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| {{two other uses|the TV series|the character|Scooby-Doo (character)|the film|Scooby-Doo (film)}} | |||
| {{featured article}} | |||
| {{Infobox Television | |||
| | show_name = Scooby-Doo | |||
| | image = ] | |||
| | caption = A scene from "What a Night for a Knight", the first episode of '']'' Clockwise from top: ], ], ], ], and ]. | |||
| | format = ]/]/] | |||
| | camera = | |||
| | picture_format = | |||
| | audio_format = | |||
| | runtime = | |||
| | creator = ] and ]<br>(uncredited; official credit is given to ] and ]) | |||
| | developer = | |||
| | producer = | |||
| | executive_producer = | |||
| | voices = | |||
| | starring = ] | |||
| | narrated = | |||
| | opentheme = | |||
| | endtheme = | |||
| | country = {{USA}} | |||
| | language = | |||
| | network = ] (]–]) <br/> ] (]–], ]–]) <br/> ] (]–]) <br/> ] (]—) | |||
| | first_aired = ] ] | |||
| | last_aired = present | |||
| | num_episodes = 374 (]) | |||
| | list_episodes = | |||
| | preceded_by = | |||
| | followed_by = | |||
| | website = http://www.scoobydoo.com | |||
| | imdb_id = | |||
| | tv_com_id = | |||
| }} | |||
| '''''Scooby-Doo ''''' is a long-running ] ] produced for ] in several different versions from ] to the present. The series was created by ], ] (story) and ] (character design) for ], who produced numerous ] and related works until being absorbed in 1997 into ], which has handled production since then. Though the format of the show and the cast (and ages) of characters have varied significantly over the years, the most familiar versions of the show feature a talking ] named ] and four ]: ], ], ], and ]. | |||
| These five characters (officially referred to collectively as "Mystery, Inc.", but never referred to as such in the original series) drive around the world in a ] called the "Mystery Machine", and solve mysteries typically involving tales of ]s and other ] forces. At the end of each episode, the supernatural forces turn out to have a rational explanation, typically criminal plots involving costumes and mechanical special effects intended to frighten or distract. Later versions of the show featured different variations on the supernatural theme of the show, and include additional characters, such as Scooby's cousin ] and nephew ], in addition to or instead of some of the original characters. | |||
| ''Scooby-Doo'' was originally broadcast on ] from 1969 to 1976, when it moved to ]. ABC cancelled the show in 1986, but presented a spin-off, '']'', from 1988 until 1991. A new ''Scooby-Doo'' series, '']'', aired on the ] and soon after was put on the ] during the ] programming block from 2002 until 2005. The current ''Scooby-Doo'' series, '']'', airs Saturday mornings on ] network. Repeats of the original series, as well as second-run episodes of ''What's New, Scooby-Doo?'', are broadcast frequently on the ] and ] in the United States and other countries. | |||
| ==Production history== | |||
| ===Creation and development=== | |||
| ] for the ''Mysteries Five'' characters. Left to right, top row: Kelly (Daphne) and Geoff (Fred). Left to right, bottom row: W.W. (Shaggy) and Linda (Velma).]] | |||
| In 1968, ], executive in charge of ] for the ] network, was looking for a show that would revitalize his Saturday morning line-up and please the ] at the same time. The result was '']'', based upon ]'s teenage humor comic book '']''. Also successful were the musical numbers ] performed during each program (one of which, "]", was the most successful '']'' ] of 1969). Silverman was eager to expand upon this success, and contacted producers ] and ] about possibly creating another show based around a teenage rock group, but with an extra element: the kids would ] in between their gigs. Silverman envisioned the show as a cross between the popular '']'' ] ] of the 1940s and the popular early 1960s TV show '']''.<ref>Laurence Marcus & Stephen R. Hulce (October, 2000). "Scooby Doo, Where Are You". ''Television Heaven''. Retrieved from http://www.Televisionheaven.co.uk/scooby.htm on June 9, 2006.</ref> | |||
| Hanna and Barbera passed this task along to two of their head storymen, ] and ], and artist/character designer ]. Their original concept of the show bore the title ''Mysteries Five'', and featured five teens (Geoff, Mike, Kelly, Linda, and Linda's brother "W.W.") and their dog, Too Much, who were all in a band called "The Mysteries Five" (even the dog; he played the ]). When "The Mysteries Five" were not performing at gigs, they were out solving spooky mysteries involving ghosts, ]s, and other supernatural creatures. Ruby and Spears then had to decide what to make their dog. At first, they chose between a large cowardly dog and a small feisty dog. When the former was chosen, the options became a large goofy ] or a big shaggy ]. After consulting with Barbera on the issue, Too Much was finally set as a Great Dane, primarily to avoid a direct correlation to The Archies (who had a sheepdog, ], in their band). Ruby and Spears had feared the Great Dane would be too similar to the comic strip character ], but Barbera assured them it would not be a problem.<ref name=RubyAndSpears>Ruby and Spears.</ref> | |||
