(LAND OF) OOO: The Marceline vamps it up in her own new Cartoon Network miniseries, Stakes, with the first 2 episodes already on DStv Catch Up as a sneak peek.

I have a niece and a nephew, who, everytime I speak to them on the phone, I go "Yes. Marceline. Can I please speak to Marceline. The Vaaaampire Queeen."

Then they laugh. "No, it's Chelsea", and, "No, it's Luke".

Together we've watched more Adventure Time on the Cartoon Network (DStv 301) than what I've ever watched Kideo, Pumpkin Patch and Cedric the Crow combined, while I sit in constant mock-shock and make comments like "This is too much!", "This show is too scary!", "No, we can't watch this" and "Why does that one have such sharp teeth?"

Now one of the more cray-cray animation shows for kids on television has done a spin-off about probably the most intriguing character of all: the Marceline, the Vaaampire Queeen.

Stakes is a brand-new 8-part miniseries on the Cartoon Network with the entire miniseries that will be broadcast on Saturday 19 March and Sunday 20 March with 4 episodes each day starting at 09:20.

The first two episodes of Stakes are already available on MultiChoice's DStv Catch Up service as a type of "sneak peek".

In the new Stakes miniseries, Princess Bubblegum removes Marceline's vampire side. It however unleashes five recently resurrected vampires in the Land of Ooo, and just guess who has to deal with the problem.

The miniseries for the first time and very cleverly, explores and explains the personality and history of this complex character who is the frenemy of Finn the human and Jake the shape-shifting dog.

Watching the show, clever and perhaps more adult viewers might recognise or guess that vampirism is actually symbolic and a metaphor of depression.

Look out for a (great!) somber song Marceline's mom sings to her in Stakes, and that Marceline sings again herself later - as well as absolutely fascinating flashbacks to Marceline's past viewers have never seen.

New episodes from the 6th season of Adventure Time also just started on Cartoon Network, returning viewers to the Land of Ooo and Marceline... Marceline the Vaaaampire Queeen.

The 7th season of Adventure Time will start on Cartoon Network on DStv around November.