Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo: Scooby’s Trip to Ahz (1981)

 

One of the more memorable Scooby and Scrappy shorts. 

In this short, Scooby, Shaggy and Scrappy are planning on watching the Wizard of Oz (1939) in the Mystery Machine. However, when Scooby accidentally knocks himself out, he dreams he is in Oz. In his dream he is the cowardly lion, Shaggy is the Scarecrow and Scrappy is the Tin Man. 

Though not exactly funny, this short is loaded with charm. For some reason these characters feel perfectly at home in an OZ like setting. There is a lot of imagination put into this setting, much more imagination than in the typical Scooby and Scrappy short. Even if it is a bad pun, there is something quite charming about the Yellow Brick Toad. The artwork here is lovely and has a great storybook type feel to it. Most of all though there is just a certain calm relaxing Saturday morning charm to this cartoon that I really enjoy. 

No one will claim this to be a masterpiece but it quite charming.  

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy Doo: Moonlight Madness (1981)

 

A fun atmospheric cartoon. 

In this short, Shaggy (along with Scooby and Scrappy) visits his ancestorial home of Moonlight Castle. There the creepy butler puts a medallion on him that turns him into a werewolf. 

There is a lot to enjoy about this short. Moonlight Castle has a wonderfully creepy atmospheric feel to it. The background art and use of lighting and muted colors give this cartoon a great creepy feel to it, similar to that of the original Scooby-Doo Where Are You episodes. The storyline is quite clever and perfect for these characters, and the cartoon has a strong ending.

The only real problem with this cartoon is that it is never that funny. There is a charm to some of the jokes but it still never really made me laugh. 

Shaggy would later turn into a werewolf again in the feature length movie, Scooby-Doo! and the Reluctant Werewolf (1988). 

This is a fun little cartoon.

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy Doo: Scooby's Fun Zone (1980)

 

An enjoyable but forgettable Scooby cartoon. 

In this cartoon Scooby, Shaggy and Scrappy visit an amusement pier and get in trouble when Scooby accidentally hits the strongman with a baseball. 

Like many of the Scooby shorts of this era, there is nothing that will really make this cartoon stand out from similar cartoons from the era, but it is still entertaining in its own right. The amusement pier is a perfect setting for a Scooby adventure and provides some fun set pieces. Two of these fun set pieces that stand out are the house of mirrors and the house of horrors (the later features some delightful old-school Scooby atmosphere and background art). The gags are amusing. However, they are the type of gags that will make you smile rather than actually laugh out loud. I do really like the ending gag though. 

This is nothing fantastic, but it is a fun little cartoon. 

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy Doo: Scooby's Three Ding-a-Ling Circus (1980)

 

An excellent Scooby short. 

In this cartoon, Scooby, Shaggy and Scrappy get jobs in the circus as vendors. When they eat the food, they are supposed to be selling (or an elephant eats it in Scrappy's case), they must run away and hide from their angry boss. 

This is a superior Scooby short for this era. Even if they aren't solving any spooky mysteries, this plot fits the characters to a tee. Scooby and Shaggy are exactly the type of characters who would absent-mindedly eat all the food they are supposed to be selling before they even realize this. In fact, this almost feels like it could be a subplot in a classic Scooby episode. On top of this the humor is actually great here. There are some true laugh out loud moments here and the slapstick filled climax is delightful. 

This is one of the best Scooby shorts of this era.   

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy Doo: Stuntman Scooby (1980)

 

A familiar but fun cartoon.

In this cartoon Scooby, Scrappy and Shaggy believe that they are hired as actors at a movie studio. However, they are really hired as stuntman and have to do some very dangerous stunts.

This storyline is a very familiar one and one that many cartoon characters have done before. However, this doesn't stop this from being a very fun cartoon. While not laugh out loud funny, there are some pretty strong gags here. The characters are just as likable here as always. Scrappy here is especially well utilized. Him seeing through all the special effects and turning them back on the director is a fun little twist on this well-worn formula. Meanwhile Scooby and Shaggy cowardice is also a lot of fun here.   

A fun little cartoon. 

