The Scooby-Doo Anime Is Real And This Should Have Happened Years Ago

By TeeJay Small | Updated

Scooby Doo Anime

Scooby-Doo is undoubtedly one of the biggest and most recognizable cartoon franchises in the history of film and television, with dozens of iterations spanning over six decades. Now, a Scooby-Doo anime is in the works, which will see the titular dog and his cohort of mystery-solving teens taking their talents to Japan. The series is titled Go-Go Mystery Machine, and currently has no release date.

Upcoming Cartoon Network Slate

The Scooby-Doo anime was first announced during the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France, as part of an animation line-up that includes a number of new and exciting projects from Warner Bros.

Other new series expected to hit Cartoon Network in the coming months include an Adventure Time spinoff, an Adventure Time feature film, and a series titled Lovey Dovey from Harley Quinn writer Ava Tramer. Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends creator Craig McCracken is also said to be cooking something up, which looks to be a spinoff/reboot of the animated series developed for a preschool audience.

Go-Go Mystery Machine

Scooby Doo

While teasing the Scooby-Doo anime, producers from Warner Bros offered a comprehensive synopsis of the series, which should aid fans in understanding the scope of the new show. Apparently Go-Go Mystery Machine will follow Scooby and Shaggy as they take a trip to Japan, and accidentally unleash a horde of mythical ghouls and monsters upon the Asian island. When their foodie frolic becomes infested with paranormal creatures, the duo team with Scooby’s uncle Daisuke-Doo, as well as a pair of magic and tech experts named Etsuko and Toshiro.

A New Take On A Timeless Classic

Scooby Doo

A promotional photo from the Scooby-Doo anime has also been released, showcasing the new Eastern-inspired art style and new character designs. The art looks incredibly refreshing, and showcases a Shiba Inu dog, which we can assume to be Daisuke-Doo, as well as an array of sushi-themed ghosts. The image also includes a first look at a reimagining of the Mystery Machine, which looks to be modeled after a Japanese kei-class truck.

Sounds More Promising Than Ill-Fated Velma Series

scooby doo velma

Based on the series description and the promo image that has been floating around, it seems unclear if other Scooby-Doo mainstays, such as Fred, Velma, and Daphne, will be part of the show at all. Either way, fans will surely be on the edge of their seats in the days leading up to the Scooby-Doo anime, as the show seems to be the freshest take on the franchise in many years.

Any way you slice it, Go-Go Mystery Machine will probably premiere to more fanfare than Velma, which has continually gotten poor reviews from audiences and critics alike, and failed to even include the character of Scooby-Doo in the first place.

Updates Are Imminent

Scooby Doo

For now, not much information is known about the Scooby-Doo anime, other than the brief synopsis and the fact that it exists. Fans have speculated that the series may premiere on services such as Cartoon Network and Max as early as Christmas 2024, though it’s more likely that the show will hit the airwaves in 2025 and beyond. For now, all we can do is wait for additional updates, and scarf down some freshly-made sushi and sashimi.

Source: Variety