Van-Pires facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Van-Pires
Created by	John Gentile Anthony Gentile
Developed by	Ron Kaehler
Directed by	John Gentile and Anthony Gentile
Starring	Marc Schwarz Garikayi Mutambirwa Melissa Marsala Jason Hayes
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	13
Production
Executive producer(s)	Brandon Pender, AGE Inc., Production Coordinator: Barbara Lawrence, MSH Art Direction and various credits Mike Slisko Production: Mike Slisko Joey Elardy
Running time	approx. 30 minutes
Production company(s)	Abrams/Gentile Entertainment MSH Productions
Distributor	The Summit Media Group
Release
Original network	FOX and The WB Syndication
Picture format	NTSC Video (printed film)
Original release	September 20, 1997 (1997-09-20) – 1998 (1998)

Van-Pires was a cool TV show from 1997-1998. It mixed computer animation with live-action parts. The show was about a group of teenagers who turned into awesome robot cars. They fought against evil vehicles called "Van-Pires."

The show was made by Abrams/Gentile and MSH. It also had some music written by John Entwistle from the famous rock band The Who. He worked with his friend Steve Luongo on the soundtrack.

Meet the Characters

The Motor-Vaters: Heroic Robot Cars

Four regular teenagers accidentally got caught in a meteor shower. This meteor gave them special powers! They could turn into heroic robot guardians. Their job was to protect the night from the evil Tracula and his Van-Pires.

The Motor-Vaters can fly. They also share some weaknesses with their enemies. Just like the Van-Pires, they need gas to keep going. They also have to avoid the sun. To change into their robot forms, each hero gets into their "Carfin." This is a special vehicle that looks like a mix of a car and a coffin. Then they shout, "Mission Ignition!"

• Axle (played by Jason Hayes) – Axle is the leader of the Motor-Vaters. He takes his job very seriously. He always tries to keep the team working together. Sometimes, he can worry too much if things go wrong. In his Motor-Vater form, Axle is yellow with cool red fire designs. His Carfin looks like a fancy Lincoln convertible.
• Snap (played by Garikayi Mutambirwa) – Snap is a relaxed person. But he is always ready to jump into action when there's trouble. He speaks in a unique way, different from the others. His Motor-Vater form is blue with purple details. Snap's Carfin is a blue hippie van.
• Nuke (played by Marc Schwarz) – Nuke is the strong guy of the team. He loves adventure and excitement. His Motor-Vater form is green and looks like a tow truck. It even has a hook and crane! Nuke's Carfin is also a green tow truck.
• Rev (played by Melissa Marsala) – Rev is a tomboy. She is not afraid to get dirty and fight alongside the guys. But she also likes to show her feminine side sometimes. Both Nuke and Tracula like her, but she doesn't notice them. She has a special bond with her mentor, Van He'll Sing. In her Motor-Vater form, she is red. She is armed with a fire hose and an axe. Her Carfin is a fire truck.

Friends and Helpers

• Van He'll Sing (played by himself) – Van is the Motor-Vaters' friend and guide. He is an older hippie who runs Sunrise Salvage. This is a junkyard where the team works and hangs out. His name sounds like "Van Helsing," a famous character.
• Gypsy – Gypsy is an old female gypsy cab. She has mufflers for arms! She appears at random times. She gives the Motor-Vaters advice using riddles.
• Greaspot – Greaspot is the Motor-Vaters' pet. He is a bright, colorful plastic tricycle. He acts just like a puppy! It's a mystery why Greaspot doesn't need fuel or turn to dust in the sun.

The Van-Pires: Evil Vehicles

The Van-Pires are the bad guys of the series. Unlike the Motor-Vaters, they don't have human forms. Led by Tracula, they cause trouble at night. They are always thirsty for gasoline! Like vampires, Van-Pires feed on other vehicles. They can also turn other vehicles into Van-Pires to help them.

• Tracula (voiced by Jonathan Davis) – Tracula is the leader of the Van-Pires. He is a purple truck. He demands that his followers obey him.
• Cardaver – Cardaver is a rusty, old, hunchbacked Van-Pire. He looks like a hearse.
• Ambula (voiced by Donna Daley) – Ambula is a female ambulance. She has six arms! She looks like the Bride of Frankenstein. She uses different surgical tools and sleepy gas.
• Automaniac – Automaniac is an ice cream truck. He has a clown look. Automaniac seems silly and harmless. But his ice cream and balloon animals can be dangerous!
• Alucart (voiced by Andrew Francis) – Alucart is Tracula's son. He was made from leftover car parts. He was supposed to be Tracula's heir. But he becomes friends with the Motor-Vaters. They call him Alucart because it's his father's name spelled backward. He only appeared in one episode. He is based on Frankenstein’s Monster.

Episode List

• "Those Who Have the Fuel Shall Rule"
• "Unleaded Zeppelin"
• "A Few Good Cars"
• "Mission Demolition" (also known as "Night of Destruction")
• "Bride of Tracula"
• "Tailpipes from the Crypt"
• "Bad to the Cone"
• "Nukenstein"
• "A Car is Born"
• "The Swarm Storm"
• "Revel Without a Car"
• "One Million Miles B.C."
• "Uncool Fuel"

Soundtrack Music

In 2000, The John Entwistle Band released an album called Music from Van-Pires. It was the official soundtrack for the TV series. This was John Entwistle's last solo album before he passed away two years later.