With the release of Scoob! in theaters and on-demand from different streaming services, it not only shows the enduring legacy of Scooby-Doo but also Hanna-Barbera cartoons in general. Being the animating pioneers they were, Hanna-Barbera created many cartoon series over several decades.
Among their most successful cartoons was Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! which originally ran from 1969 to 1970 followed by several spinoffs and movies. But Hanna-Barbera knew they had struck gold and tried to capitalize on the popularity of Scooby-Doo with cartoons that had similar premises. Sadly, they weren’t quite as successful as Scooby-Doo as shown by the examples listed below.
The Funky Phantom (1971-1972)
A year after Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! finished airing, Hanna-Barbera presented its first Scooby-Doo clone with The Funky Phantom. Running for 17 episodes, the show was about three teens and their dog who accidentally release two ghosts.
Namely, Jonathan Wellington “Mudsy” Muddlemore who lived during the Revolutionary War and his pet cat Boo. Together, the teens and the ghosts solve mysteries while driving around in a dune buggy called the Looney Duney.
Speed Buggy (1973)
Influenced by the Speed Racer anime and The Love Bug (1968), Speed Buggy revolves around three teen car racers and the titular anthropomorphic dune buggy. Though instead of solving mysteries, they compete in racing competitions and foil different villains along the way.
Where the show is similar to Scooby-Doo is having an anthropomorphic mascot and the character designs. Particularly Speed Buggy’s mechanic Tinker, who looks like Shaggy but with orange hair instead of brown.
Inch High, Private Eye (1973)
While the characters of Inch High, Private Eye aren’t teenagers, the show is about a mystery-solving agency like Scooby-Doo who has a pet dog in addition to the titular miniature detective. The main difference is that they’re professionals instead of amateurs.
In addition, Inch High’s characters use special gadgets to bust criminals. This includes a silent running car known as the Hushmobile and a makeup compact that serves as a communicator/homing device.
Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kids (1973)
Baring no relation to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid except in name only, this show not only borrows elements from Scooby-Doo but also from another Hanna-Barbera cartoon. Namely, Josie and the Pussycats which was based on the Archie Comics series of the same name.
Premise-wise, it’s about a teen pop group who are also secret crimefighters with a dog named Elvis. They even use different gadgets, such as a communicator ring.
Goober And The Ghost Chasers (1973)
Of the Scooby-Doo clones that were released by Hanna-Barbera, this one is arguably one of the most derivative. Though instead of being ghost hunters, the three main teens are reporters for a paranormal-themed magazine.
As for Goober, this dog’s main gimmick is he can turn invisible at random and will talk directly to the audience while communicating with his human companions with barks. The show even combines real ghosts and fake ones.
Clue Club (1976-1977)
Instead of one talking dog, imagine two dogs and they only spoke to each other. Such was the case for Woofer and Whimper in Clue Club, which was yet another Hanna-Barbera show that focused on mystery-solving teens.
Ironically, this show premiered one month before The Scooby-Doo Show spinoff that introduced a new character named Scooby-Dum. Still, Clue Club only lasted one season while The Scooby-Doo Show ran for three.
Jabberjaw (1976)
Much like Josie and Butch Cassidy, Jabberjaw is about teen musicians that fight crime. Only this time, the show takes place in an underwater society and the mascot is a talking shark.
While this isn’t Hanna-Barbera’s first underwater-themed show with predecessors like Sealab 2020, they were not only influenced by Scooby-Doo but also the movie Jaws. Hence the titular shark of Jabberjaw, though this one is more comedic than scary personality-wise.
Captain Caveman And The Teen Angels (1977-1980)
Among the noteworthy Hanna-Barbera character cameos in Scoob! was Captain Caveman, whom Scooby-Doo and Blue Falcon encounter. Now the way he’s presented in the film is completely different from the original show he debuted in.
Titled Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels, it revolved around a trio of young women and a prehistoric man that they found frozen in a cave. Driving around in a colorful van, they solved Scooby-Doo-style mysteries.
Buford And The Galloping Ghost (1978-9)
Because variety shows were popular in the 1970s, it was common to place more than one cartoon series into a 30-minute to hour-long slot. Such was the case for Buford and the Galloping Ghost.
The individual shows featured, though, were Scooby-Doo clones. While The Buford Files revolved around a bloodhound solving mysteries with teens in the Deep South, The Galloping Ghost was about two ranch girls being aided by a prospector’s ghost.
The New Shmoo (1979-80)
As derivative of Scooby-Doo as The New Shmoo is, given that it’s about teens and their shapeshifting creature called Shmoo solving mysteries, there is an interesting backstory. For instance, the Shmoo appeared in a satirical cartoon called Li’l Abner.
The 1948 sequence, in particular, revolved around an entire race of Shmoos who are exploited and then wiped out. In addition, the Shmoo has appeared in later pop-culture and used as a scientific term.