| Takamoto consulted a studio colleague who happened to be a ] of Great Danes. After learning the characteristics of a prize-winning Great Dane from her, Takamoto proceeded to break most of the rules and designed Too Much with overly bowed legs, a ], and a sloped back, among other abnormalities.<ref>Ignacio, Cynthia Quimpo (2002). "". ''Yolk 2.0.'', vol. 9, issue 3. Los Angeles, CA: Informasian Media Group, Inc.</ref><ref>(2006). Interview with Iwao Takamoto. ''Eerie Mystery of Scooby-Doo and Dynomutt's History'' . New York, Los Angeles, CA: Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. Excerpt: "The Great Dane was supposed to be the biggest dog around...and there was a woman who actually bred and reared Great Danes. So, she came over, and spent a solid hour describing all of the positive things that makes a prize-wining Great Dane. And I selected about five things, I think, and went in the opposite direction. For instance, a good, strong straight back, so I sloped his back. A strong chin, so I under-swung his chin...and I think straight hind legs she mentioned. So I bowed them..."</ref> | |||
| By the time the show was ready for presentation by Silverman, a few more things had changed: Geoff and Mike were merged into one character called "Ronnie" (later renamed "]", at Silverman's behest),<ref>(2006). Interview with Ken Spears. ''Eerie Mystery of Scooby-Doo and Dynomutt's History''. Excerpt: "That character started out...I think his name was 'Geoff'...and then he became 'Harvey'. And then all of a sudden, Fred came in and said was going to be 'Fred'. So, I guess he had something to do with that."</ref> Kelly was renamed to "]", Linda was now called "]", and ] (formerly "W.W.") was no longer her brother. Also, Silverman – not being very fond of the name ''Mysteries Five'' – had rechristened the show ''Who's S-S-Scared?'' Using ]s, presentation boards, and a short completed animation sequence, Silverman presented ''Who's S-S-Scared?'' to the CBS executives as the centerpiece for the upcoming ]'s Saturday morning cartoon block. The executives felt that the presentation artwork was far too frightening for young viewers and, thinking the show would be the same, decided to pass on it.<ref name=RubyAndSpears/> | |||
| Now without a centerpiece for the upcoming season's programming, Silverman turned to Ruby and Spears, who reworked the show to make it more comedic and less frightening. They dropped the rock band element, and began to focus more attention on Shaggy and Too Much. According to Ruby and Spears, Silverman was inspired by the ad-lib "doo-be-doo-be-doo" he heard at the end of ]'s interpretation of ]'s song "]" on the way out to one of their meetings, and decided to rename the dog "]" and re-rechristen the show '']''<ref name=RubyAndSpears/> The revised show was re-presented to CBS executives, who approved it for production. | |||
| ===''Scooby-Doo'' television series=== | |||
| ====The CBS years==== | |||
| ] ]).]] | |||
| '']'' made its CBS network debut on Saturday, ] ] with its first episode, "What a Night for a Knight". The original ] featured ] as Scooby-Doo, ] as Shaggy, ] as Fred, ] as Velma, and ] as Daphne.<ref>(2005) "Scooby Doo, Where are You!" '']'' Retrieved from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063950/ on August 12, 2006.</ref> Seventeen episodes of ''Scooby-Doo'' were produced in 1969. | |||
| The influences of ''I Love a Mystery'' and ''Dobie Gillis'' were especially apparent in these early episodes; ], who would write ''Scooby-Doo'' teleplays and ] scripts in the 1970s and 1980s, identified each of the four teenagers with their corresponding '']'' character: "Fred was based on Dobie, Velma on Zelda, Daphne on Thalia and Shaggy on ]."<ref>]. (July 10, 2002). Post on "News from Me" blog for ''Povonline.com''. Retrieved from http://povonline.com/2002/News060902.htm on March 27, 2006.</ref> The similarities between Shaggy and Maynard are the most noticeable; both characters share the same ]-style ], similar hairstyles, and demeanours. The roles of each character are strongly defined in the series: Fred is the leader and the determined detective, Velma is the intelligent analyst, Daphne is danger-prone and vain, and Shaggy and Scooby-Doo are cowardly types more motivated by hunger than any desire to solve mysteries. Later versions of the show would make slight changes to the characters' established roles, most notably in the character of Daphne, shown in 1990s and 2000s ''Scooby-Doo'' productions as knowing many forms of ] and being able to defend herself. | |||
| The plot of each ''Scooby-Doo'' episode followed a formula that would serve as a template for many of the later incarnations of the series. At the beginning of the episode, the Mystery, Inc. gang bump into some type of evil ghost or monster, which they learn has been terrorizing the local populace. The teens offer to help solve the mystery behind the creature, but while looking for clues and suspects, the gang (and in particular Shaggy and Scooby) run into the monster, who always gives chase. However, after analyzing the clues they have found, the gang determines that this monster is simply a mere mortal in disguise. They capture the monster and bring him to the police, usually with Fred tugging at his mask and saying, "Now, let's see who you ''really'' are!" Upon learning his true identity, the fiendish plot is fully explained, and the ] would utter the famous catchphrase, or a variation thereof: "And I would have gotten away with it, if it wasn't for you meddling kids!" | |||
