This is another under the radar gem, well not exactly as this show at the time was a hit but much like an old Crypt that hasn't been cleaned and looked after for a long while it's been a little bit forgotten. This is also another honorable mention in anthology horror shows in my book.
I was a kid in the 90's and I was always fascinated with anthology horror shows especially "Tales from the Crypt". Though the problem was there really wasn't many to any anthology horror shows for the young audience, let alone I wasn't allowed to watch "Tales from the Crypt" at the time. When I heard that there was going to be an animated adaptation, I was excited because it meant I would finally get to see an animated version of "Tales from the Crypt" and simply having an animated anthology horror in general which was a rarity, as this shows was the first and only one of its kind.
This show is a loose adaptation based on E. C. Comics Horror Anthology library, it's true due to this being an animated show for kids we won't have any of the gory details that those comics have been known for. However, this show isn't watered down as it still stays true to the spirit of the E. C. Comics from the spooky horror mood and atmosphere, humor, as well as the just deserts for the bad guys or anyone that fails to learn.
The animation is solid, it's nothing groundbreaking but good enough as there are good designs on the monsters. In this show I love that we not just have the Cryptkeeper who is played well by John Kassir. But we have two other hosts figures from the E. C. comics, The Old Witch and The Vaultkeeper voiced by Elizabeth Hanna and David Hemblen.
All three are just really funny as they each have unique mischievous personalities but have one thing in common, all three are never in short supply on wonderfully bad puns. It's just funny seeing all three of them always clashing to be the host of today's tale, their sort of a ghoulish Three Stooges. Even like we get to see a bit more of the Cryptkeeper's world which is just as dangerous as he and the other two are, from seeing a lot more of the interior of the Cryptkeer's mansion to even simply getting away from it.
Even like the show has a little of the theme song from the original show which is cool as I wouldn't want a theme song to the E. C. comics properties any other way.
The tales are all really solid, each of them are originals and I like that there are lots of monsters in the stories we get some of the usual classic variety from vampires and werewolves but I also like the show takes on monsters from folklore and mythology which gives this show some variety even makes it a little educational as it helped introduce a new generation to some of those old well known stories but also shows how broad the range of horror really is. Each of the tales had some of the usual E. C. comics humor as scary as they are they're not too serious but also in most of them had the twists at the end that the E. C. comics were known for, and these twists were clever ones that actually had weight and made sense with the story.
Three favorite tales of mine are "Game Over" on two slacker kids having to play for their lives as video game monsters zero in on them to make them zeros. "The Gorilla's Paw" which is pretty much this shows modern take on "The Monkey's Paw" folklore story, a bullied kid has possession of the mystical paw that grants wishes and of course things go to hell in a handbasket. "Cold Blood, Warm Hearts" as it's about a hunt of a sea monster but as a saying goes nothing is what it seems.
I personally would love to see an animated "Tales from the Crypt" again, but it could be for the adults with all the gore effects and beautifully gruesome details from the original E. C. comics. I would like a mix of some tales to be retellings of the tales from the comic property but also some of those tales can be original and even based on short stories from some horror authors if they all correlate with the E. C. tradition. And as long as they have all three hosts again with the same voice actors or new ones as long as they fit the roles; It's a thought to consider.
This animated classic is a crypt worth visiting, so enter if you dare.
Rating: 3 and a half stars.
