When Hanna-Barbera introduced Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? in 1969, they had no idea the impact their show would have on society. Now forty-five years later, after countless movies and TV episodes, Scooby-Doo, Freddie, Daphne, Velma, and Shaggy have not only unmasked the worst of humanity; but they also set an example for how society ought to be.
In every new installment of Scooby-Doo, there is a new monster or villain to be unmasked. This is where these teenagers are able to reveal one of the darkest truths to human nature: the greatest villains are humans. Countless people have masqueraded around in costumes to reveal that the only real monster in the world is humanity. A man trying to steal his relative’s fortune; a CEO trying to cover-up his companies illegal practices; a fired employee looking for vengeance; all humanity at its worst. In its forty-five years Scooby-Doo has rarely allowed the villain to be an actual supernatural force. In an attempt to influence youth away from corruption and villainy, Hanna-Barbera created Scooby-Doo as a tool to teach children from an early age that the world is not a good place. It is wicked and falling apart at the seams.
On the other hand, the main characters of the series give hope to what the world could be. The real mystery is how teenagers of different social circles can get along. High school can be a terrible place; however, the human characters of the Scooby-Doo franchise show that young people can work out-side of their social circles and cliques. Velma possess above average intelligence. Freddie is attractive, but not always portrayed as an athlete. Shaggy is a hippie vagabond whose best friend is his dog. Daphne is portrayed as attractive and wealthy. In any normal high school, these characters would not want to hang out together. Teenagers let their attributes and social class determine their friendships. But the characters of Freddie, Velma, Shaggy, and Daphne allow their mutual enjoyment of mystery solving to bring them together as a team. Without all the different personalities and backgrounds, their team would not be as effective.
Impressively, the creative masters behind this cartoon have both chastised society and given it hope for the future. The children who watch any Scooby-Doo series are exposed to the problems of American society. With any luck, these children will be able to recall these social issues into their adult lives and become better people.
American Cultural Icons 