Summary
- Scooby-Doo has had a significant impact on the world of animation, inspiring numerous shows that borrowed elements from its successful formula. Here are some of the most notable Scooby-Doo clones that were released during the 1970s:
- **The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan (1972)**: This show was inspired by the popular Charlie Chan detective series, featuring a family of detectives who solve mysteries with the help of their talking dog, Popeye. The character of Popeye was clearly influenced by Scooby-Doo, with his cowardly demeanor and sputtering way of talking.
- **Dynomutt, Dog Wonder (1976-1977)**: Dynomutt was another Hanna-Barbera creation that took the concept of a talking dog solving mysteries and added a superhero twist. Dynomutt was a crime-fighting dog who had a bumbling sidekick named Blue Falcon. The show was a clear attempt to capitalize on the success of Scooby-Doo, but it had its own unique spin on the genre.
The enduring legacy of The Hanna-Barbera cartoon character was created in 1969 and continues to be a feature in movies and television shows decades later. The concept of the cowardly, snack-loving dog Scooby ing his friends as they solved mysteries proved to be a hit and there were many shows that followed that decided to "borrow" that winning premise.
Hanna-Barbera themselves were behind a number of Scooby-Doo clone shows that took the same basic premise and added in some new elements to sell as a completely new show. For the most part, this involved a group of young mystery solvers ed by an animal or wacky sidekick of some kind. Not surprisingly, none of these shows came close to reaching the success of Scooby-Doo, but some of these ripoff shows were better than they appeared.
15 Best Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Ranked
Hanna-Barbera Productions developed some of the most iconic 20th-century cartoons. From Scooby-Doo to Tom & Jerry, here are their best shows.
10 The Funky Phantom (1971-1972)
1 Season, 17 Episodes
A year after Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! finished airing, Hanna-Barbera presented its first Scooby-Doo clone with The Funky Phantom. Running for 17 episodes, the show was about three teens and their dog who accidentally release two ghosts. Namely, Jonathan Wellington “Mudsy” Muddlemore. who lived during the Revolutionary War, and his pet cat Boo. Together, the teens and the ghosts solve mysteries while driving around in a dune buggy called the Looney Duney.
The fact that the teen sleuths have a pet dog should be an indication of how closely the show follows Scooby-Doo.
Unlike Scooby-Doo's typical cartoon adventures that show the ghosts and ghouls are nothing but frauds, The Funky Phantom does have a supernatural element that is quite entertaining. However, the fact that the teen sleuths have a pet dog should be an indication of how closely the show follows Scooby-Doo. However, the series did make enough of an impact on its own to inspire the character of Marquess of Queensberry on Mike Tyson Mysteries.
The Funky Phantom
- Release Date
- 1971 - 1972-00-00
Cast
Allan Melvin Casey Kasem-
Micky Dolenz
-
Hal Smith
-
Barney Phillips
The Funky Phantom is an animated television series from 1971, produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions. The series follows three teenagers and their dog who, while seeking shelter in a creepy mansion, accidentally release the ghost of a Revolutionary War soldier named Jonathan Wellington "Mudsy" Muddlemore. Together, they embark on various adventures and solve mysteries.
- Main Genre
- Animation
9 Speed Buggy (1973)
1 Season, 16 Episodes
Sometimes Scooby-Doo was just one element of inspiration that was mixed into these notable shows from the era. Further influenced by the Speed Racer anime and The Love Bug (1968), Speed Buggy revolves around three teen car racers and the titular anthropomorphic dune buggy. However, instead of solving mysteries, they compete in racing competitions and foil different villains along the way.
Taking the show just on its premise alone, it might seem that it is distinct enough to not be considered a Scooby-Doo clone. However, once fans take a look at the character designs in the series, the similarities will become clear. Speed Buggy's friend and mechanic, Tinker, is almost identical to Shaggy in looks and appearance. It is likely, not coincidental that Speed Buggy's sputtering way of talking sounds a lot like Scooby-Doo's distinct and iconic laugh.
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Speed Buggy is an animated television series that features a talking dune buggy named Speed Buggy, who partners with race car drivers Tinker, Mark, and Debbie. Together, they embark on various adventures involving racing and thwarting criminals. The show combines elements of comedy and action, offering family-friendly entertainment with a focus on teamwork and problem-solving.
- Main Genre
- Animation
8 Inch High, Private Eye
Released In 1973
Inch High, Private Eye is another Scooby-Doo ripoff that also borrowed from other popular sources of the time in this adventure about the tiniest detective in the world. While the characters of Inch High, Private Eye aren’t teenagers, the show is about a mystery-solving agency like Scooby-Doo who has a pet dog in addition to the titular miniature detective. The main difference is that they’re professionals instead of amateurs. However, the fact that they are accompanied by their pet dog helps to make the influence more clear.
