Since he first came into the world in 1969, Scooby-Doo has become one of animations most recognisable characters and an all 'round cultural icon. Since Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? first aired almost 50 years ago, the mystery-solving pooch has had several successful television shows, animated films, a couple of live action films, video games, and countless other merchandise. I myself had a Scooby-Doo-themed bedroom for some of the better years of my life. Yes, for many of us Scooby-Doo has always been there.
Scooby and his pals were known for chasing ghouls that ultimately turned out to be nothing more than criminals in masks. Save for a few TV specials and The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo (co-starring Vincent Price), this was a continuing formula of the Scooby-Doo franchise for decades. However, in the late 90's there was a change in the Scooby-Doo formula, and the monsters started to become all too real..
This phase of darker Doo films lasted from 1998 to 2001, and dealt with Mystery Inc. investigating cases with real monsters instead of undesirables masquerading as ghosts. The first, and arguably best, of these was...
Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island (1998)
The first ever direct-to-video Scooby-Doo film followed Mystery Inc. reuniting to help Daphne investigate supposedly 'real-life' hauntings across America. The gang are soon called to Moonscar Island in Louisiana to investigate a supposed haunting by the pirate Morgan Moonscar and a zombie horde. This time there were no masks, no strings, no smoke-machines, the zombies were all too real..
Zombie Island came at a period when Warner Bros. were producing darker content aimed at children, with the likes of Batman: The Animated Series et al. This little piece of animated gold was the darkest chapter in the Scooby-Doo franchise, both in its tone and its subject matter. It dealt with issues such as voodoo, pagan rituals, cat-people, and of course zombies, and actually put Scooby and the gang in real danger. There is a scene where the gang attempt to unmask a zombie pirate, speculating whether or not it's the ferryman or the fisherman, only for the head to come clean off. This was the moment when Zombie Island proved itself to be an instant classic.
With its ghoulish animation, dark humor, and guest appearances by Mark Hamill and Adrienne Barbeau, Zombie Island has become a cult classic among millenials. Of course, those of us who have seen the film know that zombies were the least of Mystery Inc's problems on Moonscar Island, but for those who have yet to experience Zombie Island.. what have you been doing all these years? Also, I just realised that this film is 20 years old now and I feel ancient.
Mystery Inc's next adventure would take them from the bayous of Louisiana to a small town in New England where witchcraft was apparently afoot. This was of course..
Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost (1999)
When horror writer Ben Ravencroft (Tim Curry) invites Mystery Inc. to his hometown of Oakhaven, the gang get caught up in a case involving the spirit of an old witch, and not everything is as it seems. Like its predecessor, Witch's Ghost once again deals with the monsters being real, but that's not to say that there aren't a few men in masks lurking around here or there. It's a tale full of twists and turns that's complimented by beautiful autumnal animation that will invoke the spirit of Halloween with ease.
Of course, the real highlight of Witch's Ghost was the introduction of The Hex Girls to the Scooby-Doo canon, a gothic rock band consisting of three wiccans named Thorn, Dusk, and Luna. These goth chicks may come across as spooky at first, but in reality they care mainly about nature and the earth, dubbing themselves 'eco-goths'. Not only were they environmentally responsible musicians, but they also had some cracking tunes such as this banger.
Witch's Ghost was a worthy follow-up to Zombie Island that maintained the dark tone and introduced another chilling villain to the world of Scooby-Doo. It also boasts a memorable voice performance from the unmistakable Tim Curry. Curry would also later appear as the villainous Mastermind in the video game Scooby-Doo: Night of 100 Frights. With its witchy vibes, possessed pumpkins, and autumnal animation, it's also the perfect film to show your kids on Halloween.
Scooby-Doo's next outing would change things up a bit however, moving from supernatural threats to something a bit more extra-terrestrial..
Scooby-Doo and the Alien Invaders (2000)
When the Mystery Machine breaks down in the middle of Roswell, New Mexico, the gang find themselves in a small town where they face off against veggie-looking alien invaders. This one took the concept of the monsters being real, and flipped it on its head in a shocking, yet compelling twist that had Scooby fans sobbing at a young age.
The films tone is noticeably lighter than the previous two films, but the alien creatures are threatening nonetheless. It also introduces a love interest for Shaggy in the form of hippie girl Crystal, as well as her dog Amber who Scooby takes a shine to. It was nice to see Shaggy and Scooby get a little romance in their lives for once, however if you've seen the film then you'll know that it unfortunately doesn't last. It's hard not to spoil the films twist for those of you who haven't seen it, but to put it simply it's one of the finest in the history of Scooby-Doo.
Focusing on concepts such as UFO's and Roswell, Alien Invaders was a big shift in tone from the previous two films, but a refreshing one nonetheless, that allowed the franchise to explore new territory. It also has thousands of kids wondering what in God's name is a jackallope? A thrilling, and surprisingly emotional entry to the Scooby-Doo canon.
It's follow up film would see the gang go from the real world to the cyber-world in...
Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase (2001)
Mystery Inc. arrive on a college campus to investigate the Phantom Virus, a computer virus who gained sentience due to a hi-tech laser. The gang soon find themselves, and the virus, being pulled into a video game based on themselves, and must fight their way through 10 levels in order to escape. This film marked the end in the darker phase of Scooby-Doo films. Not only was it the last of them to be animated in Japan by Mook Animation, but was also the last Hanna-Barbera production to be executive produced by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. Hannah unfortunately passed away in March of that year.
The film is a lot lighter in tone than the other three, but its video game setting was highly refreshing and felt as though it had brought Scooby-Doo into the 21st century. It was the first hi-tech adventure for the gang, and arguably still the best. Despite its lighter tone, the villainous Phantom Virus was still fairly menacing, and is probably one of the scariest creatures that the gang have ever faced in their animated adventures at least.
The best thing about this film however, is how it pays homage to Scooby and the gangs past adventures, bringing things full circle in a way. In the final level of the game, the gang meet their video game counterparts who are dressed in their original costumes (while Shaggy wears his red t-shirt from some of the animated tv movies), while they also face off against some of their former foes as well. These include the Tar Monster, Old Iron Face, Jaguaro, the Gator Ghoul, and the Creeper from the original series. It's a fitting homage to Scooby's career that acts as a nice finish to this phase of the franchise.
Following Cyber Chase, the franchise would go back to the man-in-a-mask formula, while shifting to a brighter animation style in tone with the new series What's New Scooby-Doo? It marked the end of an era for Scooby's animated adventures, but the subsequent live-action films that began the following year in 2002 would continue with the darker tone, as well as the idea of the monsters being real. For many kids who were born in the mid-90's, this phase of Scooby-Doo films remains iconic even today, and can still be enjoyed for their darker tone and nostalgic content. They were the perfect medium for bringing everyone's favourite talking dog into the 21st century.
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