Fan Spotlight 2024 #4: Scubidu

Today, our fan spotlight is Scubidu! Scubidu runs his own Scooby-Doo Instagram account, Diário do Scooby, and used to contribute to a Brazilian Scooby-Doo fan page. Here is Scubidu's fan spotlight:

1. What is your name?
Hi, my name is Bryan but online I tipically go by “Scubidu”, which is how you’d spell Scooby-Doo here in Brazil where I live. It’s also one of the names the franchise got here when some comics were released in the early late 70s.

2. How did you get into Scooby-Doo?
I watch Scooby-Doo for as long as I can remember. They’d usually air the cartoon in the morning, right when I was at preschool, so my dad (who’s also a fan of the show) recorded it on VHS for me. Since always, it’s been my favorite cartoon and it ended influenced many of my favorite things, like slasher movies, whodunit-type of stories and mystery novels.

3. What is your favorite Scooby-Doo episode and film? Why?
Favorite episode has to be “Which Witch is Witch?”. It’s a classic and there’s two of my favorite things in a Scooby episode – a witch and a swamp. The scene where Shaggy and Scooby disguise themselves as the swamp witch and Shaggy recites a made-up spell is pure gold. Also, I deeply connect with the one scene where the witch goes “Money, money, money!”. I wish I had a more original answer, but my favorite film is “Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island”. I think it has the perfect balance of darkness and humor, the characters’ personalities are just on point and the artwork is a stunning. Everytime I rewatch it, I notice more and more details that amaze me. It’s truly a masterpiece in my opinion.

4. What ways are you involved in the Scooby fandom online?
From 2013 through 2017, I used to contribute to a brazilian fanpage. I really enjoyed it but, unfortunately, I had to quit to focus on college. I recently started a new fanpage called “Diário do Scooby” (@diariodoscoobydoo on Instagram)

5. In your opinion, what is the best series or era of Scooby?
Nostalgia aside, Mystery Incorporated and Be Cool, Scooby-Doo are my favorite series of the franchise. Mystery Incorporated because of the over-arching plot full of horror and pop culture references and Be Cool because of the characters development. Be Cool really felt like a love letter to the characters, even when they were poking fun on the tropes and the characters, they were never offensive. I wish people would give this series it's well deserved praise. Fortunately, I've seen a lot of people revisiting it and realizing how great it is.

6. What one Scooby-Doo series or film would you want a sequel to someday?
That's a sensitive topic, cause the last sequels we got weren't very good in my opinion. But if done right, I'd love to see a third season of Mystery Incorporated, more character-driven, cause I think there was so much going on on the second season (plot-wise) that we didn't have the time to see how the gang have grown and matured from the things they experience. I'd like to see more depth to Daphne's character and proper development of Velma and Marcie hinted relationship.

7. What direction would you like to see the franchise go in the future?
I really want them to focus on the gang's interaction with each other, as the group of close friends we know they are, but lately I feel like this aspect has been overshadowed by cheap gags, celebrity guests, crossover and car chase scenes. Also, can we not WILLINGLY mess with the continuity? (Yes, I'm looking at you, Return to Zombie Island)

8. Who is your favorite member of the gang and why?
Velma was always my favorite character, cause I've related to her way of being methodic, not really loud and kind of on her own. But lately, we got a new thing in common, being part of the LGBTQIA community (at least in some incarnations, haha). 

9. What is your favorite villain? Why?
Lena and Simone. Cause they didn't start as evil villains, but were injusticed and then got corrupted. I like the subversion.

10. In your opinion, who is the best recurring (non-gang) character in the franchise?
Velma's sister, Madelyn. I love her dynamic with Shaggy and Scooby. I wish we saw more of her. #JusticeForMadelynDinkley

11. Do you have a Scooby-Doo collection? If so, what’s in it?
I have a small collection with 10 DVDs, a Scooby Apocalypse compilation and some figures. Unfortunately, I can't tell you everything in detail cause everything is in a box right now, cause I'm about to move.

12. What do you think has made the franchise so popular that it’s still going strong after 50 years?
I think it's the fact that you will always relate to someone from the gang, cause they are all unique and diverse characters. Also, the franchise is always reinventing itself (it doesn't always turn out good though).

13. What is one fun fact about you in real life?
I'm an amateur music producer. If you search "I'm a Hex Girl (Spellbound Remix)", you'll find a dubstep-y remix for that song I made when I was 15. So cringe. 

14. Please feel free to share anything else you’d like to here!
Lately, I'm seeing a lot of people from the Scooby community being hostile to each other, to Scooby creators etc. I just wanna ask those people to be kind to each other. We're all united by a franchise that it's so gleeful, so full of love, we need to spread that. That's it. Also, thanks for having me here and thanks for the amazing work you do on this website, always with so much effort and respect for the fans and the franchise.

Thanks so much to Scubidu for being our fan spotlight today! I completely agree with his thoughts on where the franchise should go in the future. I also really liked his thoughts for #14 about what a great community this is, and how important it is to remember to be kind to each other.

To end off this fan spotlight, I have a bit of an exciting surprise. Although I originally planned for today to be the final spotlight, we actually have one more fan spotlight! The final spotlight will be posted on Monday, September 30 to end off this anniversary month celebration. Be sure to check back then for our final fan spotlight of the year!