Vampirina is an animated children's television series created by Chris Nee. Based on the Vampirina Ballerina series of books written by Anne Marie Pace and published by Disney-Hyperion, the series premiered on Disney Junior and Disney Channel on October 1, 2017. It features much of the staff that has worked on another program created by Nee, Doc McStuffins.
The series ended on June 28, 2021, after 3 seasons and 75 episodes.
Premise
Vampirina follows the story of Vampirina "Vee" Hauntley who becomes the new kid on the block after she and her family move from
Transylvania to
Pennsylvania to open a local bed and breakfast called the Scare B&B for visiting ghouls (including vampires
["a ghoulish girl in the human world" in opening lyrics, a pair of vampires are the first guests]) and goblins. The Hauntley family have to learn to do things the "Pennsylvania way", especially when Vee is at school, all while keeping their monster lives a secret from humans so they don't scare them.
Characters
Main
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Vampirina "Vee" Hauntley (voiced by Isabella Crovetti
[ (also "I may be blue with pointy teeth" in opening lyrics)] She is the lead singer and spookylele player of her band, the Ghoul Girls.
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Oxana Hauntley (voiced by Lauren Graham
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Demi Hauntley (voiced by Mitchell Whitfield
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Gregoria (voiced by Wanda Sykes
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Poppy Peepleson (voiced by Jordan Alexa Davis) is Edgar's sister and Edna's daughter who is Vee's best friend. She is the first human who discovers Vee's true identity, but promises not to tell anyone. She's the drummer and the youngest of the Ghoul Girls. She is 8 years old. In "Double Double Halloween Trouble", she and her family are revealed to be Hispanic. Her first name is probably chosen as a reference to Gothic fiction author Billy Martin's pen name Poppy Z. Brite (cf. her brother's first name being that of Edgar Allan Poe).
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Bridget (voiced by ViviAnn Yee) is a very shy and nervous girl who is one of Vee's best friends. She also soon discovers Vee's identity, and like Poppy, promises to keep it secret. She has a pet Sphynx cat named Miss Cuddlecakes. She's the bassist and the smartest of the Ghoul Girls. She is also 9 years old. She is revealed to be partly Jewish in "Double Double Halloween Trouble".
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Edgar Peepleson (voiced by Benji Risley) is Poppy's older twin brother and Edna's son who is Vee's friend. He is a monster enthusiast and runs a vlog called "Weekly Weirdness". In the Season 2 finale episode "Ghoul Guides Save the Day!", he finally learns Vee's secret of her family being vampires, and the fact that monsters are actually real when he visits Vee's home town, Transylvania for the first time. However, just like Poppy and Bridget, he promises not to tell anyone. He is the percussionist and twin member of the Ghoul Girls. He is 8 years old. Similarly to his sister, Edgar's first name is probably chosen as a reference to a Gothic fiction author - namely Edgar Allan Poe.
Supporting
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Wolfie Hauntley (voiced by Dee Bradley Baker
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Penelope is a plant monster who is the Hauntley's house pet.
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Chef Remy Bones (voiced by Ian James Corlett
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Edna Peepleson (voiced by Cree Summer)
Recurring
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Nanpire (voiced by Patti LuPone
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Mr. Gore (voiced by Dee Bradley Baker
Guests
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Cosmina (voiced by Alex Ellis) and Narccissa (voiced by Laraine Newman) are two 800-year old internet-using vampire sisters who were guests at the Scare B&B.
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King Pepi (voiced by Andrew Rannells) is a mummy from Egypt.
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Uncle Dieter (voiced by Henry Winkler) is the ancestor who left the house to Vampirina's family.
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Nosferatu "Nosy" (voiced by Kari Wahlgren) is Olga's baby daughter and Vampirina's baby cousin.
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Aunt Olga (voiced by Kari Wahlgren) is Vampirina's aunt, Nosy's mother, Oxana's sister and Boris' sister-in-law.
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Matilda (voiced by Lara Jill Miller) is a cuddly Snugglot monster.
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Mr. Froufington (voiced by Phil LaMarr) is a foodie who visits the Scare B&B to try Oxana's food.
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Phoebe (voiced by Sanai Victoria) is a little witch who first appears in "The Little Witch".
