Solving the Mystery of Scooby-Doo’s Enduring Impact on Pop Culture

Written by Kaitlyn Patton

Photography by Rishita Nannapaneni

Modeled by W. McKinley Brown, Mikayla Buneta, Ashton Diercks, Cade Johnson, Alexis Loftis, Ian Street, Reese Tackett, & Cole Vest

On September 13, 1969, a pop culture giant was born. Four teen detectives and their talking dog hopped into their psychedelic hippie-mobile for the first time, set up a couple of traps, and unmasked their first phony villain. Immediately upon release, audiences across the United States were absolutely wild about Scooby-Doo. Since then, we have seen hundreds of iterations of this story. The gang has permeated the LEGO universe, teamed up with Gene Simmons and John Cena, and rolled out the red carpet for  multiple big-screen theatrical releases. But why are these ascot-wearing, munchie-having, borderline-gaudy characters so widely beloved over half a century later? Cartoons from the same era — like “The Jetsons” and “Yogi Bear” — certainly did not receive the same treatment. 

This begs the question: What gives “Scooby-Doo” this record-breaking lasting power? What is in Scooby-Doo's secret sauce that keeps audiences coming back for more? I have taken it upon myself to dissect the factors that give “Scooby-Doo” that certain je ne sais quoi that other cartoons of its time seem to lack. Here is what I found:

The first of the franchise’s strongest points is its colorful and consistent cast of characters. For 55 years, Fred has been the leader, Velma the brains, Daphne the beauty, Shaggy the comic relief, and Scooby the lovable namesake of the entire franchise. Although their characteristics and appearances have changed ever so slightly with time, we still know what we can expect from each character when we see them on screen. Everyone can identify with at least one of the archetypes represented in Scooby-Doo media; the iconography of these characters makes them incredibly memorable.

Alongside its wacky cast of characters, the show’s quotability keeps it afloat in the stream of pop culture today. “Jinkies,” “ruh-roh,” “jeepers” and many other outlandish phrases can be heard in everyday conversations, whether or not the people using them realize they are referencing “Scooby-Doo.” Even its original theme song still sticks in people’s heads and is often referenced.

All-in-all, the consistency and moldability of “Scooby-Doo” keeps the franchise fresh and allows it to stay in the current landscape of pop culture. We have had nearly 60 years to get to know these characters through a multitude of formulaic episodes, giving the show a familiarity and nostalgia value that has earned its place in our hearts. Given all of these factors, fans can rest assured that this talking dog and his funky friends will not be leaving the mainstream anytime