As new generations get older and grow up, we are faced with the realization that newer cartoons just don’t cut it anymore. It might be the difference in animation, storytelling, the overall message these newer cartoons are giving or the simple fact that we don’t understand them anymore. Whatever the reason we have come to the conclusion that the newer cartoons just aren’t good anymore, and even border on the “why is this on tv?” question we all have asked at one point or another.
Let’s take, for example, my favorite cartoon series of all time “Scooby-Doo Where Are You!” and most of its successors up until “What’s new, Scooby-Doo?” which ended in 2006. What all of these had in common that I liked was the story, somewhat simple animation and the fact that they kept my childhood favorite animated duo of Shaggy and Scooby relatively the same.
It wasn’t until these newer Scooby Doo Series, starting about a decade ago, started to air on television. The first thing I saw when I tried, but failed, to enjoy watching these new Scooby Doo series was the animation. Now I know the animation is supposed to be better, but in my opinion the older Scooby Doo Series animation was by far better. I believe by attempting to change the animation and “update” the characters' appearance ruined the show for me. On top of that, the characters had been modified, if not ever so slightly, to portray the newer generations and beliefs, but by doing this, my all time favorite cartoon had been ruined to the point where I refused to watch.
Why change Scooby Doo?
The answer is actually quite simple: to appeal to a younger audience and draw in new eyes. So, I put this to the test and asked my younger brother, who’s eight years younger than I am, what he thought of these newer Scooby Doo series. I made him sit down and watch an episode and after he finished he said he didn’t like it one bit. That it wasn’t Scooby Doo, but something else.
So, I thought maybe he’s still too old. So I went younger and approached my niece, who is 15 years younger than me. I asked her if she had seen the new Scooby Doo and she said yes and thought it was okay. So I decided to sit her down and watch the original Scooby-Doo series that was playing on Boomerang. After she finished watching it, she thought that that was funnier than the newer one.
Now, it could just be my family, but if both of these generations had expressed an interest in the older Scooby Doo over the newer one then again, why change the series? Younger generations are still choosing the old “Scooby-Doo Where Are You!” episodes over the new ones. So please, if no one is truly interested in the new Scooby Doo then why continue? Stop ruining the show for the rest of us fans. Go back to what everyone loves about Scooby Doo. Stop trying to reinvent the fan favorite and go back to what everyone loves about the awesome dog and his team.