The character of Inch High was modeled after Maxwell Smart from the comedy spy series Get Smart. In addition, Inch High’s characters use special gadgets to bust criminals similar to the ones seen in that series. This includes a silent running car known as the Hushmobile and a makeup compact that serves as a communicator/homing device.
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Inch High, Private Eye
- Release Date
- 1973 - 1973-00-00
Cast
Jamie Farr-
Kathy Gori
-
Ted Knight
-
Bob Luttrell
Inch High, Private Eye is an animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera. The show follows the misadventures of Inch High, a miniature private investigator, who, despite his diminutive size, uses his intelligence and ingenuity to solve crimes. With the help of his niece Lori, her dog Braveheart, and their friend Gator, Inch High tackles various cases, often facing humorous challenges due to his stature.
- Main Genre
- Animation
7 Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kids (1973)
1 Season, 13 Episodes
Bearing no relation to the iconic Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid except in name only, this show not only borrows elements from Scooby-Doo but also from another Hanna-Barbera cartoon, namely, Josie and the Pussycats, which was based on the Archie Comics series of the same name. Premise-wise, it’s about a teen pop group who are also secret crime fighters with a dog named Elvis. They even use different gadgets, such as a communicator ring.
As with other Scooby-Doo ripoffs, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kids feels like a show that could not decide which cartoon it wanted to be a clone of so it settled on combining two proven shows together. While Josie and the Pussycats doesn't have the same level of popularity as Scooby-Doo, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kids did not come close to replicating its success with its single-season run.
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Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kids
- Release Date
- September 8, 1973
Cast
-
Judy Strangis
-
Micky Dolenz
-
John Stephenson
-
Kristina Holland
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kids, an animated television series from 1973, follows the adventures of Butch Cassidy and his band, the Sundance Kids, who double as a group of crime-fighting spies. Together, they travel the world, undertaking various missions to thwart villains. The series combines musical elements with mystery and action, providing family-friendly entertainment.
- Main Genre
- Animation
6 Goober And The Ghost Chasers (1973)
1 Season, 16 Episodes
Of the Scooby-Doo clones that were released by Hanna-Barbera, this one is arguably one of the most derivative and obvious. With a group of mystery-minded teens and a dog sidekick who is really the star of the show, it seems as though Goober and the Ghost Chasers were not even trying to mask the fact that it was a ripoff. Even the attempts to be different feel forced, such as the teens being reporters from a paranormal magazine rather than detectives and Goober having the ability to turn invisible.
One aspect is that the characters on the show only hear Goober through barks while the dog breaks the fourth wall and can speak English to the audience.
However, as blatant as the duplication of the story is, there are some worthwhile elements that set this show apart. One aspect is that the characters on the show only hear Goober through barks while the dog breaks the fourth wall and can speak English to the audience. Also, unlike Scooby-Doo's adventures, this series mixes fake supernatural elements with real ones.
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Goober and the Ghost Chasers
- Release Date
- 1973 - 1975-00-00
Cast
-
Paul Winchell
-
Jo Ann Harris
-
Ronnie Schell
-
Jerry Dexter
Goober and the Ghost Chasers is an animated television series that premiered in 1973. The show follows the antics of Goober, a canine character who aids his human friends in investigating supernatural occurrences. Featuring a mix of comedy and mystery, the series involves the group encountering and solving ghostly mysteries while navigating various spooky settings. The show aligns with the classic Hanna-Barbera animation style and appeal.
- Seasons
- 1
5 Clue Club (1976-1977)
Season 1, Episode 16
Clue Club was another short-lived Scooby-Doo ripoff that barely tried to hide the fact that it was hardly original. It is also a prime example of the hilarious ways shows attempt to stick close to the proven formula while changing just enough. In this case, instead of one talking dog, imagine two dogs and they only spoke to each other. Woofer and Whimper were the canines at the center of Clue Club, which was yet another Hanna-Barbera show that focused on mystery-solving teens.
The dog characters at the center of the show were interesting in how they differed from Scooby with Woofer being an arrogant wannabe detective who is never right, while Whimper is laidback. Ironically, this show premiered one month before The Scooby-Doo Show spinoff that introduced a new character named Scooby-Dum. Still, Clue Club only lasted one season, while The Scooby-Doo Show ran for three.
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Clue Club is an animated mystery TV series from 1976, revolving around a group of teenage detectives and their two talking dogs as they solve various mysteries. The club, led by Larry, Pepper, D.D., and Dottie, uses their keen intellects and a range of gadgets to uncover clues and expose criminals. The show combines classic detective tropes with a fun, lighthearted approach aimed at a young audience.
