A Scooby-Doo story doesn’t require a Halloween setting to justify the existence of weird and creepy things. Every day is like Halloween for Scooby, Shaggy, Daphne, Fred and Velma, whether or not they like it.
So although Scooby functions fine without Halloween, there’s always something extra special whenever the holiday is featured. The creators must agree, too, because they tend to go all-out for the occasion.
The following is a guide to Halloween’s appearances in the Scooby-Doo universe. Sometimes All Hallows’ Eve plays a big role in the story, and other times it’s just there in the background. Either way, you’re sure to get your fill of Halloween with these Scooby selections.
The Scooby-Doo Show – “The Headless Horseman of Halloween”
From The Scooby-Doo Show is this unmistakably Halloween-themed episode. Mystery Inc. was partying it up at Crane Mansion when all of a sudden, one of the costumed guests turned out to be the bona fide Headless Horseman. Or so everyone thought. This episode also features Scooby’s cousin Scooby-Dum.
The Scooby-Doo Show – “To Switch a Witch”
Had it been up to them, Shaggy and Scooby would have spent this Halloween trick-or-treating. Instead, they had to deal with old witch Milissa Wilcox. Making the group’s visit to Salem, Massachusetts more confusing is the fact that this legendary witch resembles their friend, Arlene Wilcox.
The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries – “A Halloween Hassle at Dracula’s Castle”
What began as The New Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Show eventually became The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries. And after only solving mysteries with Scooby, Shaggy, Scrappy-Doo and Daphne, we finally got to see Fred and Velma again. At that point, those two had been absent from the franchise for several years. What’s also notable about the episode “A Halloween Hassle at Dracula’s Castle”, apart from Fred and Velma’s return, is the existence of the supernatural; here it’s real, seeing as how Dracula and his wife, Frankenstein’s Monster, the Wolfman, the Mummy, the Gill-man, and the Invisible Man all make appearances. Even so, someone in a mask can be found causing mischief at this monster mash.
Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School
“It’s Halloween all year long at that old Grimwood place!” says one character in the TV-movie Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School. That boy wasn’t exaggerating, either; each year the students and staff at Miss Grimwood’s Finishing School for Girls work their way up to the big open house party on Halloween. This year is going to be different, though, because a wicked witch named Revolta is out to get the Grimwood Girls. For more of Sibella, Tanis and those other ghoulish gals, be sure to check out their guest appearance in “Monster Party”, the Halloween episode of OK K.O.! Let’s Be Heroes.
A Pup Named Scooby-Doo – “Ghost Who’s Coming to Dinner”
One of the best cases of “babyfication” has to be A Pup Named Scooby-Doo. It retained the spirit of the original cartoons while adding its own memorable signature. And after the ups and downs of the franchise so far, this entry was a good reset. The Halloween episode “Ghost Who’s Coming to Dinner” also has a significant instance of ghosts being legit in SD. However, that Mr. Boo isn’t the real threat here; a phony pirate specter called Boobeard is up to no good.
Scooby-Doo! and the Witch’s Ghost
While this movie’s inclusion here is debatable, there’s no denying how Halloweenish Scooby-Doo! and the Witch’s Ghost both feels and looks. The presence of a monster turkey also makes it fine for Thanksgiving, but generally speaking, the autumnal aesthetic of this straight-to-video movie makes it perfect for all of Fall. In this follow-up to Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island, the Scoobies find supernatural trouble when they visit a horror author’s New England hometown. On top of a local hoax is the very real legend of a persecuted witch.
The Scooby-Doo Project
Of all the opportunistic parodies that followed The Blair Witch Project, 1999’s The Scooby-Doo Project is by far the most fun and inventive. Originally aired on Cartoon Network, this Halloween special debuted in chunks in the midst of a SD marathon. It was a winning combination of humor, mixed media, and depending on your age, genuine frights.
