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“Scooby-Doo” fans rejoice: A Netflix live-action series is in the works.

Netflix announced that Greg Berlanti’s Berlanti Productions (via the company’s Warner Bros. Television deal) is bringing Scooby to life…literally. This will be the first live-action TV adaptation of the beloved Hanna-Barbera cartoon characters. The “Scooby-Doo” eight-episode series will tell the origin story for the mystery-solving gang.

The official synopsis reads: “During their final summer at camp, old friends Shaggy and Daphne get embroiled in a haunting mystery surrounding a lonely lost Great Dane puppy that may have been a witness to a supernatural murder. Together with the pragmatic and scientific townie, Velma, and the strange, but ever so handsome new kid, Freddy, they set out to solve the case that is pulling each of them into a creepy nightmare that threatens to expose all of their secrets.”

The series will be a “modern reimagining of the...

Get off your ascot, fix yourself a comically large sandwich, and put some gas in the Mystery Machine because Scooby and the gang are heading to Netflix! In a surprise announcement, Netflix debuted plans for an eight-episode live-action Scooby-Doo origin series! The project hails from Midnight Radio, Berlanti Productions, and Warner Bros. Television. We hear bidding for the live-action Scooby-Doo series was fierce, with Netflix ultimately offering enough Scooby Snacks to land the deal.

Midnight Radio‘s Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg (Cowboy Bebop) will pen the live-action Scooby-Doo series, which will feature the beloved Mystery Inc. gang created by Hanna-Barbera. According to Deadline’s write-up, the untitled Scooby-Doo series is an origin story recounting how the gang got together for their first haunting case.

“During their final summer at camp, old friends Shaggy and Daphne get embroiled in a haunting mystery surrounding a lonely lost Great Dane puppy that...

Let another high-profile casting search begin: Netflix has given an eight-episode series order to a live-action reimagining of Warner Bros.’ classic Scooby-Doo cartoon that will track down the origins of the famous mystery-solving teen gang and their beloved dog. The project, from Midnight Radio, Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television, landed for development at the streamer in a competitive situation last spring with a premium, script-to-series commitment.

Written by Midnight Radio’s Josh Appelbaum & Scott Rosenberg (Cowboy Bebop) based on characters created by Hanna-Barbera, the yet untitled Scooby-Doo series crafts an origin story of how the Mystery Inc. group got together and first teamed up to crack the haunting case that started it all.

During their final summer at camp, old friends Shaggy and Daphne get embroiled in a haunting mystery surrounding a lonely lost Great Dane puppy that may have been a witness to a supernatural murder. Together...

This article is part of IndieWire’s 2000s Week celebration. Click here for a whole lot more.

Contrary to what conversion therapy might have you believe, it’s impossible to turn someone gay or bisexual. That is, unless you watched the first “Scooby-Doo” movie at a young, formative age. If that’s the case, then you’re almost definitely bisexual now, even if you don’t know it yet. Sorry you had to find out this way.

Despite giving us this great gift, critics at the time were still pretty harsh on cinema’s first-ever live-action portrayal of Scooby-Doo. “Get out your pooper-scoopers,” warned Rolling Stone’s Peter Travers. “It’s like an amalgam of ‘Ghostbusters,’ ‘Alien’ and the ‘Pokemon’ movies — minus all the good parts,” added Michael O’Sullivan at The Washington Post. I, on the other hand, couldn’t get enough of this film and the DVD I...

Fans can never have enough of Scooby-Doo, and now they have a reason to rejoice as a new animated series, Go-Go Mystery Machine, is in development at WB Animation, Variety reports. First created in 1969 by writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears for their animated series, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! The characters have spawned a massive franchise since, resulting in the beloved Mystery Gang being a fan favorite across generations.

Casting the right actress to play Velma in the live-action Scooby-Doo series is crucial for maintaining the character's essence. Actresses like Haley Lu Richardson, Jessica Henwick, and Hailee Steinfeld all have the talent and experience to bring Velma to life on screen. Each actress brings something unique to the role, from comedic timing to action experience, ensuring a fresh take on the beloved character of Velma.

It was recently announced that Netflix will be developing a live-action Scooby-Doo series and the iconic characters must be well-cast, including the "brains" of the mystery gang, Velma Dinkley. The Scooby-Do franchise was started in 1969 by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears with the first installment of many Scooby-Do TV shows, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! Since then, the beloved group of friends has been adapted into video games and films, both live-action and animated. Every new version of the characters, both in their design and characterization,...

Joe Keery's versatility and charm make him a strong candidate to play Shaggy in the new Scooby-Doo series for Netflix. Jennifer Lawrence's experience in playing various character types could offer a unique portrayal of Shaggy in a live-action setting. Bill Skarsgrd's ability to take on dark and complex roles could bring a fresh perspective to Shaggy, adding depth to the character.

