What is Over the Garden Wall's IQ Score?

Over the Garden Wall has an IQ Score of 138/200 on TV Intelligentsia's Intelligence Quotient framework, placing it in the Stimulating tier. The score breaks down to 34/50 Cognitive Stimulation, 28/50 Educational Value, and 44/50 Craft & Quality.

Is Over the Garden Wall educational?

Over the Garden Wall is moderate on educational value, 28/50 on TVI's rubric. Some learning happens, but it isn't the show's primary work.

How does TV Intelligentsia calculate IQ Score?

TV Intelligentsia's IQ Score is calculated as round((Cognitive Stimulation × 0.4 + Educational Value × 0.35 + Craft & Quality × 0.25) × 4), scoring titles from 0 to 200 across five tiers: Masterclass (≥160), Stimulating (≥130), Competent (≥100), Passive (≥70), and Numbing (<70). The framework is published at tvintelligentsia.com/methodology/.

Over the Garden Wall , IQ Score 138/200

Over the Garden Wall has an IQ Score of 138/200 on TV Intelligentsia's Intelligence Quotient rubric, placing it in the Stimulating tier.

By Jordan Robinson, MD, MPH and Cordelia Witty, EdS., NCSP·Updated 2026-06-17·Methodology

animationfantasychildren

138/ 200

Stimulating

Consistently challenges the viewer and rewards attention

Ages 8-12SEL 36/50

Over the Garden Wall poster, IQ Score 138/200, Stimulating tier on TV Intelligentsia

Score Breakdown

Cognitive Stimulation/50

Educational Value/50

Craft & Quality/50

SEL Score/50

IQ = round((Cognitive × 0.4 + Educational × 0.35 + Craft × 0.25) × 4) · How we score →

Saves to your browser. See your Personal IQ on My IQ →

Why you should trust this score

Reviewed by Cordelia Witty, EdS., NCSP

Licensed school psychologist. Reviews kids content against the published rubric and the CASEL social-emotional learning framework.

Methodology

Published rubric, v1.2

Formula

round(C × 0.40 + E × 0.35 + Q × 0.25) × 4

Database scale

2,338 titles, version-controlled

How we stay independent. We accept no studio money. We pay for our own streaming subscriptions. Our reviewers see no sponsor data, no affiliate revenue, and no screener access in exchange for coverage. More about how we work →

The TVI Take

Two brothers are lost in the Unknown, a dreamlike American folk world. Patrick McHale's ten-episode miniseries is exceptional craft, the visual world draws on 19th-century American illustration and the atmosphere is genuinely unnerving.

Educational about American folk traditions and mortality. The finest short-form animated series Cartoon Network produced.

Where to Watch

Stream

Hulu

Buy

Amazon Video

Google Play Movies

Fandango At Home

See all options on JustWatch →

Streaming availability data via JustWatch + TMDB. Updated weekly; check the provider for current pricing.

Where to go next

Get scores for new titles every week.

The Intelligentsia Report, every Saturday. Free.

Founding Parents · the first 100

Lifetime TVI Kids Premium. $49 once.

Cordelia's quarterly SEL Digest, co-viewing discussion guides with first access to new ones, a private founding-parents community, the Founding Parents wall, and first access to new kids tools. 6-month full refund.

Join Founding Parents →

Want the bigger picture? Score your whole watchlist →