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy Doo: Scooby's Swiss Miss (1980)

 

A fun little short. 

In this cartoon, Scooby has a crush on a girl poodle. However the girl poodle has a jealous bulldog boyfriend, who thinks Scooby is trying to move in on his girl. 

Like many of the Scooby and Scrappy shorts, besides the characters this bears little resemblance to what one expects from Scooby-Doo. There are no monsters or ghosts and there is no mystery to solve. Rather these are silly little comedy shorts that bear more resemblance to a Looney Tunes cartoon or the early Huckleberry Hound and Yogi Bear shorts than the typical Scooby mystery. In fact, the bulldog and poodle feel like they just stepped out of Hanna-Barbera's 1975 The Tom and Jerry Show. 

Yet if you take this cartoon for what it is, it's a lot of fun. Even if he is not solving mysteries or dealing with anything creepy, Scooby still feels like his normal self. He is very charming and likable here, especially with his clumsy way of acting around the cute poodle (Sadly, I can't say it is that different than how I behave when I have a crush). Though these moments are not laugh out loud funny, they are charming and make Scooby especially likable and relatable here. The slapstick gags in the middle are decent enough, though they make you smile more than actually laugh. However, the ending to this short is absolutely hilarious. It honestly took me by surprise and made me laugh at loud.

Still, I feel as if this short could have made better use of both Shaggy and Scrappy, who are not given much to do here. Also, like most of these shorts, it is fun to watch but isn't as memorable as the typical Scooby mysteries. 

While this may not be anyone's favorite Scooby cartoon, it is still quite fun for what it is. 

Scooby-Doo! and Scrappy-Doo!: The Ransom of Scooby Chief (1980)

 

The first Scooby adventure of the 1980's is a delightfully unique Scooby cartoon.

In this episode the gang goes to New York and Scrappy's old neighborhood. When Scrappy introduces Shaggy and Scooby to his friends, a duo of kidnapers kidnap Scooby and Shaggy. Scrappy and his friends set out to save Scooby and Shaggy.

This marks the final episode of the first season of Scooby-Doo! and Scrappy-Doo! and the last in the original half hour format. Despite this the episode is a strong deviation from the previous episodes. There is no spooky theme to be found here and no mystery for the audience to solve. On top of this Velma, Fred and Daphne barely appear here. Perhaps it is appropriate that this episode was the first Scooby episode of the 1980's, a decade which would be all about breaking the traditional Scooby formula.  

While I love the traditional Scooby formula, sometimes it nice to have a little change of pace and this episode is certainly an example of that. This episode moves at a fast pace and never once feels dull. The idea of our main characters being kidnapped and having to be saved by the side character is a delightful one. Though many dislike Scrappy, I actually like the little guy. He gets his time to shine here and he does a great job carrying an episode. He is very likable here and gets in a few good gags. While his friends have very simple personalities they are also quite likable and get a few good gags. I love Annie trying to work her feminine charms on the bad guys and Duke's Jimmy Cagney type voice. Scooby and Shaggy are also in good form here and get some good moments to shine. Like one should except from a Scooby episode of this time, the background art is wonderful, even if there is nothing spooky about it. However I will admit the villains are kind of bland here. 

Your opinion on this episode will probably depend on your opinion of Scrappy. Since I like the little guy, I enjoyed this a lot. However those who hate Scrappy will probably hate this episode. 

Scooby-Doo! and Scrappy-Doo!: Lock the Door, It's a Minotaur (1979)

 

Scooby's last mystery of the 1970's is a lot of fun. 

In this episode the gang visits Helios Island. However while there they hear of a minotaur frightening away many of the native people. Before you can say "Jinkies" the gang has another mystery on their hands. 