| ''Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!'' was a major ratings success for CBS, and they renewed it for a second season in ]. The eight 1970 episodes of ''Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!'' differed slightly from the first-season episodes in their uses of more ] humor, ''Archie Show''-like "chase songs" during climactic sequences, ] performing the voice of Daphne in place of Christopherson, and a re-recorded theme song. Both seasons contained a ], which was the standard practice for U.S. cartoon series during the 1960s and 1970s. | |||
| In ], after 25 half-hour episodes, the program was doubled to a full hour and called '']'', each episode of which featured a different guest star helping the gang solve mysteries. Among the most notable of these guest stars were the ], the ], ], ] and ] & ], each of whom appeared at least twice on the show. After two seasons and 24 episodes of the ''New Movies'' format from 1972 to 1974, the show went to reruns of the original series until ''Scooby'' moved to ABC in 1976. | |||
| ====The ''Scooby'' clones==== | |||
| ] ]).]] | |||
| Having established a successful formula, Hanna-Barbera then proceeded to repeat it many times over.<ref>Burke and Burke, pp 110-111.</ref> By the time ''Scooby-Doo'' had its first format change in 1972, Hanna-Barbera had produced three other teenager-based shows that were very similar to ''Scooby'' in concept and execution: '']'' (1970), which resurrected the idea of the rock band to the teenage-crime-fighter formula; '']'' (1971), which re-imagined the toddlers from '']'' as high school students; and the most blatant ''Scooby'' clone, '']'' (also 1971), which featured three teens, a real ghost and his ghostly ] solving spooky mysteries. | |||
| Later cartoons such as '']'' (1972); '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']'' (all 1973); '']'' and'' ]'' (both 1976); '']'' (1977); '']'' (1978); and the ''Pebbles, Dino, and Bamm-Bamm'' segments of ''] (1980)'' would all involve groups of teenagers solving mysteries or fighting crime in the same vein as ''Scooby-Doo'', usually with the help of a wacky animal, ghost, etc. For example, ''Speed Buggy'' featured three teens and a talking ] in the role of "Scooby", while ''Jabberjaw'' used four teens and a talking ] in a futuristic underwater environment. Some of these shows even used the same voice actors and score cues. Even outside studios got in on the act: when Joe Ruby and Ken Spears left H-B in 1977 and started ], their first cartoon was ''],'' yet another mystery-solving ''Scooby'' clone. | |||
| During the 1970s, the imitating programs successfully coexisted alongside ''Scooby'' on Saturday mornings. Most of the mystery-solving Hanna-Barbera shows made before 1975 were featured on CBS, and when Fred Silverman moved from CBS to ABC in 1975, the mystery-solving shows, including ''Scooby-Doo'', followed him. | |||
| ====The ABC years==== | |||
| ] (right) to the series in 1979 would coincide with a change in the ''Scooby-Doo'' formula. From the opening credits of ''Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo''.]] | |||
| On ABC, the show went through almost yearly format changes. For their ], new episodes of Scooby-Doo were joined with a new Hanna-Barbera show, '']'', to create '']''. (It became ''The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Show'' when a bonus ''Scooby-Doo, Where are You!'' rerun was added to it in November 1976.) This hour-long package show later evolved into the longer programming blocks '']'' (]) and '']'' (]). | |||
| New ''Scooby'' episodes, in the original ''Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!'' format, were produced for each of these three seasons. Four of these episodes featured Scooby's dim-witted country cousin ] as a semi-regular character. The ''Scooby-Doo'' episodes produced during these three seasons were later packaged together for ] as '']'', under which title they continue to air. For the ''Scooby's All-Star Laff-a-Lympics'' and ''Scooby's All-Stars'' programming blocks, ''Scooby-Doo'' was packaged alongside '']'', a new Hanna-Barbera cartoon featuring many of its characters in parodies of ] sporting events. Scooby-Doo appeared on the show as the team captain of the "Scoobie Doobies" team, with Shaggy and Scooby-Dum among his teammates. | |||
| In 1979, Scooby's tiny nephew ] was added to both the series and the billing, in an attempt to boost <i>Scooby-Doo</i>'s slipping ratings. The ] episodes, aired under the title '']'', succeeded in regenerating interest in the show, and as a result the entire show was overhauled in 1980 to focus more upon Scrappy-Doo. Fred, Daphne, and Velma were dropped from the series, and the ] was now comprised of three seven-minute comedic adventures starring Scooby, Scrappy, and Shaggy instead of one half-hour mystery. This version of ''Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo'' aired as part of '']'' from 1980 to 1982, and as part of '']'' from 1982 to 1983. Most of the supernatural villains in the seven-minute ''Scooby and Scrappy'' cartoons, who in previous ''Scooby'' series had been revealed to be human criminals in costume, were now "real" within the context of the series. | |||
| Daphne returned to the cast for '']'' in 1983, which comprised two 11-minute episodes in a format reminiscent of the original ''Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!'' mysteries. This version of the show lasted for two seasons, with the second season airing under the title ''The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries'' and featuring semi-regular appearances from Fred and Velma. | |||