A new Scooby-Doo live action series is being developed for Netflix, but to succeed, they need to cast the right actor in the role of Shaggy. Scooby-Doo was originally created in 1969 by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears, but in the more than 75 years since the show began, it has taken on countless new versions, all focusing on the titular hero dog and his gang of crime-solving kids. However, just as important as Scooby is to the gang, his best human friend is equally essential in translating for...

Fire up the mystery van because Netflix is about to close a deal for a live-action TV series based on the Hanna-Barbera animated series Scooby-Doo.

Sources say that the live-action Scooby-Doo project has a script-to-series commitment, which, assuming the script hits the right buttons, would mean it would receive a straight-to-series order. Josh Appelbaum & Scott Rosenberg (Cowboy Bebop) are set to write the series, as well as produce alongside André Nemec and Jeff Pinkner through their Midnight Radio banner. Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, and Leigh London Redman will executive produce the project via their Berlanti Productions banner.

Related Scooby-Doo

Created by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! debuted in 1960 and revolved around Fred Jones, Daphne Blake, Velma Dinkley, Shaggy Rogers, and Scooby-Doo as they solved mysteries involving supposedly supernatural creatures. Over the decades, the franchise has spawned numerous spin-offs, TV specials, direct-to-video animated movies, comics, video games,...

A classic Warner Bros. IP is headed to Netflix with a reimagining from one of the studio’s top TV producers. In a competitive situation with multiple bidders, the streamer has landed Scooby-Doo! The Live-Action Series, from Greg Berlanti’s Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television, where the company is based, sources tell Deadline.

Written by Josh Appelbaum & Scott Rosenberg (Cowboy Bebop) based on characters created by Hanna-Barbera, Scooby-Doo! is a live-action update of the popular cartoon.

In a tough TV marketplace, the drama project garnered interest from top buyers, ending up at Netflix with a premium, script-to-series commitment, sources said. Reps for Netflix and Wbtv declined comment.

Scooby-Doo! The Live-Action Series is executive produced by Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter and Leigh London Redman for Berlanti Productions as well as Appelbaum and Rosenberg alongside André Nemec and Jeff Pinkner under their Midnight Radio banner. Berlanti Productions’ Jonathan Gabay and Midnight...

Greg Berlanti and Netflix are going for a ride in the Mystery Machine.

The streaming giant is near a deal for a live-action TV series based on the beloved Hanna-Barbera animated cartoon Scooby-Doo. The project has a script-to-series commitment at Netflix, meaning if the script is well received, it would trigger a straight-to-series order for what is considered a live-action update of the classic cartoon.

Reps for Netflix, producers Warner Bros. Television and Berlanti Productions declined to comment, as a deal has not yet formally closed.

Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg — who previously adapted Cowboy Bebop for Netflix and High Fidelity for Hulu — are attached to pen the script and exec produce via their Midnight Radio banner’s André Nemec and Jeff Pinkner. Berlanti and his Berlanti Productions partner Sarah Schechter will exec produce alongside the company’s Leigh London Redman. Berlanti Productions’ Jonathan Gabay and Midnight Radio’s...

Scooby-Doo is still one of the most iconic animated franchises in animation history. This classic hit got its start in 1969 thanks to Joe Ruby and Ken Spears, who created Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! for Hanna-Barbera Productions. The show introduced a team of youngsters made up of Fred Jones, Daphne Blake, Velma Dinkley, and Shaggy Rogers, along with their Great Dane dog named Scooby-Doo. The team specialized in solving mysteries involving alleged supernatural creatures, yet they always ended up finding out that, hidden behind the monsters, ordinary people were the real villains of the story.

The enormous impact of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! led to further series, spin-offs, reboots, movies, video games, and comics, among many other media. Among the large number of Scooby-Doo movies, the two live-action films stand above the rest: Scooby-Doo: The Movie and Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed. Both of them were directed by Raja Gosnell, written by James Gunn,...

Scooby-Doo is undeniably one of the greatest cartoon franchises ever created, with countless films and TV shows being released since its 1969 launch. Crafted from the genius minds of Joe Ruby and Ken Spears, the beloved series follows the lovable talking Great Dane and amateur teen sleuths Shaggy, Velma, Daphne, and Fred as they drive around in The Mystery Machine, solving crimes and cases across the country, uncovering countless great Scooby-Doo villains. Initially titled Mysteries Five with a bongo-playing sheepdog and five teenagers solving spooky mysteries, the program changed its lead pooch to a Great Dane, and the rest is history.

The long-running franchise has been a constant staple in the entertainment industry, producing successful spin-off shows like What’s New, Scooby-Doo, A Pup Named Scooby-Doo, and The New Scooby and Scrappy Show. A multitude of both animated and live-action films have also been created, with 37 direct-to-video pictures being released, including...

Four meddling teenagers and a dog. From that simplest of premises, Joe Ruby and Ken Spears created an idea that has carried television series, live-action big-budget films, numerous animated movies, and countless parodies. So successful was Scooby-Doo that Hannah-Barbera launched several spin-offs, including Jabberjaw (teens and a talking whale) and Speed-Buggy (teens and a talking dune buggy). But there was something special about the alchemy Ruby and Spears derived for Scooby-Doo that made it stand the test of time. With its monster plots, Scooby-Doo became the ultimate introduction to horror for even the most timid kid.

