Character changes from the Scooby Doo gang since 1998

[zoombie]

What changes have you noticed from the Mystery Inc gang from the way they were in the classic Scooby Doo series, to the way they are since Scooby Doo On Zoombie Island through the present, not counting the live action movies? Which of these were improvements? Which of these changes didn't you like?

The changes I have noticed are:

Scooby Doo - except he has a different voice actors since the death of Don Messick. He is still the same Scooby Doo we all know and love. He is a little more brave and smart than before, but not that much from before.

Shaggy - just like Scooby Doo, very little of him has changed. Just like Scooby, at times he is a little mroe smart and brave than before, but he is basicly the same as he ever was on the classic Scooby Doo shows.

That being said, I think the big changes were to Fred, Daphne, and Velma, the more serious characters that are suppose to set up Scooby and Shaggy for their hillarous lines and antics. Overal have had more of their share of funny moments in the modern day Scooby Doo than in the classic Scooby Doo shows.

Fred - first of all the ascot obviously. While other characters have become smarter, he has gone in the opposite direction. He has lost a little bit of his smarts. He acts much more of a buffon at times . Example is the ending of the last Scooby Doo movie Chill Out Scooby Doo. But he is still has a strong leadership quality, and he still very compedent, he is not a complete moron. He is a lot more comedic than before, I think part of that is because back than the role of Fred was Frank Welker's first voice over job, and since the classic Scooby Doo days, Frank has proven on other shows, he can be funny. The writers tease or acknowledged that there might be some feelings between him and Daphne.

Daphne - before she was just the unlucky girl that was got caught in traps or in dungens. We know she came from a wealthy family, but it was never really acknowledged on the old shows. But in the modern day Scooby Doo, she is more fashion condition, and they acknowledged her family background more. Just like I said above, the writers tease or acknowledged that there might be some feelings between her and Fred.

Velma - in my opinion, had the most changes to her character. Before she was just brainac of the group, which she still is. But she is more head strong, and take charge at times, and has assumed more of a leadership role.

Also in Scooby Doo Where Are You!! (they might have changed long before Zoombie Island, maybe as far back as the 70's spinoffs, but I haven't seen any of the classics besides SDWAY in a long time) it seemed Velma had a crush on Shaggy, who was completely clueless about that, and always ignored her in favor of food or spenting time with Scooby Doo. One episode she asked Shaggy to dance, but he said later after he ate a sandwitch. Another episode they were dancing, and Scooby cut in and danced with Shaggy. Anyway her crush on Shaggy is non exident in the modern Scooby Doo.

[greg!]

I really dont like the newer versions of Freddy & Daphne. I REALLY hate Grey Delile instead of Heather North. Stephianna Christopherson was excellent also but it is really hard to distinguish her from Heather North. She may have been the dumb-blonde type who always fell in every trap/hole, but she was more likeable than the snobby, fashionista they've made her into. I am O.K. with the modern Velma. I think Mindy Cohn is better than any of the last 3 or 4 voices. None is better than Nichole Jaffe, but Mindy is adequate.

[Eric B]

Daphne, in the Heather North years, could be like that a bit at times. The issue is basically taking a characteristic and overemphasizing it. Just like the frequent "shaggy and Scooby as bait" jokes. In the original series, it was not such a self-conscious thing, and a few times, others would be the bait.

[zoombie]

You get these younger voice over actors like Grey DeLisle, they grown up on Scooby Doo, and they had an impression of what these characters were, and they overempatize. Though I find Grey's protreal kind of distracting, because she uses her normal valley girl voice that she does for other characters on other shows, it doesn't sound like Daphne Blake, it sounds like some other cartoon characters I am familar with.

As far as operemptizing characters, It is like someone playing a famous actor from 30 years ago in a movie. It is bound to happen. Scooby Doo and the gang, are iconic characters. It is not easy to follow the originals. God help us, if they continue the franchise, when Casey Kasem and Frank Welker are no longer able to do voice over anymore.

