Nostalgia Hits is where I’ll write about old shows and movies that were once beloved, but may have been forgotten over the years—bringing you nostalgic memories as you read about some of your old favorites from your childhood, or introducing you to older shows that you may have never even heard of before. For the fourth “Nostalgia Hit”, I’ll be writing about Scooby-Doo.

The original Scooby-Doo series, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! was released on CBS in September of 1969, and ran for two seasons until it ended in 1970. Created by Hanna-Barbera Productions, Scooby-Doo was created to expand on the success of The Archie Show, and was created to go on “CBS Saturday”, the Saturday cartoon channel.

This series follows a group of 4 high school students from California, who solve mysteries. The main characters are: Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and their dog Scooby Doo. The gang, as they’re referred to frequently throughout the series, travels around in the Mystery Machine, their van with a 70’s design painted on the side, to find mysteries and solve them. While solving the mysteries, the gang splits up to look for clues. While looking for clues, the gang is chased and ends up somehow chasing the monster they’re investigating. While they investigate and discover clues, the gang realizes that the monster isn’t paranormal. Fred sets a trap capturing the monster, the gang then unmasks the monster and it always turns out to be a “man in a mask”, who used the costume to hide their crimes. The villain then gets arrested and is taken away, but before they go they say the catchphrase “I would have gotten away with it, if it weren’t for you meddling kids!”

The next Scooby-Doo series to include all of the characters, What’s New Scooby-Doo?, was released in 2002, and ran for three seasons until it ended in 2006. This was the first Scooby-Doo series since the foreclosure of Hanna-Barbera, and was released under Warner Bros. Animation studios. This series follows the same concepts as the original series, but the gang uses new technology and are more modernized in this series. This series has some recurring characters, and goes a bit into a storytelling aspect of the characters.

The final Scooby-Doo series that I’ll talk about is Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated. Released in April of 2010, this series ran for two seasons, until it ended in 2013. This series follows the same characters, but this time the series takes place in the teen’s hometown of Crystal Cove, the self proclaimed “Most Hauntedest Place on Earth”. The gang goes around and solves mysteries and proves that the supernatural can all be explained by science and technology; though some of the people of the town, including the gang’s parents, Mayor Fred Jones Sr., and Sheriff Bronson Stone, don’t like that the gang is going around disproving the towns main source of revenue. Throughout the series the gang solves many different mysteries. While uncovering those mysteries, the gang discovers a bigger mystery that involves the town of Crystal Cove, and may be related to the gang more closely than they thought.

Now onto the main star of the show of the animated movies of the Scooby-Doo franchise. Being the most widespread source of Scooby-Doo content, these movies have told many stories about the gang, with the first movie coming out in October of 1987 to the most recent movie coming out in October of 2022. These movies follow along with the gang as they go to multiple locations and solve multiple mysteries. Some of the movies have their own storylines with different characters, and there are some movies that stick to those same character outlines and storylines that other movies and/or series have created. So there is a sense of continuity between the movies, while also allowing for each movie to have its own individual plot and its own individuality.

In 2002 a live-action movie based on the Scooby-Doo franchise came out, starring Freddie Prince Jr., Sarah Michelle Geller, Linda Cardellina, Mathew Lillard, as Neil Fanning; respectively as Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby. In this movie you see the gang trapping the “ghost” and everyone is being their stereotypical selves; Daphne got caught and is the “damsel in distress” once again, Shaggy and Scooby end up in a crazy chase with the “ghost”, Velma is figuring out who the ghost really is and putting the clues together, and Fred has set up his trap, that doesn’t work, and later takes credit for figuring out who the villain is and trapping him. All of these things cause the gang to get in a fight and break up, but after 2 years each member gets a letter to go solve a mystery at Spooky Island. The gang all meet each other at the airport and catch up, but refuse to get the gang back together again, despite Shaggy and Scooby’s requests. When they get to the island they realize that something is seriously wrong, and that there may be more than a crazed villain in a mask. In the movie you see the gang discover and solve their first mystery together after 2 years, you also see them reconnect and find their spark again.

I know that this cast is truly talented to keep this franchise alive and flourishing for all these years. From Scooby-Doo, Where are You? starring: Don Messick as Scooby Doo, Casey Kasem as Shaggy Rogers, Frank Welker as Fred Jones, Sefanianna Christopherson/Heather North as Daphne Blake, and Nicole Jaffe/Pat Stevens as Velma Dinkley. Onto What’s New, Scooby-Doo? starring: Frank Welker reprising his role of Fred and taking on the voice of Scooby Doo, Grey DeLisle as Daphne Blake, Mindy Cohn as Velma Dinkly, and Casey Kasem reprising his role of Shaggy for the last time before his retirement in 2013, and death in 2014. Onto Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated starring: Frank Welker reprising his role as Scooby Doo and Fred Jones Jr. (Fred is Jr. only in this series), Mindy Cohn reprising her role as Velma Dinkley, Grey DeLisle reprising her role as Daphne Blake, and Mathew Lillard as Shaggy Rogers. Mathew Lillard played Shaggy in the live-action movie and continued to voice the character after Casey Kasem’s retirement and death. In fact Casey Kasem left the character to Mathew, and said that he was perfect to play this character and it would make him proud for Mathew to play Shaggy. I’m extremely grateful to the many people who have brought these characters to life, and have had them grow and evolve over the years.

Overall, I think that this show remains loved and cared for because it can remain timeless. These characters have relatable attributes that teens can find in themselves. I also think that the excitement of the mysteries can entertain, but you also have the lovableness of Scooby Doo that everyone loves. I think that the cast brought a fun lightheartedness to the show, while they may not be the main star like Scooby Doo, people still love them and watch the show for them. I hope that if you didn’t know a lot about Scooby-Doo that this will help you learn more about a beloved show and beloved characters.