Scooby-Doo and the Gang We Know

No series better understands the unique nature of the Scooby gang like Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated. The 52-episode show ran for two seasons on Cartoon Network from 2010 to 2013, and its first few episodes play like a modern update of the cartoon series. The gang is still in high school,...

Scooby-Doo fans have speculated about Fred's sexual orientation, with some believing that he is gay due to certain character traits and emotional struggles shown in the TV shows. There has been no official confirmation of Fred's sexuality, but actors from the live-action movies revealed that an early version of the film hinted at Fred being gay. Velma Dinkley, another character from Scooby-Doo, has also been discussed among fans as potentially being a lesbian, and there was an animated film that openly acknowledged her as such. Fred's sexuality, however, remains a mystery in the franchise.

Scooby-Doo is one of the most significant animated shows in the history of television, and has been entertaining millions of mystery-loving children around the world for decades (to this day). The original series, titled Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, was created by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears back in 1969 for Hanna-Barbera, and aired on CBS before moving...

The Masters of the Universe franchise is a hallmark of the 1980s, with the cartoon and toyline being many kids' first foray into the sword and sorcery genre. Starring the powerful He-Man and several other now-classic heroes, the series would spark a wave of narrative "toy commercials." However, as influential as it was, it wasn't the only fantasy cartoon on the block during that era.

Thundarr the Barbarian was an earlier cartoon with no corresponding toy line or comic book, with the series coming out in the early 1980s. Though far more short-lived than Masters of the Universe, it was very similar to the later series, with some actually seeing it as the superior franchise. It even involved the talent of several comic book industry legends, turning it into a brief but high-quality classic for its time.

Related: He-Man and Silent Bob Finally Get Iconic Sci-Fi Actors in the Same...

Greta Gerwig proved with her Barbie adaptation that she can walk a fine line between making a universally accessible movie while also crafting a project that is tongue-in-cheek and subversive enough to appeal to a broad demographic. With its PG-13 rating, young adults can still check it out, and it can still drop jokes that work for an older audience. It's due to this balanced approach to the subject matter that Gerwig is the perfect choice to bring another live-action Scooby-Doo to the big screen.

Beginning its life in 1969, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! was created by writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears, and it followed teenagers Fred Jones, Daphne Blake, Velma Dinkley, and Shaggy Rogers who solve various mysteries with their talking Great Dane Scooby-Doo. The cartoon series, which appealed greatly to kids, also appealed to teens and adults because of its perceived subversive themes that hint at references to drug use and sexuality.

The Mystery Gang in Scooby-Doo has seen a number of different depictions, and their original ages are never written in stone. Created by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears for Hanna-Barbera studios, the original series, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? ran for two seasons, offering slapstick humor and light-hearted crime-solving action. The beloved series has been a consistent staple of youth culture since, with dozens of movies and TV series spin-offs.

The characters of the Mystery Gang have remained almost entirely consistent since the original series. Though an occasional guest star, such as Scrappy-Doo, will appear, the franchise is at its best with the original gang. The paradigm of these characters is important to the show's charm and comedy. However, individually, the characters are subject to change, and different adaptations have seen them at different ages, allowing the franchise to be adaptable and timeless.

How Old Scooby-Doo's Main Characters Are In The...

Hard as it is to believe, there have been 37 direct-to-video "Scooby-Doo" animated movies. This, of course, is not counting the live-action adaptations and several television specials and premieres. That's a lot of everyone's favorite scrappy, investigative dog. "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!" premiered in 1969, when writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears developed the series for Hanna-Barbera Productions, the studio behind hits such as "The Flintstones," "The Jetsons," and "Josey and the Pussycats" (a personal favorite). The original series aired for two seasons, though the franchise has a storied history, spanning 14 different iterations, including the recent "Velma" for HBO.

"Scooby-Doo" has been an astronomical success — a mainstay of animated pop culture aficionados and casual fans alike. With so much material, it can be hard for newer fans to acclimate themselves to the long-running property. Which series should someone start with? Are the live-action adaptations any good? We'll be taking a look at...

Russell T Davies' new era allows for Doctor Who to embrace the format of an animated series, fulfilling the promise of a pitch from the 1980s. David Tennant's Doctor Who era featured two animated stories, The Infinite Quest, which was serialized on the Children's BBC show Totally Doctor in 2007, and Dreamland, which aired on the BBC in December 2009. These exceptions aside, Doctor Who has never had a designated animated spinoff series, something that feels like a missed opportunity.

It's likely that, as a public broadcaster, the BBC hasn't been able to justify the costs of an animated Doctor Who spinoff as their funding is increasingly squeezed. The co-production deal with Bad Wolf and Disney will alleviate some of those budgetary concerns. That's not to say that the new co-production will be immune to the constraints of being tied to a public broadcaster. Concerns by the BBC eventually led to...