By the way, like Eric B siad, we did see a bit of Daphne's fashion condience side in the classic Scooby Doo days, for example the SDWAY episode "Mystery Mask Mix-Up". So it is not anything new for her to be into the fashion world.

[hobbyfan]

The Scooby stuff that's come out starting with Zombie Island has done a bit to improve the characters, IMPO.

1. Velma was running a bookstore at the beginning of Zombie Island. There haven't been any references to it since, when there was the opportunity to use said shop as a informal meeting place for Mystery, Inc., giving them a clear-cut home base for a change.

2. Fred & Daphne ARE a couple. The crossover with Johnny Bravo got the ball rolling for the present era, and in Zombie Island, Daph was doing a newsmagazine show, with Fred as her videographer. Again, those jobs have since "disappeared", when it could've been used to set up later stories. The two live-action movies helped things along, including their first on-screen kiss, one of the few things we can put in canon from those films.

3. Shaggy can't hold down a job. This was also evident in Zombie Island, but that doesn't mean the others couldn't remain gainfully employed. However, had they taken the ball (Velma's bookstore) and run with it, Shag would have a steady gig.

Casting:

Yah, it will be a sad day when Casey Kasem leaves the recording booth for the final time. They have tried to replace him (and Scott Menville doesn't have the voice down on Get a Clue), but it's become mission impossible. Frank Welker should've been asked to do Scooby prior to 2002, since with all the animal voices he's done, you'd think he was preparing to succeed Don Messick anyway. Frank & Casey are the only original cast members left. Mindy Cohn, since coming aboard in '02, has nailed Velma dead center. Studying tapes of the old series will do that. WB fumbled by shuttling What's New in and out of the lineup to accomodate Yu-Gi-Oh when they had the rights to that series, which was wrong, otherwise What's New would still be here and we'd be spared Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue, IMPO.

[zoombie]

I consider Shaggy And Scooby Doo Get A Clue as part of the Scooby Doo franchise as much as I do Scooby Doo Luff A Lympics it is the worst Scooby Doo show ever, and by a lot. It makes those early 80's seasons with just Scooby , Shaggy, and Scrappy Doo look like the old days. At least the animation was correct.

It has the same problem as the early 80's Scooby Doo and Scrappy Doo show, it is not about solving mysteries, it is just not Scooby Doo to me. And Scooby Doo is regulated to sidekick on Get A Clue.

[zoombie]

Anyone else noticed the new modern Scooby Doo movies and tv series since the Zoombie Island movie, the focus is more on the meddling kids, than on Scooby.

The classic Scooby Doo, the focus is almost always on Scooby Doo, and now it is the opposite way. The modern day Scooby Doo projected that focused most on Scooby was the movie Scooby Doo And The Alien Invaders, the movie focused more on Shaggy.

Not that I mind persay, I guess it is fair. The classic Scooby Doo focused on Scooby a lot, and there is so much Scooby centric stories to tell, and give the other characters their turn of having the spotlight, after all Scooby Doo has had the spotlight many times before.

[magicdog]

The Scooby stuff that's come out starting with Zombie Island has done a bit to improve the characters, IMPO.

1. Velma was running a bookstore at the beginning of Zombie Island. There haven't been any references to it since, when there was the opportunity to use said shop as a informal meeting place for Mystery, Inc., giving them a clear-cut home base for a change.


Yes & no. It was good for the kids to grow up and fall into jobs, but Velma and her bookstore didn't seem like the right fit for the character. I'd have expected her to have been working in a crime lab/forensics field solving mysteries in a whole different way. The some of her cases could have lead the team in new directions.



2. Fred & Daphne ARE a couple. The crossover with Johnny Bravo got the ball rolling for the present era, and in Zombie Island, Daph was doing a newsmagazine show, with Fred as her videographer. Again, those jobs have since "disappeared", when it could've been used to set up later stories. The two live-action movies helped things along, including their first on-screen kiss, one of the few things we can put in canon from those films.


I was thrilled when their relationship seemed to blossom in Zombie Island, and that they still worked together (even if it was on the surface as a platonic couple) before the gang reunited. Then that all but disappeared and we don't see them as a "couple" in the subsequent films. There is potential comedy gold to be mined from a romantic relationship between these two. I also liked that they worked in the media and could have explored other avenues.


