September 28, 2019

SCOOBY-DOO! MYSTERY INCORPORATED

SCOOBY-DOO! MYSTERY INCORPORATED

(Cartoon Network, April 5, 2010-April 5, 2013)


Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network UK



For background information on Scooby-Doo, check out the post here.



            The 11th incarnation of the Scooby-Doo franchise and the first not to air on Saturday mornings where Scooby had lived since his 1969 debut (at least until it began airing in reruns). Developed by Mitch Watson, Spike Brandt and Tony Cervone, the series sought to do a few new things while also paying respect to what came before. It took a tongue-in-cheek approach to the classic Scooby formula by giving outlandish technology and backstories to the villains which utilized a character design reminiscent of the original Hanna-Barbera models with modern flourishes and several design tweaks. It was also done in a more semi-serious and darker tone, like the original entries in the concurrent direct-to-video movie series, with a serialized ongoing story arc (with elements recycled from an unproduced cartoon based on The Goonies). There was a greater focus placed on the characters’ personal relationships; including seeing Fred and Daphne and Shaggy and Velma ending up romantically involved.  

Sometimes you don't have to leave home for a good mystery.

Unlike the other Scooby shows, instead of traveling around the country/world, the Mystery, Inc. gang was mostly located in their hometown of Crystal Cove (replacing Coolsville as established in A Pup Named Scooby-Doo); the self-proclaimed “Most Hauntedest Place on Earth”. With that came the reintroduction of genuine supernatural elements to the television franchise for the first time since The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo. Frank Welker, Grey Griffin and Mindy Cohn continued to voice Fred and Scooby, Daphne and Velma, respectively. However, this marked the animated debut of Matthew Lillard as Shaggy after having portrayed him in the first two live-action movies. Original Shaggy Casey Kasem, who had retired from voice acting in 2009, played Shaggy’s father in several episodes in what would be his final animation role before his death in 2014. The series aired on an inconsistent schedule on Cartoon Network; taking frequent hiatuses after airing blocks of episodes. The ultimate fate of the show was left in question until it was finally revealed that it would be ending after 2 seasons and 52 episodes.

No comments: