Jason Voorhees is appearing in his first animated project more than four decades after his original 1980 theatrical debut. The character will be featured in “Never Hike Alone: Ghosts in the Fog,” a 10-minute animated short set to premiere later this week at 5 p.m. PT on the Womp Stomp Films YouTube channel, where it will be available to stream for free.
The film follows three friends whose camping trip becomes dangerous when they become lost in fog surrounding the fictional Camp Crystal Lake. It marks the fourth installment in the “Never Hike Alone” series, which was founded by filmmaker Vincente DiSanti in 2016. Previous entries in the fan-film saga include the original 2017 short, a 2020 winter-themed prequel, and a 2023 feature-length sequel that reunited actors from the original franchise.
Womp Stomp Films finances its productions through crowdfunding and distributes all films for free online. The company operates independently of the studios controlling the official “Friday the 13th” franchise but follows self-imposed guidelines to minimize copyright concerns, including declining to seek profit and allowing for potential challenges from rights holders. The franchise owners have not taken legal action against the productions to date.
The animation was created through collaboration with Mako Animation Studio, a Mexico-based 2D animation company founded by Juan Rivera, who co-directed the new short with DiSanti. The release occurs as the “Friday the 13th” franchise experiences broader activity, including a prequel series that debuted on Peacock in October and an announcement that director Steve Miner will helm the franchise’s 13th feature film, scheduled for theatrical release in 2027.
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