SCOOB!, the latest movie for Scooby Doo and the gang, has finally been released on home video. The Warner Bros. animated feature was originally intended to be released in theaters, but was pushed to a home video release due to the pandemic. The movie is an homage to Hanna-Barbera properties of the past, complete with elastic character models and an actual plot that will catch you off guard. You can stream Scoob on Amazon right now.
The movie is also full of Easter eggs and homages to past cartoon creations that any fan of early animation will enjoy. Here's a list of everything we noticed throughout the 93-minute run time. We are skipping the easy ones like "meddling kids," "zoinks" and "jinkies" to get to the deep cuts. Obviously, spoilers ahead.
- When Scooby and Shaggy first meet on that beach (after he listens to a podcast from NPR's Ira Glass) he says that his real name is "Norville" which is canon.
- On the wall of Shaggy's room, you can see a band poster for "The Impossibles" which originates from a 1960s television show with Coil-Man, Fluid-Man and Multi-Man. There are also superheroes on the shelf, one looking very Batman-like.
- Shraggy's shrine to Blue Falcon is full of references to the original character from the 1970s television show who also showed up in Dexter's Laboratory and Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law. You can even see FUNKO Pop! versions of the original costume.
- The kids who steal Shaggy's candy share an eerie resemblance to the Joker, and Daphne is dressed as Wonder Woman for trick or treating.
- The shot-for-shot remake of the "Scooby Doo, Where Are You" opening credits and theme song contains many monsters from the original series brought to life in CGI.
- The cameo from Simon Cowell really isn't that out of left field. Going back to the 1970s "New Scooby Doo Movies" celebrity guest stars like the Harlem Globetrotters, Don Knotts and even Dynomutt have made appearances.
- "Takomoto Bowl" is named after famed Hanna-Barbera producer and director Iwao Takamoto who helped design the original characters.
- On the Falcon Fury, we are introduced to pilot Dee Dee Skies, who was a member of the 1978 show Captain Caveman's "Teen Angels" who thawed the superhero out of a block of ice.
- Dick Dastardly and his pup Muttley made their debuts as evil drivers on the 1986 series "Wacky Racers." His ship is heavily inspired from his car and what he piloted in the opening day at Universal Studios attraction "The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera."
- When Mystery inc. looks through the rap sheet for Dick Dastardly, it says that he has trouble for "identity theft," foreshadowing what happens later in the movie.
- Funland, where the first Falcon Fury lands, comes from the "Scooby Doo, Where Are You?" episode with the robot seen in the opening credits.
- The Funland arcade is full of homages to Hanna-Barbera properties. There's the Laff-A-Lympians (from Laff-A-Lympics), Hong Kong Phooey (number one super guy) and Space Stars on the arcade machines. There are racing games for The Perils of Penelope Pitstop and posters for the Hex Girls (from the animated movie "Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost").
- On the ship, Dastardly's robots are humming the tune from the soldiers in the Wizard of Oz.
- Captain Caveman is a prehistoric superhero who can pull almost anything out of his hair, wrinkles his feet and talks in broken English. He's amazing and I love him.
- During the final climactic battle, Fred finally puts on his orange ascot. He's that since the very beginning of the series and is a staple of his character.
- The "sea captain" the gang hears about at the end could be the Ghost of Captain Cutler from an early episode of the show.
- The end credits are packed with Hanna-Barbera characters recreated for a new generation. There's Atom Ant, JabberJaw, Grape Ape, Dr. Frankenstein and Dr. Benton Quest.
Tell us if we missed anything in the comments.
