Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Animation

Scooby-Doo

Scooby-Doo is an American media franchise that began with the animated television series *Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!* in 1969.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Scooby-Doo is an American media franchise that began with the 1969 animated series *Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!*. It follows a talking Great Dane and four teenage friends who solve mysteries that always turn out to be hoaxes.

What it is

The franchise was created by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears for Hanna-Barbera. The core group includes Scooby-Doo, Shaggy Rogers, Fred Jones, Daphne Blake, and Velma Dinkley. They travel in the Mystery Machine and investigate seemingly supernatural cases, which are later revealed to have ordinary explanations.

Why it matters

Scooby-Doo became one of the most recognizable children's animation franchises. It established a lasting mystery-comedy formula and has been widely broadcast in Canada, making it familiar to Canadian audiences through TV, streaming, films, and merchandise.

Key details

The franchise has expanded into numerous animated spin-offs, live-action films, specials, comics, and video games. It remains active under Warner Bros. and continues to produce new content.

In short

  • The franchise began with *Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!* in 1969.
  • Scooby-Doo is a talking Great Dane and the title character.
  • Stories involve mysteries that appear supernatural but are later explained.
  • The franchise has expanded into many animated series, films, and other media.
Canadian angle

Scooby-Doo has been widely broadcast and distributed in Canada and remains familiar to Canadian audiences through television, streaming, films, and merchandise.

Quick questions

What is Scooby-Doo?
Scooby-Doo is an American media franchise that began with a 1969 animated TV series and centers on a mystery-solving Great Dane and his teenage companions.
Who created Scooby-Doo?
The franchise was created by writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears.
Is Scooby-Doo still active?
Yes. The franchise continues through modern animated productions, films, and related media.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scooby-Doo
    Supports: Franchise origin, creator names, core premise, main characters, and ownership/history.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Scooby-Doo
    Supports: Overview of the franchise, core characters, and long-running format.
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scooby-Doo,_Where_Are_You!
    Supports: Debut year, creators, original series format, and Mystery Machine premise.
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Scooby-Doo_media
    Supports: Scope of franchise across series, films, specials, games, comics, and other media.