Find out where to watch the new adult animation series Velma, a modern reimagining of one of cartoon's most intelligent, crime-solving sleuths, from the mind of comic genius Mindy Kaling.

Velma takes one of the original members of Mystery Incorporated and gives her 21st-century makeover, exploring her backstory and giving her a narrative in her own right.

You can check it out now on Amazon Prime's HBO Max channel. Groovy!

Watch Velma on Amazon Prime Video

What Is Velma’s Origin?

The character of Velma first burst onto our TV screens back in 1969 as part of Mystery Incorporated, the gang of savvy teen sleuths that made up the cast of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?. When the original creators Joe Ruby and Ken spears penned the first series, it is unlikely they knew just what an enduring franchise they were creating that is still enjoyed by audiences today over fifty years later.

When word got out that HBO Max was working on a Velma origin story, fan responses were all over the place. It's not that "Scooby-Doo" fans dislike the four-eyed, orange-clad investigator who's been integral to Mystery Inc. since it first began in 1969. Rather, the hesitant responses to "Velma" were related to other aspects of the Mindy Kaling-led show, including its adult humor and violence, changes in animation style and characterization, and a conspicuous lack of the crime-solving Great Dane himself.

But if you look closely at the history of the long-running franchise, it's clear that for as long as Scooby and the gang have been on the air in some form or another, the shows have been repeatedly reinventing. And while that constant reinvention has often caused cyclical, ahistorical outrage from picky viewers, it's also the key to what makes "Scooby-Doo" so satisfying after all these years.

The 1969 Classic...

Producers of the 73rd annual Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony honored almost all of the expected people who died this past year. Who was not featured during the emotional In Memoriam segment Sunday night on CBS? Prominent performers and character actors such as Frank Bonner, Sean Connery, Michael Constantine, Abby Dalton, James Hampton, Bruce Kirby, Norman Lloyd, Helen Reddy and Jane Withers were not part of the 49 people included.

While over 100 celebrated television people died since last year’s event in mid-September of 2020, the segment generally only makes room for less than 50. Among those featured Sunday night: TV Academy Hall of Fame members actor Ed Asner, production designer Roy Christopher, actress Cloris Leachman, writer/producer William Link and actress Cicely Tyson. Current nominee Michael K. Williams (“Lovecraft Country”) and “Saturday Night Live” veteran Norm Macdonald sadly passed away this month as well.

SEECelebrity Deaths 2021: In Memoriam Gallery

The 49 people featured...

The Herculoids: The Complete Original Series

Blu ray

Warner Archive

1967/ 1.33:1

Starring Mike Road, Virginia Gregg

Directed by William Hanna, Joseph Barbera

Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera produced 114 Tom and Jerry cartoons for MGM between 1940 and 1956—and then they were fired. The following year they found new employment as America’s babysitters; debuting in December of 1957 was The Ruff and Reddy Show, a rise and shine treat for the little ones and one of the first Saturday morning cartoon shows produced exclusively for television. With its success the duo expanded their reach, greeting kids just home from school with the sweet-natured adventures of Huckleberry Hound, Pixie and Dixie, and Yogi Bear. But the Sixties were the Sixties and in the midst of that mind-bending decade Hanna-Barbera took a turn for the weird: Frankenstein Jr. featured a blimp-sized version of Mary Shelly’s creature. Birdman was a solar-powered superhero with the...

Producers of this Sunday’s Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony have some difficult decisions to make about who to honor during the emotional In Memoriam segment. Cedric the Entertainer will host the 2021 Emmys for CBS at 8:00 p.m. Et; 5:00 p.m. Pt. A total of 34 presenters have been announced so far.

Our list below includes almost 100 people who made a strong contribution to television and have died since mid-September of 2020. Only about 40-45 of these people will probably be in the video segment. Certain to be featured will be TV Academy Hall of Fame members actor Ed Asner, production designer Roy Christopher, actress Cloris Leachman, writer/producer William Link and actress Cicely Tyson. Current nominee Michael K. Williams (“Lovecraft Country”) sadly passed away this month as well.

SEECelebrity Deaths 2021: In Memoriam Gallery

Ed Asner (actor)

Dana Baratta (writer/producer)

Anne Beatts (writer)

Ned Beatty (actor)

William Blinn (writer)

Frank Bonner (actor)

Perry Botkin,...

Ken Spears has passed away. He was 82-years old. Spears is arguably best-known for co-creating Scooby-Doo alongside his partner Joe Ruby. Spears passed away on Friday, November 6th, which is less than 3 months from Ruby, who passed away in late August of this year. Together, the duo formed Ruby-Spears Productions and changed the world of animation, along with their work for Hanna-Barbera.

