Van-Pires is a computer animated children's television series (with live-action segments) that originally aired in the USA between 1997 and 1998 in syndication mostly on Fox and WB affiliates. It was produced by Abrahams/Gentile (New York), with CGI animation being produced under MSH (San Francisco). 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

Computer-generated imagery

Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...

-animated television series to be produced using the 3D modeling and animation software 3D Studio MAX

3D Studio Max

Autodesk 3ds Max, formerly 3D Studio MAX, is for making 3D animations. It was developed and produced by Autodesk Media and Entertainment. It has modeling capabilities, a flexible plugin architecture and can be used on the Microsoft Windows platform. It's frequently used by video game developers, TV...

 (aka 3ds max, Autodesk). It was only the third CGI

Computer-generated imagery

Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...

-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

John Entwistle

John Alec Entwistle was an English bass guitarist, songwriter, singer, horn player, and film and record producer who was best known as the bass player for the rock band The Who. His aggressive lead sound influenced many rock bass players...

 of the band The Who

The Who

The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...

 and Steve Luongo

Steve Luongo

Steve Luongo is an internationally recognized drummer, producer and songwriter who hails from Westchester, New York. At the age of 6 he announced to family and friends that he knew he would play drums for the rest of his life. Steve has been playing drums, touring the world and making records ever...

 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 anthropomorphized junkyard vans and vehicles known as the "Van-Pires" by transforming into robotic anthropomorphized cars, calling themselves the "Motor-Vators".

Motor Vators

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

Dracula

Dracula is an 1897 novel by Irish author Bram Stoker.Famous for introducing the character of the vampire Count Dracula, the novel tells the story of Dracula's attempt to relocate from Transylvania to England, and the battle between Dracula and a small group of men and women led by Professor...

") and the rest of the Van-pires. Each Motor Vator has the ability to fly and they also share the same weaknesses as their enemies; like the Van-pires, the Motor Vators 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 and shouts, "Mission Ignition!"

• Axle- The leader of the Motor Vators. He takes his role seriously and does what it takes to keep the team together. However, Axle can be too serious with his responsibilities either causing self-doubt when something goes awry or alienating one of the other Motor Vators. In his Motor Vator form, Axle's color scheme is yellow with red fire designs. These colors are the same as his Carfin, which resembles a Lincoln convertible.

• Snap- Snap is a very laid back person but is ready to jump into action when trouble rises. His Motor Vator form is blue with a purple trim. Snap's Carfin is a blue hippy van. In Van Pires: The Next Generation, he runs the junkyard. His daughter Amy, becomes one of the new generation Motor Vators.

• Nuke- Nuke is the team's strongman and thrill seeker. His Motor Vator form is green and is modeled after a towtruck complete with hook and crane. Nuke's Carfin is also a green tow truck.

• Rev- The only girl of the group, but she gets down and dirty just like the rest of the guys. Sometimes, Rev is not afraid to show off her feminine side. In her Motor Vator form, she is a red fire truck and armed with a fire hose and axe. Her Carfin is a fire truck.

Allies

• Van He'llsing- The Motor Vator's friend and advisor. Van is an old hippy that runs Sunrise Salvage, a junkyard that the gang works and hangsout at. His name is derived from the famous Bram Stoker character Van Helsing
  Abraham Van Helsing
  Professor Abraham van Helsing is a protagonist from Bram Stoker's 1897 novel, Dracula.Van Helsing is a Dutch doctor with a wide range of interests and accomplishments, partly attested by the string of letters that follows his name: "M.D., D.Ph., D.Litt., etc." The character is best known as a...
  
  .

• Gypsy- An old female gypsy cab with mufflers for arms. Gypsy was also created at the same time when the Motor Vators and Van-pires were. She shows up at random times and gives the Motor Vators advice in the form of riddles.

• Greaspot- The Motor Vator's pet. His is a neon colored plastic tricycle with the behavioral instincts of a puppy.

Van-pires

The Villains of the series. Unlike the Motor Vators, they do not have human forms. Led by Tracula, they terrorize the night with a neverending thirst for gasoline. Like vampires, Van-pires feed off of vehicles and can sire other Van-pires to accomplish their evil goals.

• Tracula- The leader of the Van-pires. Tracula is a purple truck that demands obedience from his minions.

• Cardaver- A rusty and decrepit hunchbacked Van-pire.

• Ambula- A female ambulance Van-pire with six arms. She is armed with an assortment of surgical tools and anaesthesia.

• Automaniac- An ice cream truck with a clown motif. Automaniac appears goofy and harmless, but his arsenal of ice cream and balloon animals show otherwise.

• One episode featured a character named "Alucart", which is "Tracula" spelled backwards (in the same way that "Alucard
  Alucard
  Alucard may refer to:*Count Alucard , the title character in the 1943 film Son of Dracula and other works....
  
  " is Dracula spelled backwards).

Episodes

Episode 1: Those Who Have The Fuel Shall Rule


Episode 2: Unleaded Zeppelin


Episode 3: A Few Good Cars


Episode 4: Mission Demolition Or Night Of Destruction?


Episode 5: Bride Of Tracula


Episode 6: Tailpipes From The Crypt


Episode 7: Bad To The Cone


Episode 8: Nukenstein


Episode 9: A Car Is Born


Episode 10: The Swarm Storm


Episode 11: Revel Without A Car


Episode 12: One Million Miles B.C.


Episode 13: Uncool Fuel

Soundtrack

In 2000, the John Entwistle Band released Music from Van Pires as an official album and soundtrack to the series. It was John Entwistle's last solo album before his death two years later.