 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated
- Cartoon Network
- Genre: Kids' Animation
Common Sense Media says
Update of classic mystery show is targeted more at tweens.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this updated take on the classic mystery cartoon has some obvious changes that make it more relevant to today's tween audiences (as well as all the faux ghosts and monsters you'd expect from a Scooby series). The teen gumshoes now have parents, they go to school (although they do skip out when a mystery is looming), and they wrestle with “normal” troubles like disagreements among friends. What’s more, developing love interests are forefront to the storyline, with Daphne and Velma taking the lead in their attempts to woo Fred and Shaggy. Bottom line? The Scooby Gang's sleuthing is still fun for kids, but the show’s modern feel makes it more targeted at tweens.
What's the story?
SCOOBY-DOO! MYSTERY INCORPORATED follows the famous gang of teen gumshoes and their not-so-fearless canine companion on mysterious new adventures. Fred (voiced by Frank Welker), Daphne (Grey DeLisle), Velma (Mindy Cohn), Shaggy (Matthew Lillard), and, of course, Scooby (Welker again) live in Crystal Cove, a quaint little town renowned for its history of spooky happenings. The town’s reputation makes it a tourist trap for curious travelers, and the Crystal Cove folks get mighty upset when the talented young sleuths cut into tourism profits by revealing the very ordinary explanations for the town's unusual goings-on.
Is it any good?
It’s tough to tweak a beloved classic without annoying longtime fans, and Mystery Incorporated has enough alterations that adults who cut their teeth on the original Scooby adventures may find it tough to love. The teens have parents now, they stay within their town’s limits (no more long drives on damp, dark nights), and the pieces are falling into place for their romantic relationships -- all of which eats away at the intrigue of the “free spirit” existence that surrounded them in the franchise's early days. Now with school, family drama, and relationship woes, the gang comes across as less edgy and (dare we say it?) a little dull.
But it’s obvious that this new series isn’t out to win over middle-aged Scooby fans, and the good news is that the same changes that might grate on grown-ups will appeal to modern tweens. The existence of parents and school scenarios makes the characters more relevant to today’s kids, and they'll relate to the gang’s issues with relationships and other struggles. The show’s focus is still on fun, but the modern content does tout some feel-good messages about teamwork, communication, and friendship.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about solving problems. Who do you turn to when you need help? How do you face your problems? Did the characters’ actions give you any ideas you can use in your own life?
Tweens: What fears do you have a hard time facing? Have you ever overcome an intense fear? How does it feel? How do our fears change as we get older?
How does this series compare to the original show? What changes did you notice in the characters? Why do you think those changes were made?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
Kid, 12 years old
June 1, 2011
AGE
Makes me want to hate Scooby Doo almost
I only like the old Scooby Doo cartoons, This one just makes me want to hate Scooby Doo almost, Why does everybody like this? What is with this? Children, Watch something else, this is not the right cartoon for kids, I would recommend something else like "Adventure Time with Finn and Jake", "Regular show" or "The Amazing World of Gumball".
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Not as mild as the older series
My kids are all huge Scooby Doo fans, but this new series spooks my 3 yr old a lot, the older episodes are more enjoyable for her
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Not for babies, but for everyone else
FINALLY!! A decent Scooby Doo reboot! After that god-awful "Shaggy and Scooby Doo Get a Clue" we return to normality with a great reboot of the original "Scooby Doo Where are You?" (But by no means is it a classic). The animation is throughly creepy, especially for the villains and backgrounds, which is how it should be!! Young children (we're talkin' newborns here) will most likely be frightened by the scary images and situations, but for my 7 year oldsister, she loved it! Overall a welcome reboot to the Scooby Doo franchise
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Teens seem to like it but younger kids could be upset
It's interesting to see positive reviews by the 11 year old crowd -- perhaps this show is just fine for the tweeners (if you don't mind that it's far from classic Scooby and doesn't hold a candle to the movies, animated or with live actors), but I still maintain that this show is not appropriate for age 7, let alone younger. My 9 year old was scared after watching it -- it didn't make him "think" about anything except that there were parts that were disturbing. The fact that it's Scooby gives the wrong impression that it's okay for younger children to watch it. I guess you'd have to be a parent to understand this and not 11 years old.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
perfect for tweens for not for young viewers
I could not believe what I was seeing and hearing! How dare CN say this is for Y7 WRONG! My son will never see this new scooby doo again... I see it being for tweens but not my 7 yr old! How sad!
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 12 years old
September 19, 2010
AGE
It's awesome! It is so appropriote for children. For younger kids, the monsters might be scary but it helps you think. It is entertaining and it's really popular.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Yeesh, why all the kissing?
In our house we love Scooby Doo. We've seen them all. But this new series is not going to be showing--my husband and I watched one episode with the kids and HATED it! Whaddaya mean, Velma's sneaking into Shaggy's room at night and puckering up for a kiss? Yeesh. First, my kids are a little young for that. And second, what's next, a little action in the back of the Mystery Machine...? Give me a break--not what I am looking for out of a Scooby episode.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
LOVE IT
This remake is way better than the old one. Its soo cool and actually funny! Its a little bit scarier than the old ones but its nothing a nine year old can handle. After writing this review I kinda feel like watching it.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Just right
I really like to watch this show sometimes! I think it is very age appropriate.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
THE LAST SEASON!?!?
This is a fine example of what people our willing to do to fill their wallets. One of the things that made Scooby-Doo so popular in my opinion is the fact that they don't act like regular kids of this generation. This change to the series might be tolerable if they didn't make the flaws of most real people we know so obvious. Considering I can't tell you all the reasons I dislike this new Scooby-Doo series heres what you should do. Watch the series that may possibly be Scooby's last.
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Topics: | friendship, monsters, ghosts, and vampires |
| TV rating: | TV-Y7-FV |
| Network: | Cartoon Network |
| Cast: | Frank Welker, Grey DeLisle, Matthew Lillard |
| Genre: | Kids' Animation |
Review It
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already seen it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
