Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins (film)

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For other uses, see Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins.
Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins
Mystery Begins poster.jpg
Poster.
Production company Warner Premiere
Cartoon Network
Distributor Warner Home Video
Release date September 13, 2009
Run time 1:22:21
Starring Nick Palatas
Robbie Amell
Hayley Kiyoko
Kate Melton
Garry Chalk
Kevin Macdonald
Frank Welker
Producer(s) Brian Levant
Brian Gilbert
Music composed by David Newman
Screenplay by Steven Altiere
Daniel Altiere
Director(s) Brian Levant
Art director(s) Tyler Haron
Title card
Mystery Begins title card.png

Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins is an American-Canadian live-action/CGI supernatural mystery comedy television film based on Hanna-Barbera's Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! animated TV series which aired from 1969 to 1970. It was written by Steven and Daniel Altiere, produced by Brian Levant and Brian Gilbert, and directed by Levant. It was aired on September 13, 2009 on Cartoon Network, to coincide with the premiere of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! on its 40th anniversary, then later released on DVD/Blu-ray combo pack on September 22. It was a co-production between the then newly formed Warner Premiere and Cartoon Network. It was marketed as a prequel to the big screen films of Scooby-Doo and Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, although it is set in contemporary times. The Mystery Begins was followed the next year with its own sequel, Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster.

The film is an origin story of how the motley crew of Mystery Inc. solves their first case together in clearing their names at their school after being wrongly accused of pulling a ghostly prank that almost burns the school down.

Detailed summary

Memorable quotes

Principal Deedle: Locker problems again, Mr. Rogers?
Shaggy: Huh. Yeah, I uh- I seem to get the squirrelly one every year. Heh.


Daphne: Now introducing the new and improved Velma Dinkley.
Fred: Jinkies.
Scooby: Rubba, rubba.
Shaggy: You can say that again, Scoob.
Scooby: Rubba, rubba.


Prudence Prufrock: First, a grammar lesson! You never start a sentence with the word, "Like!"
Shaggy: Like, sorry!

Characters

Legend
Character debut Speaking debut Ep. debut No lines Mentioned

In order of appearance:

Character Actor
Bus driver Dee Jay Jackson
Shaggy Rogers Nick Palatas
Beefy jock Devon Thomas
Fred Jones Robbie Amell
Velma Dinkley Hayley Kiyoko
Daphne Blake Kate Melton
William Shakespeare
J. Robert Oppenheimer
Otis C. Ernst Harth
Receptionist Unavailable
Principal Deedle/Specter Shawn Macdonald
Daniel Riordan (Specter's voice)
Banjo Unavailable
Mr. Pupperman David Hurtubise
Mother Benita Ha
Son Tony Der, Jr.
Scooby-Doo Frank Welker (voice)
Daughter Cassandra Sawtell
Dad Kurt Evans
Vice Principal Grimes Garry Chalk
Librarian Lorena Gale
Prudence Prufrock Leah James
Ezekial Gallows Brian Sutton
Al Rodrigo (voice)
Shaggy's mother Unavailable
Daphne's father
Huckleberry Hound (bobblehead) N/A
Cowboy ghost Unavailable
Teen girl in car Jordana Largy
Teen boy in car Christopher Attadia
Mother with stroller Kristina Barr
Father with stroller Mark Gash
Microwave lady Wendy Morrow Donaldson
Reporter Kira Clavell
Ghost of Captain Cutler N/A


Organizations

Locations

Objects

Vehicles

Production

Development

The film was first announced by Moviehole on May 16, 2008, with Brian Levant signed on as director (who previously directed The Flintstones and The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas), and a nationwide casting call.[1] The roles of the teens started off quite different than how they ended up on screen (except for Shaggy): Daphne is a Murder, She Wrote-inspired writer, Fred is a football player with a penchant for jigsaw puzzles with aspirations to try out for the school paper, with his idol being footballer turned supreme court justice Bryan "Whizzer" White, while Velma is U.S. ambassador for World Hunger, with the intention to cast an Asian in the role.

The Altiere brothers were hired over several other writers,[2] with their script being inspired by the 1985 film The Breakfast Club, which is about a group of teens from different backgrounds coming together during a detention.[3] They then did rewrites with Brian Levant,[4] who had assistance from two retired writing friends.[5]

On July 21, Robbie Amell and Hayley Kiyoko were cast as Fred and Velma, respectively, joining Kate Melton and Nick Palatas as Daphne and Shaggy, respectively, who had already been cast before then.[6]

On August 1, a press release formally announced the project as Scooby-Doo: In the Beginning at the time, with the aforementioned cast officially announced.[7] Scooby-Doo would be computer generated by Animation Picture Company, and his voice supplied by Frank Welker,[7] who had already been voicing the character in cartoons since 2002. Filming was reported to take three days in Vancouver, British Columbia.[7][8] It had a projected date for fall 2009.[7]

Cartoon Network saw their collaboration with Warner Premiere on Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins as an anchor into a major shift into new live-action programming for the latter.[7][8]

Amell's offer to wear a blond wig to match Fred in the cartoon was declined.

After graduating high school, Kiyoko auditioned for Velma,[9] at the suggestion by her father, although she was skeptical at first because she's the polar opposite of Velma, but Levant was able to see past Kiyoko's own style.[10] When looking for guidance, she took to the cartoon, instead of Linda Cardellini's portrayal in the theatrical films.[9]

Filming

While filming in Vancouver, Templeton Secondary School was chosen as the school the gang would attend.

Music

The music was composed by David Newman, who also did the same for the two previous theatrical films.