3. Shaggy can't hold down a job. This was also evident in Zombie Island, but that doesn't mean the others couldn't remain gainfully employed. However, had they taken the ball (Velma's bookstore) and run with it, Shag would have a steady gig.


Although I wasn't a fan of Velma having the bookstore to begin with, if the character still owned/worked there, I could see Shaggy working at the coffee bar! He could do for espresso what he used to do for sandwiches!

[zoombie]

I like it that they are young adults, now it is more natural to travel around and solve mysteries.

When they were teenagers, you had to ask yourself "Where are there parents?" "Shouldn't they be in school?"

[magicdog]

When they were teenagers, you had to ask yourself "Where are there parents?" "Shouldn't they be in school?"

Well, it's not as if school wasn't mentioned periodically (Shaggy's athletic prowess school dances, etc.). It might have been nice to have seen parents now and then but the show was aimed at kids who didn't want to see Mom & Dad on Saturday mornings.

[zoombie]

Well, it's not as if school wasn't mentioned periodically (Shaggy's athletic prowess school dances, etc.). It might have been nice to have seen parents now and then but the show was aimed at kids who didn't want to see Mom & Dad on Saturday mornings.

You are right, but I wish I had parents as leanet of the Scooby gang. They just let me drive all over the country, at all hours of the night. Most parents would never allow their kids to do that.

[DrTooth]

Somehow I think the only reason why Fred seemed stupider in WNSD was due to the movie version of him being a complete idiot. I'm glad he didn't go to that extreme, but then again, i only watched the show for Shaggy and Scoob.

I get the impression that Velma's self loathing at times. At least about her appearance. in certain episodes of WNSD whenever she has to wear anything that's skimpy (for a disguise) she gets really indignant and you can just tell she begs for the comfort and cover of her old sweater. Maybe it's the years where she was running around with Daphne looking so beautiful, and Velma just feeling dorky, fat, and unattractive next to her or something.

And somehow in SSGAC Shaggy seems quite a bit stupider to me. At least that's what i feel.

plus it seems that Scooby is capable of carrying on a conversation, and not just piping up, repeating what everyone said with his growling r's. But I guess that's because the only other character Shaggy has to talk to in that series is the Robot.

[Eric B]

Yes & no. It was good for the kids to grow up and fall into jobs, but Velma and her bookstore didn't seem like the right fit for the character. I'd have expected her to have been working in a crime lab/forensics field solving mysteries in a whole different way. The some of her cases could have lead the team in new directions. True. If anything, you would think the bookstore might be a retirement job or something. Hard to picture someone who had been working at NASA in a bookstore when still young!

I was thrilled when their relationship seemed to blossom in Zombie Island, and that they still worked together (even if it was on the surface as a platonic couple) before the gang reunited. Then that all but disappeared and we don't see them as a "couple" in the subsequent films. There is potential comedy gold to be mined from a romantic relationship between these two. I also liked that they worked in the media and could have explored other avenues.
Please NO! That would just be a distraction; and I think they went too far with it as it was. That started out as a JOKE on Bravo Dooby Doo. It is not characteristic of the Scooby gang (but more fitting for the Josie gang and others), and was a play on the fact that Fred and Daphne split up together (which changed after awhile anyway, as he took both of the girls).

[magicdog]

Please NO! That would just be a distraction; and I think they went too far with it as it was. That started out as a JOKE on Bravo Dooby Doo. It is not characteristic of the Scooby gang (but more fitting for the Josie gang and others), and was a play on the fact that Fred and Daphne split up together (which changed after awhile anyway, as he took both of the girls).

I must respectfully disagree. I think the two getting together romantically would work fine and if properly handled, it wouldn't become the distraction. The feeling could be more like, "OK, kind of expected it, nothing to see here", as opposed to, "How CUTE! Look at what lovebirds they are! They were soulmates!!" and focusing too much on them.