This episode is the last Scooby mystery of the 1970's and in many ways it represents the end of an era. This is the last traditional, bad guy in a mask mystery for four years and the last traditional Scooby mystery to feature both Fred and Velma for five years. The Scooby-Doo! and Scrappy-Doo! series would soon be revamped into being made of 7-minute cartoons featuring only Shaggy, Scrappy and Scooby that would often not have anything to do with solving mysteries. The series would run under this format for three seasons. As such this episode is a great way to say goodbye to the original format. The Minotaur is a wonderful villain. His look and voice are delightfully creepy and his scenes with Shaggy, Scooby and Scrappy are excellent. The setting is fantastic and this episode features a lot of great background art and use of lighting. The mystery element is also great here as each suspect is completely believable as someone who might be the minotaur. The main characters are all in great form here. Scooby, Shaggy and Scrappy all get their time to shine here, but they don't push Velma, Daphne and Fred to the background. Admittedly I do think the humor here is not as funny as usual and there are few laughs to be found here, but when the other elements all work so well this is not much of a problem.   

Scooby-Doo! and Scrappy-Doo!: The Sorcerer's a Menace (1979)

 

A typically fun, Scooby mystery. 

In this episode, the gang goes to a magic show. However the magic show is interrupted by an appearance of the ghost of the magician's former teacher, who claims the magician stole his best trick. Naturally the gang volunteers to solve this mystery. 

This episode has quite a bit to recommend it. The mystery element is very well done here and the episode does keep you guessing who done it. Yet all the clues come together and make perfect sense. The humor is also fantastic in this episode. This ranges from little slapstick gags (Scrappy walking down a stack of cards like a set of stairs) to fun bits of dialogue (Shaggy making corny jokes and Scooby not getting them (which would become a running joke in the later TV series A Pup Named Scooby-Doo). 

However I will admit that I am not a fan of the design of the ghost in this episode. There is little memorable or spooky about him. Also while there is some typically great background art (as well as great use of lighting), the setting is not especially memorable here either. 

A fun, if not especially memorable episode. 

Scooby-Doo! and Scrappy-Doo!: Rocky Mountain Yiiiii! (1979)

 

A very fun Scooby mystery.

In this episode, the Mystery Inc. Gang takes a vacation to a ski lodge known as Pratt's Peak Lodge, but they soon find that the area is haunted by the Ghost of Jeremiah Pratt, the ski lodge's namesake.

This is an excellent episode with a lot to recommend it. The Ghost of Jeremiah Pratt is an excellent villain. His design is delightfully creepy and his voice is very threatening. I love how the character is completely colored white. This not only gives him a more ghostly feel but it also works perfectly across the snowy background. While this episode's setting is nothing original for this franchise, it is wonderfully detailed and gives off a great eerie vibe. The humor in this episode is quite good. I especially liked Scrappy's reaction to being told he was too young. I also love Shaggy's way of keeping up Scrappy's illusion that he and Scooby are brave, when they don't want to go underground with the rest of the gang. I also really like how this episode handles the two groups, Scooby, Shaggy and Scrappy and Velma, Daphne and Fred. The first group gets most of the comedic moments and has the most head on encounters with the ghosts, while the other group does much of the mystery solving. The mystery itself is pretty good, and there are enough believable suspects here to have a good mystery for the audience to solve. 

This episode represents everything I love about Scooby-Doo!

Scooby-Doo! and Scrappy-Doo!: The Ghoul, the Bat and the Ugly (1979)

 

An excellent Scooby mystery.

In this episode the gang goes to see the Batty Awards, an awards show dedicated to horror films. However the Batty Awards are interrupted when a monster from a movie that is going to be screened there appears and scares everybody away. 

This episode is excellent on all levels. The villain is fantastic. He has a wonderfully creepy design and voice. He is the type of monster who would have felt at home in Scooby-Doo! Where Are You? The mystery element is handled wonderfully. There are quite a few suspects and all of them seem very likely to have done it. However all the clues lead perfectly to the real culprit and when the monster is unmasked, this makes perfect sense. This mystery is so good because you can solve it with the gang learning each clue when they do and figuring out what each clue means. If you really think about each clue you can solve the mystery too and that is the sign of a well written mystery. I also love that this episode gives ample time to each of the member of the gang. Unlike many of the early Scrappy episodes, this episode doesn't push Fred, Velma (voiced by Marla Frumkin for the first time) and Daphne to the side. They get their time to shine, yet we still get time for the antics of Scooby, Shaggy and Scrappy. Speaking of these antics, the trio really gets to shine here. The idea of them meeting various actors in monster costumes throughout the episode as long as the main monster is a very good one and this episode takes delightful advantage of it. 

