By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com
Happy Halloween weekend, everyone!
Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, Halloween is going to look very different this year. What I am going to be doing on Saturday is a Scooby-Doo marathon. Created in 1969 by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears, Scooby-Doo followed the aptly Great Dane mascot of Mystery, Inc. and his four friends, Shaggy Rogers, Daphne Blake, Fred Jones, and Velma Dinkley, as they traveled across the world solving mysteries and encountering monsters.
However, the Scooby-Doo franchise is over 50-years-old, and there are hundreds of episodes, 38 direct-to-video animated films, and five live-action films. Jake’s Take has picked out some of its favorite episodes and movies that I would recommend watching this Halloween.
(Note: All Scooby-Doo related media is the property of Warner Bros. Pictures & Hanna-Barbera Productions)
(Warning! Spoilers are ahead!)
Scooby-Doo: Where Are You? — Episode #11: “A Gaggle of Galloping Ghosts”
On November 22, 1969, CBS aired the eleventh episode of Scooby-Doo: Where Are You? This episode marked the first time the gang faced the classic Universal Monsters line-up of Count Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, and the Wolfman at Franken Castle. However, the gang found out that crafty con artist “Big Bob” Oakley disguised himself as the Universal Monsters.
Scooby-Doo: Where Are You?—Episode #18: “Nowhere to Hyde”
Mystery Inc. faced a variation of a classic literary villain for the second season’s opening episode. The gang faced off against the Ghost of Mr. Hyde; a failed scientist turned jewel thief named Dr. Jekyll.
The Scooby-Doo Movies— Episode #15: ‘The Caped Crusader Caper”
In 1972, Mystery Inc. and Gotham City’s favorite caped crusaders (Batman and Robin (Dick Grayson) worked together for the second time. Earlier in the series, the quintet helped the Dynamic Duo take on the Joker and the Penguin in “The Dynamic Scooby-Doo Affair.” In this episode, Mystery Inc. helps Batman and Robin save scientist Professor Flakey from the Joker and the Penguin.
The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries — Episode #8: “A Halloween Hassle at Dracula’s Castle”
Over time, Scooby-Doo and his friends encountered real monsters. One of the first encounters took place in 1984’s “A Halloween Hassle at Dracula’s Castle.” Written by future Batman scribe Paul Dini, Count Dracula tricks Mystery Inc. into coming to his castle filled with classic Universal Monsters and the Ghost of Dr. Van Helsing, the legendary vampire’s sworn enemy.
The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo: Whole Series
The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo was the most unorthodox of the series. For the first time in show history, the series followed a linear storyline. Scooby, Scrappy, Shaggy, and Daphne traveled worldwide to put 13 of the nastiest creatures back in the Chest of Demons after Scooby released them. While the gang expanded to include a con artist named Flim Flam and Vincent van Ghoul (voiced by Vincent Price), they encountered some of the series’ nastiest villains to date, including Maldor the Malevolent, Zomba, Nekara, Marcella, Time Slime, and Rankor.
Scooby-Doo & The Reluctant Werewolf
In 1988, Hanna-Barbera released an animated made-for-television film that put Shaggy in the spotlight. The sinister Count Dracula found out that Scooby-Doo’s BFF was the candidate to become a werewolf and complete the Monster Road Rally line-up. Thanks to his henchmen, the Hunch Bunch, Shaggy was transformed into a werewolf. The duo and Scrappy and Shaggy’s girlfriend, Googie, were forced to compete in the rally to turn Shaggy back into a human.
Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island
Ten years later, Warner Bros. brought Mystery Inc. back for their first full-length direct-to-video animated film. Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island showcased the combination of comedy and horror as the gang headed to New Orleans to investigate paranormal activity. Unfortunately, their adventures take a dark turn as Scooby, Shaggy, Daphne, Fred, and Velma discover they are dealing with real zombies and werecats!
Scooby-Doo! And The Witch’s Ghost
Thanks to Zombie Island’s success, Warner Bros. commissioned another animated film: Scooby-Doo! And The Witch’s Ghost. This time, the gang met Velma’s favorite author Ben Ravencroft (voiced by Tim Curry). The author hired them to help clear his ancestor, Sarah Ravencroft’s name. Sadly, they were duped, and Ben became a warlock and summoned Sarah Ravencroft herself (voiced by Tress MacNeille).
Scooby-Doo: The Movie
In 2002, my family and I headed to Town Center Plaza in Overland Park, KS, to watch Scooby and the gang’s first live-action adventure! This film showcased a dysfunctional version of Mystery Inc. (portrayed by Freddie Prinze, Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, Matthew Lillard, and Linda Cardellini) and Scooby-Doo (voiced by Neil Fanning) as they were lured to Spooky Island by Ernie Mondavarious (Rowan Atkinson). However, Ernie was Scrappy-Doo (voiced by Scott Innes), who held a grudge against the group for abandoning him.
Scooby-Doo! Frankencreepy
Jake’s Take’s final selection is from 2014. The Scooby-Doo franchise celebrated its forty-fifth anniversary. To commemorate this occasion, Warner Bros. Animation released its twenty-third direct-to-video animated film: Scooby-Doo! Frankencreepy. When the Ghost of Baron Basil, Velma’s great-uncle (voiced by Corey Burton), destroys the Mystery Machine, the gang must travel to Transylvania to reverse his curse. Along the way, they manage to revive the Baron’s creation: the Frankencreepy Monster!
Are you a Scooby-Doo fan? If so, comment below and tell me what your favorite Mystery Inc. adventures are!