As for Fred & Dahpne's early clue hunts together, it's my opinion (perhaps someone in the know can back me up on this) that Velma was intentionally added to their search party to make things look less "inappropriate". After all, to this day people make those jokes about Fred & Daphne doing things other than searching for clues, and having a third party seemed to make things look more innocent.

Although I still liked seeing Velma, Shaggy & Scooby in their team! They were a riot!

[Eric B]

I always identified with Shaggy and felt bad that Fred took both of the girls to himself. I also always liked seeing him with Daphne (As rare as that was. I hope people who taped the Comedy Movies years ago might begin putting those old copies up on YouTube, so we can see the cut out scenes like the one on the second Don Knotts episode where Fred took Velma instead of Daphne or both girls).
So actually making Daphne and Fred a couple would fix them together specifically, and in my opionion, disrupt the original group dynamic. You never had any such close bond between two human characters; only Scooby and Shaggy.

[Mister Intensity]

As for Fred & Dahpne's early clue hunts together, it's my opinion (perhaps someone in the know can back me up on this) that Velma was intentionally added to their search party to make things look less "inappropriate". After all, to this day people make those jokes about Fred & Daphne doing things other than searching for clues, and having a third party seemed to make things look more innocent.

Although I still liked seeing Velma, Shaggy & Scooby in their team! They were a riot!

I wouldn't be surprised if that was the reason Velma was added to the Fred and Daphine team because at the point even the hint of a possible romance was discouraged on Saturday Morning Television. That's way a lot of male-female duos were brother and sister rather than friends or shudder, boyfriend and girlfriend.

It would have made more sense if the splitting up was more based on the situation rather than the formula. I would have love to have seen more Fred/Shaggy/Scooby and Daphine/Velma split-up teams, which really only happened in the Davy Jones episode. The Mystery Inc. dynamic was loosely based on Doobie Gillis, so it would have been fun to see more of Fred's Doobie play off of Shaggy's Maynard. Besides, if they stuck closer to the template we wouldn't have to suffer through Fred's "dumb jock" characterization (which I feel is the worst characterization in the Scooby chronicles).

Mister Intensity

[zoombie]

I wouldn't be surprised if that was the reason Velma was added to the Fred and Daphine team because at the point even the hint of a possible romance was discouraged on Saturday Morning Television. That's way a lot of male-female duos were brother and sister rather than friends or shudder, boyfriend and girlfriend.



Mister Intensity

I don't why they would be so sensative to the idea of teenage couples. The Archie show for goodness sakes, was nothing but teenage hormones

[Spideyfan1983]

I wouldn't be surprised if that was the reason Velma was added to the Fred and Daphine team because at the point even the hint of a possible romance was discouraged on Saturday Morning Television. That's way a lot of male-female duos were brother and sister rather than friends or shudder, boyfriend and girlfriend.

It would have made more sense if the splitting up was more based on the situation rather than the formula. I would have love to have seen more Fred/Shaggy/Scooby and Daphine/Velma split-up teams, which really only happened in the Davy Jones episode. The Mystery Inc. dynamic was loosely based on Doobie Gillis, so it would have been fun to see more of Fred's Doobie play off of Shaggy's Maynard. Besides, if they stuck closer to the template we wouldn't have to suffer through Fred's "dumb jock" characterization (which I feel is the worst characterization in the Scooby chronicles).

Mister Intensity



I agree with what you said here. It would make sense if the splitting up was more based on the situation. Speaking of that split up from that episode this was the only time that I have seen Fred join Shaggy and Scooby. Is there any other episode where this unusual team up happens? :)

[Eric B]

Sleeping arrangements will generally follow the two males in one room/two females in another room. The Bigfoot episode has this (Laurel & Hardy may have had their own room, IIRC). I think the first Don Knotts (where he was pretending to be a detective) had that, and that might be what I was thinking of for the first case. I know one of them, Fred is reading a scary book in bed, and Shaggy and Scooby are there in the room with him.
The second Don Knotts is the one where he pretends to be a western deputy, and Fred takes Velma, and leaves Shaggy, Scooby, Don and the sherriff behind. They edit this so that it looks like they all went out together one time, but actually, Fred and Velma went out somewhere alone, first, looking at something, and then went back for the others, and they all returned to the place they were looking in. I really don't know why they did not care to put these segments back in; not even the DVD's!:mad:

Other copycat shows have only one girl. Like the Funky Phantom (where one guy complains that the other guy always gets the girl) and Speed Buggy. You could count Jeannie as well. Then in Josie you have twice as many females as males.

