There have been quite a few iconic dogs that have appeared on television, but very few of them can truly hold a candlestick to Scooby-Doo, the intrepid Great Dane who, along with his four human companions, solves a variety of crimes, usually by exposing monsters and ghosts as just corrupt humans. What’s more, Scooby has proven to be a remarkably durable creation, starring in a growing number of films and television series, including the recently released Scoob!.
While each of them has something to enjoy, some of them have particularly juicy quotes that are worth appreciation.
Updated on July 1st, 2021 by Amanda Bruce: The medium might change for Scooby-Doo's stories, but the popularity never does. In addition to the lucrative animated part of the franchise, live-action movies and recently, a Hanna-Barbera infused Scoob! have expanded just what Scooby-Doo has to offer.
There are good old-fashioned mysteries, fantasy stories, science fiction epics, and plenty of reminders that friendship is a much-needed ingredient in the success of the Scooby gang. While the mysteries themselves are enjoyable, there's also some pretty great dialogue from the characters that's worth remembering too.
"Friends Don't Quit."
The first live-action Scooby-Doo movie sees the members of Mystery Inc. initially go their separate ways. Though they've been friends since high school, their roles in the group get to them. Velma is tired of being under-appreciated and Daphne is tired of being the bait.
When everyone quits, Scooby asks Shaggy if they're quitting too. Shaggy offers up this line to his Great Dane in response. It's definitely a through-line in the entire franchise. These four people (and the dog) might love solving mysteries, but they're friends first.
"Oh, Please. You Come With Your Own Ransom Note."
One of the running jokes amongst Scooby-Doo fans is that Daphne always gets kidnapped. It seems that, even in the classic cartoons, she always ends up the one the "monster" takes while everyone else runs around the supposedly haunted location. James Gunn's live-action take on the movie acknowledged the idea with Velma pointing it out to Daphne.
Instead of keeping it solely as a joke for the audience, however, Daphne became a fighter. Sure, she still ended up in the clutches of the villain once in a while, but the movies had her learn self-defense and be able to hold her own in a fight. It helped that she was played by Buffy The Vampire Slayer's Sarah Michelle Gellar.
"Pretty Smart For A Television Reporter."
This line is delivered by one Simone, a seemingly elegant and sympathetic woman living on an isolated plantation. As it turns out, however, she is actually a vengeful cat creature, cursed with immortality.
She sneeringly compliments Daphne-now a television reporter-for correctly realizing that the zombies are actually trying to help the gang from becoming victims of the malevolent cat creatures. It’s a nasty thing to say, but it’s hard to deny that it certainly packs a punch.
“We’re The Hex Girls, And We’re Gonna Put A Spell On You.”
The Hex Girls are an all-female goth singing group that shows up in both The Witch’s Ghost as well as in several of the television series. Their signature musical number is this song.
Surprisingly enough, it’s actually a pretty catchy song, and it has proven to be one of the more popular ones within the Scooby-Doo fandom. It doesn’t hurt that one of the members of the Hex Girls actually proves crucial to defeating the titular witch later in the film.
“And I Would Have Gotten Away With It, If It Weren’t For You Meddling Kids And Your Dog.”
This is the immortal line spoken by almost every villain that the gang manages to unmask. There’s something rather charming about it, really, in the way that it sums up the entire episode. It’s also just the slightest bit old-fashioned-sounding.
What’s more, it’s become of those quotes that have become popular even outside of Scooby-Doo, and that’s always a sign that a cartoon has entered into the status of an icon.
"[Fear] Doesn't Make You A Wimp... Makes You Human."
In modern versions of the Scooby story, Fred tends to be the character who seems to have it all together. He's the team leader, coming up with the plans with Velma, and trying to protect Daphne and Shaggy from getting caught by the bad guy. That's a nod to the classic version of him always being the one in charge. The live-action movie, however, made sure to point out that Fred didn't always have it all together.
When he admits to Daphne how scared he is in their current situation, she reassures him that he's not a wimp just because he gets scared. They all get scared. They might not all show it in the same ways, but being afraid is simply part of being human. It's a good reminder for the audience too.
“Which Part, The Rampant Commercialism Or The Pressure To Identify Oneself In The Context Of A Socially Acceptable Couple?”
