Television series
The New Scooby-Doo Movies
The New Scooby-Doo Movies is Saturday morning mystery comedy where the Gang tackles supernatural cases alongside celebrity guest stars. Faster-paced and more elaborate than the original series, with hour-long episodes that give mysteries room to breathe. Perfect for anyone who loves a good red herring and genuinely funny banter between mismatched friends.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you enjoy a light mystery where the fun lies in the gang's bickering, the familiar chase scenes, and famous guests dropping by, all in a warm, nostalgic cartoon style.
Skip it if you need tension or a fresh plot, since these are light, formulaic capers with a familiar rhythm and little real suspense.
What it asks of you: Each hour-long episode runs at a brisk, easygoing pace across two seasons of 24 episodes total, needing little concentration and rewarding half-attention.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
Gravity Falls2012
A Disney series that weaponizes the "spooky mystery that's actually something mundane" formula with intelligence and genuine mythology. Sharp writing, real scares mixed with humor, and characters you actually care about.
But Darker and more serialized than Scooby-Doo. Requires patience with slower-burn plotting and won't satisfy anyone just wanting quick gag-and-solve episodes.
A Pup Named Scooby-Doo1988
Takes the formula and explodes it into absurdist comedy. Daphne is hilariously vain, Fred is obsessed with his looks, and the mysteries get genuinely ridiculous. Peak personality clash humor.
But The tone is much sillier and less interested in actual mystery-solving. If you want genuine detection work, you'll find it lightweight.
The Owl House2020
Modern Disney show that captures Scooby's DNA—found-family dynamics, humor that lands for adults, genuine character development alongside adventure-of-the-week plotting. Animation is stunning and the voice work is superb.
But Becomes increasingly serialized and heavy as it goes. Later seasons demand continuity viewing rather than casual drop-in episodes.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from The New Scooby-Doo Movies
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School1988
Same creative DNA as the Movies but distilled into pure character interaction over mystery, showing what the formula could become when you abandon the pretense of plot.
A theatrical film where Scooby must babysit a group of monster children who may or may not be actual monsters. It leans harder into absurdist pathos than any single episode—a weird little gem about found family and acceptance.
But Very thin plot that exists mainly to justify endless scenes of slapstick babysitting. Long stretches without mystery or actual jeopardy. Feels more like a prolonged sketch than a cohesive story.
More like this (6)
Courage the Cowardly Dog1999
Cartoon Network's master class in tonal balance—genuinely unsettling monster designs coupled with heartfelt character moments and unexpected pathos. Every episode has real stakes and surprises.
But Often surprisingly dark and occasionally disturbing for a kids' show. The horror elements aren't played entirely for laughs.
Jonny Quest1964
If you want adventure and mystery but with more action and globe-trotting than Scooby-Doo. Sophisticated design, genuine danger, and the family-unit dynamics feel earned rather than formulaic.
But Less comedy-focused and less character-driven. The humor is minimal and the tone is more adventure-serial than comedy-mystery.
The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries1977
A live-action Saturday morning series that plays the mystery-solving concept straight, with real production values and likable young leads. Surprisingly earnest and occasionally creepy in the best way.
But The production is dated and some acting is broad. Mysteries are simpler and less inventive than Scooby-Doo's best work.
Supernatural2005
What happens when you take the monster-hunting formula and make it for adults: genuine mythology, character depth that evolves over seasons, and humor that coexists with real emotional weight and danger.
But Starts as episodic but becomes serialized; later seasons can drag. The tone shift from quirky to grimdark alienates some viewers.
Kolchak: The Night Stalker1972
A 1970s precursor about an investigative reporter chasing monsters and conspiracies. Atmospheric, genuinely weird, and the template for everything that followed. One determined protagonist versus the impossible.
But Slow-paced by modern standards and the production values show their age. Stands apart tonally from what you're used to—more noir than comedy.
Tokyo Godfathers2003
Shares Scooby-Doo's core engine of misfits banding together to solve something, but inverts every other element—real stakes, real pain, and the mystery matters because it forces character growth rather than providing a plot excuse.
An anime about three homeless people solving a mystery on Christmas Eve—a found-family adventure wrapped in visual warmth and genuine sweetness. Uses the mystery-quest structure to explore loneliness and belonging rather than monsters.
But Not a comedy despite funny moments. The emotional core is serious and sometimes melancholic. Animation style is deliberately unglamorous and may feel crude if you're used to modern anime.
People
Cast
Writing
- David LevyCreator
Production
- Alex LovyAssociate Producer
- Zoran JanjicAssociate Producer
- Joseph BarberaProducer
- William HannaProducer