Bunnicula

James Howe conceived the character after watching late-night vampire movies in the 1970s and wondering what the silliest possible version of a vampire would be. His wife, Deborah, then suggested they collaborate to turn the concept into a children's book, which they wrote together by speaking the story aloud and taking turns finishing each other's sentences.

This story serves as the first installment in a series of seven books that follow the Monroe family and their pets, published between 1979 and 2006. Following Deborah Howe's passing, James Howe continued the series as the sole author.

The story was adapted into an animated television special that aired as part of the ABC Weekend Special series in 1982. Additionally, a separate animated series loosely based on the book series was produced for Cartoon Network and Boomerang in 2016.