Real Monsters In Scooby Doo

[SpiderScooby]

I brought this question up on my blog. Thought it might make a interesting point of discussion. I've seen many people say that using real monsters ruins the concept of Scooby Doo, which was of course, that ghosts and monsters did not exist, that it always was some old guy in a mask. So what do you guys think? Do you agree or do you like it when they use real ghosts? I honestly think it keeps it fresh and interesting. The bad guy in a mask forumla gets tiring after awhile.

[Doo]

I don't mind the real monsters in Scooby Doo. Like SpiderScooby said, it keeps the show fresh.

[ahkyahnan]

I've never minded the 'real' monsters at all. I've always felt that all the times they've chosen to use them, they make sense.

The important thing to me I guess is that they've never gone back and forth between real and masked in any one incarnation of Scooby. SDWAY and SD:MI have always featured masked villains for example, while 13 Ghosts were always real.

Of course if you try to view Scooby as one single continuity you have problems, but that's a problem to begin with.

Interestingly, both CN movies so far have sorta used both masked and real at the same time.

Mark

[ScoobyAddict]

I don't mind them using real monsters. I think it keeps it interesting. I don't know that I'd want them to always use real monsters, because the line "and I would have gotten away with it if it weren't for those meddling kids and their dog" is very funny and an important part of Scooby.

[laescoobyfan]

I don't think it ruins the concept. With real monsters being a part of Scooby-Doo, it becomes "more than likely" that it will be someone behind the mask instead of a definite answer that there will be. Villians dress up as monsters in an attempt to make people believe there really is one. And why would people believe there really is one, if monsters don't exist? So, to me it makes sence that real monsters and ghosts would exist in the Scooby-Doo world.

[russm]

The advantage of using real monsters is that they come with free-of-charge background - no need to waste time explaining what it is of anything like that, as long as the creature is well know then you're all set. Of course it has to be well known that you can tell the story pretty much everywhere.

The problem with using real monsters is that if you don't show it 'respect' or more probably those who take it seriously, then the letters and flames start to come in and it all gets messy.

As others have said using real monsters can keep things interesting and give the writers a bit of a break.

[nickle98499]

I'm kind of neutral on this subject.

On the one hand, the fake ghosts and monsters formula is what made Scooby Doo what it is today, which is for all intensive purposes one of the true classics in television animation.

On the other hand, real ghosts and monsters have been used many times in the past, and when real ghosts and monsters have been used, most of the time Shaggy and Scooby accepted it.

Which is the problem with talking about using real monsters in Scooby Doo. When real monsters are used, it seems like Fred, Daphne(except for 13 Ghosts) and Velma don't accept it or run away or they are pushed into the background.

I for one like the real monsters in Scooby Doo, and using them. However, the writers always seem to cop out when it comes to Fred and the girls and dealing with real monsters.

I feel that if Fred, Daphne and Velma met a real ghost, a real witch, a real werewolf, etc., and they just happened to be friendly and nice, I think it could open the door to doing what should have been done for a long time.

That is using Fred and the girls in any movie or episode featuring real monsters, and have the three of them(if the monster is friendly) chat with the ghost, or witch, or whatever, and make friends with the ghost or monster.

In the past, Fred and the girls have met real monsters and ghosts(the Addams family, Jeannie and Babu, the coral creature from one of the WNSD episodes, etc.) and didn't seem to be scared much by them.

In fact, when you really get down to it, I think Fred and the girls like encountering, or would like encountering real monsters.

I say that because the curiousity factor is there, and in those cases I think Fred, Daphne and Velma would talk to the ghost or monster about what it's like to be what they are, and why they scare people, that kind of stuff.

Take SD and the Ghoul School for example; if Fred and the girls were in that movie, I picture them chatting with the girl ghouls and getting to know them.

Heck, I could see Daphne getting along great with Sybella because both of them wear the same color clothing, and Velma getting along great with Elsa because the two of them are both into science.

At least, that's how i've always felt about it.

[ahkyahnan]

Those are some really good observations, and I'd never thought of it like that. I think another factor besides real monsters in those particular films are they were ones that leaned more heavily towards the comedy side of the show, which always suits Shaggy, Scooby (and Scrappy) better. Fred, Daphne and Velma always seem to work better in the more mystery oriented movies/eps. Like "Zombie Island" for instance, which featured the whole gang and worked great, though it was more scary and mysterious, and less comedic.

It's amazing how varied a show Scooby has been over the years. I think that's why it's so popular among so many people.

Mark