The news of Ken Spears' passing was announced by his son, Kevin Spears. He died peacefully in Brea, California, of complications from Lewy body dementia. "Ken will forever be remembered for his wit, his story-telling, his loyalty to family, and his strong work ethic," said Kevin. "Ken has not only made a lasting impression on his family, but he has touched the lives of many as co-creator of Scooby-Doo Ken has been a role model for us throughout his life and he will continue to live on in our hearts.

Ken Spears, co-founded of Ruby-Spears Productions and co-creator of “Scooby-Doo,” has died at the age of 82.

In a statement to Variety, Spears’ son, Kevin Spears, said his father died on Friday due to complications related to Lewy body dementia.

“Ken will forever be remembered for his wit, his story-telling, his loyalty to family, and his strong work ethic,” he said. “Ken has not only made a lasting impression on his family, but he has touched the lives of many as co-creator of ‘Scooby-Doo.’ Ken has been a role model for us throughout his life and he will continue to live on in our hearts.”

Spears’ death comes just months after his longtime producing partner, Joe Ruby, died of natural causes at the age of 87.

Ruby and Spears co-created the beloved animated kids’ mystery series “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?” at Hanna-Barbera in 1969. The original run of the show ended in 1976, though...

Scooby-Doo co-creator Ken Spears died on Friday, November 6. He co-founded Ruby-Spears Productions with Joe Ruby, who died in August. Spears was 82.

Spears’ son Kevin confirmed his death to Variety, saying that he died from complications related to Lewy body dementia.

A Los Angles native, Spears co-created the iconic animated series Scooby Doo with Ruby. He was born Charles Kenneth Spears in L.A. on March 12, 1938. He befriended the son of animation producer William Hanna of Hanna-Barbera fame. This was his way into the animation space.

In 1959, he was hired to work at Hanna-Barbera Productions as a sound editor. It was here he met Ruby and they forged a bond and became writing partners. They wrote teleplays for projects at Hanna-Barbera as well as Sid and Marty Krofft Television Productions and DePatie-Freleng Enterprises.

In addition to Scooby-Doo, the duo created Dynomutt, Dog Wonder, Jabberjaw and other programs. While at Depatie-Freleng, they...

Ken Spears, co-creator of the beloved animated series “Scooby-Doo” and co-founder of Ruby-Spears Productions along with the late Joe Ruby, died Friday. He was 82.

Spears’ son, Kevin Spears, tells Variety that he died from complications related to Lewy body dementia.

“Ken will forever be remembered for his wit, his story-telling, his loyalty to family, and his strong work ethic,” Kevin Spears says. “Ken has not only made a lasting impression on his family, but he has touched the lives of many as co-creator of ‘Scooby-Doo.’ Ken has been a role model for us throughout his life and he will continue to live on in our hearts.”

Born Charles Kenneth Spears on March 12, 1938, Spears grew up in Los Angeles, Calif., where he befriended the son of animation producer William Hanna. Spears was later hired at Hanna’s company, Hanna-Barbera Productions, in 1959 as a sound editor. While working in the editing department,...

Ken Spears, who co-created the character of Scooby-Doo and oversaw Saturday morning kids programming at CBS and ABC, all with his longtime creative partner, Joe Ruby, has died. He was 82.

Spears, a four-time Daytime Emmy nominee, died Friday in Brea, California, of complications from Lewy body dementia, his son, Kevin, told The Hollywood Reporter.

His passing comes less than three months after Ruby died Aug. 26.

“Warner Bros. Animation is saddened to learn of the passing of Ken Spears and we send our warmest thoughts to his loved ones. He was a true innovator in the industry whose gifts of humor ...

Ken Spears, who co-created the character of Scooby-Doo and oversaw Saturday morning kids programming at CBS and ABC, all with his longtime creative partner, Joe Ruby, has died. He was 82.

Spears, a four-time Daytime Emmy nominee, died Friday in Brea, California, of complications from Lewy body dementia, his son, Kevin, told The Hollywood Reporter.

His passing comes less than three months after Ruby died Aug. 26.

A Los Angeles native, Spears first met Ruby when both were sound editors and then staff writers at the cartoon powerhouse Hanna-Barbera, and they created the supernatural kids show Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, which bowed on CBS in ...

Very sad news is breaking today as veteran animator, writer, and producer Joe Ruby has reportedly passed away. Perhaps best known for co-creating the famous cartoon dog Scooby-Doo along with his longtime collaborator Ken Spears, Ruby died of natural causes on Wednesday in Westlake Village, California, though he continued to be creative until the very end. "He never stopped writing and creating, even as he aged," his grandson Benjamin Ruby said. The television legend was 87 years old.

Born in 1930, Ruby had begun his career in entertainment working as an inbetweener and editor for Walt Disney Productions. Following a stint in the U. S. Army, he then moved on to Hanna-Barbera Productions, where he first met Ken Spears. Sparking a years-long partnership, the two would team up to create many original characters and shows for Hanna-Barbera, such as Dynomutt, Dog Wonder, and Jabberjaw.