Songs

  1. "Football Funk" - Edmund (Ed) Hartman
  2. "Fiesta" - Mariachi la Estrella
  3. "You and I" - Anarbor
  4. "What's New, Scooby-Doo?" - Anarbor
  5. "American Jig" from House of Wax - David Buttolph

Crew credits

Release

Dates are in order of release:

  • United States: July 26, 2009 at San Diego Comic Con International (SDCC);[11] September 13, 2009 at 7 p.m. (ET/PT) on Cartoon Network; September 22, 2009 on DVD and Blu-ray

Behind the scenes

  • On the side of the school buses, Coolsville High is in District #1969.
  • For some reason, only the bottom of Shaggy's mother's legs are shown.
  • Shaggy owns an unidentified Batman comic (until it can become identified) and Challenge of the DC Super Friends #6.
  • Daphne (who specifically states her age), Fred, and Velma are 15 years old, making Shaggy 17.
  • The movie played at the theater is House of Wax from 1957, with Vincent Price, not the 2005 one with Paris Hilton.
  • Velma talks about a mystery at Coolsville Museum, which is a reference to the events of "What a Night for a Knight," the first episode of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!
  • The movie ends with a series of montages from the original series (most of which are featured in the opening and closing theme song) along with the spin-off What's New, Scooby-Doo?
    • The "What's New, Scooby-Doo?" song during the end montage came from the TV series of the same name.
    • Bats fly out of a spooky house which opens up the Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! theme song.
    • Scooby is scared by two giant eyeballs from The Scooby-Doo Show theme song.
    • A cackling skull from the Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! episode "Hassle in the Castle."
    • Fred falling backward into a bookcase which happened in the Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! episode "Never Ape an Ape Man."
    • A hand grabs at Daphne like in the Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! episode "Hassle in the Castle."
    • Captain Cutler's Ghost from the Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! episode "A Clue for Scooby-Doo."
    • Silhouettes of the gang running across three different colored rows like in the What's New, Scooby-Doo? theme song.
    • A close-up of Scooby like at the end of the What's New, Scooby-Doo? theme song.
  • At the end of the end credits, there is a special thanks to the staff of Templeton High School.

Errors

  • Despite only being referred to as the "Specter," the credits list him as "Dark Specter."
  • In the scene when the Gang is getting suspended, Nick Palatas (Shaggy)'s microphone is visible in his back pocket.
  • Velma says Coolsville Mountain, but the address on the map website says Coolsville Mountain Road.
  • Shaggy doesn't get rope burn.

In popular culture

  • In the 2020 documentary The Last Blockbuster, there is an archival interview with the then new Blockbuster CEO and Chairman James W. Keyes, during which the company's website appears onscreen as he talks, showing their latest releases, which includes Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins.
  • Blockbuster online Mystery Begins.png

Marketing and promotion

At the aforementioned SDCC, the screening was supposed to be followed by a panel with Amell, Palatas, Melton, and Kiyoko, Levant, and producer Brian Gilbert, with the hopes that Welker would also be available, then a booth signing from Amell, Palatas, Melton, and Kiyoko.[11] Specially made dog collars were also sold.[12]

Critical reception

Ratings

The telecast succeeded in becoming the most watched in Cartoon Network history, according to preliminary overnight data from Nielsen Media Research.[13][14]

In other languages

Language Name Meaning

Home availability

Trailers

Teaser trailer #1:

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Teaser trailer #2:

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DVD/Blu-ray trailer:

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TV spot #1:

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TV spot #2:

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TV spot #3:

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References

  1. ^ Rodney (May 16, 2008). "Made For TV Scooby Doo Prequel In The Works". The Movie Blog. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  2. ^ JayBee & Milly (February 3, 2024). "The Daniel Altiere Interview: Writer of Scooby Doo the Mystery Begins and Curse of the Lake Monster!". (at 13:52). YouTube. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  3. ^ JayBee & Milly (February 3, 2024). "The Daniel Altiere Interview: Writer of Scooby Doo the Mystery Begins and Curse of the Lake Monster!". (at 14:52). YouTube. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  4. ^ JayBee & Milly (February 3, 2024). "The Daniel Altiere Interview: Writer of Scooby Doo the Mystery Begins and Curse of the Lake Monster!". (at 15:16). YouTube. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  5. ^ JayBee & Milly (February 3, 2024). "The Daniel Altiere Interview: Writer of Scooby Doo the Mystery Begins and Curse of the Lake Monster!". (at 15:26). YouTube. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  6. ^ Caffeinated Clint (July 21, 2008). "Scooby Doo 3's Velma and Fred cast!". Moviehole. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  7. ^ a b c d e Staff (August 2, 2008). "Live-Action Scooby-Doo Prequel in the Works". Major Spoilers. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  8. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (August 1, 2008). "New mystery mission for 'Scooby-Doo'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  9. ^ a b Pascal, Susan (October 27, 2010). "Actress-Musician Is a Rising Star". Agoura Hills Patch. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  10. ^ Lindell, Karen (July 16, 2010). "Hayley's comet". Ventura County Star. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  11. ^ a b Dixon, Kerry (July 8, 2009). "Cartoon Network/Adult Swim at the Con!". SDCC Unofficial Blog! Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  12. ^ "Scooby Doo, Dog Collar, SDCC 2009". WorthPoint. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  13. ^ Press Release (September 15, 2009). "Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins Scores as Cartoon Network's Most-Watched Telecast in Network History". WarnerMedia. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  14. ^ Staff (September 15, 2009). "SCOOBY-DOO! THE MYSTERY BEGINS Scores as Cartoon Network’s Most-Watched Telecast in Network History". TV By the Numbers. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
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