| 1985 saw the debut of '']'', which featured Daphne, Shaggy, Scooby, Scrappy, and new characters Flim-Flam and Vincent Van Ghoul (based upon and voiced by ]) traveling the globe to capture "thirteen of the most terrifying ghosts and ghouls on the face of the earth." The final first-run episode of ''The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo'' aired in March 1986, and no new ''Scooby'' series aired on the network for the next two years. Reruns of previous ''Scooby'' episodes, however, continued to air, both as part of the ''Scooby-Doo Mystery Funhouse'' package and under the ''New Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Show'' banner. | |||
| Hanna-Barbera reincarnated the original ''Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!'' cast as ] students for '']'', which debuted on ABC in 1988. ''A Pup Named Scooby-Doo'' was an irreverent, zany re-imagining of the series, heavily inspired by the classic cartoons of ] and ], and eschewed the quasi-reality of the original ''Scooby'' series for a more '']''-like style. The retooled show was a success, and lasted until 1991. | |||
| ====Reruns and revival==== | |||
| ]'']] | |||
| Reruns of the show have been in ] since the mid-1980s, and have also been shown on ] ]s such as ] (until 1989) and ] (as part of the ] from 1990 to 1994). In 1993, ''A Pup Named Scooby-Doo'', having just recently ended its network run on ABC, began reruns on the ]; the other versions of ''Scooby-Doo'' joined it the following year and became exclusive to ] such as the Cartoon Network, TBS Superstation, and ]. ] network ] began airing ''Scooby-Doo, Where are You!'' in 1997, with the other ''Scooby'' series soon following. When TBS and TNT ended their broadcasts of H-B cartoons in 1998, ''Scooby-Doo'' became the exclusive property of both Cartoon Network and sister station ]. | |||
| In 2002, following the successes of the Cartoon Network reruns and four late-1990s ] ''Scooby-Doo'' releases, the original version of the gang was updated for the 21st century for '']'', which aired on ] from ] until ], with second-run episodes also appearing on Cartoon Network. Unlike previous ''Scooby'' series, the show was produced at ], which had absorbed Hanna-Barbera in 2001. The show returned to the familiar format of the original series for the first time since 1978, with modern-day technology and culture added to the mix to give the series a more contemporary feel, along with new, digitally-recorded sound effects and music. With Don Messick having died in 1997, Frank Welker took over as Scooby's voice actor, while continuing to provide the voice of Fred as well, and ] returned as Shaggy. ] now provides the voice of Daphne (she first took the role on '']'', replacing ], who committed suicide shortly before the release of '']'') and former '']'' star ] voices Velma. | |||
| After three seasons, ''What's New, Scooby-Doo'' was replaced in September 2006 with '']'', a major revamping of the series which debuted on ]'s Kids' WB Saturday morning programming block. The premise centers around Shaggy inheriting money and a ] from an uncle, an inventor who has gone into hiding from villains trying to steal his secret invention. The villains, led by "Dr. Phibes" (based primarily upon ] from the ] series), then use different schemes to try to get the invention from Shaggy and Scooby, who handle the plots alone. Fred, Daphne, and Velma are normally absent, but do make appearances at times to help. The characters were redesigned and the art style revised for the new series. | |||
| ===Television specials, telefilms, and direct-to-video features=== | |||
| ]'' marked the first time the original quintet of ''Scooby'' characters had appeared together in their original forms since 1984.]] | |||
| The ''Scooby-Doo'' characters first appeared outside of their regular Saturday morning format in '']'', an hour-long ABC television special aired in ] on ] ]. The special revolved around Shaggy and Scooby's attempts to have the network move Scooby out of Saturday morning and into a prime-time series, and featured spoofs of then-current TV shows and films such as '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']''. | |||
| From 1986 to 1988, Hanna-Barbera Productions produced '']'', a series of ] ] featuring their most popular characters, including ], ], ], and ]. Scooby-Doo, Scrappy-Doo, and Shaggy starred in three of these movies: '']'' (1987), '']'' (1988), and '']'' (1988). In addition, Scooby-Doo and Shaggy appeared as the narrators of the made-for-TV movie '']'', originally broadcast by ] in 1994 and later released on video as ''Scooby-Doo in Arabian Nights''. | |||
| Starting in 1998, ] and ] (by then a subsidiary of ]), began producing one new ''Scooby-Doo'' direct-to-video movie a year. These movies featured a slightly older version of the original five-character cast from the ''Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!'' days, and disregards the later ] years as ]. The movies include '']'' (1998), '']'' (1999), '']'' (2000), and '']'' (2001). Also in 2001, the Cartoon Network produced ''Night of the Living Doo'', a half-hour parody of the ''New Scooby-Doo Movies'' format featuring "special guest stars" ], ], and ]. | |||
| The success of the direct-to-video movies led to Scooby's return to Saturday morning, ''What's New, Scooby-Doo?'', and Hanna-Barbera based later entries in this series of ''Scooby'' movies on it rather than the previous editions. The series continued with '']'' (2003), '']'' (2003), '']'' (2004), '']'' (2005), '']'' (2005) and '']'' (2006). | |||
