Nostalgia Trip: Scooby-Doo

The WB Era

What’s New Scooby-Doo (2002-2006)

The all-new 21st Century theme performed by A Simple Plan

The 21st Century saw a return to the traditional 30-minute episode format with What’s New Scooby-Doo. Not only that, it brought a completely new generation of music and presentation. Popular punk band A Simple Plan performed a completely new theme song, and well-known acts such as The Ramones and The Donnas were used for the signature chase scene music. All the episodes were broadcast for the first time in high definition, and all the original characters were back in their classic looks. Well, except Fred’s ascot.

Frank Welker and Casey Kasem returned as Fred and Shaggy respectively. Since Don Messick passed away in 1997, Welker took over and did double-duty as Scooby. Grey DeLisle debuted as Daphne, and Mindy Cohn of The Facts Of Life fame debuted as Velma.

42 episodes over three seasons were made in this format, as well as several made for video movies. This arguably made What’s New Scooby-Doo the longest-running title in the franchise’s history.

Shaggy & Scooby Doo Get A Clue (2006-2009)

Theme song by Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo fame

A more kid-friendly show took to the air in 2006 in Shaggy And Scooby-Doo Get a Clue. This was the final Scooby-Doo title to be attached to Joseph Barbera before his death (Hanna died in 2001). It was also the first to not feature Casey Kasem as Shaggy. Once again, the focus was on Scooby and Shaggy with no other regular characters. Perhaps the most memorable part was the theme music composed by Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh.