Zach Passero’s animated 1980s nostalgia trip The Weird Kidz arrives on VOD nationwide on October 27, 2026, via Antenna. The film has been billed as Stranger Things meets South Park.
The Weird Kidz (2026) — official poster. Courtesy of Antenna.
Passero’s feature debut is a true labor of love, eight years in the making. He wrote, directed, edited, and single-handedly animated the film, with his wife Hannah painting the backgrounds. The result is both a horror-tinged creature feature and an ode to ’80s coming-of-age movies and late-night cinema.
The story follows three preteen boys, an older brother, and his girlfriend as they head out for a weekend campout. They have no idea what awaits in a remote desert inhabited by a legendary night creature and crazed townsfolk. Puberty and adventure are on the menu, along with terror, amputations, and midnight cult rituals.
Lucky McKee (May) produces alongside Charles Horak, with James Fino (Rick and Morty) as executive producer and Sean Spillane composing. The voice cast includes Angela Bettis (May) as Duana, Sean Bridgers (The Woman) as the Sheriff, and Ellar Coltrane (Boyhood) as Wyatt, with Tess Passero, Glenn Bolton, Brian Ceely, and Sydney Wharton. The film runs 80 minutes and is unrated.
