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Parents' Guide to

Scooby-Doo and the Samurai Sword

By Joly Herman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Scooby's Japanese adventure is fun but a little violent.

Movie NR 2009 75 minutes
Scooby-Doo and the Samurai Sword Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 7+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Matt The Pirate
Matt The Pirate Adult
August 31, 2018
age 6+

SCOOBY CHOP!

Daphne fighting her cute friend was loads of fun and the whole Martial Arts theme for some reason really worked for me. I thought it was a decent story and fantastically animated. I liked the overall spirit of the movie.
JR01
JR01 Adult
August 25, 2010
age 7+

Not for fans of the series

Scooby Doo has always been cheesy fun, but it had an important core message: seemingly supernatural occurrences have rational (if campy) explanations. It's critical to note that the Gang never solves the mystery in this movie— supernatural elements remain unexplained in the end. In contrast with the Scooby Doo tradition; dragons, ghosts, and "spirits" are presented as real. Definitely not for fans of Scooby Doo.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Scooby and the gang fly to Japan for Daphne's (voiced by Mindy Cohn) martial arts exhibition and land smack in the middle of a mystery. It appears that the Black Samurai has suddenly arisen from the dead; finding the Sword of Fate is the only way to fight his larger-than-life presence. Daphne's skills as a martial artist are put to the test, while her friends' loyalty is questioned. As the mystery intensifies, so do the challenges that face our unlikely heroes. Can they, like, master their own skills and save the day? Watch and see, young samurai.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (4 ):

Definitely compelling -- but also focused on fighting -- SCOOBY-DOO AND THE SAMURAI SWORD attempts to bring a little bit of Japanese culture to the mystery at hand. With dragons and ghostly samurais, the feature succeeds in creating an entertaining addition to the Scooby-Doo empire. But the fighting and violence between opponents isn't always appropriate for the youngest viewers. The Black Samurai also cuts a pretty scary figure.

Still, there are jokes and antics and chase scenes galore, which will engage kids. Fans of Scooby and Shaggy will definitely get their fill of zany fun.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what it means to be a true master. Is it someone who controls other people, or someone who teaches others? Do you have mastery in any particular field? How can you gain mastery? Does it take practice, or does it happen magically?

  • How does this movie compare to other Scooby-Doo movies or TV series you've seen?

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