How did Dracula become the world's most famous vampire? - Stanley Stepanic
3,904,759 Views
23,950 Questions Answered
TEDEd Animation
Let’s Begin…
Over a hundred years after his creator was laid to rest, Dracula lives on as the most famous vampire in history. But this Transylvanian noble – neither the first fictional vampire, nor the most popular of his time – may have remained buried in obscurity if not for a twist of fate. Stanley Stepanic explains how a critical copyright battle catapulted Bram Stoker’s character into literary renown.
Additional Resources for you to Explore
For more information on Stoker’s life, Barbara Belford’s excellent biography, Bram Stoker: A Biography of the Author of Dracula. This article: Bram Stoker: 10 facts about Dracula author is another great place to start!
Read this article for a quick overview of vampire history. For information concerning vampire folklore and the impact of the Vampire Epidemic, check out Paul Barber’s Vampires, Burial, and Death. To learn more about vampire folklore including a discussion of vampire hunting, read Bruce McClelland’s Slayers and Their Vampires. Finally, for an overview of the vampire’s impact in film, take a look at Silver and Ursini’s The Vampire Film.
This article: The Wild Evolution of Vampires, From Bram Stoker to Dracula Untold discusses the evolution of vampire stories from Dracula to the present. You can also watch The True Origin of Zombies, Vampires, and Werewolves to learn more.
This TED-Ed lesson also will provide some great background: Vampires: Folklore, fantasy and fact - Michael Molina.
Read this article for a quick overview of vampire history. For information concerning vampire folklore and the impact of the Vampire Epidemic, check out Paul Barber’s Vampires, Burial, and Death. To learn more about vampire folklore including a discussion of vampire hunting, read Bruce McClelland’s Slayers and Their Vampires. Finally, for an overview of the vampire’s impact in film, take a look at Silver and Ursini’s The Vampire Film.
This article: The Wild Evolution of Vampires, From Bram Stoker to Dracula Untold discusses the evolution of vampire stories from Dracula to the present. You can also watch The True Origin of Zombies, Vampires, and Werewolves to learn more.
This TED-Ed lesson also will provide some great background: Vampires: Folklore, fantasy and fact - Michael Molina.
About TED-Ed Animations
TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »
Meet The Creators
- Educator Stanley Stepanic
- Director Phuong Mai NGUYEN
- Script Editor Alex Gendler
- Composer Stephen LaRosa
- Animator Phuong Mai NGUYEN
- Art Director Phuong Mai NGUYEN
- Character Designer Phuong Mai NGUYEN
- Storyboard Artist Phuong Mai NGUYEN
- Editor Phuong Mai Nguyen
- Collaborator Anahissa Almaraz
- Associate Producer Jessica Ruby
- Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
- Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
- Narrator Addison Anderson
