Top 3 scooby movies and why?
Hi Swishy!! Thank you for the ask!! It was so hard for me to pick but!!!
1. Zombie Island: this has some of the strongest artistic style, some of the best music, and probably the strongest overall story. Likely the only movie that I would put on for someone who had never seen Scooby Doo that I felt at least 99% confident they would enjoy. It has some really significant character developments (Fraphne esp). The Gang had split up before in the franchise and reunited to continue their mystery-solving adventures but this was the first time where a narrative had really been constructed around what could drive the Gang apart and ultimately what would lead them back together. It’s a really interesting premise for the film. This also marks probably the first time in the larger cultural consciousness that Daphne takes on a more leadership role. I’d argue (and so would others) that much of the mystery-solving work is more divided in the likes of SDWAY/TSDS/TNSDM than people give it credit for but the Daphne here is allowed to take the reign much in the same way as the Daphne from 13G and TNSDMy that most people never had the chance to see (bc those shows sadly aren’t that popular). This movie has a Very satisfying villain twist (delicious, I love Lena and Simone) and one that feels startingly mature and dark. It’s really frightening to contemplate the absolute horror of the Scooby Gang being invited into what is ultimately an island of serial killers in which the ground is completely littered with the corpses of their past victims. Besides the cat transformation scene, the reconfiguration of Morgan Moonscar into flesh could easily be the most iconic chunk of animation from the film. It’s horrifying and evocative and complex. Morgan Moonscar was a villain—just as much if not more so than the villains the Gang are ultimately tasked to defeat—but seeing the reality of his curse, the depth of his despair as he’s horrifically reformed to wander as a creature not-quite-living in hopes of sparing others this fate is despairing and terrible. I the film’s moral ambiguity. We’re called to sympathize with Lena and Simone who have suffered an unimaginable injustice in watching their village pillaged and their people devoured. They enact such atrocities not just as a means for survival but also recompense, for a world that has wronged them. We understand them, even as we shudder to think of their past actions and volley for the Gang to overcome them. In terms of animation, this really feels like Scooby Doo going back to its roots in the overall pallet and landscape design (leaving behind the then recent Scooby Doo outings with upped saturation and suburban settings like APNSD) while breaking what people consider the classic Scooby Doo formula. Obviously this was not the first canonical appearance of the supernatural within the ScoobyDooniverse but it was the first time within the larger realm of the public consciousness that the final big bad was not “unmasked.” Unpopular opinion: “The Ghost is Here” > “It’s Terror Time Again.” Tho they are both excellent. I have to restate that this is literally some of the most gorgeous animation ever seen in a Scooby Doo film and truly an all around thrilling ride. The mystery is fun, the characters are all their loveable selves, we get to watch the Gang come back together like they never were apart, and the villains in this are an absolute delight. Great laughs, great animation, great story.
2. Ghoul School: I’m pretty upfront about how much I love Scrappy and it really extends to the whole red-shirt era. I’m one of those people who doesn’t mind that the rest of the Gang’s not along for the ride (tho I do miss them) and I absolutely adore this movie. I must have watched it 10000 times growing up. I love Matches, I love all the Grimwood Girls and the Calloway Cadets and I love Legs and Miss Grimwood and (Grim) Creeper. The tone of the animation of this movie is superb. Everything is dark and damp and rotting. The world of the movie is so twisted and fascinating. There’s such a wealth of ideas here that seem to be just the writers having fun and being silly. It’s so funny that for some reason the Werewolf loves lemon juice and that Elsa Frankenteen buys her dad a charger and that Dracula gets a bat-robe and checks it out in the mirror (where he obviously can’t be seen). I love how tenderly all the Monster Fathers love their daughters. I love the genuine bonds that begin to grow between Shaggy and Scooby and the Grimwood Girls and that the Calloway Cadets come around past their initial fear and hatred of the girls to protect and befriend them. I love that this is a story about how the humanity underneath the monsters instead of humans wearing monstrous masks. I love how kitschy and campy and kooky this little movie is. The friendship moments, Don Messick’s wailing vocal (no one does it like him, sorry Frank). I love Scrappy in this cute little flick where he’s just allowed to be a character without it feeling like the showrunners are attempted to centralize him or demonize him (yes he has a smaller role in this movie than in Boo Brothers but it is SUBSTANTIALLY larger than the role he gets in The Reluctant Werewolf smh its okay tho). The costuming in this is immaculate. Perfect holiday/Halloween vibes. I’m never going to let my kids watch anything else. Thank you.