Velma is one of the most fascinating characters in the Scooby-Doo universe, and she’s definitely the smartest and most self-aware of the entire gang.
In this case, she’s pointing out that it’s rather silly to be so caught up in Valentine’s Day (as opposed to Daphne, who goes all-in). It’s rare that Scooby-Doo enters into any sort of social commentary, but when it does it’s not surprising to see that it comes from Velma.
"Mystery Is My Mistress. I Must Heed Her Sweet Call."
While multiple incarnations of the franchise have seen Fred and Daphne become a couple, and Shaggy has love interests on and off, most versions of the story don't give Velma a love interest. James Gunn acknowledged in interviews that he wanted to include a storyline in his movie exploring her interest in women, but the studio cut it.
Instead, the audience gets this line from Velma. It's a subtle nod to the cut story, but it's also pretty on-brand for a character who was always invested in the mystery and wanting to solve the puzzle before anyone else.
“Would You Do It For A Scooby Snack?”
This is another of those iconic lines that crop up again and again. While Scooby, like Shaggy, is a notorious coward, he can often be convinced to do something that he doesn’t want to by inducing him with a Scooby snack.
While this might be the sort of thing one would expect from a dog, it’s definitely a little bit strange when Shaggy also gets it on the Scooby Snack action (though perhaps not surprising, considering he also has a voracious appetite).
“Looks Like We’ve Got Another Mystery On Our Hands.”
Every time that the gang runs into a situation, one can count on Fred to utter this famous line. It’s one of those catchphrases that crops up in almost every iteration of the Scooby-Doo universe.
There’s something comforting about it, though; it’s a reminder that though there are many things about the franchise that have changed over time, a few very important things will always remain the same. Hearing that signature phrase is like reconnecting with an old friend.
“Do My Bidding, Bird!”
When Scooby and the gang confront the witch in Witch’s Ghost, they soon find that she is a very powerful creature indeed. In fact, she is so powerful-and so bent on absolute destruction of all who oppose her-that she even recruits a turkey for her scheme of vengeance.
When she commands it to do her bidding, she also renders it into a truly giant creature. While it’s a little silly, it’s also rather horrifying to think about a giant turkey attacking someone.
“Ancient Evil Get Thee Hence. Only Good Can Recompense. For The Misdeeds You Have Done, Witch Return From Whence You Come!”
As formidable as the witch from Witch's Ghost is, she has one fatal weakness: a charm in a spellbook that, when read by a Wiccan, will return her to her imprisonment. Thankfully for the gang-and for everyone else that is exactly what happens when one of the Hex girls recites this spell.
The witch is trapped once more and, as an added bonus, she takes her corrupt and lying descendant with her. It's a big moment and the rhyming scheme helps it stand out in fans' memories.
“I’m Happy To See Y’all, Too.”
This line is uttered by Jacques, a seemingly benign ferry boat operator that takes the gang to Moonscar Island in Zombie Island.
Unbeknownst to them, however, he is also a cat creature and, when Scooby and Shaggy stumble upon him in the night, he says that he’s happy to see them, right before turning into a truly terrifying cat creature and trying to drain their life force to maintain his immortality. It stands out as an unusually scary line from the franchise. Southern charm, indeed.
"Like We're Just Completely Destroyed, That's All."
Though it sort of flies under the radar, Scooby-Doo and the Alien Invaders is another one of the films where at least some of the aliens turn out to be real.
In this case, it’s a young woman and her dog that Shaggy and Scooby have been courting throughout the film. The revelation that they’re aliens is more than a little devastating for the pair, as this quote makes amply clear.
"This Day Is Tied For The Most Terrifying Day Of My Life... With Every Other Freaking Day Of My Life."
It's no secret that Shaggy doesn't think of himself as the bravest member of Mystery Inc. He's more inclined to make himself a few sandwiches and hide from the bad guys than he is investigating. That's mostly because, despite spending all of his time with his friends, the job terrifies him.
This line (and its delivery from Matthew Lillard) in the live-action Scooby-Doo sequel is hilarious, but also pretty poignant. Despite his fear, Shaggy keeps Mystery Inc. going and never gives up on his friends.