Figura Obscura Headless Horsman figure

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow has not only been reprinted countless times for new audiences to enjoy, but the story has also been used as the basis for numerous other entertainment vehicles, from cartoons to movies to television and beyond. The Headless Horseman has ridden forth many, many times over the years!

The first modern adaptation of this story is likely the 1922 silent film called “The Headless Horseman.” A more commonly known version, however, would have to be an animated one that arrived almost 25 years later from the Walt Disney Company.  “The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad” was released in 1949, and it included an extended chase scene that very much positioned the Horseman as a ghost rather than a human trickster in disguise. This story remains part of the Disney lexicon, and there is still a “Sleepy Hollow” quick service restaurant in the company’s Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom park!

While the Disney version of this story is more light-hearted, for a darker take on this tale the 1999 Tim Burton directed “Sleepy Hollow” fits the bill. This version of the story takes some significant liberties with the backstory of the Horseman and the reason for his nightly rides. It also changes the dynamic between the story’s three main characters of Ichabod, Katrina, and Brom!

ETA: OCT 2024