also a theory that the show took place in Percy's imagination, a character who is made of various parts of different dolls, which could symbolise a confused identity.
Some fans have speculated about the deeper meanings of certain characters. The Skin-Taker, a skeleton, is believed by some to symbolise the loss of innocence. Horace Horrible is believed by some to have been killed by the Skin-Taker, despite the fact that Horace can be heard giggling when Milo, another character, is killed. Tartar Prison, where Milo is imprisoned, is thought to represent being abandoned or alone.
There are also theories about the broader meaning of the show. Some fans believe that an Eldritch Abomination ate the world, which is supported by the existence of an episode where everyone is screaming. This theory is disputed, as the episode was revealed to have been a broadcasting test.
The show has also sparked theories about its production. One theory is that the puppets were haunted, fuelled by a claim from a development team member that one of the puppets spoke on its own. Another theory is that the show's supposed creepiness was simply a result of low production values and the incompetence of its makers, combined with the imagination of the children watching it.
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Candle Cove fan art
Candle Cove is not a real show, but rather a fictional show-within-a-show depicted in the horror series Channel Zero. However, this has not stopped fans from creating a plethora of fan art, videos, music, and even fan fiction based on the fictional show.
A quick search on DeviantArt, a popular platform for artists, reveals a treasure trove of fan art dedicated to Candle Cove. The art style varies, with some pieces focusing on the show's puppet characters, such as Pirate Percy, the Laughingstock crew, and the sinister skeleton, The Skin-Taker. Other pieces explore the show's darker themes, with eerie depictions of the show's setting, Candle Cove, and its mysterious inhabitants.
One particularly striking piece of fan art is a digital painting titled "The Laughingstock Crew" by artist "drheartfeltlover" on Tumblr. It depicts the puppet crew of the Living Pirate Ship Laughingstock, with Pirate Percy at the helm, looking out to sea. The image is both charming and unsettling, capturing the unique blend of fantasy and horror that characterised the fictional show.
Another notable piece of fan art is "Candle Cove: The Screaming Episode" by "enkiiper" on Tumblr. This piece takes inspiration from the infamous "Screaming Episode" of Candle Cove, where the characters are depicted screaming throughout the entire episode. The art is a comic strip that captures the escalating terror of the episode, with each panel showing the characters' faces contorting in fear, their mouths wide open in silent screams.
Beyond traditional art, fans have also created cosplays and crafts inspired by the show. One DeviantArt user, "autumn", shared photos of their Candle Cove-themed Halloween costume, complete with a handmade Laughingstock ship prop. The attention to detail in the costume and prop construction captures the DIY aesthetic of the show's puppetry and set design.
The fan art of Candle Cove is a testament to the impact and enduring fascination of this fictional show-within-a-show. Through their art, fans explore the show's unique blend of horror and fantasy, paying homage to its memorable characters, settings, and themes.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Candle Cove is not a real show. It is a fictional show-within-a-show depicted in the horror series Channel Zero.
The first season of Channel Zero: Candle Cove is about a TV show that only kids can see that turns them into murderers. The fictional show-within-the-show, Candle Cove, is an experimental puppet show aimed at children.
Candle Cove follows the adventures of the Laughingstock crew as they sail through the land of Candle Cove. The crew is introduced to many friends and foes throughout the season, with three main antagonists: The Earl of Wax, Horace, and the Skin-Taker.
Candle Cove was loosely based on a short story called "The Nickerbocker's Tale" from 1767.
