It’s been more than 50 years since the Great Dane and his motley crew of teens first hit the airwaves. The franchise, anchored by the 1969 debut, is still going strong. A new animated film, Scoob!, is set to premiere in 2020, celebrating decades of masks, sandwiches, and unsolved mysteries. If you think you know everything about Mystery Inc., test your knowledge. The answers might surprise you.
Shaggy’s Real Name Revealed
For decades, fans only knew him as Shaggy. His full name, Norville Rogers, was finally revealed in the spin-off series A Pup Named Scooby-Doo, which ran from 1988 to 1991. This detail was absent from the original 1969 launch, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, which paved the way for The New Scooby-Doo Movies in 1973. Shaggy has appeared in over a dozen shows since then.
The Artist Behind the Dog
Scooby-Doo’s design came from artist Iwao Takamoto. Takamoto, a Japanese-American, learned cartooning while interned during World War II. He later co-directed the classic 1973 film Charlotte’s Web. He also worked on Jetsons: The Movie. His work defined the look of the franchise.
The Sinatra Connection
Why is the dog named Scooby-Doo? According to the New York Times, the name comes from Frank Sinatra. In the song “Strangers in the Night,” Sinatra scat-sings “Dooby-dooby-doo.” It was widely believed the show creators lifted the name from this line. This origin is often cited in discussions of the show’s pop culture roots.
Fred’s Favorite Suspect
In A Pup Named Scooby-Doo, Fred Jones frequently blames a specific character for crimes. That character is Red Herring. Red is a crimson-haired bully with an unfortunate name. He is almost always Fred’s top suspect. This recurring gag added a layer of meta-humor to the series.
Velma’s LEGO Appearance
The Mystery Inc. squad made a cameo in The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019). Velma Dinkley, voiced by Trisha Gum, appears as a resident of Apocalypseburg. Daphne, Fred, and Shaggy did not appear in the film. This cameo introduced the characters to a new generation of fans.
Scrappy-Doo’s Relation
Scrappy-Doo is Scooby-Doo’s nephew. He was created to boost ratings when the show saw a decline. Initially popular, Scrappy’s antics eventually drew ire from many fans. Despite the backlash, he remains a recognizable part of the franchise’s history.
Celebrity Guest Stars
Several celebrities have guest-starred as themselves in Scooby-Doo mysteries. Dick van Dyke played a pivotal role in “The Haunted Carnival” (1973). Weird Al Yankovic appeared in the 2019 episode “Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?” to handle a dinosaur problem. Robin Williams did not guest-star as himself in a Scooby-Doo mystery. This distinction separates the outlier from the rest.
Vincent van Ghoul’s Inspiration
Vincent van Ghoul is a recurring character in The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo. He was based on horror star Vincent Price. Price inspired the character’s name and appearance. He also lent his distinctive voice to the role. Bela Lugosi and Lon Chaney were influential horror figures, but they did not inspire this specific character.
Daphne’s Catchphrase
Velma’s catchphrase is “Jinkies!” Daphne’s exclamation is “Jeepers!” The fashion-conscious teen started using this phrase back in 1969. “Great Caesar’s ghost!” is another catchphrase, but it belongs to Fred. “Hold the phone!” is not associated with Daphne.
The franchise has evolved. It has survived ratings dips and cultural shifts. The core mystery remains the same. The gang investigates. They unmask villains. They eat sandwiches. The end is rarely neat. The mystery continues.
