The 10 Best Kid Friendly Versions of the Universal Monsters

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For almost a century, the classic Universal Monsters – Dracula, Frankenstein, the Wolf Man, and the Mummy – have been a major part of our culture, especially when it comes to Halloween. While they used to scare audiences, these monsters have become much friendlier and geared towards children over the years, with some versions being surprisingly cute! We’ve ranked the most popular, family-friendly versions of these iconic creatures.

I’m really excited to share this ranking, but I want to be clear about what we counted when putting it together. We were only interested in characters specifically designed to be takes on the classic Universal Monsters – things like a monster reimagined, not just a famous cartoon character dressing up for Halloween. So, while fun, things like Mickey Mouse as Dracula or the Care Bears doing Universal Monsters didn’t make the cut. We wanted to focus on actual monster riffs, and now, let’s get to the ranking!

10. The Halloweentown Monsters from The Nightmare Before Christmas

While the main characters in The Nightmare Before Christmas, like Jack Skellington and Sally, were original creations, the film also featured charming stop-motion versions of classic Universal Monsters in Jack’s hometown of Halloweentown. These included the Wolf Man, the Mummy, and a group of short, stout vampires inspired by Bela Lugosi’s Dracula. Though they aren’t central to the story, these characters remain popular, selling lots of merchandise and appearing in Disney Parks’ Halloween events.

9. Frankenstein Jr.

One of the first lighthearted takes on Frankenstein was the 1966 cartoon, Frankenstein Jr. Knowing a reanimated monster would be too scary for young viewers, the show reimagined Frankenstein as a superhero robot, designed to resemble Boris Karloff’s iconic look. Though it only ran for one season of 18 episodes, “Franky” inspired many similar shows that followed. However, it did draw criticism from some parents who considered it too violent. The show’s opening narration was provided by Paul Frees, who later became famous as the voice of the “Ghost Host” at Disney’s Haunted Mansion.

8. The Mad Monster Party Monsters

Among all the films on this list, Mad Monster Party is unique because it features Boris Karloff, a star from the classic Universal Monster movies. Released in 1967, the stop-motion animated film is very much a product of the 1960s. Karloff plays Baron Frankenstein—not the monster—and throws a party on the Isle of Evil to announce his retirement as the leader of all monsters. Hilarious chaos and catchy music follow. This film directly inspired Tim Burton when he created The Nightmare Before Christmas.

7. Fangface

Ruby-Spears, the animation studio behind many popular cartoons, attempted to create their own take on the Scooby-Doo formula with a show about a group of teen detectives. However, instead of a dog sidekick, their series featured a Wolf Man. The main character, Sherman “Fangs” Fangworth, would transform into the friendly werewolf, Fangface, whenever he saw the full moon – even in a picture! Essentially a blend of the characters Shaggy and Scooby-Doo, Fangface aired for two seasons, from 1978 to 1979. Interestingly, Frank Welker, who famously voiced Fred in Scooby-Doo, also provided the voice for Fangface. While the show wasn’t a huge hit at the time, many believe it’s ripe for a revival.

6. Count Duckula

Many millennials remember watching the British cartoon Count Duckula on Nickelodeon in the early 1990s. The show, which ran from 1988 to 1993 and had 65 episodes, featured a friendly vampire duck who preferred carrots to blood. Though inspired by the classic Dracula monster, Count Duckula was mostly harmless, as befitting a children’s program. He was constantly bothered by his rival, Doctor Von Goosewing. Count Duckula was also adapted into comic books and became a popular, family-friendly take on the Dracula story for a ’90s audience.

5. The Drak Pack

Ten years after the show Groovie Goolies, Hanna-Barbera created their own take on classic monsters, reimagining them as teen superheroes. The children of Dracula, Frankenstein’s monster, and a werewolf formed a crime-fighting team to atone for their ancestors’ misdeeds. Occasionally, the original Count Dracula would appear, going by the nickname “Big D.” (It was a simpler time!). This show aired on ABC in 1980 but only lasted one season. However, many see a clear connection between dreamy Drak Jr. and later characters like Angel from Buffy and Edward Cullen from Twilight. The entire series is now available on Blu-ray.

4. The Groovie Goolies

In the early 1970s, hoping to capitalize on the popularity of Scooby-Doo, Filmation created The Groovie Goolies. The show centered around Drac, Frankie, and Wolfie – a laid-back, hippie take on the Wolf Man – who lived in a castle called Horrible Hall. They formed a rock band called The Monster Trio, and each episode included at least one of their songs. Characters from the Archie universe, like Sabrina the Teenage Witch, would occasionally appear. Though it only ran for two seasons, The Groovie Goolies continued to air in reruns for many years. It’s a great example of the animation style of the time, and it helped to further soften the image of classic monsters, making them more friendly and approachable.

3. The Hotel Transylvania Monsters

For today’s young generation, known as Gen Z, the monsters from the Hotel Transylvania movies have become the new classic Universal Monsters. The series began with the hit 2012 animated film starring Adam Sandler as Dracula, and it features Dracula running a hotel as a safe haven for monsters. Key characters include Frankenstein (voiced by Kevin James), the werewolf Wayne (Steve Buscemi), and the mummy Murray (CeeLo Green). The franchise has grown to include three sequels and a TV show, with another project already planned. While Sony Pictures Animation created these films, it’s hard not to think Universal might feel a little left out. For many young people, these Hotel Transylvania characters are the only versions of these classic monsters they’ve ever known.

2. Count von Count

Bela Lugosi’s portrayal of Dracula was incredibly influential, and even today, nearly a century later, he remains the standard for how many people imitate or parody the character. A prime example is Count von Count from Sesame Street, who has been teaching children math with a dramatically exaggerated Romanian accent since 1972. (It seems there was something special about the early 70s and lovable Dracula characters!) Two puppeteers, Jerry Nelson and Mott Vogel, have brought the purple, undead Muppet to life, and he continues to be a popular, kid-friendly vampire in pop culture.

1. Count Chocula, Franken Berry, and the Monster Cereal Mascots

Since 1971, the most recognizable kid-friendly versions of Universal’s classic monsters have been the mascots on General Mills’ Monster Cereals, like Count Chocula and Franken Berry. Fruit Brute and Yummy Mummy joined them, though Boo Berry wasn’t based on a specific Universal monster. For more than fifty years, these cereals have made breakfast fun and spooky, and in 2025, they’ll even appear as Muppets! While they’re now only available for a limited time each fall, the Monster Cereals return every year and are still popular enough to inspire a lot of merchandise. Many other monster characters have faded away, but these cereals remain consistently beloved.

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2025-10-27 21:04