All in all this is a wonderful Scooby mystery and a delight for all Scooby fans. 

Scooby-Doo! and Scrappy-Doo!: When You Wish Upon a Star Creature (1979)

 

A typically fun Scooby mystery. 

When an astrologist discovers a new star, he and other scientists are attacked by a star creature.  

This episode benefits from a strong villain. The design is quite cool looking and memorable. I love how the character he lights on and off as he moves. That gives him a really unique feel. He also has a delightfully creepy voice. Like all episode of this show, the episode also benefits from some wonderfully looking background art (even if the setting is not all that unique). The mystery isn't too hard to solve, but the story moves by quickly and is a lot of fun. The humor may not be laugh out loud funny, but it definitely put a smile on my face multiple times.  

This episode has some historical significance. It marks the last time Pat Stevens voices Velma. She had begun voicing the character with the first episode of The Scooby-Doo! Show (which debuted September 11, 1976). Starting with the next episode Velma would be voiced by Marla Frumkin, who would continue to voice the character through 1984. This also marked the 100th Scooby-Doo! episode (all TV shows included). 

All in all not one of the best Scooby mysteries but still a lot of fun. 

Scooby-Doo! and Scrappy-Doo!: I Left My Neck in San Francisco (1979)

 

A wonderfully fun and atmospheric Scooby Mystery.

In this episode the Mystery Inc. Gang takes a trip to Alcatraz Prison. There an old lady warns them of a lady vampire that haunts the area. Naturally Scooby, Scrappy and Shaggy run into this vampire. The vampire looks suspiciously like Daphne, who never seems to be around at the same time as the vampire. 

This is one of the best episodes of Scooby-Doo! and Scrappy-Doo! One of the main reasons for this is the villain. This is a villain that is so good, she would have felt right at home in Scooby-Doo! Where Are You? Her design and voice are delightfully creepy, yet never too scary to take away from the show's lighthearted feel. Having Daphne as a suspect also gives this villain a really interesting edge that sets her apart from any similar monsters the gang has faced. This also makes this a more complicated and well thought out mystery than usual. This episode also typically has wonderfully detailed and atmospheric background art that is simply lovely to look at. There is also a pure mastery of lighting that gives the episode the similar type of eerie feel as the old Universal monster movies. While the episode is not laugh out loud funny, there are definitely a few comedic moments that made me smile. 

All in all for Scooby fans, this is a wonderful episode. It is also an episode that could hold its own with any episode of Scooby-Doo! Where Are You? 

Scooby-Doo! and Scrappy-Doo!: Twenty Thousand Screams Under the Sea (1979)

 

A typically fun Scooby mystery. 

When the gang visits Acapulco, the find that a sea beast is scaring off many of the divers.

This episode benefits from a really good villain and a great sense of atmosphere. The sea beast has a wonderful design that looks creepy and threatening but never too much to take away from the lighthearted fun. While Scooby has had quite a few mysteries at sea, but this one is an especially good-looking adventure. The use of lighting and the stormy weather as the gang travels in a boat add a real classic monster movie feel to this episode. Meanwhile, while the background art is always wonderful to look at, it is especially well done here. This is a beautiful looking episode and one of the most atmospheric mysteries from the first season of Sccoby-Doo! and Scrappy-Doo!

The mystery itself is fun and cleverly written but it does have the problem of being too easy to solve due to a lack of suspects. This doesn't change that the character's motive is quite well handled and that the story moves by at a very quick pace. 

This is not one of the show's funniest episodes and there aren't as many funny gags as usual. However I do admit that the closing gag made me smile.

All in all, not one of the best Scooby adventures but fun.      

Scooby-Doo! and Scrappy-Doo!: The Hairy Scare of the Devil Bear (1979)

 

A typically fun Scooby mystery. 

In this episode, the Mystery Inc. Gang goes to the Grand Canyon on vacation. There they meet find an archelogist and his assistant who have found a cave that seems to be haunted by a devil bear.