- Main Genre
- Animation
4 Jabberjaw (1976)
1 Season, 16 Episodes
Much like Josie and Butch Cassidy, Jabberjaw is about teen musicians that fight crime. Only this time, the show takes place in an underwater society and the mascot is a talking shark. While this isn’t Hanna-Barbera’s first underwater-themed show with predecessors like Sealab 2020, they were not only influenced by Scooby-Doo but also the iconic shark movie Jaws. Hence the titular shark of Jabberjaw, though this one is more comedic than scary personality-wise.
While it is hard to overlook the fact that Jabberjaw is a character directly influenced by Scooby, especially with his cowardly demeanor, the show has built a legacy of its own. It is an inventive setting for the series and the legendary voice actor Frank Welker at least makes Jabberjaw sound like his own character rather than trying to imitate Scooby. The show didn't last long but the character has remained a cult figure in the decades that followed.
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Jabberjaw is a 1976 animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera. The show features a 15-foot talking great white shark named Jabberjaw who plays the drums in a rock band called The Neptunes. Set in the underwater future of 2076, the series follows the band as they embark on various adventures and encounter villains, all while Jabberjaw provides comic relief with his vaudeville-inspired antics and famous catchphrase.
- Creator(s)
- Joe Ruby, Ken Spears
3 Captain Caveman And The Teen Angels (1977-1980)
3 Seasons, 20 Episodes
With three seasons to its name, this series proved to be one of the few Scooby-Doo ripoffs that found some success in its own right, even if it didn't launch a franchise like its main influence. Titled Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels, it revolved around a trio of young women and a prehistoric man that they found frozen in a cave. Driving around in a colorful van, they solved Scooby-Doo-style mysteries.
Captain Caveman is a hilarious show to look back on as it is obvious how much it is trying to capitalize on various trends of the era but not having an idea of which one to stick with. In the end, the show mashes together Scooby-Doo with Charlie's Angels and even some elements of the classic cartoon The Flintstones. However, it is clear that with his hairy appearance and "caveman talk," Captain Caveman is meant to fill in for the Scooby role in this adventure. The character remained popular enough to make an appearance in the 2020 movie Scoob!
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Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels
- Release Date
- 1977 - 1980-00-00
- Network
- ABC
Cast
-
Mel BlancTaffy Dare (voice)
-
Gary OwensCaptain Caveman (voice)
-
Laurel PageDee Dee Skyes (voice)
-
Marilyn SchrefflerBrenda Chance (voice)
Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels is an animated series spin-off featuring Captain Caveman and a trio of young detectives. In the 1980 episodes, they solve mysteries in their own dedicated half-hour timeslot, continuing their adventures after initially appearing as segments on Scooby's All-Star Laff-A-Lympics and Scooby's All-Stars.
- Creator(s)
- Joe Ruby, Ken Spears
2 Buford And The Galloping Ghost (1978-9)
1 Season, 13 Episodes
Because variety shows were popular in the 1970s, it was common to place more than one cartoon series into a 30-minute to hour-long slot. Such was the case for Buford and the Galloping Ghost which offers fans two Scooby-Doo ripoffs at once. The Buford Files revolved around a bloodhound solving mysteries with teens in the Deep South. Meanwhile, The Galloping Ghost was about two ranch girls being aided by a prospector’s ghost.
Interestingly, both shows featured Frank Welker, the iconic voice actor behind Scooby-Doo's character of Fred Jones (and later Scooby himself), as the title character. There are differences between the shows, including the fact that Buford was actually helpful in solving the mysteries and that The Galloping Ghost doesn't really have a mystery element. However, the double-billed shows offered little to fans and were canceled in a matter of months.
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Buford and the Galloping Ghost
- Release Date
- 1978 - 1977
Cast
-
Marilyn Schreffler
Frank Welker-
Henry Corden
-
Harold Peary
- Seasons
- 1
1 The New Shmoo (1979-80)
1 Season, 13 Episodes
As derivative of Scooby-Doo as The New Shmoo may be, there is an interesting backstory. In fact, the cartoon character actually predates Scooby-Doo by more than 20 years as the Shmoo appeared in a satirical comic strip called Li’l Abner. He then made his television debut in the cartoon adaptation of the comic strip in 1948. The 1948 sequence, in particular, revolved around an entire race of Shmoos who were exploited and then wiped out.
In addition, the Shmoo appeared in later pop culture and was used as a scientific term. However, despite having an impressive legacy of its own, The New Shmoo took the character and simply dropped him into a Scooby-Doo clone series in which he used his shape-shifting abilities to help teens who work at a comic book company solve mysteries. It wasn't all that original and didn't make it past the first season.
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The New Shmoo is an animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera, featuring the shape-shifting creature Shmoo from Al Capp's Li'l Abner comic strip. The show follows Shmoo and three young reporters—Mickey, Nita, and Billy Joe—as they solve mysteries and combat villains using Shmoo's unique abilities. This family-friendly series blends humor and adventure in each episode.
- Main Genre
- Animation
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