Night of the Living Doo
For the super SD fans out there, they may want to squeeze in this parody that aired on Halloween Night in 2001. Shown in segments during another of Cartoon Network’s Scooby marathons, Night of the Living Doo plays out like a classic team-up episode. The special guests here are Mark Hamill, Gary Coleman, David Cross and the swing band Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.
What’s New, Scooby-Doo? – “A Scooby-Doo Halloween”
Another mystery has been solved just in time for Halloween. Yet there’s no rest for Mystery Inc. once they reach Velma’s relatives in Banning Junction; ghostly scarecrows are intent on ruining the festivities. This special Halloween episode also features Paul Stanley of the band KISS.
Scooby-Doo! and the Goblin King
Halloween is hard to miss in Scooby-Doo! and the Goblin King, the first SD production to not have either William Hanna or Joseph Barbera involved in some way. Here, Scooby and the others land themselves in otherworldly danger after crossing paths with a power-hungry magician and venturing into that realm overseen by the Goblin King.
Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated – “Escape from Mystery Manor”
The real mystery of Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated is how it didn’t have a proper Halloween episode. To be fair, Crystal Cove had a non-stop parade of masked miscreants. Who there had time to think about Halloween? At any rate, there is “Escape from Mystery Manor”; this episode opens with a flashback set on Halloween. Jumping back to the present day, the Scoobs become trapped in Darrow Mansion while investigating what happened to the original Mystery Incorporated.
Scooby-Doo! and the Spooky Scarecrow
Scooby-Doo! and the Spooky Scarecrow is perfect for fans who can’t quite fit a full-length SD movie into their busy schedule. This STV special is the length of a standard TV episode, and it’s self-contained. On Halloween in Cobb Corners, the gang solves the mystery of a sinister scarecrow who haunts the corn maze.
Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! – “Halloween”
The unique art style of Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! can be jarring, especially if you’re used to Hanna-Barbera’s classic designs. On the other hand, this is one of the funnier SD shows. You’re always able to get in and out of an episode with no effort, although you may just end up wanting to stay for more laughs. The episode “Halloween” finds the gang hunting for the witch who scared Fred as a child. And according to adult Fred, masks make it impossible to solve mysteries on Halloween.
Scoob!
Scoob! was an unsuccessful attempt to start a cinematic universe for Hanna-Barbera properties. On top of that, none of the previous voice actors, apart from Frank Welker as Scooby, were cast. What that said, you may find delight in the front half of this big-screen movie, particularly those scenes before everything went off course. The younger Mystery Inc. coming together to solve their first case on Halloween is so precious. It’s too bad we didn’t get the chance to see Scoob! Holiday Haunt, a planned prequel that sounds more like traditional SD.
Happy Halloween, Scooby-Doo!
Crossovers and stunt casting are par for the course in Scooby-Doo. So when Elvira (voiced by the real Cassandra Peterson), Bill Nye and The Scarecrow from DC Comics showed up in Happy Halloween, Scooby-Doo!, fans didn’t bat an eye. Yet what helps this haunted holiday movie succeed isn’t just the guest stars; it’s the commitment to the concept. Who knew a Mad Max: Fury Road-style SD movie would actually work?
Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo!
The character designs of Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? made their movie debut in Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo! They’re in line with the original cartoons, while also adding more dynamic movements and expressive faces. The plot of this Halloween-set feature, though, is not a thing like old-school SD. No, Mystery Inc. are battling their doppelgängers after taking down the sartorial mastermind behind many of their greatest villains.
Velma – “This Halloween Needs to Be More Special!”
There is perhaps no property in the Scooby-Doo franchise that is more divisive than Velma. Loathed, in many cases. And by the time this Halloween special had come around, most had already forgotten about this bizarre show. So unless you were already invested in the story, or just really like Saweetie, watching what turned out to be the series finale is totally optional. Tuning in now, with nary a clue as to what happened before, will also have you asking why Velma is suddenly a ghost.