3. Cyber Chase: “Hello Cyberdream” may rank as one of the greatest of all Scooby bangers and Eric Staufer is one of a handful of Mystery Inc. adjacents who actually felt like they could fit into the core four/Gang Dynamic without it being weird and overstuffed. The use of effects in this movie is gorgeous. I love the levels and just the concept of this movie. The animation style is smooth, VA’s are on point, Bill is one of my all-time favorite villains (he’s just so dumb I love him). This movie is so unapologetically steeped within its own time period (which is something really special about the Scooby franchise as a whole). I like this movie’s fearless dedication to embracing 2000’s tech with heavy chords and chunky computers and overuse of greens. It’s beautiful. The movie feels bustling and big. I like the callbacks to other iconic Scooby villains (I esp like that it branches out by not just having WAY villains but TSDS as well, that’s ace). The Cyber Doubles are a blast. 10/10 I appreciate that people felt it was a step-down from the other movies of its era and I can understand there wasn’t as much in terms of character happening and that the monster wasn’t really “real” even though he was at least as real as Eric’s bizarre, magic-science. But it’s still so unique and fun and colorful. I love the atmospheres of each of the different levels and that the Gang has to navigate through them by working together. I love the little details of this movie’s cleverness like how Cyber Scooby is so different from his counterpart because Scooby’s the only one Eric never actually met. I like the respect and genuine adoration it pays to the early series of Scooby Doo. It’s not trying to talk down or retcon or prove that it can rewrite itself into something better. It’s calling back to remind us how much there is to love about the franchise and all the fun of the golden years and how things are different now but fundamentally the same. I think Officer Wembley is so absurdly fun and so is Professor Kaufman. I like the stakes of this movie, the life and death reality of a silly computer game.
This is so cheating but I really, really wanted to talk about a Scooby movie from the more modern DTV era so also:
4. Camp Scare: You will never hear me say a bad word about this film. It was a cultural reset. Babyface Beretti was always going to be IT. But really, this movie is stellar. Truly embraces a summer camp slasher aesthetic while keeping it clean. The Woodsman’s backstory is h o r r i f y i n g, move over Jason. I love how this movie individualizes itself through its use of genre. The use of POV shots is so superb and the way the film plays with shadows and silhouettes. The constant voiceover as the Gang relays campfire stories and invites the audience to question what exactly is so terrifying about urban legends. Genius. Another win for the soundtrack. I’ll listen to “Summertime” any day, any season. Lots of very iconic and cool moments between the Gang in this one. We love a movie where Shaggy and Scooby spend the whole time giggling in the background. But really, some very iconic Scooby&Shaggy bestie moments in this like Shaggy SMASHING A BOARD AGAINST THE MONSTER (after it goes after Scooby <- not to mention Scooby goes after the monster to protect Daphne) and shouts “Hey Fishface, like, back away from my buddy!.” Shaggy is off-the-wall in this movie. The prison break scene is *mwah.* Also some pretty iconic outfits in this and side characters (who does not love Trixie and Luke? Also Jessica!!!!) Very spooky scary villain designs in this one and the movie wasn’t afraid to embrace scale (think of the canyon scene, the dam breaking scene, and lots of the forest scenes) to emphasize how dwarfed children feel by the natural world, the intense isolation of being alone in nature, and why that’s so scary. Also, really great animation style in general. Following on the heels of Abracadabra-Doo, it marks a nice clean balance between being modern and remaining iconic in deference to the classic appearances of the characters. There’s also some great character building in this movie, for both central and side characters. I really admire Fred’s arc about growth and letting go of his pride in order to help build a better community, even if it’s not exactly the same as the one he held nostalgia for. It’s a really great reflection on childhood and growing up and allowing yourself to invent new memories instead of trying to recapture the past, told through the bent of a summer camp which of course is such an iconic image and symbol for childhood. Toward the close of the movie, it has a bit of a shift in genre to something more action-based but I think it does so pretty seamlessly and to great effect so I love it still.
