Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? was an animated show produced for television by Hanna-Barbera Productions between 1969 and 1972, with numerous variations on the theme since (while each series has a different title, they are all generally referred to as Scooby-Doo). It is now a recurring feature on Cartoon Network in the USA and other countries.
The show features a great dane named Scooby-Doo (voiced by Don Messick) and four teenagers named Fred "Freddie" Jones (Frank Welker), Daphne Blake (Stefanianna Christopherson prior to 1970, Heather North afterward), Velma Dinkley (Nicole Jaffe), and Norville "Shaggy" Rogers (Casey Kasem). The five drive around in a van called the "Mystery Machine" and solve mysteries typically involving tales of ghosts and other supernatural forces. At the end of the episodes, the supernatural forces turn out to have a rational explanation.
The original concept for the show, Mysteries Five, about teens (inspired by the teenage friends on Dobie Gillis) who solve mysteries, was a more realistic and less humorous young people's mysteries cartoon meant as an alternative to the superhero programs then being produced for children. When this concept (at that point being called Who's Scared?) was pitched to CBS executives they decided the show was too frightening for children, and the creators reworked the concept with the dog in a greater role and a new title: Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?
The plot varied little from episode to episode, running as follows:
Our heroes turn up in their van, the "Mystery Machine", for some harmless reason
Their destination is suffering from a "ghost" or "monster" problem... which turns out to be a cover for criminal activity
The person in the ghost or monster suit turns out to be an apparently blameless authority figure who is unmasked by the Scooby Gang
Having established a successful formula, Hanna-Barbera then shamelessly proceeded to repeat it ad infinitum. Goober and the Ghost Chasers, The Funky Phantom, Jabberjaw, Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels, and Josie and the Pussycats (to name a few) all involve groups of kids solving mysteries, usually with the help of a wacky animal, ghost, etc. Some of these shows even use the same voice actors. Some fans lament these spinoffs and feel they detract from the original appeal of the show.
Other criticisms include how the show moved to featuring 'real' ghosts and other supernatural entities, with episodes increasingly consisting of simplistic slapstick. The Scooby and Scrappy Doo Show included Scooby's feisty nephew Scrappy-Doo. Another incarnation introduced Scooby's cousins Scooby-Dum and Scooby-Dee. The 13 Ghosts of Scooby Doo is another series which involved real ghosts. The show teamed Shaggy, Daphne, and Scooby with a boy named Flim Flam and a warlock mentor, Vincent Van Ghoul, voiced by Vincent Price.
A Pup Named Scooby Doo chronicled the original show's cast members during their childhood, when they were also encountering fake ghosts and solving crimes. The show has even more outrageous slapstick than Scooby Doo, Where Are You?
The show is responsible for many pop-culture catchphrases, such as "Scooby Snacks" and "if it weren't for you meddling kids I'd have gotten away with it" (alternatively, "I would've got away with it if it wasn't for those pesky kids!"), traditionally said by the culprit when caught. The question of Velma's name (Velma or Thelma) has even been the subject of Internet polls.
Subsequent television shows and films often make reference to Scooby-Doo, for example Wayne's World and the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, in which Buffy and her monster-slaying friends refer to themselves as the "Scooby Gang" or "Scoobies", a knowing reference to Scooby-Doo. (Coincidentally, Sarah Michelle Gellar, who played Buffy, later played Daphne in the live-action movie.) Even South Park paid homage to Scooby-Doo in an episode entitled Korn's Groovy Pirate Ghost Mystery. In 2002, online comic Sluggy Freelance featured a weeks-long guest strip culminating in the reincarnation of the Scooby Gang from other comic characters.
In the fall of 2002 a new Scooby-Doo series premiered on the [Kids' WB!]] Network. The show, \What's New Scooby Doo? was quickly picked up by Cartoon Network in the UK. With Don Messick's retirement in 1996 (he died the following year), Frank Welker, the voice of Freddy, took over as Scooby's voice as well.
A live action feature film version of Scooby-Doo was released in 2002. The cast included Freddie Prinze Jr (Fred), Sarah Michelle Gellar (Daphne), Matthew Lillard (Shaggy) and Linda Cardellini (Velma). Scooby-Doo was created on screen by CGIspecial effects. The movie earned over $100,000,000, and led to a sequel in March 2004 entitled .
