Count Duckula
Off the back of the success of Danger Mouse, Cosgrove Hall could do no wrong. Despite the success of their other shows though, the creative minds decided to double down on the rodent secret agent and give light to one of the show’s most loved villains; Count Duckula.
Taking the dastardly duck with a thirst for blood and television fame and making him the star of his own series may have seemed hard, but just like Doctor Who, it’s amazing what you can change when you regenerate a character.
In Danger Mouse he was all the stereotypes you could waggle a stick at. Thick Eastern Block accent, evil powers, a love of blood and a hatred of sunlight, he had them all. But, by simply making him turn to dust and be brought back to life by a botched ancient ceremony, they turned him into a good natured, vegetarian wuss.
Accompanied by his hapless maid Nanny and downbeat butler Igor, Count Duckula had only two things on his mind. Fame and broccoli sandwiches, the natural combination.
It might have started as a spinoff, but thanks to the quality of the writing, Count Duckula carved its own little niche in British TV. While most spinoffs involve sticking to a genre, Count Duckula did that with a twist.
Yes it’s still kids animation and it’s a little silly, but the show’s change in focus from saving the world to simply having wacky adventures was a tiny twist that paid off massively.
Clearly from the same team that brought the world Danger Mouse, Count Ducula was allowed to spread its wings due to its change of scenery. Just like Futurama is allowed to do far crazier and inventive things than The Simpsons, the lead characters short lived and fantastical whims let the show flit around the world like nobody’s business.
Be it prospecting for gold, raiding a pyramid or trying to take New Orleans by storm as a jazz musician, the Count was never at something for more than an episode, always quick to tire of his latest attempt to grab fame. Not only did it let the show easily do its resets, but it meant it never got tired.
The show also carried over Danger Mouse’s trademark surrealist humour. Not quite as obsessed with throwing as many puns at the screen than is humanly possible, it was able to revel in the silliness of a vampiric duck with no desire to be a vampire. With a lovely macabre streak coming from Igor as well, the show’s got a nice comedic balance.
Count Duckula also never suffered from the same budget problems as its predecessor. Animation loops were never used over and over again, and the amount of stock footage is minimal. While it never looks newer than its late 80’s timestamp, it’s not a problem either.
It might not have had the same levels of Python-esque impact Danger Mouse did at the time, but Cosgrove Hall’s follow up definitely doesn’t shake in its shadow.
You can buy Count Duckula on DVD right here.
FemaleFirst Cameron Smith
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