#dracula adaptations

*We know that Bram Stoker learned the name Voivode Dracula from a book on Romanian history, as well as learning that Dracula fought the Turks and was betrayed by his brother. Up to this point in his research, Stoker had named his antagonist Count Wampyr but then changed it to Dracula, mentioning in his notes that "Dracula" meant "devil" according to that book. It seems that he used the name and a couple of details of Vlad Dracula's life rather than completely rewriting the character as Vlad the Impaler. Count Dracula is never mentioned in regard to impalement, for example, which his namesake was famous for, and there is no mention of Vlad Dracula's wives or children. Also in Stoker's notes, the Count would originally be from Hungary (this is why he mentions being descended from Attila the Hun, whom Vlad Dracula was not related to).

However, Mrs Westenra is important to exist partly because it makes Lucy such a Persephone figure.

A daughter (kore/κόρη) on the cusp of adolescence and adulthood, taken forcibly away from the living to the land of the dead by the lord of Death, to marry him (white clothes in her tomb, when she was supposed to be in a bridal dress soon), to dwell in darkness for eternity under his ultimate power.

Lucy also dies/"goes to the underworld" on the Autumn Equinox, signaling winter coming and light (the meaning of Lucy's name) fading for darkness to reign.

hope you have a lovely day

-🐝

The Dracula project

The carriage ride animation was part of my class's end-of-the-year presentation on projects everyone had to work on. Now, most people just did it for the grade (understandable), but I changed my original plan mid-year because I realized this might be my opportunity to work on an adaptation of Dracula we might actually enjoy – because I'm actually trying to pitch it into a movie!

In November, I will attend, by grace of my school director, a convention where I will meet representatives of various animation studios and TV producers alongside fellow animation students.

So, me and @catsvrsdogscatswin have partnered to work on this, and have made extensive research (mostly on her end) and are writing scripts, making character sheets, drawing storyboards, and preparing for anything we might need. Everything I've posted up until now (with the exception of memes) will be in our portfolio.

Our selling point is that this will be an adaptation as accurate to the original story as possible, with the intended metaphors and narrative of the novel (we're quite read up on Stoker's personal life to try and see how he intended it to be read), AND as accurate to its era as possible - not just with the English characters, but the Eastern European ones as well. This way, it could even serve as an academic alternative for anyone that doesn't want to read the book (and would enjoy 2D animation).

Hand-drawn animation and gothic/vampire horror are the hot topic of the moment with recent successful movies, and people miss more serious animation like the iconic villains of older films as well as actual passion over cash-grabs. So we're not gonna pull any punches or try and spin it into a hallmark romantic tragedy and give it all the horror and dramatic suspense of the original novel. We will tackle subjects like Victorian gender roles, xenophobia, racism, male and female survivors of sexual violence, classism, the sociopolitical issues faced by Romani people, different aspects of Christianity, girlhood, ableism and the triumph of the human spirit, which will be the main metaphor. Also, as my dad helpfully added, rebelling against a powerful rich man, which might interest some viewers.

Comic adaptations: don't worry we will make it Proper

What It's About: After Jonathan Harker dies, Mina marries Van Helsing and --

Look at this full color art with Jonno front and center and Mina supporting Lucy 😭

Look at this gorgeous art!

Look at Jack's good forehead! XD

Look at Arthur's terriers!

Look at Jonmina getting their due!

And Yeeharker giving Dracula his!!

Look at the booooooy 😭😭😭