Date of Award

Summer 2025

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Department

Art

First Advisor

Mark Minett

Abstract

This study examines how the Scooby-Doo franchise employs narrative complexity within an episodic formula, balancing accessibility with layered storytelling. Analyzing two pivotal iterations, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! (1969) and Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated (2010), the research challenges the perception that episodic animation is inherently simplistic.

While the original series established a consistent mystery-of-the-week format, characterized by predictable structures and comedic relief, it also demonstrated narrative ingenuity through character dynamics and tonal balance. Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! navigated the industrial constraints of Saturday morning cartoons, designed for syndication and commercial viability, by embedding recurring character dynamics, atmospheric tension, and iterative mystery tropes that fostered audience engagement beyond mere repetition. The show’s balance of humor and suspense, alongside its carefully crafted character archetypes, created a sense of cohesion and emotional resonance that transcended its episodic limitations. Each self-contained episode contributed to an overarching narrative familiarity, offering a form of narrative complexity rooted in structure and tone rather than serialized progression.

Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated builds upon this foundation, incorporating serialized arcs, character-driven conflicts, and intertextual references to sustain long-term narrative engagement. This iteration maintains episodic accessibility while deepening emotional and thematic complexity, blending self-contained plots with overarching mysteries and character evolution.

Drawing on frameworks from television narrative scholars Jason Mittell, Michael Z. Newman, and Roberta Pearson, the analysis explores how characterization, plot structure, and industrial context shape both episodic and serialized formats. Ultimately, this study argues that the binary opposition between episodic simplicity and serialized sophistication overlooks the nuanced strategies employed by both storytelling forms. By re-evaluating the franchise’s narrative transformation, the paper highlights how Scooby- Doo serves as a compelling case study in children’s animated television, demonstrating that formula-driven storytelling can foster innovative, multi-dimensional narratives.

Rights

© 2025, Evrie Joy Pruitt

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