Parents' Guide to Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo

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Common Sense Media Review

Melissa Camacho By Melissa Camacho , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 5+

Classic Scooby series has lots of spooky, nostalgic fun.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 5+?

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Parent and Kid Reviews

age 8+

Based on 1 parent review

What's the Story?

SCOOBY-DOO AND SCRAPPY-DOO (1979-1980), a classic installment of the Scooby-Doo franchise, features Scooby (Don Messick) and his nephew Scrappy (Lennie Weinrib) joining Shaggy (Casey Kasem), Fred (Frank Welker), Daphne (Heather North) and Velma (Pat Stevens and Marla Frumkin) as they investigate mysterious hauntings. From finding the vanishing Blue Scarab to solving the mystery of a sea beast in Acapulco, they work together to help folks discover the strange and spooky things that are happening around them.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 1 ):
Kids say : Not yet rated

This classic animated series, which was created at the time to boost the original cartoon's ratings, mainly centers on Scooby, Scrappy, and Shaggy as they work their way through one mystery after another. While Fred, Daphne, and Thelma participate in the sleuthing adventures, they are less relevant to each storyline. As a result, when the show was changed from a 30-minute morning cartoon to a series of seven-minute shorts after one season, those three characters were eliminated from the cast lineup.

Nonetheless, the first 16 episodes of Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo feature all the zany, mystery solving adventures that the franchise is known for. Meanwhile, Scrappy adds some personality to the show, thanks to his spunky courage that Scooby and Shaggy decidedly lack. Classic Scooby-Doo fans may enjoy the nostalgia, even if it isn't their favorite series in the Scooby universe. But new generations of viewers who like the franchise will no doubt enjoy it.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the Scooby-Doo franchise. What is it about the Scooby universe that appeals to generations of viewers? What are some of the differences between the classic cartoons and the more contemporary Scooby-Doo-themed movies and specials?

  • Did you know that Scooby-Do and Scrappy-Doo was the last Hannah-Barbara animated 30-minute series to use a laugh track? What other changes were made after the series aired?

TV Details

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