ount
Duckula was a centuries-old vampire who also happened to be a
duck (not quite so odd if you consider that all the characters
in the series were some form of bird). The cartoon's opening
sequence did a good job of setting up the premise for the
series:
"Castle Duckula, home for many
centuries to a dreadful dynasty of vicious vampire ducks - The
Counts of Duckula. Legend has it that these foul beings can be
destroyed by a stake through the heart or exposure to
sunlight. This does not suffice however, for they may be
brought back to life by means of a secret rite that can be
performed once a century when the moon is in the eighth house
of Aquarius. The latest reincarnation did not run according to
plan."
While being revived there was a
mix-up. The ritual called for blood as the key ingredient, but
as the Count's man servant Igor was performing the rite, Nanny
accidentally handed him a bottle of ketchup instead of blood.
This mishap resulted in the canard’s refusal to eat meat and
his becoming a strict vegetarian. Another side effect was that
the ancient bird had a driving desire to become an entertainer
instead of longing to bite the necks of unsuspecting birds.
This newest incarnation of
Duckula was a disappointment to Igor, who found it hard to
come to terms with his master's new food preferences and the
fact that he didn't like all things gloomy and horrible. All
the same, he had a job to do, and did his best to look after
his master. Nanny, the castle's resident large, clumsy
dimwitted nursemaid, remained loyal and unfazed, regardless of
the circumstances.
Following his new wanderlust,
Count Duckula would often visit his old haunts (a new location
almost every week), by transporting the entire castle to
wherever he wished to go. All he had to do was run to the
cellar and through his casket, and the castle would disappear.
Always close behind was the relentless vampire hunter Dr. Von
Goosewing, who was determined to deliver a stake to the breast
of the fine-feathered fiend.
Count Duckula was produced in
England and appeared on Nickelodeon along with another English
series, Danger Mouse, both produced by Cosgrove-Hall. The
Count’s quirky humor was a hit with American audiences, the
Monty Python-esque alternative to contemporary fare like
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