Of course, their most well-known work is certainly...

Joe Ruby, best known for co-creating the cartoon Scooby-Doo, died of natural causes at his home on Wednesday Aug. 26, according to Variety. He was 87.

Ruby along with his partner Ken Spears, also made Dynomutt and Jabberjaw, and the 1988 animated Superman series, as well as making cartoons out of Pac-Man, Rubik The Amazing Cube, Donkey Kong. They masterminded Space Ace, Dink the Little Dinosaur, It’s Punky Brewster, and TV movies Bunnicula, the Vampire Rabbit and The Cabbage Patch Kids First Christmas.

Joseph Clemens Ruby was born on March 30, 1933. He grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from Fairfax High School. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. Ruby trained as a music editor at the Walt Disney Studios animation program in the 1950s. He became a sound editor at Hanna-Barbera Productions, where he first partnered with Spears. They wrote a spec script and were hired as staff writers in the 1960s.

Animator and Scooby Doo co-creator Joe Ruby has died. The co-founder of production company Ruby-Spears passed away in Westlake Village, CA on Wednesday. He was 87.

A rep for Ruby told Deadline that the animator died of natural causes after years of dealing with health issues.

The animator, who teamed with Ken Spears to create Dynomutt, Dog Wonder and Jabberjaw, was born in Los Angeles, Calif. on March 30, 1933. He began his animation career under Walt Disney Productions before shifting his focus to editing and producing.

After serving in the U.S. Army, Ruby met soon-to-be collaborator Spears at Hanna-Barbera Productions, where the two worked together to create multiple animated and live-action titles, including cartoon juggernaut Scooby Doo.

Ruby and Spears’ group of crime-solving teens and their anthropomorphic mascot first hit the screen on CBS in 1969. The series introduced Velma, Daphne, Shaggy, Fred and the beloved Scooby Doo to kids and cartoon enthusiasts across America,...

Animation writer and executive Joe Ruby, who created cartoon series including “Scooby-Doo” along with his partner Ken Spears, died of natural causes Wednesday in Westlake Village, Calif. He was 87.

At Hanna-Barbera, Ruby and Spears created series including “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?,” “Dynomutt” and “Jabberjaw.”

“He never stopped writing and creating, even as he aged,” said his grandson Benjamin Ruby.

“Scooby-Doo” launched on CBS in 1969 after going through a number of versions. It was launched as a gentler series partly in response to complaints about violence in cartoons such as “Space Ghost.” Together with character designer Iwao Takamoto, Ruby and Spears tried a number of titles and approaches, such as making the characters part of a rock band, before settling on the now-classic combo of Freddie, Velma, Daphne, Shaggy and a Great Dane named Scooby-Doo.

Ruby and Spears wrote the first five episodes, supervising and story editing the rest of the first season.

Joe Ruby, the animation veteran who co-created the character of Scooby-Doo and oversaw Saturday morning children’s programming at CBS and ABC, has died. He was 87.

A four-time Daytime Emmy nominee, Ruby died Wednesday at his home in the Westlake Village section of Los Angeles, his grandson Ben Ruby announced.

Ruby met Ken Spears when both were sound editors and then staff writers at the cartoon powerhouse Hanna-Barbera, and they created the supernatural kids show Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, which centered around a talking Great Dane and bowed on CBS in September 1969. All but four of the first 25 ...

Joe Ruby, the animation veteran who co-created the character of Scooby-Doo and oversaw Saturday morning children’s programming at CBS and ABC, has died. He was 87.

A four-time Daytime Emmy nominee, Ruby died Wednesday at his home in the Westlake Village section of Los Angeles, his grandson Ben Ruby announced.

Ruby met Ken Spears when both were sound editors and then staff writers at the cartoon powerhouse Hanna-Barbera, and they created the supernatural kids show Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, which centered around a talking Great Dane and bowed on CBS in September 1969. All but four of the first 25 ...

If you’ve seen Scoob!, the all-new, very charming computer animated Scooby-Doo adventure, then chances are that you’re also struck with a highly potent burst of nostalgia, along with the longing to further explore the Scooby-Doo universe (Doo-niverse?), a franchise that has been more or less unstoppable since the late 1960s. Created by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears for Hanna-Barbera Productions, the original series Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! (don’t ask why it ends with an exclamation point and not a question mark) ran for just two seasons (it was revived later for …...

When Will Forte signed on to voice the iconic and beloved “Scooby-Doo” character Shaggy in the upcoming animated film “Scoob,” he knew it would be a daunting task.

“Shaggy is very beloved, and it has everything to do with Casey Kasem and that amazing voice of his, and it just is an iconic voice like no other,” Forte told TheWrap. “That is what I think really made people fall in love with Shaggy in the first place. I thought Matthew Lillard did an amazing job… and as much of an honor as this is, it was an incredibly daunting thing to come in and have to do the same thing that already was just such a tough thing for him to do. So I had to come in figure out a way to do my own version when these two people have done such an amazing job. It was nerve...

