“Scooby-Dooby, Scooby-Dooby-Doo! There’s a mystery in town, So call the coolest pup around, Call Scooby, A pup named Scooby-Doo! Join Shaggy, and the crew, Daphne, Freddie, Velma too! And Scooby! A pup named Scooby-Doo! When the ghostly ghoul attacks, Scooby eats a Scooby Snack! Scooby-Dooby-Doo! So come on, it’s mystery time, You can help us solve the crime, With Scooby, a pup named Scooby, Scooby, a pup named Scooby-Doo!”
First there was Muppet Babies. Then there were Tiny Toons. It seems that every famous children’s cartoon series eventually turns back the clock to offer up pintsized versions of the same formula. That’s what you get in A Pup Named Scooby Doo. The show aired 1988 through 1991. It was on somewhat erratically so that, while the box claims this 2 disc set contains the complete 2,3, & 4 seasons, that really only adds up to 17 half hour episodes in all.
The good news is that the two main voices are provided by the same actors who created them back in the late 1960’s Top 40 countdown radio man Casey Kasem provided the voice of the young Shaggy. Don Messick also returned to provide the familiar voice of Scooby himself, this time as a young puppy. With those two voice actors on board, you really do get the whole Scooby Doo feel going here. The characters might be younger, but the mysteries and adventures are classic Scooby. The stories might be a little more outlandish, like space shuttle, out there, but the dynamic hasn’t changed in 40 years. It’s good to see the gang all back together in this entertaining collection of Scooby action.
Video
Each episode is presented in its original broadcast full frame format. This all looks pretty much how you’d expect. Colors are very bright, and the overall image quality is better than average for a 15 year old Saturday morning kid’s show. There’s a little compression artifact. They did squeeze 17 episodes on two discs after all. For the nostalgic value this release is intended to provide the image is very good.
Audio
The Dolby Digital 2.0 track is used mostly for silly sounds and music. Dialog is solid.
Special Features
Bonus Episode: You get an extra cartoon from the Shaggy And Scooby Doo Get A Clue show. This one is aimed at a very young audience and not nearly as entertaining.
Final Thoughts:
Strictly for the younger kids. You’re going to want to relive your own Scooby memories, but you’re liable to be disappointed. It’s got the same classic touches, but it’s much brighter in color, and the animation is obviously tilted toward the very young. This is strictly “enjoy with your kids” time. Never saw Scooby Doo before? “What are ya, some kind of basket case?”
