
From the Scoop Archive - 4/3/2004
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The Vegetarian Vampire
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The Disney Ducks aren't the only cartoon quackers worthy of fond
reminiscence. In 1988, Nickelodeon debuted a fabulous series centered on the
exploits of a vegan, vampiric duck named (what else?) Count
Duckula.
Never heard of him, you say? Well, if you weren't a child in the
eighties and early '90s (or didn't have school-aged children) during that era,
there's your reason. It certainly isn't because the show itself was short-lived.
In fact, the UK-based series lasted a whopping five years (a great run by TV
cartoon standards).
Count Duckula was a spinoff series of the
widely successful Danger Mouse, which also aired on Nickelodeon. Set in
the mystical Castle Duckula, the show focused on Count Duckula's many travels
(his castle could teleport itself wherever he wanted to go) and the bizarre
personalities of his employees.
Igor, his manservant, tried in earnest to
get him to embrace his vampiric tendencies and leave all the veggie-chomping
alone. Nanny, a huge hen whose wing is perpetually cast in a sling, tries to
keep house without destroying the place in the process.
All in all, Count
Duckula was pretty well-intentioned. Though arrogant and a bit self-involved, he
did his best to dodge his vampire-hunting nemesis, Von Goosewing. And his
efforts paid off. He and his housemates constantly avoided capture, even in 1993
when the show ended its five-season run.
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