Post by Sophia Peletier on Apr 5, 2014 1:04:34 GMT -5
Velma has probably been the least stable character when it comes to her voice and personality.
Each of the actresses has had their own unique take on the character and something to offer the series.
Nicole Jaffe, being the original, started off the character very well. She was smart, sarcastic, and could be funny or even harsh if the time was right. Her voice really offered a lot of range for the character, and she was probably the most comedic Velma, especially when paired off when Shaggy and Scooby. She really did right with the character and when she returned to the series thirty years later, she still sounded very much in character and was just perfect! I wish she had continued past the 2003 movies, as she would have made the character a lot more likeable.
Pat Stevens, being the second Velma, was a pretty big change from Jaffe's take on the character. She could still provide comedic relief from time to time, but was much more serious, smart, and mature. She has also given me one of my favorite Velma scenes and lines. "Oh no, we've been following a bowling ball!", from "The Headless Horseman Of Halloween". Stevens was every bit as great as Jaffe and was an excellent successor who handled the character very well. I really love her voice.
Marla Frumkin was a temporary Velma voice when Stevens left the role during "The Scooby And Scrappy Doo Show". She also returned for "The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries" a few years later for a total of eight episodes. While not as good as the original two, I still find myself liking her take on the character. Velma was much more friendly, outgoing, and ever a bit girlier during her Frumkin days. She really isn't as bad as most people seem to believe.
BJ Ward was brought in during the late 90's for "Bravo Dooby Doo" and continued to voice Velma until "Scooby-Doo And The Cyber Chase". She started out a bit rough, but by the time of "Zombie Island", she knew where she was going with the character. Velma was yet again a more mature, shy, smart character who could still have a bit of fun when the time called for it. Ward was just excellent for the role, and she had perfected the voice by the time of "Night Of 100 Frights". She really delivered such a strong performance during her time, and I wish we had more of her. It's a shame she wasn't brought back to replace Jaffe.
See below for my opinion on Mindy Cohn.
Linda Cardellini deserves an honorable mention. She portrayed Velma is the first two live action movies and I liked her voice. She was "Hot Dog Water" in Mystery Incorporated, but I feel that they should have brought her in as Velma. She is much better than Mindy Cohn, and I really get the "Velma" vibe from her. Hot Dog Water was a much more likeable character than Velma.
Overall, I really can't decide between Nicole Jaffe, Pat Stevens, and BJ Ward. I find myself leaning more towards Nicole and BJ, but they each were excellent and really brought something great to the franchise. Velma was really at her finest with these three actresses.
I hope you all read this, or I really feel like it would have been a waste of time to type out my thoughts. Sorry, I'm a total Scooby addict!
Each of the actresses has had their own unique take on the character and something to offer the series.
Nicole Jaffe, being the original, started off the character very well. She was smart, sarcastic, and could be funny or even harsh if the time was right. Her voice really offered a lot of range for the character, and she was probably the most comedic Velma, especially when paired off when Shaggy and Scooby. She really did right with the character and when she returned to the series thirty years later, she still sounded very much in character and was just perfect! I wish she had continued past the 2003 movies, as she would have made the character a lot more likeable.
Pat Stevens, being the second Velma, was a pretty big change from Jaffe's take on the character. She could still provide comedic relief from time to time, but was much more serious, smart, and mature. She has also given me one of my favorite Velma scenes and lines. "Oh no, we've been following a bowling ball!", from "The Headless Horseman Of Halloween". Stevens was every bit as great as Jaffe and was an excellent successor who handled the character very well. I really love her voice.
Marla Frumkin was a temporary Velma voice when Stevens left the role during "The Scooby And Scrappy Doo Show". She also returned for "The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries" a few years later for a total of eight episodes. While not as good as the original two, I still find myself liking her take on the character. Velma was much more friendly, outgoing, and ever a bit girlier during her Frumkin days. She really isn't as bad as most people seem to believe.
BJ Ward was brought in during the late 90's for "Bravo Dooby Doo" and continued to voice Velma until "Scooby-Doo And The Cyber Chase". She started out a bit rough, but by the time of "Zombie Island", she knew where she was going with the character. Velma was yet again a more mature, shy, smart character who could still have a bit of fun when the time called for it. Ward was just excellent for the role, and she had perfected the voice by the time of "Night Of 100 Frights". She really delivered such a strong performance during her time, and I wish we had more of her. It's a shame she wasn't brought back to replace Jaffe.
See below for my opinion on Mindy Cohn.
Linda Cardellini deserves an honorable mention. She portrayed Velma is the first two live action movies and I liked her voice. She was "Hot Dog Water" in Mystery Incorporated, but I feel that they should have brought her in as Velma. She is much better than Mindy Cohn, and I really get the "Velma" vibe from her. Hot Dog Water was a much more likeable character than Velma.
Overall, I really can't decide between Nicole Jaffe, Pat Stevens, and BJ Ward. I find myself leaning more towards Nicole and BJ, but they each were excellent and really brought something great to the franchise. Velma was really at her finest with these three actresses.
I hope you all read this, or I really feel like it would have been a waste of time to type out my thoughts. Sorry, I'm a total Scooby addict!