Halloween is coming to Mossy Bottom Farm.

After nearly a decade away from the big screen, Shaun the Sheep returns this fall in Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom, a spooky new adventure that embraces classic horror influences while keeping the scares firmly family-friendly.

Empire Magazine debuted a brand-new image from the film, offering another look at Aardman’s Halloween-inspired animated feature.

According to the magazine, The Beast of Mossy Bottom draws inspiration from everything from Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit to the neon-soaked worlds of Scooby-Doo, Goosebumps, and even Ghostbusters.

Co-director Steve Cox explained that the team wanted to channel the spirit of classic monster movies without making the film too frightening for younger audiences.

“If you think about Hammer horror and Universal Monsters and that gothic feel, it’s hard to see that in a child-friendly [film],” Cox told Empire. “The slightly quirky action-adventures in the ’80s helped us make it more fun and playful.”

Co-director Matthew Walker said striking that balance was one of the film’s biggest creative goals: “We’re trying to find that balance of wanting to be able to enjoy the tropes of horror without scaring the audiences.”

The film takes place on Halloween Eve at Mossy Bottom Farm; excitement turns to dismay when the clumsy Farmer ruins the pumpkin patch. Shaun tries fixing it with science experiments, but things go wrong when a wild beast appears in the woods.

It’s a fun premise that feels like a natural fit for the franchise, blending classic creature-feature ingredients with Aardman’s signature charm and humor.

Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom opens in theaters on September 18.

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