by Lena Szerwo
“And I would’ve gotten away with it too if it weren’t for you meddling kids!” And thus the
Scooby-Doo franchise was born. This line is repeated throughout the Scooby-Doo cinematic
universe, with its first iteration appearing in the eleventh episode of the original TV show
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! (1969). The series Scooby-Doo: Mystery Incorporated (2010)
finds a way to subvert this line every episode, in a hallmark to its origins. Mystery Incorporated has the Scooby gang as highschoolers living in Crystal Cove, “the most haunted place on Earth.” They solve mysteries, have parents, go to school (although they skip it often), and are in relationships. However something sinister is underfoot, and a bigger mystery is underway. With the discovery of a locket in the caves underneath the town, and an ominous anonymous note from a “Mr. E,” the gang has to look into their town’s history, and which spooky stories are actually real or not. This series diverts from the regular Scooby storylines of all faux villains, yet center’s everyone in a more realistic highschool storyline (kind of –- this is Scooby-Doo after all). The gang are quirky teenagers, and they grow and change over the episodes.
Scooby-Doo franchise was born. This line is repeated throughout the Scooby-Doo cinematic
universe, with its first iteration appearing in the eleventh episode of the original TV show
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! (1969). The series Scooby-Doo: Mystery Incorporated (2010)
finds a way to subvert this line every episode, in a hallmark to its origins. Mystery Incorporated has the Scooby gang as highschoolers living in Crystal Cove, “the most haunted place on Earth.” They solve mysteries, have parents, go to school (although they skip it often), and are in relationships. However something sinister is underfoot, and a bigger mystery is underway. With the discovery of a locket in the caves underneath the town, and an ominous anonymous note from a “Mr. E,” the gang has to look into their town’s history, and which spooky stories are actually real or not. This series diverts from the regular Scooby storylines of all faux villains, yet center’s everyone in a more realistic highschool storyline (kind of –- this is Scooby-Doo after all). The gang are quirky teenagers, and they grow and change over the episodes.
What’s fun about this show is the new take on the gang’s niche character types — Fred is just a sweet guy who loves traps and his friends, Daphne is a diva who doesn’t want to adhere to what her rich parents have planned for her, Velma is a tech-savvy nerd who disbelieves in her parents’ Crystal Cove Spook Museum, Shaggy is well Shaggy – along for the ride and best friends with Scooby Doo: a talking dog. This latter point is just accepted by everybody, although their mystery-solving ways aren’t. I love this show because the character’s get to have different humor – you laugh at Velma’s sarcastic remarks, Fred’s obliviousness, Shaggy’s awkward situations. Daphne likes Fred, Velma and Shaggy are secretly dating, Shaggy is scared to tell Scooby Doo, and everyone in town thinks the gang is kinda crazy. But what I really love is that on the surface what seems like a kids show really isn’t. The mysteries have an uncanny quality, a sinister-ism that snakes down your spine and puts you on edge just a little bit. The music is incredibly compelling, and an eerie tune plays whenever the past is recalled. What exactly happened years ago that no one will talk about …
This show’s strength is its world-building. The town of Crystal Cove is an American beach town with Spanish roots, and the reoccurring sets cement you in the world. Underneath the silly jokes and kiddish humour is four teens and a dog solving mysteries that genuinely scared me as a child. Wikipedia dubbed Mystery Incorporated a “horror comedy,” and I’m inclined to agree. It manages to often remain light and funny while bringing up serious life topics of friendship, love, justice, and coming of age, against a backdrop of monsters and nefarious plotting.
My other pitch to get you to watch this show is the sumptuous art style. 2D animation is back, baby! The people appear as stylized classic line drawings, against painting-esque backdrops that use color, brushstrokes, and lighting to their advantage. The mix of the two styles is surprisingly seamless, and the 2-D animations affords a dynamicism that is often lost in 3-D animation and live action. The show’s art style moves with the character’s emotions, immersing you in the world of Crystal Cove – years of supernatural phenomena, corporation coverups, and capitalizing off of monster-themed attractions. Scooby-Doo: Mystery Incorporated uses a recurring cast of characters, unique storyline, and strong creative direction to make one of the best TV series out there — for kids and adults. So if you don’t know what to turn on, take a blast to the past and get ready to say “ruh roh!”
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