Hundreds of 1980's illustrations from "Captain America" co-creator Jack "King" Kirby, intended for Ruby-Spears Productions cartoon series/toy lines, continue to be developed into new film projects, according to Ruby-Spears studio founders Joe Ruby, Ken Spears, Sid and Marty Krofft:

The numerous genre projects Kirby left behind include "Roxie’s Raiders"...

...a pulp-inspired adventure about a female animal trainer and her team of circus performers who are highly trained spies...

..."Golden Shield", about an ancient Mayan hero seeking to save earth in the present day...

..."The Gargoids", following scientists who gain superpowers after being infected by an alien virus...

..."The Bad Guys" and a whole lot more...

Ruby-Spears company's credits include animated series "Fangface", "Goldie Gold", "Action Jack", "The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show"...

..."Thundarr the Barbarian", "Rubik", "Alvin and the Chipmunks" (1983), "Mister T", "Sectaurs", "The Centurions", "Superman" (1988), "Police Academy" and "Mega Man".

"My Dad always spoke well of Ruby-Spears,...

Hundreds of illustrations from artist Jack "King" Kirby, co-creator of "Captain America", "Fantastic Four" and the "X-Men", intended for cartoon series/toy lines Kirby produced in the 1980's for Ruby-Spears Productions, will be the basis for new film projects, according to Ruby-Spears studio founders Joe Ruby, Ken Spears, Sid and Marty Krofft:

The numerous genre projects Kirby left behind include "Roxie’s Raiders"...

...a pulp-inspired adventure about a female animal trainer and her team of circus performers who are highly trained spies...

..."Golden Shield", about an ancient Mayan hero seeking to save earth in the present day...

..."The Gargoids", following scientists who gain superpowers after being infected by an alien virus...

..."The Bad Guys" and a whole lot more...

Ruby-Spears company's credits included animated series "Fangface", "Goldie Gold", "Action Jack", "The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show"...

..."Thundarr the Barbarian", "Rubik", "Alvin and the Chipmunks" (1983), "Mister T", "Sectaurs", "The Centurions...

It was 11 years ago that Warner Bros. last tried to deliver a successful Scooby-Doo movie into cinemas – and they would have gotten away with it, too, if it weren’t for all that pesky live-action business. For we all know that the Scooby Gang works best in animation – and it would seem that the studio behind the legendary cartoon has come to accept this, too. Warner Bros. has now confirmed that an animated Scooby-Doo film will arrive in theatres in 2018.

Scooby-Doo was created in 1969 by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears, and was conceived as a Saturday morning cartoon about four teenage friends and their titular talking Great Dane. The group works together to solve mysteries that appear, on the surface, to involve elements of the supernatural. The show has continued in various guises, on and off, for thirty six years, and has enjoyed enduring fandom and popularity across generations of children and adults.

Scooby Doo has been an iconic brand for 45 years. Since first appearing in 1969, the children’s show has undergone a variety of over-hauls and re-imaginings, with different versions incorporating ‘new’ characters and updated settings. The popularity of the most recent iteration – Scooby-Doo Mystery Incorporated, which aired on Cartoon Network from 2010-2013 – has evidently set dollar signs flashing in the eyes of Warner Bros. studio executives once again, and a cinematic re-boot is now being planned.

Originally created for Hanna-Barbera Productions by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears, the premise of Scooby-Doo sees four teenagers – Daphne Blake, Fred Jones, Velma Dinkley and Norville “Shaggy” Rogers, along with the titular talking Great Dane – solve mysteries that initially appear to involve supernatural creatures and events. Essentially serving to de-bunk conspiracies, the team’s finely honed powers of deduction and trap-setting always lead them to the right conclusion.

In 2002, a live-action feature film was released.

Variety reports that Warner Bros. is developing an animated Scooby-Doo movie for theaters. The project has been set up with Atlas Entertainment. Charles Roven and Richard Suckle are the producers.

The team previously produced the live-action Scooby-Doo film in 2002 and its sequel Scooby-Doo: Monsters Unleashed in 2004. The first movie earned $275 million worldwide while the follow-up brought in $180 million.

Matt Lieberman has been hired to write the script. No details have been released about the storyline or an expected release date.

Created by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears for Hanna-Barbera, Scooby and the gang of Mystery Inc. debuted in 1969 in the animated series Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! on CBS.

The characters have returned in numerous animated movies and series over the years. The most recent, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated, ended this year after two seasons...

Back in 2002, Warner Bros released a live-action "Scooby-Doo" movie that was written by James Gunn (director of Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy") and starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze, Jr, Matthew Lillard, Seth Green, and Alicia Silverstone. The film grossed $275 million worldwide on a budget of $84 million. A sequel was quickly greenlit and released in 2004, but it grossed only $181 million. The studio apparently feels that there's still some money to be made from the franchise, because it is now developing an animated "Scooby-Doo" movie that will be released in theaters. Matt Lieberman ("Short Circuit" reboot) is writing the script. "Scooby-Doo" was created in 1969 by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears. The original animated TV series focused on a group of mystery-solving teenagers, Daphne, Fred, Shaggy, Velma and their cowardly dog, Scooby-Doo. Since then, there have been numerous TV spin-offs and direct-to-video projects, in addition to the two live-action movies.

