Van Pires
| Van-Pires | |
|---|---|
| Created by | John Gentile 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 numerous 3D animators |
| Running time | approx. 30 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | FOX and The WB Syndication |
| Picture format | NTSC Video (printed film) |
| Original release | September, 1997 – 1998 |
Van-Pires is a computer animated children's television series (with live-action segments) that debuted in the USA in 1997. It was produced by Abrams/Gentile (New York), with CGI animation being produced under MSH (San Francisco). The show was syndicated by the The Summit Media Group.
The series was rated #1 in its time slot during several broadcasts in various United States and International markets.Van-Pires was the first children's CGI-animated television series to be produced using the 3D modeling and animation software 3D Studio MAX (aka 3ds max, Autodesk). It was only the third CGI-animated television series of its kind to use 3D animation in every episode, and ultimately received a Sci-Fi Award.
Van-Pires also had portions of its soundtrack written and performed by John Entwistle of the rock band The Who and Steve Luongo Entwistle's long-time friend, producer and drummer in The John Entwistle Band. A range of other talented voices and animators were involved in production of the series.
The Van-Pires synopsis and its stories center on a group of human teenagers who protect and defend the world from evil anthropomorphic junkyard vans and vehicles known as the "Van-Pires" by transforming into robotic anthropomorphic cars, calling themselves the "Motor-Vaters".
Four ordinary teens were accidentally caught in the path of a falling meteor. The meteor transformed them into heroic robotic guardians to protect the night from the evil forces of Tracula (a reference to "Dracula") and the rest of the Van-Pires. Each Motor-Vater has the ability to fly and they also share the same weaknesses as their enemies; like the Van-Pires, the Motor-Vaters require gas to sustain themselves and must avoid the sun at all costs. To transform, each hero gets into the driver's seat of his or her Carfin (a portmanteau of "car" and "coffin") and shouts, "Mission Ignition!"
The villains of the series. Unlike the Motor-Vaters, they do not have human forms. Led by Tracula, they terrorize the night with a never-ending thirst for gasoline. Like vampires, Van-Pires feed off of vehicles and can sire other Van-Pires to accomplish their evil goals.
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