Alright, because I’ve not written anything since the world of entertainment basically shut down as a result of the pandemic, I decided to get back into it after watching SCOOB! from the comfort of my own living room last night.
The new cgi full-length feature film was to have been the first-ever animated Scooby Doo theatrical release, but was released yesterday exclusively for home viewing instead.
If you’re a fan of Hanna-Barbera, especially the legendary animation studio’s 60s/70s Saturday Morning fare, you’ll love all the winks, nods and Easter eggs included in the film!
Just a few that I spotted…
*There’s mention of Shaggy’s birth-name.
*One of Shaggy’s childhood bullies looks a bit like The Joker (Warner Bros. who owns DC Comics’ Batman and related characters, is also the current parent company of Hanna-Barbera).
*Young Daphne is dressed as Wonder Woman for Halloween (Even before Hanna-Barbera was absorbed into WB, they did the animation for 1970s-80s Super Friends, which includes Wonder Woman).
*Shaggy’s room is a treasure trove of nods, from a Blue Falcon Funko POP dressed in Blue Falcon’s original costume to a Batman-looking action figure.
*Shaggy and Scooby go bowling at Takomoto Bowl, a wink to longtime Hanna-Barbera producer and director Iwao Takamoto who was instrumental in character design for the Scooby Gang.
*Dee Dee Skyes, The Falcon Fury’s pilot and Blue Falcon’s tech geek, was a member of The Teen Angels (HB’s Charlie’s Angels-esque trio of teen investigators who discovered Captain Caveman…who also appears later in SCOOB!)
*Dick Dastardly and Muttley who figure prominently in SCOOB!, were both part of HB’s Whacky Races in the 60s. Even Dick Dastardly’s spaceship is a throwback to his racecar, fin and all.
*A major plot involves the search of an ancient skull called the Slaghoople. Yup, that word might be familiar to some because it’s Wilma Flintstone’s maiden name.
*Fred appears sans ascot throughout the film, but there’s two clever references to his trademark neckerchief.
*In a non-HB-related, but much appreciated nod, Velma, one of cartoondom’s first smart, free-thinking girls, pays homage to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg with her Halloween costume.
*The opening credits of the original 1969 series, Scooby Doo, Where Are You?—theme song and all—are recreated by way of glorious cgi during a classic musical chase sequence…the musical chase sequence itself a wink to a classic Scooby segment included in every episode.
*There’s even a celebrity guest cameo, just like all the famous guests stars from Scooby’s second series, 1972’s The New Scooby Doo Movies.
*When the action of SCOOB! moves to an amusement park, Funland it’s a wink to the
Where Are You, Scooby Doo? Season 1 episode, Foul Play at Funland. In the original episode, there was a sinister robot. Even the robot is seen in the aforemention musical sequence.
*While at Funland in SCOOB! there’s HB references a plenty as arcade games and posters feature images and names from favorites like Scooby’s All-Star Laff-A-Lympics and characters Hong Kong Phooey, Penelope Pitstop and even The Hex Girls (that last one a reference to a 1999 Scooby adventure that featured Jane Wiedlin of The Go Gos).
*When the gang solves the mystery, there’s the patented ‘unmasking’ a twist on the iconic ‘I would have gotten away with it to, I’d it hadn’t been for you meddling kids’ line and a glimmer of hope for further sequels and more adventures when they get a call about a mysterious sea captain…could it be Captain Cutler, the villain from Scooby Doo, Where Are You? episode 3?
*The end credits are also resplendent with imagery of characters from the Hanna-Barberaverse. Among my favorites that I spotted, Jabber Jaw!
*I mentioned in a previous Facebook post there’s a character in SCOOB! named Officer Casey, a likely wink to Casey Kasem who voiced Shaggy for many years. There’s also a character named Frank, and while it’s a common first name, it’s gotta be in honor of Frank Welker, who voices Scooby in SCOOB!, and who has voiced either Scooby or Fred on just about every Scooby Doo adventure ever made.
I’m sure I missed several other Easter eggs. When you watch SCOOB!, lemme know.
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