| A number of these ''Scooby-Doo'' telefilms and direct-to-video features, as well as many of the early-1980s shows featuring Scrappy-Doo, feature the gang encountering actual supernatural beings. In '']'' (1988), Shaggy, Scooby, and Scrappy sign up as gym teachers for Miss Grimwood's school for girls, only to find it is actually a school for ]s, where the trio end up teaching the daughters of ], ], the ], ], and the stereotypical ghost monster (Phantasma the Phantom). '']'' (1998) featured the original 1969 gang, reunited after years of being apart, battling ]-worshiping cat creatures in the ] bayou. The later ''What's New, Scooby-Doo''-based entries in the direct-to-video series returned to the original formula, and are basically extended episodes of the ''What's New, Scooby-Doo'' series. | |||
| ===Live-action Warner Bros. feature films=== | |||
| A ] of ''Scooby-Doo'' was released by ] in ]. The cast included ] as Fred, ] as Daphne, ] as Shaggy, and ] as Velma. Scooby-Doo was created on-screen by ] ]s. '']'' was a successful release, with a domestic box office gross of over ]130 million.<ref>Chris Suellentrop. (March 26, 2004). "Hey Dog! How do you do that Voodoo That You Do So Well?". ''Slate.com''. Retrieved from http://www.Slate.com/id/2097818/ on June 9, 2006.</ref> However, the film was not well reviewed: film critic ], who stated that he had never seen the original television series, gave ''Scooby-Doo'' one star (on a scale of zero to four), saying: "I feel no sympathy with any of the characters, I am unable to generate the slightest interest in the plot, and I laughed not a single time."<ref>Ebert, Roger (June 14, 2002). . Retrieved on December 19, 2006.</ref> A sequel, '']'', followed in March ], and earned $84 million at the U.S. box office.<ref> (January 27, 2006). . ''Variety''. Retrieved from on June 9, 2006.</ref> | |||
| ]' 2002 live-action '']'' feature film was a box office success, and resulted in a sequel two years later.]] | |||
| Both of these films followed the standard ''Scooby-Doo'' formula, while at the same time parodying various elements of that formula. While the first film had generally original characters as the villains (except for one villain revealed as a surprise plot twist), the second film featured several of the monsters from the television series, including the Black Knight, the 10,000 Volt Ghost, the Pterodactyl Ghost, the Miner 49er, and Chickenstein. | |||
| ==The ''Scooby'' influence== | |||
| ===Critical reaction and awards=== | |||
| While a successful series during its three separate tenures on Saturday morning, ''Scooby-Doo'' won no awards for artistic merit during its original series runs. The series has received only two ] nominations in its four-decade history: a 1989 ] nomination for ''A Pup Named Scooby Doo'', and a 2003 Daytime Emmy nomination for <i>What's New, Scooby-Doo</i>'s Mindy Cohn in the "Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program" category.<ref> "Awards for ''What's New, Scooby-Doo?''" ''IMDb.com'' Retrieved from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0306274/awards on August 13, 2006.</ref> Like many Hanna-Barbera shows, ''Scooby-Doo'' was criticized for poor production values and formulaic storytelling. In 2002, Jamie Malanowski of '']'' commented that " mysteries are not very mysterious, and the humor is hardly humorous. As for the animation -- well, the drawings on your refrigerator may give it competition."<ref> Malanowski, Jamie (May 12, 2002). "One for the Scooby Cognoscenti". ''The New York Times''.</ref> Even proponents of the series often comment negatively about the formula inherent in most ''Scooby'' episodes.<ref>Burke and Burke, p 108.</ref> | |||
| Nevertheless, ''Scooby-Doo'' has maintained a significant fan base, which has grown steadily since the 1990s due to the show's popularity among both young children and nostalgic adults who grew up with the series.<ref> Berardinelli, James (June 2002). Review for ''Scooby-Doo'' . ''James Berardinelli's Movie Reviews.'' Retrieved from http://movie-reviews.colossus.net/movies/s/scooby-doo.html on August 13, 2006. Excerpt: "Unfortunately, there is an audience out there for Scooby-Doo. It is comprised primarily of ]'ers, who wax nostalgic about the "classic" cartoon series, and their children, who are too young to know any better."</ref> The show's mix of the comedy-adventure and horror genres is often noted as the reason for its widespread success.<ref name=Elias> Elias, Justine (Feb. 24, 2002). "Scooby-Doo Forever: The Curious Cachet of a Cowardly Dog." ''The New York Times''. Excerpt: "Both the and children's TV critics point to ''Scooby's'' mix of thrills, gas and reassurance as the key to its longevity."</ref> As Fred Silverman and the Hanna-Barbera staff had planned when they first began producing the series, ''Scooby-Doo's'' ghosts, monsters, and spooky locales tend more towards humor than horror, making them easily accessible to younger children. "Overall, just not a show that is going to overstimulate kids' emotions and tensions," offered American Center for Children and Media executive director David Kleeman in a 2002 interview. "It creates just enough fun to make it fun without getting them worried or giving them nightmares."<ref name=Elias/> Many teenage and young adult audiences enjoy ''Scooby-Doo'' because of presumed subversive themes which involve theories of ] and sexuality.<ref name=BB106>Burke and Burke, p 106.</ref><ref>Chambers, Bill March 2000). Review for ''Scooby Doo's Original Mysteries'' DVD. ''Film Freak Central''. Retrieved from http://www.filmfreakcentral.net/dvdreviews/scoobydoo.htm on August 13, 2006.</ref> | |||