[hobbyfan]

Re.: Velma
Yes & no. It was good for the kids to grow up and fall into jobs, but Velma and her bookstore didn't seem like the right fit for the character. I'd have expected her to have been working in a crime lab/forensics field solving mysteries in a whole different way. The some of her cases could have lead the team in new directions.

Didn't seem like the right fit? I disagree. Velma was always the real brains behind Mystery, Inc., at least the most learned of the group, so it'd be almost natural for her to be in a bookstore that specialized in, of course, mysteries. You could have a hidden crime lab in the back of the store that would be MI's HQ.

Re.: Fred & Daphne
I was thrilled when their relationship seemed to blossom in Zombie Island, and that they still worked together (even if it was on the surface as a platonic couple) before the gang reunited. Then that all but disappeared and we don't see them as a "couple" in the subsequent films. There is potential comedy gold to be mined from a romantic relationship between these two. I also liked that they worked in the media and could have explored other avenues.

This is why I suggested that the romantic interaction in Monsters Unleashed could at the very least be included in the overall canon. With Scooby's 40th anniversary 2 years away, maybe there's a chance for a wedding.......?



Although I wasn't a fan of Velma having the bookstore to begin with, if the character still owned/worked there, I could see Shaggy working at the coffee bar! He could do for espresso what he used to do for sandwiches!

I'm having a hard time picturing Shag at a Starbucks.:D

[magicdog]

With Scooby's 40th anniversary 2 years away, maybe there's a chance for a wedding.......?


You never know! If Pebbles & Bamm Bamm could get married, anything's possible.

[Daffyfan2003]

What changes have you noticed from the Mystery Inc gang from the way they were in the classic Scooby Doo series, to the way they are since Scooby Doo On Zoombie Island through the present, not counting the live action movies? Which of these were improvements? Which of these changes didn't you like?

The changes I have noticed are:

Scooby Doo - except he has a different voice actors since the death of Don Messick. He is still the same Scooby Doo we all know and love. He is a little more brave and smart than before, but not that much from before.

Shaggy - just like Scooby Doo, very little of him has changed. Just like Scooby, at times he is a little mroe smart and brave than before, but he is basicly the same as he ever was on the classic Scooby Doo shows.

That being said, I think the big changes were to Fred, Daphne, and Velma, the more serious characters that are suppose to set up Scooby and Shaggy for their hillarous lines and antics. Overal have had more of their share of funny moments in the modern day Scooby Doo than in the classic Scooby Doo shows.

Fred - first of all the ascot obviously. While other characters have become smarter, he has gone in the opposite direction. He has lost a little bit of his smarts. He acts much more of a buffon at times . Example is the ending of the last Scooby Doo movie Chill Out Scooby Doo. But he is still has a strong leadership quality, and he still very compedent, he is not a complete moron. He is a lot more comedic than before, I think part of that is because back than the role of Fred was Frank Welker's first voice over job, and since the classic Scooby Doo days, Frank has proven on other shows, he can be funny. The writers tease or acknowledged that there might be some feelings between him and Daphne.

Daphne - before she was just the unlucky girl that was got caught in traps or in dungens. We know she came from a wealthy family, but it was never really acknowledged on the old shows. But in the modern day Scooby Doo, she is more fashion condition, and they acknowledged her family background more. Just like I said above, the writers tease or acknowledged that there might be some feelings between her and Fred.

Velma - in my opinion, had the most changes to her character. Before she was just brainac of the group, which she still is. But she is more head strong, and take charge at times, and has assumed more of a leadership role.