Another Scooby-Doo film is headed to theaters, Variety reports, but this one is set to take an animated approach to the Hanna-Barbera characters. Matt Lieberman (the planned Short Circuit remake) will provide the screenplay. Created in 1969 by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears, "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!" introduced the world to a group of four mystery-solving teens, Daphne, Fred, Shaggy and Velma and their cowardly talking dog, Scooby-Doo. The past few decades have seen numerous television spinoffs, two live-action feature films and a number of direct-to-home video projects. No plot details have been given as of yet and it is currently unclear whether the film will embrace CGI animation or make use of a more tradition hand-drawn style. Charles Roven and Richard Suckle...

2012 will be the first year that GeekTrant will invade WonderCon, mostly due to the fact that it was moved down to Anaheim, CA this year which is right in our backyard. We're all pretty excited about attending this year, as we've heard it's a much smaller more intimate version of San Diego Comic Con.

WonderCon is set to open on Friday, March 16th and run through Sunday, March 18th at the Anaheim Convention Center. If you plan on attending let us know, and maybe we can meet up and hang out for a bit!

I've put stars next to the panels we are interested in attending. Check out the schedule, and let us know what you are looking forward to seeing most!

Friday March 16th

12:30-1:30 Idw Presents: The Idw Panel!— Chief creative officer Chris Ryall and sergeant of marketing Dirk Wood, give out prizes, make announcements, and evade questions!

Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated

Scooby-Doo Created by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears

Scooby-Doo Mystery Incorporated series produced and written by Mitch Watson

Scooby-Doo Mystery Incorporated series Showrunners (Supervising Producers) Spike Brandt and Tony Cervone

imdb, Cartoon Network, Various Times

One of the best procedurals currently on television is a half-hour cartoon that has been on television in one form or another since 1969 and was a major inspiration for what many (myself included) believe was the greatest serial drama in the history of television. The irony is that Scooby-Doo was solidly mediocre until the debut of Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated last summer.

The reason that Scooby-Doo was mediocre for decades was that it was designed to protect children from violence on children’s television. When it debuted in 1969, it was intended to be a safer replacement for its more violent predecessors like Jonny Quest and Space Ghost. The series was formulaic to a...

Creators: Joe Ruby and Ken Spears.

Producer/writer: Mitch Watson.

Animation is no stranger to the horror genre and one of the most enduring cartoon icons associated with this crossover is Scooby Doo. The cartoons that follow his capers made those spooks that went bump in the night not as terrible as it should be. The scares are only as real as Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy and Scooby want it to be and by the episode's end, they usually face up to it. The only thing they have to fear is fear itself.

And in the 40+ years since this franchise's inception, nearly everyone has grown up watching at least one episode of this great dane buffooning his way into popular culture. The comedy relief Scooby provides take the edge out of nearly all of the frights that play out on network television. Unlike "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "The Twilight Zone" or "The Outer Limits,...

One of the more enduring concepts introduced on Saturday morning television in 1967 was Hanna-Barbera’s Herculoids. Some of this has to do with its fabulous Alex Toth design work and much of it has to do with the unusual assortment of people and creatures that band together to fight for survival in a hostile environment.

The series debuted on September 9 and CBS aired 18 original episodes before it vanished on September 6, 1969. Thanks to the miracle of on-demand DVD manufacture, Warner Archive has released the complete series on two DVDs this week. The eleven new episodes created in 1981 remain to be rediscovered.

The series was the brainchild of Toth but episodes were directed by Bill Perez, Paul Sommer, Ken Spears, Joe Ruby, and David Scott. Clearly Ruby and Spears were inspired by this because there’s a direct correlation between this and their Thundarr the Barbarian (also available from Warner Archive). The Herculoids...

Scooby-Doo first appeared in 1969 in the Scooby-Doo Where Are You! Saturday morning cartoon series; written by Ken Spears and Joe Ruby.

Scooby, Shaggy, Velma, Freddie and Daphne travel the countryside in their van, the Mystery Machine, solving mysteries and uncovering criminals who are often disguised as ghosts, ghouls and other unworldly monsters. The characters have seen many incarnations on CBS, ABC, Kids' WB/The CW, Cartoon Network, and Boomerang. There have also been movies featuring the antics of everyone's favorite crime-solving gang!

Warner Bros. has just released a new direct-to-dvd movie called Scooby-Doo! Camp Scare. The story finds our heroes getting back-to-nature at Camp Little Moose, surrounded by friendly counselors, fun activities and, of course, plenty of ghost stories around the campfire. The only trouble is that every time a ghost story is told... the creature comes to life!