| In recent years, ''Scooby-Doo'' has received recognition for its popularity by placing in a number of "top cartoon" or "top cartoon character" polls. The August 3, 2002 issue of '']'' featured its list of the "50 Greatest Cartoon Characters of All Time", in which Scooby-Doo placed twenty-second<ref> (Aug. 22, 2002). 50 Greatest Cartoon Characters of All Time". ''TV Guide''.</ref> Scooby also ranked thirteenth in ]'s list of the "50 Greatest TV Animals".<ref>(Jun 20, 2003). "Animal Planet Picks Top 50 TV Animals". ''Scoop''. Retrieved from http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/scoop_article.asp?ai=2787&si=121 on August 13, 2006.</ref> ''Scooby-Doo, Where are You!'' ranked forty-ninth in the UK network ]'s 2005 list of the "100 Greatest Cartoons of All Time".<ref>(2005). "The 100 Greatest Cartoons of All Time". ''Channel4.com''. Retrieved from http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/G/greatest/cartoons/results.html on August 13, 2006.</ref> For one year from 2004 to 2005, ''Scooby-Doo'' held the ] for having the most episodes of any animated television series ever produced, a record previously held by and later returned to '']''. ''Scooby-Doo'' was published as holding this record in the 2006 edition of the ''Guinness Book of Records''.<ref>(25 Oct. 2004). "''Scooby-Doo'' breaks cartoon record". ''BBC News''. Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3949579.stm on March 27, 2006.</ref> | |||
| Subsequent television shows and films often make reference to ''Scooby-Doo'', for example '']'' and the television series '']'', in which Buffy and her monster-slaying friends refer to themselves as the "]" or "Scoobies," a knowing reference to ''Scooby-Doo''. (Coincidentally, ], who played Buffy, later played Daphne in the live-action movies.) Even '']'' paid homage to Scooby-Doo in an episode entitled "]'s Groovy Pirate Ghost Mystery". The ] film '']'' included a scene where Jay and Silent Bob are picked up in the Mystery Machine while hitchhiking and both they and Mystery, Inc. ] off of "dooby snacks". A plethora of other media properies have referenced or parodied ''Scooby-Doo'', among them the '']'' segment of ]'s '']'' , the online comic '']'', the ] animated series '']'' and ''The Simpsons'', and the Cartoon Network programs '']'', '']'', and '']'' | |||
| ===Assumed "adult themes"=== | |||
| As with many Saturday morning cartoons, ''Scooby-Doo'' is often proposed by sectors of the public to have hidden subtexts, in this case involving sex and drug use. Such assumptions often find their way into ''Scooby-Doo'' parodies done by comedians, musicians, and film/television producers. | |||
| Drug use is the most prominent of these charges, in particular because of Shaggy's ] origins. He and Scooby-Doo are shown to have voracious appetites, which has been interpreted as being evidence of a case of "the munchies" resulting from ] use. It is also believed that Shaggy and Scooby Doo's perpetual state of paranoia during mystery investigations, in contrast to the calm demeanor displayed by the other lead characters, is due to marijuana use. Also, it is assumed that when the Mystery Machine is seen taking off, that a plume of smoke left behind the van is actually not exhaust, but rather marijuana smoke from Shaggy, Scooby Doo and perhaps some other lead characters smoking weed in the back of the van. Some parodies go on to propose that the "]" present in many episodes contain drugs instead of typical dog treat ingredients.<ref name=Larsen>Larsen, Dana (Jan. 8, 2003). "Celebrity stoners." ''Cannabis Culture Magazine''. Retrieved from http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/2606.html on August 11, 2006.</ref> The most direct references to the ''Scooby-Doo'' drug use theory were produced by Warner Bros. and Cartoon Network themselves. The first ''Scooby-Doo'' film makes several joking references to Shaggy and Scooby's proposed drug use and even has Shaggy fall in love with a girl named "Mary Jane" (a common slang term for marijuana), while an episode of the ] cartoon '']'' finds Shaggy and Scooby-Doo arrested for possession of marijuana.<ref name=Larsen/> | |||
| Also discussed and parodied are the presumed sexual activities going on among the ''Scooby-Doo'' characters. While working on the original series, Joe Ruby and Ken Spears often wrote their "]", Fred and Daphne, out of the episode so that they could focus on their "comedians": Shaggy, Scooby, and Velma.<ref name=RubyAndSpears/> As a result, Fred and Daphne are missing from a significant amount of the action in most episodes, leading to assumptions that the two are off having sex instead of finding clues.<ref name=BB106/> Like the drug use, this assumed theme has also been self-parodied, with the "Bravo Dooby Doo" episode of '']'', and both live-action and direct-to-video ''Scooby-Doo'' features making light of Fred and Daphne's presumed sexual relationship. | |||