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The Scream Girls are Vee's favorite ghoulish rock band.
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FrankenStacey (voiced by Kaley Snider)
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Creepy Caroline (voiced by Raini Rodriguez)
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Ghastly Gayle (voiced by Gabriela Milo)
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Buttons (voiced by Nika Futterman) is a blue Cuddle Monster.
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Hornadette (voiced by Georgie Kidder) and Shriekia (voiced by Debi Derryberry) are a two-headed monster whose two heads are sisters.
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Rusty Topsail (voiced by Christian Borle) is a ghost pirate.
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Bob Bigfoot (voiced by Ethan Suplee) is an old friend of Boris who is often called "Uncle Bob" by Vee.
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Poltergeist Pat (voiced by Adam DeVine) is an arrogant entertainer who cheats in order to win a talent show.
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Frankenstein (voiced by Skylar Astin) is an old friend of Boris who tends to forget things.
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Bride of Frankenstein (voiced by Anna Camp) is the girlfriend of Frankenstein who gets engaged to him.
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Ichabod Crane (voiced by Taran Killam) a ghost who starts off disliking the Horseman before becoming friends.
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Headless Horseman (voiced Christopher Jackson) a ghost who starts off disliking Ichabod before becoming friends.
Episodes
Release
Broadcast
Vampirina premiered on Sunday, October 1, 2017 in the United States with two back-to-back episodes simulcast on Disney Channel and Disney Junior. Of the first season's 15 episodes, 10 premiered within the month of October to tie into
Halloween and were also placed on Disney Junior's streaming and video on demand venues.
In Canada, the show premiered on Disney Junior on October 7 the same year. The second season premiered on December 7, 2018,
while the third season premiered on October 5, 2020.
is broadcast in 115 countries and translated into 15 languages.
The series ended with its series finale on June 28, 2021 after 3 seasons and 75 episodes.
Home media
Reception
Critical response
Emily Ashby of
Common Sense Media gave
Vampirina a grade of four out of five stars, praised the presence of positive messages and role models, citing friendship and honesty, writing that "vivacious vampire girl's adventures promote tolerance".
Dave Trumbore of
Collider included
Vampirina in their "Best Animated Series Debuts of 2017" list, saying that the show is "a super-cute take on
The Munsters or
The Addams Family with a bit of the "new kid in school" thrown in for good measure".
Charles Curtis of USA Today ranked Vampirina 5th in their "20 Best Shows For Kids Right Now (March 2020)" list, calling it a "delight with some great celebrity voices".
Accolades
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| 2018 | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Directing in an Animated Program | Nicky Phelan, Marten Jonmark, Ehud Landsberg, Matteo Ceccotti and Kristi Reed | | |
| Outstanding Main Title and Graphic Design | Nicky Phelan, Stephen Robinson, Leigh Fieldhouse and Magnus Kråvik | |
| Outstanding Writing in an Animated Preschool Program | Chris Nee, Chelsea Beyl, Travis Braun and Jeffrey King | |
| British Academy Children's Awards | International Pre-School | Chris Nee, Norton Virgien, Nicky Phelan | | |
| Irish Film and Television Awards | Best Animation - Television | Chris Nee, Erik Vignau, Lisa O'Connor | | |
| 2019 | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Preschool Animated Program | Jay Culliton, Carlos Sanches and Eric Lewis | | |
| Outstanding Sound Editing for a Preschool Animated Program | Otis Van Osten, Marcos Abrom, Jason Oliver, Eric Lewis, Goeun Lee | | |
| 2020 | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Preschool Children's Animated Series | Chris Nee, Cathal Gaffney, Darragh O'Connell, Norton Virgien, Chelsea Beyl, Gillian Higgins, Colm Tyrrell, Lisa O'Connor, Erik Vignau, Nayanshi Shaw and Jeffrey King | | |
| Outstanding Original Song in a Children's, Young Adult or Animated Program | Michael Kooman, Christopher Dimond and Chris Nee for The Vamp-Opera: "The Vamp Opera" | |
Live-action series
On November 1, 2024, Disney Channel announced a new
Vampirina live-action series is set to premiere in 2025.
External links
