FRAZETTA'S DRACULA

Orsatti Productions Inc. will begin production of feature‐length animated version of “Dracula,” according to Dominic Orsatti, president of the company. An original screenplay based “very closely” on the original Brain Stoker novel has been completed by George Greer.

The film, which is said to be budgeted at $3 million, will utilize character designs by Frank Frazetta, comic book illustrator of Edgar Rice Burroughs's novels. Mr. Orsatti will serve as executive producer. Emil Carle will produce the film and be technical director. Andrew Chiaramonte and Mr. Greer will be directors of animation. - The New York Times, April 28, 1976

The above announcement couldn't have been better news for fans of monsters and Frank Frazetta. Unfortunately, the project died on the vine and we have little left to commemorate the planned event. Included here are examples from Frazetta's character designs from various sources. But alas, we would have to wait for Ralph Bakshi's FIRE AND ICE to see characters from the imaginative mind of Frazetta in motion.

Frank Frazetta - Dracula Painting Original Art (1989). In 1975, Frank Frazetta was commissioned to design the look for an animated adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula. The project never happened, but it obviously sparked something in Frazetta. This painting dated 14 years later bears the same design for the character! Could this be what lead to his Dracula Meets the Wolfman comic another 20 years after this painting was made? This piece perfectly captures the timeless character in oil on 12" x 17.5" paper. One small pinhole in the top left corner and minor glue residue on the back from being previously mounted are the only noticeable defects. Signed and dated in the top right. In Excellent condition. From the Bill Frazetta Collection. (Image shown at the top of this post.)

Frank Frazetta Dracula Character Study Original Art (Orsatti Productions, 1975). Commissioned by Orsatti Productions to create character designs for a full-length Dracula animated feature, Frank Frazetta created this head study in watercolor and pencil on paper. The piece was published on page 112 of Legacy. The work has been trimmed to the edge of the art (measures 6.5" x 8.5"), and mounted to another board. Framed to an overall size of 17" x 20". There is some slight paint loss on the eyebrows, under the nose and on the chin; otherwise the art is in Very Good condition. Signed by Frazetta at the lower right.

Count Dracula, c. 1970
Mixed-media on paper
14.5in. x 11.5in.
Movie concept art for a Dracula film, viewed and signed by Mr. Frazetta.

Count Dracula, c. 1970
Mixed-media on paper
14.5in. x 11.5in.
Movie concept art for a Dracula film.
viewed and signed by Mr. Frazetta

Frank Frazetta Van Helsing Character Study Original Art (Orsatti Productions, 1975). Frank Frazetta painted this head study for an animated Dracula feature in watercolor and graphite on textured paper. The piece has an overall size of 12" x 16.5" with an 11.5" x 8" image area. In Excellent condition. Signed by the artist at the lower left.

Mina Murray, c. 1970
Oil on board
24in. x 16.5in.
Movie concept art for a Dracula film, viewed and signed by Mr. Frazetta.

Faith, c. 1970
Oil on board
24in. x 15in.
Movie concept art for a Dracula film, viewed and signed by Mr. Frazetta.