| Another debated topic of the series centers around whether or not the ]ish Velma is a ]. (Indeed, the character was based on the ] character Zelda, played by ] – who later revealed her homosexuality.) The character has a considerable fan base among real-life lesbians, who see her as one of their own.<ref name=BB106/> The idea of Velma as a lesbian is parodied in the ] motion picture '']'', the "]" episode of '']'', as well as both ''Scooby-Doo'' live-action films. Many, but not all, of the lesbian-themed gags from the first ''Scooby-Doo'' film, which center around a hinted crush Velma has on Daphne in the film, were excised from the final release print to secure a ]. | |||
| ==Merchandising== | |||
| The first ''Scooby-Doo''-related ] came in the form of ''Scooby-Doo, Where are You!'' ]s by ], which initially contained adaptations of episodes of the cartoon show when publication began in December 1969. The book soon moved to all-original stories, and continued publication until December 1974. ] published ''Scooby'' comics, many drawn by Bill Williams, from February 1975 to October 1975. Since then, ''Scooby-Doo'' comics have been published by ] (written by ] and drawn by ]), ] (reprints of the Charlton stories), and ], who continue to publish a monthly ''Scooby-Doo'' series. | |||
| Other early ''Scooby-Doo'' merchandise included a 1973 ] ], decorated ]es, iron-on transfers, ]s, story books, ], underwear, and other such goods.<ref>"Scooby-Doo according ot Wingnut: Collectibles". ''Wingnuttoons.com.'' Retrieved from http://www.wingnuttoons.com/Scooby-Doo_Collection2.html on August 12, 2006. Contains an extensive illustrated list of ''Scooby-Doo''-related merchandise, from the 1970s to the present.</ref> When Scrappy-Doo was introduced to the series in 1979, he, Scooby, and Shaggy became the sole foci of much of the merchandising, including a 1983 Milton-Bradley ''Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo'' board game. The first ''Scooby-Doo'' ] appeared in ] in 1986, and has been followed by a number of games for both home consoles and personal computers. ''Scooby-Doo'' ]s also debuted at this time, and have been manufactured by ] since 2001. | |||
| ''Scooby-Doo'' merchandising tapered off during the late 1980s and early 1990s, but increased after the series' revival on Cartoon Network in 1995. Today, all manner of ''Scooby-Doo''-branded products are available for purchase, including ''Scooby-Doo'' ], ], ]s, car decorations, and much more. Real "]" ] are produced by Del Monte Pet Products. ] has created a number of ''Scooby'' board games, including a ''Scooby''-themed edition of the popular mystery board game '']''. | |||
| From 1990 to 2002, Shaggy and Scooby-Doo appeared as characters in the '']'' simulator ride at ].<ref>Stokes, Trey (2002). "The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera". Retrieved from http://www.trudang.com/simulatr/hbsim.html on August 12, 2006. Article on the creation of the ride, written by one of its programmers.</ref> The ride was replaced in the early 2000s with a '']'' attraction, and ''The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera'' instead became an attraction at several properties operated by ]. Shaggy and Scooby-Doo are costumed characters at Universal Studios Florida, and can be seen driving the Mystery Machine around the park. | |||
| == ''Scooby-Doo'' filmography== | |||
| ===TV series=== | |||
| {|class="wikitable" width="500" | |||
| !Title | |||
| !Broadcast run | |||
| |- | |||
| |'']'' | |||
| |]–], ] | |||
| |- | |||
| |'']'' | |||
| |]–], CBS | |||
| |- | |||
| |'']'' | |||
| |]–], ] | |||
| |- | |||
| |'']'' and '']'' | |||
| |]–], ABC | |||
| |- | |||
| |'']'' | |||
| |]–], ABC | |||
| |- | |||
| |'']'' | |||
| |]–], ABC | |||
| |- | |||
| |'']'' | |||
| |]–], ABC | |||
| |- | |||
| |'']'' <sup>5</sup> | |||
| |]–], ABC | |||
| |- | |||
| |'']'' | |||
| |]–], ABC | |||
| |- | |||
| |'']'' | |||
| |]–], ABC | |||
| |- | |||
| |'']'' | |||
| |]–], ]; ] <!--First-run broadcasts--> | |||
| |- | |||
| |'']'' | |||
| |]–(present), ] on ]; | |||
| |- | |||
| | colspan=7 style="font-size:85%" bgcolor=#EEEEEE | '''Notes:''' | |||
| <ol start=1><li>These program blocks featured new episodes of ''Scooby-Doo'' alongside several other series. The ''Scooby-Doo'' episodes from these years are now broadcast under the title ''The Scooby-Doo Show''.</ol> | |||
| <ol start=2><li>Aired as ''The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Show'' from December 1976 until September 1977, after a rerun of ''Scooby-Doo, Where are You!'' was added to the block, making the runtime 90 minutes. </ol> | |||
| <ol start=3><li>Aired as ''Scooby's All-Stars'' from September 1978 to September 1979. Nine of the sixteen new ''Scooby'' episodes from ''Scooby's All-Stars'' originally aired under the ''Scooby-Doo, Where are You!'' banner, although they were repackaged and aired as part of ''Scooby's All-Stars'' for the rest of the 1978-79 alongside the other eight new 1978 ''Scooby-Doo'' episodes. </ol> | |||
| <ol start=4><li>These program blocks featured new seven-minute episodes of ''Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo'' alongside several other series. The ''Scooby-Doo'' episodes from these years are now broadcast under the title ''Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo'' title, distinguished from the original thirty-minute 1979 episodes of the show by a slightly different opening credits sequence.</ol> | |||
| <ol start=5><li>Aired as ''The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries'' from September 1984 to September 1985.</ol> | |||
| |} | |||
| === TV specials and telefilms === | |||
| * '']'' (1979, ABC) | |||
| * '']'' (1987) | |||
| * '']'' (1988) | |||
| * '']'' (1989) | |||
| * '']'' (also known as '']'') (], ]) | |||
