Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Pups Coming in 2024

Update 5/26: Roger Eschbacher, who wrote for Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated, has just announced he will write for this series!

Almost right after the news about a more mature Scooby-Doo series last week, Warner Brothers has just announced what the next Scooby-Doo series after Velma will be. Interestingly, it will be the polar opposite of Velma: the first Scooby-Doo series aimed at preschoolers. The new CGI-animated series will feature Shaggy and Scooby-Doo as camp counselors for three puppies called "The Mystery Pups." Mark Palmer will be both the showrunner and executive producer, and Erik Knutson will be the supervising director for the show. The series will air on Cartoon Network's Cartoonito block, and will also be available to stream on HBO Max.

Here's the official description provided by WB:

As counselors in a lakeside sleepaway camp, Scooby and Shaggy don’t know much about canoes and archery, but they do know how to solve a mystery! In a summer filled with nature hikes, rafting trips and fireside ghost stories, the goofy, good-hearted and can-do duo will share their love for chasing clues with three young camper pups destined to become their own preschool version of Mystery Incorporated. Featuring mysteries that will be more kooky than spooky, Scooby Doo! And the Mystery Pups teaches preschoolers about curiosity and the joy of discovery. The show will encourage the audience to solve clues alongside the collaborative trio of pups, exemplifying how much can be accomplished with friends by your side. These curiosity and teamwork skillsets align with Cartoonito’s Humancentric Learning Framework—a philosophy that helps children develop their unique potential—by inspiring preschoolers to greet every mystery they encounter with wonder, confidence, and cooperation. Scooby-Doo veteran voices Frank Welker and Matthew Lillard will lead the cast, playing Scooby and Shaggy respectively. 

A statement about the show was released by Amy Friedman: “This show combines everything we love about Scooby—his humor, his loyal friendship with Shaggy, his mystery-loving spirit—all in an innovative and accessible format for preschoolers. Cartoonito parents and caregivers will get to introduce kids to their beloved childhood hero in a totally new way.”

Sam Register also shared: "We are thrilled to finally give preschoolers a version of Scooby to call their own. With plenty of laughs, fun, and clues to chase, this show promises to entertain the youngest of mystery solvers."

The description seems to hint that this may be our first series in 15 years that does not include Velma, Fred and Daphne at all. It seems that the camper puppies are their replacements, both given the way the description is worded ("destined to become their own preschool version of Mystery Incorporated"). In addition, the designs on the show poster seems to imply that the glasses-wearing puppy is supposed to be like Velma, and the puppy with the bow in their hair is the equivalent of Daphne. It also sort of feels like this is a full-length series version of "Camp Comeoniwannascareya."

I'm also sort of wondering if this isn't an attempt to revitalize Scooby-Doo in the eyes of very young kids. They've leaned more heavily into the nostalgia factor lately, between Guess Who, and all with the crossovers with older properties like Courage the Cowardly Dog, so this makes me wonder if they aren't trying to target Scooby at a new, younger audience who might not have been as likely to consume Scooby-Doo content. I think Paw Patrol is a popular show among preschoolers right now, so given it's puppies, I'm kind of wondering if it's not their attempt at that? That and obviously potentially trying to offset the backlash of Velma. If this series is coming out in 2024, it's probably safe to assume Velma will be coming out in 2023.

Also, since Mondays are all about fun facts on this site, here's a little random tidbit: this show was announced the exact same day Guess Who was 4 years ago, May 23, 2018.