A vampire duck who prefers broccoli sandwiches over blood, thanks to a kitchen accident.

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Count Duckula is a British animated comedy about a vampire who, due to a botched resurrection ritual involving ketchup instead of blood, becomes a vegetarian. Living in a gloomy castle with a butler who desperately wants him to be evil, this unlikely hero constantly defies his bloodthirsty, ancient lineage.

Created by Cosgrove Hall Productions as a spin-off from the hit series Danger Mouse, Count Duckula debuted in 1988. The premise centers on a recurring villain from the original show who is resurrected once a century. However, the ritual, which requires blood, is accidentally performed with tomato ketchup. This error results in a vegetarian vampire who possesses modern sensibilities, hates his dark castle, and frequently clashes with his butler, Igor, who remains committed to the 'good old days' of villainy.

The series spans 65 episodes, each roughly 22 minutes long, and features a unique cast of characters, including the clumsy, door-crashing Nanny and the relentless, unobservant vampire hunter Dr. Von Goosewing. The show is known for its surreal humor, such as a cuckoo clock featuring Borscht Belt comedians who comment on the action. Despite his harmless nature, Duckula remains a target for his own relatives—a dynasty of vicious vampire ducks—and various supernatural foes, all while his castle teleports him around the world in search of fame and fortune.

Beyond the screen, the franchise expanded into comics, audiobooks, and video games. Marvel Comics published 15 issues, introducing a unique lore where Duckula’s veins literally contain ketchup, a fact discovered during a passport blood test. The character also starred in the 8-bit platformer 'No Sax Please, We're Egyptian!', a title parodying a famous British play. While the show concluded in 1993, its legacy persists through various media releases, including a 2024 collection that finally brought the entire series to English-language DVD for the first time.

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