This is not one of Scooby's best mysteries but it is quite fun. While the mystery is very easy to solve, it is well thought out and provides the gang with a nice adventure. The use of a haunted cave as a location for a Scooby mystery is a very inspired one that lends itself to some great background artwork that looks fantastic. As always I love the detail that goes into the backgrounds of these cartoons and this one is no exception. I love the cave paintings we see on the wall. They are just a nice touch that shows a little extra effort going into these cartoons. This episode also has some good gags along the way. Scrappy is in fine form here and the reoccurring joke of him not understanding that his uncle is cowardly is handled quite well and made me smile. The fishing scene with him, Shaggy and Scooby, is especially delightful and has some nice gags. I also really like the gag of Shaggy checking his Cowards Handbook and I wish this joke could have been used more. 

What keeps this episode for being one of Scooby's best adventures is the Devil Bear himself. This is simply put, not a very interesting villain. The design work looks nice but is not especially memorable as it doesn't differentiate much from many vicious cartoon bears. There is little to nothing about him that makes him look creepy or supernatural. The character also is not given anything much to do outside of being a typical bad guy cartoon bear. The best Scooby mysteries have villains that will stick in your mind, but there is nothing about this character that will. 

All in all, a fun but not especially memorable episode.     

Scooby-Doo! and Scrappy-Doo!: Demon of the Dugout (1979)

 

An excellent Scooby mystery. 

Cartoon and comic book writer (as well as historian) Mark Evanier (who had previously wrote the first episode of this series and some Gold Key comics starring Scooby), turns in an above average script for this episode that helps make this a standout of this series. The Mystery Inc. Gang travels to Tokyo to see a major baseball game between an American and a Japanese team. However the game may not take place due to a dragon demon supposedly haunting the baseball field. Before you can say "Jinkies", the gang has another mystery on their hands.  

While many Scooby mysteries of the 1960's and 70's have too few suspects to make the mystery need any thinking to solve, that flaw is not seen in this episode. While there are not many suspects, you could truly buy if one of the other suspects did it. When we find out who done it, the reasoning behind why this person tried to scare everybody is very well thought out. As is the way the gang deduces who the culprit is. The humor in this episode is also quite good. This episode has one of my favorite dialogue exchanges from this series. Shaggy asks, "You mean we traveled all the way to Japan just to chase down another ghost?" Velma bluntly responds, "Let me put it this way... yes." This is perfect and in character for both of them. This episode has some other well-done gags, including Scooby's way of stealing Shaggy's food and the payoff afterwards, Scrappy trying to get the gang's luggage and the ending gag, which is a great cartoony moment. The background work here is excellent as always, with great uses of lighting and shadows, that really bring an atmosphere to this mystery. The actual character animation is above average here and makes the characters come to life. 

This episode is a great example of everything I love about Scooby-Doo!  

Scooby-Doo! and Scrappy-Doo!: The Scary Sky Skeleton (1979)

 

A really fun Scooby-Doo! mystery. 

In this episode Daphne is looking forward to visiting her childhood friend, Wendy, who is now a stunt pilot. However when the gang gets near where her airshow is going to be, they find an airfield that is haunted by an evil skeleton who flies a plane and calls himself, The Sky Skeleton. 

This episode is just what a Scooby mystery should be. The Sky Skeleton is a great villain. Both his design and voice are perfectly creepy, while not being too scary to take away from the lighthearted feel of the show. The mystery is pretty good, even if again it suffers from a lack of suspects. Our main characters are as likable as ever. Scooby and Shaggy truly get to shine here in some of the episode's best slapstick scenes. The chase scenes are especially good here and are simply just a lot of fun. Once again the background art is fantastic, as is true of all the Scooby mysteries of the 1960's and 70's. With this the episode is just a joy to look at. 

I do however wish more time was spent with Daphne's friend, who, while likable, we never get to know very well.  

Marla Frumkin, who voices Wendy, would later become the voice of Velma later this season. 

