Watch Eli Roth’s Fright Krewe, because we need more shows like it

It’s been a hot second since DreamWorks put out a new serialized animated show It is not clear how to get there. Based on a film franchise. After the success of such animated films as Owl House ending, it’s the perfect time for the studio to flex. Fright KreweThe horror film Eli RothHostel) and YA science fiction author James Frey (The Number Four(), with its overarching story of horror and funky characters, makes a big splash. Just in time for Halloween, the new animated series has what it takes to be the next big thing — so long as it gets the time and attention for it all to mesh together.

[Ed. note: This post contains some slight setup spoilers for Fright Krewe.]

DreamWorks

Fright Krewe Follows a group high school students that accidentally awaken a demon. In order to stop the villain from wreaking havoc across New Orleans, the five teenagers are blessed with powers from “voodoo queen” Marie Laveau and an assortment of loas, the spirit guardians that make up the voodoo pantheon. The gang discovers that all of the legends and myths surrounding paranormal creatures are real.

This framework is classic, tried-and-true, and incredibly fun. The first four episodes are all that is available. Fright Krewe especially excels at using those powers to highlight the characters’ distinct personalities and really fuel the delightfully dysfunctional dynamics between the group. Misfit Soleil (Sydney Mikayla), who adores the macabre and works as a ghost tour guide, is gung-ho about their mission — and getting pyrokinetic powers is pretty dandy too. Pat (Terrence Gardenhigh) is thrilled to have been blessed with the ability to communicate in both languages and animal language.

Wallflower Maybe would much rather have a wallflower (Tim Johnson Jr.). It is not clear how to get there.I’d like to enter the world of shadows and aid ghosts. Popular girl Missy (Grace Lu), who already resents Soleil due to backstory reasons we’ll definitely find out later, is terrified of the newfound uncontrollable super-strength she’s been bequeathed (especially after a freak accident). Right in the middle is affable jock Stanley (Chester Rushing), who has a pretty innocent power — when he touches things, he is immediately given incredibly detailed knowledge about their history — and thus takes to the supernatural in stride.

DreamWorks Animation

And if you’re a fan of spooky legends like Soleil, then this paranormal world is a fantastically creepy romp. Roth and Frey build on existing legends, but don’t shy away from integrating some of the scarier elements — the sheer bloodlust of werewolves, for instance. Fright Krewe isn’t an adult show, so nothing is ever too gory or shocking. But it is aimed at a slightly older audience than other kids’ animation, so the scares are a little more gruesome and the stakes are a little higher (without spoiling too much, the second episode ends on a huge cliffhanger with someone’s life up in the air). It’s not quite a complete tonal shift from something like Owl House, but it’s enough of a step away to carve out its own niche, with slightly older characters and slightly more mature obstacles, à la The Legend of Korra, Young JusticeThe original Teen Titans cartoon. This captivating world is further enhanced by the beautifully rendered backgrounds.

There’s an especially nice attention to shading, texture, and lighting, which elevates the overall look of the show. They reawaken ancient evil in graveyards. This graveyard with its dark corners and austere tombs is especially evocative. It’s rare to see traditional animation on television with that level of detail, especially in America. The frame rate of the animation is slightly slower than that found in something like She-Ra: Princess of PoweThis, combined with the other elevated look of show can be jarring. Nevertheless, it’s still refreshing to see DreamWorks once again returning to 2D animation and taking it up another notch.

Unique animations and their fact Fright Krewe is focusing on underserved genres — horror for younger audiences and animated shows for slightly older kids — gives it a distinct edge. There are many elements that make this show a sure-fire hit. A compelling plot, interesting characters, and lots of mythology await. According to the first four episode, Fright Krewe has all the makings of a show that could be the next big thing — and maybe even redefine audience expectations for all-ages animation.

Fright KreweHulu, Peacock and Peacock will be streaming the movie on October 2.