Also in Scooby Doo Where Are You!! (they might have changed long before Zoombie Island, maybe as far back as the 70's spinoffs, but I haven't seen any of the classics besides SDWAY in a long time) it seemed Velma had a crush on Shaggy, who was completely clueless about that, and always ignored her in favor of food or spenting time with Scooby Doo. One episode she asked Shaggy to dance, but he said later after he ate a sandwitch. Another episode they were dancing, and Scooby cut in and danced with Shaggy. Anyway her crush on Shaggy is non exident in the modern Scooby Doo.

Hmmmmm. I always thought that with the exceptions of Shagg and Scoob, Velma was sort of the most similar to the way she used to be.

About Fred, yeah, I guess his IQ went down a little bit, but not as bad as in 'A Pup Named Scooby Doo.' I'd say his personality is a combination betweem of the way he was early on and a goofy, carefree character. Kind of in between.

Yes Daphne changed quite a bit, she used to be more dependent on the others to do most of the brainwork. Now she's more her own person. Plus she uses ordinary things in her purse to make different contraptions when they are needed. I sort of admire that.

[zoombie]

Yes Daphne changed quite a bit, she used to be more dependent on the others to do most of the brainwork. Now she's more her own person. Plus she uses ordinary things in her purse to make different contraptions when they are needed. I sort of admire that.

True I also noticed when she returned in the early 80's on the New Scooby Doo and Scrappy Doo show and on the New Scooby Doo Mysteries, she was able to put together what the clues meant, just like Velma did. So she did grow up from the dependent danger prone character. And learned a few things from Velma.

[Eric B]

She basically became Velma's replacement, while Scrappy then became Freddy's replacement. (He was no longer about trying to jump every monster, and would even back down sometimes!)
It was so interesting how they had managed to compact the whole Scooby format. Smaller gang; shorter mysteries. Even though we did come to miss Fred and Velma by then, I would say they were nicely done, and with some nice new ideas.

[DaphHime]

I must respectfully disagree. I think the two getting together romantically would work fine and if properly handled, it wouldn't become the distraction. The feeling could be more like, "OK, kind of expected it, nothing to see here", as opposed to, "How CUTE! Look at what lovebirds they are! They were soulmates!!" and focusing too much on them.

(snip)

Although I still liked seeing Velma, Shaggy & Scooby in their team! They were a riot!

Agreed, if anything Fred/Daphne would make for a nice sub-plot. I kind of already watch the show for them anyway. I loved the tenson between them in Zombie Island and I hoped they'd do more with that.

Velma, Shaggy and Scooby made a very good trio. It's better when Shaggy and Scooby have a straight man-er woman to balance things out.

I actually liked Fred's character shift in WNSD, and this is from someone who always liked his character. Though I think it predated the live-action movies a bit since you could see the change as early as Zombie Island.

[Knightmare]

Casting:

Yah, it will be a sad day when Casey Kasem leaves the recording booth for the final time. They have tried to replace him (and Scott Menville doesn't have the voice down on Get a Clue), but it's become mission impossible. Frank Welker should've been asked to do Scooby prior to 2002, since with all the animal voices he's done, you'd think he was preparing to succeed Don Messick anyway. Frank & Casey are the only original cast members left. Mindy Cohn, since coming aboard in '02, has nailed Velma dead center. Studying tapes of the old series will do that. WB fumbled by shuttling What's New in and out of the lineup to accomodate Yu-Gi-Oh when they had the rights to that series, which was wrong, otherwise What's New would still be here and we'd be spared Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue, IMPO.

I really don't understand why Warner Bros, doesn't get Matthew Lillard to do Shaggy's voice, he nailed it perfectly in both movies and his performance was the best thing about both movies in my opinion.

[hobbyfan]

I really don't understand why Warner Bros, doesn't get Matthew Lillard to do Shaggy's voice, he nailed it perfectly in both movies and his performance was the best thing about both movies in my opinion.

Good point on Lilliard. Get a Clue is in Season 2, and Scott Menville, a veteran VA himself, still hasn't figured out the tics and nuances to Shaggy's voice. What may be preventing Lilliard from taking the gig might be he's still making movies.