| * '']'' (1999, ]) | |||
| * '']'' (2001, Cartoon Network) | |||
| === Direct-to-video films=== | |||
| * '']'' (1998) | |||
| * '']'' (1999) | |||
| * '']'' (2000) | |||
| * '']'' (2001) | |||
| * '']'' (2003) | |||
| * '']'' (2003) | |||
| * '']'' (2004) | |||
| * '']'' (2005) | |||
| * '']'' (2005) | |||
| * '']'' (2006) | |||
| * '']'' (2007) | |||
| === Live-action theatrical releases === | |||
| * '']'' (2002) | |||
| * '']'' (2004) | |||
| <!--Kids, adults, and otherwise -- DO NOT place Scooby-Doo 3 here until the film is actually officially announced as being in pre-production, and WB actually has some semblance of a cast and a script to work from --> | |||
| ===Video games=== | |||
| *'']'', a 1986 arcade ] published by ] (later re-released on Elite's budget label Encore) and developed by ] for the ] and ]. | |||
| *'']'', two separate games of the same title created in 1995; one for the ] and the other for the ]. | |||
| *'']'', a 1999 mystery computer game developed by ] (EAI) and published by ]. The game was released for ]. | |||
| *''Scooby Doo: Classic Creep Capers'', a 2000 console game published by ] and released for ] and ]. | |||
| *'']'', a 2002 console game published by THQ. | |||
| *'']'', a 2004 console game developed by ] and published by THQ. | |||
| *'']'', a 2005 console game published by THQ. | |||
| *'']'', created in 2000 by the Learning Company is a CD-ROM for Windows. It contained 3 different versions/challenges/CD-Roms (sold separately): ''Scooby-Doo: Showdown in Ghost Town'', ''Scooby-Doo: Phantom of the Knight'', and ''Scooby-Doo: Jinx at the Sphinx''. | |||
| ==Voices== | |||
| {| cellpadding=0 cellspacing=15 | |||
| |- | |||
| |width="50%" valign="top"| | |||
| *''']''' | |||
| **] (1969–1997) | |||
| **] (1998–2001) | |||
| **] (2002 & 2004 live-action films) | |||
| **] (2002–present) | |||
| *''']''' | |||
| **] (1969–1997, 2002–2005) | |||
| **Scott Innes (1998–2001) | |||
| **] (2006–present) | |||
| **] (live actor in the 2002 & 2004 live-action films) | |||
| *''']''' | |||
| **] (1969–1984; 1998–present) | |||
| **] (''],'' 1988–1991) | |||
| **] (live actor in the 2002 & 2004 live-action films) | |||
| *''']''' | |||
| **] (1969–1970) | |||
| **] (1970–1986, 2003) | |||
| **] (''A Pup Named Scooby-Doo,'' 1988–1991) | |||
| **] (1998–2000) | |||
| **] (2001–present) | |||
| **] (live actor in the 2002 & 2004 live-action films) | |||
| |width="50%" valign="top"| | |||
| *''']''' | |||
| **] (1969–1974, 2003) | |||
| **] (1976–1979) | |||
| **] (1979–1980, 1984–1985) | |||
| **] (''A Pup Named Scooby-Doo,'' 1988–1991) | |||
| **] (1998–2001) | |||
| **] (2002–present) | |||
| **] (live actor in the 2002 & 2004 live-action films) | |||
| *''']''' | |||
| **] (1979–1980) | |||
| **Don Messick (1980–1988) | |||
| **Scott Innes (2002 live-action film) | |||
| *'''Other regular characters''' | |||
| **] as Scooby-Dum (recurring, 1976–1978) | |||
| **] as Vincent Van Ghoul (''The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo'', 1985–1986) | |||
| **] as Flim-Flam (''The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo'', 1985–1986) | |||
| **] as Bogel (''The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo'', 1985–1986) | |||
| **] as Weerd (''The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo'', 1985–1986) | |||
| **Scott Menville as Red Herring (''A Pup Named Scooby-Doo'', 1988–1991) | |||
| |} | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| *] | |||
| *] — for a popular campus legend about the show | |||
| ==Notes== | |||
| <!--See http://en.wikipedia.org/Wikipedia:Footnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the<ref> and </ref> tags and the tag below --> | |||
| {{Reflist|2}} | |||
| ==References== | |||
| * Banks, Clive. "Scooby-Doo". Retrieved from http://www.clivebanks.co.uk/Scooby-Doo%20Intro.htm on ] ]. | |||
| * Baxter, Joel (2003). ''The Complete Scooby-Doo Episode Guide''. Originally retrieved from http://www.execulink.com/~joelb/scooby/doobydoo.htm on ] ]. Archive of page retrieved from http://web.archive.org/web/20050311090933/http://www.execulink.com/~joelb/scooby/doobydoo.htm on ] ]. | |||
| *Burke, Timothy and Burke, Kevin (1998). ''Saturday Morning Fever : Growing up with Cartoon Culture''. New York: St. Martin's Griffin. ISBN 0-312-16996-5. | |||
| *Handy, Aaron III. "The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour Episode Guide". Retrieved from http://www.angelfire.com/la/aaronh3d/SDDH.html on ] ]. | |||
| *"Hanna-Babera Studios" (and sub-articles). ''The ]''. Retrieved from http://www.bcdb.com/cartoons/Hanna-Barbera_Studios/index.html on ] ]. | |||
| *McNeil, Alex (4th ed., 1996). ''Total Television: The Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present''. New York: Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-024916-8. | |||
| *Ruby, Joe and Spears, Ken (2002). "Scooby Doo...The History of a Classic". ''Rubyspears.com''. Retrieved from http://www.rubyspears.com/scooby.html on March 27, 2006. | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| ''These links were last verified ], ]'' | |||
| ===Official sites=== | |||
| * | |||
| * at ] | |||
| * | |||
| ===Fan sites=== | |||
| <!---Do not add further links here. Discuss on the talk page first and check ]--> | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| {{Scooby-Doo}} | |||
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Revision as of 17:20, 12 April 2007
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