O Que Há de Novo, Scooby-Doo?

What's New Scooby-Doo is a welcome return of Scooby and the gang back to television with their last show, A Pup Named Scooby-Doo being the last TV incarnation over 10 years prior. The series was able to stay in the popular consciousness thanks to the above average in quality direct-to-video films released from 1998 to 2001 and showed there was still life in the franchise.

Like other incarnations, the show features the adventures/mysteries of perpetually hungry coward Shaggy, the optimistic but not always aware Fred, fashion/image conscious Daphne (who also has the ability to concoct solutions in MacGyver esque style), brains of the group Velma, and their gluttonous, cowardly, and talking dog Scooby-Doo. The gang are all voiced well by their respective voice actors, and despite originally voicing these characters 30 years prior, Frank Welker as Fred and Casey Kasem as Shaggy still fit the characters so well you'd hardly know they aged a day.

The series takes a more self aware approach to the established Scooby-Doo formula calling attention to the various tropes and story beats the series is known for as a way of lovingly sending itself up. The episode always ends with the misquote of "and I would've gotten away with it, if it wasn't for you meddling kids" or some variation thereof despite the phrase never actually having been said in the original cartoon (not unlike "Play it again Sam" from Casablanca). For the most part the tone of the series works well in its favor and does provide some humorous sequences.

The capers the gang investigate are a slightly more mixed bag. While the original show's mysteries were never masterpieces of intrigue and suspense, they did at least try to maintain some semblance of credibility (even if it was tenuous at best) by keeping the gang's mysteries in confined and isolated areas with the mysteries being small enough in scale that they could with in the context of the world established be somewhat plausible. What's Ne Scooby-Doo's mysteries go far more over the top with large scale events that are often witnessed by dozens if not hundreds of people and strain credibility during the series trademark wrap up segments where everything is explained.

What's New Scooby-Doo isn't as good as the direct-to-video films that inspired its success, but it's also not a cynical affair like arguably the worst Scooby-Doo property Shaggy and Scooby-Doo Get a Clue. What's New Scooby-Doo is first and foremost a comedy and as a comedy it gives just enough humor to justify itself. The voice acting is still spot on with Casey Kasem being welcome in his return to voicing Shaggy and the show has just enough self awareness to lovingly poke fun at the well worn formula.

This series is Scooby Doo back to it's very best. Having seen several episodes now, I am a big fan. The fact that it's under new production is better, to be honest. It's a Scrappy free zone and whilst the animation is suitably modern, the characters and plots are tried and tested.There are plenty of in jokes and any fan of the original series should support this show. Go, Scooby, go!

It was a fun animated show. It did what live-action movies failed to do well; bring these classic cartoon characters into the 21st century without sacrificing what made audiences fond of these characters back in 1969. The animation is enjoyable and I preferred it over the old art style (everyone has normal eyes now). The voice actors seamlessly fade into their roles, I laughed not only at a certain duo's antics but also during the chase scenes.

After Disney's 1 Saturday Morning and FOX Kids were canceled by their respective networks, I was searching for a new show to watch on Sat. Mornings. I soon heard that a new Scooby-Doo show was going into production for the now-defunct WB network. Zoinks! Remembering that I have been a SD fan since I was a toddler, I was excited and watched every episode when it initially aired, and watched the reruns. While many say that this is a bad remake, I disagree. What's New, Scooby-Doo? is INDEED a VERY entertaining show, and not a bad remake. The writing is LOL funny, the animation is stunning, and a HUGE improvement over the original show's animation, as well as the casting, Casey Kasem reprises his role as Shaggy, Frank Welker not only reprises his role as Fred, but now voices Scooby, too! As for the girls, well, Grey DeLisle (DUH-lyle) voices Daphne and Mindy Cohn (Natalie Green from the Facts of Life) voices Velma. I own all 3 seasons of the show on DVD so I can watch them anytime I want, and I still watch the reruns from time to time on Cartoon Network. If you and your family like Scooby-Doo, check out this show. You won't be sorry.

I have read complaints regarding this latest addition to the TV Scooby shows. People can say what they want, but this cast does a real good job!

Casey Kasem as 'Shaggy' - There is no other 'Shaggy'. (Apologies to Scott Innes, Who has done an ok job as 'Shaggy' and a pretty good job as 'Scooby'). Frank Welker as 'Freddy' - Again, there is no other.(Although I do believe someone else could do a better 'Scooby'. Sorry Frank. Don Messick is definitely the only 'Scoobert'.) Mindy Cohn seems to do a pretty good 'Velma' and Grey DeLisle's version of Daphne, as heard in previous 'Scooby' movies, is perfectly acceptable.

For me Nicole Jaffe will always be 'Velma'. Heather North will always be 'Daphne'. Stefanianna Christopherson from the original 1969 series will always be the first 'Daphne', but Heather is the voice I'm most familiar with.

Despite all the dynamic changes, it's a really good show! Keep up the good work!