Scooby-Doo has been an iconic animated series for decades. This American cartoon which came into the world of TV in 1969 as Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, thanks to Hanna-Barbera productions, has become so popular that it seems impossible to stop recreating different versions of this brilliant gang of five (give or take a Scrappy-Doo). In fact, every single time a new creation of the legendary Scooby-Doo comes to the screen, people tend to take notice, something clearly evident from the popularity that Scoob! gained. Whether it be a live-action remake or another cartoon series with the famous Mystery Inc., Scooby-Doo remains a timeless piece.
There are many reasons why Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! remains one of the most iconic animated shows. From massive celebrity cameos and more than 13 different versions, to the gang's symbolic colors and its combination of humor with simultaneously spooky and silly stories, Scooby-Doo has a lot to give, and it is hard to expect the revivals of this cartoon to stop (even if they look very different, such as Mindy Kaling's upcoming Velma).
Those Recognizable Scooby-Doo Colors
Since its inception, Scooby-Doo has gone through many transformations, between various changes in the characters' arcs or personalities and the very type of media used to create these animations. However, regardless of all these alterations, there is one thing that has not changed: the extremely distinct color palette of the franchise, and the specific colors assigned to each character (including the Mystery machine.
The titular Great Dane's doggy design has remained the same kind of brown with dark brown spots; funnily enough, eve his teal dog collar has had the "SD" initials in a specific unchanged font throughout every incarnation. Scooby isn't the only character with specific colors. Shaggy has his iconic green t-shirt and brown pants, Fred has his blue and white outfit and an orange ascot, Daphne has her purple outfit with a purple band and a green scarf, and Velma with her orange outfit and constantly lost spectacles; each character is easily recognizable due to these specific colors.
What's more, is that they also have their unique hair types and body structures. All these features have established the Mystery Inc. gang and have allowed fans to easily recognize these iconic characters. There is an element of comfort in this familiarity, with the perfectly designed characters remaining a constant for more than half a century.
Different Characters with Different Personalities
The character dynamics of Scooby-Doo have been incredibly influential for future cartoons and even children's television; the interactions between the five extremely distinct and yet archetypal characters doesn't just make it easier to relate to at least one character but also allows for nearly endless possibilities. Fred, the gang's leader, was initially portrayed as a very masculine character who is quite attractive in conventional terms. On the other hand, Shaggy was portrayed as the goofy and clumsy dude who is quite afraid of taking up challenges. Scooby is similar to Shaggy.
The two female characters go on to contradict one another. With Velma being the brains of the grand and Daphne being more feminine with motherly instincts, these two characters have their own strengths. It is also notable how over the years these characters have developed extensively with each revealing their hidden talents. For example, Fred is good at cheering whilst Daphne is a fighter. Additionally, by bringing in such contrasting characters, the show emphasizes the idea that people with different personalities can bond regardless of the misconception that one needs to find friends that are similar to them.
Unique Revivals Taking Different Routes
Generally, whenever a cartoon is adapted into a movie or reboots, the adaptations tend to be a replica of the original. However, Scooby-Doo has taken a different route. The film adaptations have their own storylines and exist as separate, unique entities while maintaining the traditional colors and character dynamics, never failing to capture the essence of the Mystery Inc. while replicating them with some interesting twists and turns. For example, Hollywood Insider writes that in the 2002 and the 2004 live-action movies of Scooby-Doo,
Sarah Michelle’s Daphne maintained all the character’s classic beautiful appearance; however, Gellar added several dimensions to the character. This Daphne was funny, strong-willed, and truly an action hero, taking on several dynamic brawl sequences, substantiating Gellar’s worth as a lead in a major film franchise.
This was an important and memorable take on Daphne's character, and it looks like the character of Velma will be getting a progressive, modernized update that should harness the charm of the original character while navigating new turns for her.
Moreover, the numerous animated series (a whopping 13 different Scooby-Doo shows, with two more in production) have their own takes on the gang's mysteries. The celebrities in Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? are famous and relevant updates on the classic Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! formula of fun celebrities (from the Harlem Globetrotters and Phyllis Diller to Don Knotts and Mama Cass), as guests in each episode ham it up and have a lot of fun. In A Pup Names Scooby-Doo, we see the gang as tiny kids being very naive and quite adorable at the same time. It is obvious that this is one cartoon that has different paths to take, and there's so much more in store.
Scooby-Doo Has All The Right Elements
Even though almost every single episode of this cartoon follows the same flow of the gang encountering a mystery and solving it by unmasking someone who pretended to be good or an ally at the beginning, one can never get sick of the cartoon. From the often childlike sense of humor and curiosity to the excitement of finding clues, putting together plans, and going through hilarious failures, there are so many reasons why these episodes grab the attention of the viewer (and imparts a life lesson or two along the way).
The fact that there have been so many versions of Scooby-Doo, from the soon-to-be 15 different television series to literally 47 movies and counting, only proves the iconic influence of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! For 53 years, Scooby-Doo has been on and off the screen, and it's all thanks to that original classic cartoon.