Line #27 Series/VanPires


1	[[quoteright:216:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/vanpires.jpg]]
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3	''Van-Pires'' was a live-action/CGI animation hybrid show from 1997 to 1998, running 13 episodes. It was unique for the time because of its [[AllCGICartoon full CGI animation]] besides the live-action segments. Its theme song and soundtrack were also written and sung by John Entwistle, formerly of Music/TheWho.
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5	The show centered on four teenagers who like to hang around at the junkyard. One day they are caught in the path of a meteor, and it gives them the power to transform into vehicular robot guardians and fly. They use their new powers to transform into vehicles when they get into their [=CarFins=]. Not all vehicles are good, though. Van-Pires are vehicles with no human form, just evil machines who suck fuel out of innocent cars during the night. The story follows the teens, who make a team called the Motor-Vators, on their struggle to protect the world from Van-Pires.
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8	!!Tropes used by the series:
9	* {{Alucard}}: In "A Car Is Born", Tracula decides to create himself an heir from spare car parts. Said heir ended up being named Alucart, which is not only a car-themed pun on "Alucard" but an actual reversal of Tracula's name.
10	* AllAnimalsAreDogs: Even non-animals are dog-like. Greaspot is a neon plastic tricycle that is the TeamPet of the Motor-Vators, who acts like a dog.
11	* AnimateInanimateObject: In addition to creating the Van-Pires and the Motor-Vators, the meteor also brought a toilet and an amalgamation of junkyard junk consisting of a toaster, fan, and skateboard to life.
12	** In "Unleaded Zeppelin", the instruments of a heavy metal band come to life when the Van-Pires "bite" the band's tour bus.
13	* AntagonistTitle: The Van-Pires are the bad guys, though technically the Motor-Vators are them too since they need fuel just as much as the villains do, but call themselves Motor-Vators to differentiate themselves from their enemies.
14	%%* BadHumorTruck: Automaniac
15	%%* TheBigGuy: Nuke
16	%%* {{Dracula}}: Or in this case, "Tracula".
17	%%* HeroicSelfDeprecation: Often from Axle.
18	* HurricaneOfPuns: Car puns ''constantly'' throughout the series. Just the names of the Van-Pires and the Motor-Vators are enough on their own.
19	%%* FourTemperamentEnsemble
20	* JiveTurkey: Snap always talked like this, dog!
21	%%* LargeHam: Tracula, so much.
22	* MagicMeteor: The plot is kicked off when a glowing blue meteor lands in a junkyard, brings some old cars and assorted junk to life, and gives four teenagers vehicle-based powers. In a later episode, the meteor also reanimates a dinosaur skeleton.
23	* NinjaPirateZombieRobot: Cyborg car robot vampire hunters!
24	* PunBasedTitle: Fitting with the series's [[HurricaneOfPuns nature]], most of the episode titles are puns. Notable ones include: "[[Music/LedZeppelin Unleaded Zeppelin]]", "[[Film/TheBridesOfDracula Bride Of Tracula]]", "[[Film/AStarIsBorn A Car Is Born]]", and "[[Film/RebelWithoutACause Rebel Without A Car]]".
25	* RaisingTheSteaks: One episode involves a T. rex skeleton that's brought to life by the same meteor that created the Van-Pires and the Motor-vators.
26	* ShoutOut:
27	** In one episode there's a Van-Pire, created from Tracula's spare parts, who turned to the side of good. His creator did not name him, so what do the heroes decide to call him? "Alucart".
28	** The Motor-Vator's leader Van He'll Sing is both a pun and shout out to Van Helsing, the vampire hunter from Bram Stoker's [[Literature/{{Dracula}} original novel]].
29	* TeamPet: Greaspot, a living tricycle.
30	%%* TitleConfusion
31	* ToiletHumor: At the end of their first battle with the Van-Pires, the Motor-Vators, after transforming back into their human forms, discover that they have [[IncrediblyLamePun "gas"]]. There was also a talking toilet who was an ally of the Van-Pires.
32	* TokenMinority: Snap, the token black guy, was really blatantly this. Just look at his nickname.
33	%%* {{Tomboy}}: Rev.
34	%%* TricksterMentor: Gypsy

Context Series / VanPires