Scooby-Doo! and Scrappy Doo!: Shiver and Shake That Demon's a Snake (1979)

 

A delightful Scooby mystery and one of my favorite episodes of the first season of Scooby-Doo! and Scrappy-Doo!

The Mystery Inc. Gang takes a vacation to the Florida Keys. Scooby and Shaggy are excited to take a nice relaxation and get away from monsters and mysteries. However Daphne buys an image of a snake demon that is said to be cursed. After this the gang is attacked by said snake demon and the gang has another mystery on their hands. 

This episode feels like it could have been an episode of Scooby-Doo! Where Are You. The snake demon is a fantastic villain. He has a very memorable design and manages to feel a bit creepy without taking away from the lighthearted fun of the franchise. He also a great kind of creepy voice that I love. He is one of those Scooby villains who is instantly memorable, and he should really get more attention than he does. There are also more suspects than usual, which makes the mystery more fun to try and solve. This episode also benefits from some great background art. Much of it is very detailed and a joy to look at. The use of fog and lighting really add to the atmosphere of the episode, which is very effective. The episode also has some pretty good gags. There is some good slapstick in the chase scenes and there are some good gags involving Scrappy's appetite (showing that he truly is a relative of Scooby).

This is a very strong episode and a pure delight for Scooby fans.   

Scooby-Doo! and Scrappy-Doo: The Neon Phantom of the Roller Disco (1979)

A fun Scooby mystery. 

The gang heads to Hollywood to see the premiere of a new movie. Before the show they stop by the Hollywood Bowl to see the rock band, Nightmare. However a neon phantom intrupts the concert. With this the gang has another mystery on their hands and head to the roller disco they learn that he regularly haunts. 

There is a lot of fun to be had in this episode. The humor is quite good and even if it is not hilarious, it kept a smile firmly planted on my face. Shaggy and Scrappy get some good one-liners and there are some nice slapstick moments like Scooby's attempts at roller skating. Like most of the Scooby mysteries of the 1970's, there is some excellent artwork here. There is a great sense of atmosphere here and the episode manages to combine Hollywood glamor with creepy vibe. There is a lot of detail in the artwork that is simply lovely to look at. This episode also shows a mastery of lighting creating a feeling that reminds one of film noir. A real Hollywood feeling is also helped by there being actual big celebrities at the movie premiere (even if we (and Scrappy)) only see their legs. The mystery is a lot fun and the story moves at a fast pace that is simply a lot of fun. This mystery also benefits from having multiple suspects that would make sense instead of how in other episodes the mystery could be solved simply from a lack of suspects.   

On the downside the Neon Phantom is not one of the strongest villains. His design and voice come off as too silly and lack the creepy vibe of the best Scooby villains. 

Maybe not one of the best episodes but still a lot of fun.  

Scooby-Doo! and Scrappy-Doo!: Strange Encounters of a Scooby Kind (1979)

 

A fun if flawed Scooby mystery. 

The gang takes a trip out to some canyons for a hiking expedition. The campsite they are staying at is said to be a visiting place for unfriendly aliens. Naturally Scooby, Shaggy and Scrappy run into an unfriendly alien rather quickly and before you can say "jinkies" they have another mystery on their hands.

The mystery element works quite well here. There are multiple suspects and they each have a believable reason to suspect them. The reasoning behind why the villain committed the crimes is well thought out. The story also moves at a fast pace and never loses momentum. The setting for this episode is perfect and allows for some beautiful looking and atmospheric artwork. The use of lighting and shadows are prefect. This episode also has quite a few gags that really work and the Scooby, Scrappy and Shaggy antics are very entertaining.

However I will state that I am not a fan of the alien design. This design is simply not creepy or threatening enough to work. The big eyes and the cute mouth make the character look to adorable to work as a Scooby villain. While I personally like Scrappy, here he often times takes too much of the spotlight away from Daphne, Velma and Fred, who don't get to do too much do here. Scrappy sets the traps that Fred would usually set and finds the clues Velma would usually find. Luckily in many other episodes this would not be as much of a problem as it is here.

This is not one of my favorite Scooby mysteries, but despite its flaws it is still a fun watch.