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saw you write for madness so i’m new! if its alright could i req sanford and deimos comforting their s/o after a breakdown?
if i req again i’ll probably be ⚡️ anon if it’s not taken. tysm + love ur writing!
Hey there! Yes you can! I hope I did the request justice! And no, I don't think that emoji is taken yet!
Sanford and Deimos Comforting Their S/O After a Breakdown
Sanford: The moment he sees you crying he’s rushing over to you to aid you in any way he can, crouching down to seem less intimidating and putting a hand on your shoulder to show you he’s there for you. He’s going to ask you a rushed and concerned “What’s wrong?” before intently listening to anything you have to say. Sanford will likely pull you into a tight hug. It won’t be crushing, he’ll actively try to be more gentle than that, but it will be tight enough for some air to leave your lungs. If you’re about to fall apart then he’ll hold you together. Although he knows that the worst of the worst might be over already, he’ll still hold you tight and be quiet for a moment, hoping that that will help you at least a little bit. Sanford isn’t one for distractions if he knows he can help you, so he’ll ask you what’s wrong and how he may be able to help you in that moment. If he’s unable to help you in any way shape or form he might feel as though he’s failed you if it’s particularly bad, but if you just need some cheering up then he’ll try. He’s very big on cuddling, so he’d love to hold you and cheer you up like that, if you allow it. However, if you’re not big on physical touch or just don’t want to be touched too much in that moment, then, once it’s not as obvious anymore that you broke down, he’ll go on a walk with you. The scenery may not be particularly nice, but it’s better than sitting around and doing nothing. He can be rather chatty, plus he’s a trustworthy guy, so you can tell him about anything you need to get off your chest. He’ll listen, he’ll give you advice, he’ll seek out revenge for you, anything you need. Will even cook a homemade meal for you if it cheers you up, and he’s a pretty good cook.
Deimos: He, too, will rush to your side and ask you what happened, if you need anything and if he can help you. Deimos’ approach to helping you consists of cheering you up by distracting you. He knows a few good jokes he can crack that might get you to smile, but he’s not opposed to listening to you either if you need it. Doesn’t have too much good advice to give that isn’t needlessly violent or chaotic, so you’re better off going to Sanford for that one. However, he’ll do what he can to get you to smile again. Hell, if you want, he’ll pay for some fast food as well. Fast food is always good and appropriate in his eyes, so why wouldn’t it be for you? Some good food always cheers him up when he’s upset, might work for you as well. He’s not the best with words in more dire situations, but he tries, although he really won’t know what to say. Yes, he prefers listening in those situations, even if he can be a real chatterbox otherwise. If his jokes don’t get you to smile, then his brain short circuits and he goes quiet. He actually goes more serious then as well. You can then proceed to talk to him about all that serious stuff and he’ll respond honestly. Might even open up about some of his own struggles to show you you’re not alone, that he can relate to you, if your struggles are similar. He’s really not trying to diminish your struggles, just wants to show you he cares. You will likely end up with an impromptu therapy session together where you both talk about your issues, but you will likely grow closer as a result. If he knows you’re okay with it, then he’ll wrap his arm around your shoulder and pull you closer to him so that your head rests on his shoulder. You should really rest up for the day, he’ll make sure that tomorrow is a brighter, nicer place for you.
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