Whenever there’s a mystery afoot, Scooby-Doo and his friends will be there to meddle. The Great Dane and four teenagers have had many scary adventures. However, Scooby-Doo Mystery Inc. added a mature twist to the gang’s typically kid-friendly cases. The young meddlers faced a whole new slew of frightening ghouls and ghosts. But this time, not all the monsters were people wearing masks.
A Brief History of Scooby-Doo
One of the longest-running cartoons of all time, Scooby-Doo debuted in 1969. He has appeared in hundreds of episodes of animated series. The creators pitched the first show to CBS as a horror show with light comedy. The studio executives deemed the show too frightening for children but still wanted it. Things soon came together after the makers redesigned the cartoon into a comedy. And the dog character gained a new name inspired by a Frank Sinatra lyric.
Scooby-Doo’s first show premiered on September 13, 1969, and followed a mystery-solving group. The team included leader Fred, danger-prone Daphne, bookish Velma, gluttonous Shaggy, and easily-spooked Scooby-Doo. Scooby and his friends roam the country, usually stopping at spooky locations. The gang often dealt with a monster, usually a person in a costume. This formula would carry over to other series starring Scooby and the Gang. And this remained true for Scooby-Doo Mystery Inc., a show that brought a unique rendition.
The Story of Scooby-Doo Mystery Inc.
Scooby-Doo Mystery Inc. followed the traditional routine of the gang solving mysteries and unmasking monsters. But instead of traveling the country, they stayed in their hometown of Crystal Cove. The town was a seaside tourist trap capitalizing on its fake paranormal incidents. The show even brought some changes to the Mystery Inc. gang. For example, Fred was obsessed with traps, and Daphne struggled to meet her parents’ expectations. Shaggy and Velma were secretly a couple, with Shaggy scared to tell Scooby.
Scooby-Doo Mystery Inc. served as an origin series, showcasing how the gang became Mystery Inc. They end up following in the footsteps of the group predating them. Scooby-Doo Mystery Inc. did something no other series did before: have an overall plot. While dealing with false monsters, the gang delved into the mystery of Crystal Cove. They sought out the pieces of the Planispheric Disk, but they’re not the only ones. Scooby and the gang must deal with Professor Pericles, the parrot belonging to their predecessors.
What Made Scooby-Doo Mystery Inc. Different?
Despite being a Warner Bros. cartoon aimed at kids, Scooby-Doo Mystery Inc. had mature undertones. The characters were more fleshed out and went through development throughout the show. For example, Fred and Daphne gained a B-plot to explore their romantic feelings. And the gang even faced the possibility of drifting apart as their predecessors did. There was a point where they questioned whether they were even friends. However, the overarching story featured most of the show’s dark aspects.
Scooby-Doo Mystery Inc. possesses numerous dark moments not found in any other series. Scooby had his death foretold, and the gang almost died to specialized death traps. However, Professor Pericles was the source of the show’s serious tone. His obsession with the Planispheric Disk and unlocking Crystal Cove drove him to the extreme. He tortured his former best friend and murdered Velma’s best friend during the second season. Nevertheless, the darker tone helped the show achieve its full potential.
Final Thoughts
Scooby-Doo Mystery Inc. is a fantastic cartoon, one of the best Scooby-Doo shows. The animated series keeps the fun traditional routine but expands it with serious undertones. And the overarching story is immensely entertaining as it adds nail-biting intensity. Scooby-Doo Mystery Inc. holds up to today’s standards and is a show worth watching.
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