The release of the new film Scoob! reveals that there’s still quite a lot of life in the venerable Scooby-Doo franchise. That’s really saying something, considering the fact that the lovable Great Dane and his pals have been solving various sorts of crime since the 1960s. What’s so refreshing about this new film is that it manages to keep the things that have always made the franchise charming while also not being afraid to take it in some new directions.

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However, there are also a number of other Scooby-Doo films that are just as worthy of a warm reception.

Best: The Inclusion Of Other Classic Characters

A big part of what makes Scoob! One of the best Scooby-Doo films ever made is the fact that it includes many other characters from the Hanna-Barbera universe, including most notably Dick Dastardly and his henchman Muttley. While this sort of cross-over was very popular in the 1980s, it largely disappeared in the 1990s and 2000s. It’s good to see it coming into favor, adding a new layer of enjoyment to these classic cartoon favorites.

Better Alternatives: Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island

Many of those in the Scooby-Doo fandom consider this to be one of the best films to star Scooby and the gang. In large part, that’s because it’s actually a pretty scary film. Not only do the titular zombies turn out to be real, they’re actually the victims of a trio of cat creatures that have drained their life force to maintain their accursed immortality. Though it ends happily, Zombie Island is a reminder of the darker edge of animation.

Best: The New Voice Cast

Scoob Mystery Inc Team Poster

An animated film can either be made or broken by the types of voice talent hired to provide the voices. That’s particularly true for Scooby-Doo, since so many of the characters have personalities that have become well-established over. Though Scoob! Features very few of the regular voices for the characters, those who were brought on board still manage to capture the characteristics of these characters while also adding in their own interpretation.

Better Alternatives: Scooby-Doo And the Witch’s Ghost

Scooby-Doo and the Witch’s Ghost

Witch’s Ghost, like Zombie Island, is where the monster turns out to be real. In this case, it’s a witch from America’s colonial past who is released from her prison by her descendant who wants to use her power to achieve domination. Though not quite as chilling and downright frightening as its predecessor, the film still has a darker tone.

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Just as importantly, it also includes songs sung by the Hex Girls, an all-female goth band that would go on to make several other appearances.

Best: The Cerberus Plotline

One Of The Cerberus Skulls In Scoob

Even though it might be a bit counterintuitive to think about Scooby-Doo and the Greek creature Cerberus-guardian of Hades--in the same sentence, one has to give Scoob! Credit for deciding to go there. In less capable hands, this plotline could have verged into the absolutely ridiculous, but in this film it actually makes a lot of sense. Plus, Cerberus is just plain cool to look at, with his neon-green heads and Greek armor.

Better Alternatives: Chill Out Scooby-Doo

Chill Out! Scooby-Doo was one of those films that saw Scooby and the gang largely return to firm, in that the monster was no longer real but was instead a person in a costume. There’s a neat little twist, however, in that the person dressing up as the yeti isn’t a villain, per se, just a young woman desperate to gain the affections of a radio DJ who has an obsession with cryptids.

Best: The Fact It’s The Beginning Of A New Shared Universe

Every Hanna-Barbera Movie Set Up By Scoob!

There’s something innately exciting about the creation of a shared universe. Perhaps it’s the promise of more films, or maybe it’s just the sense of complexity and nuanced storytelling that’s always involved in the creation of such a popular culture phenomenon. Whatever the case, the fact that Scoob! Is the beginning (it can be hoped) of just such a universe opens up seemingly infinite possibilities, it’s fascinating to think about which classic animated characters might get their own film next.

Better Alternatives: Scooby-Doo And The Loch Ness Monster

In the annals of cryptozoology, the Loch Ness monster looms large. How could it not, when sightings of it have been going on for so long? It’s not surprising, then, that Scooby-Doo would also take on the aquatic beast, when the gang travels to Scotland to visit Daphne’s relatives there. This is one of the more light-hearted and genuinely funny of the recent Scooby-Doo films, and it’s absolutely charming from the beginning to the end.

Best: The Animation

Funland In Scoob

One of the amazing things about Scooby-Doo is that it has proven so adaptable. While it began as a traditional animated show of the sort seen throughout the latter half of the 20th century, the great dane has also appeared in live action and CGI. Scoob! Is definitely the latter, and the animation is simply, in a word, gorgeous.

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The entire film is a testament to just how much animation has advanced over the past several years.

Better Alternatives: Scooby-Doo! Pirates Ahoy!

One of the things that makes Scooby-Doo such a great franchise is that it constantly gives the audience new characters to enjoy. Take, for example, Pirates Ahoy! Which introduces Fred’s parents, a pair of well-meaning but slightly ditzy characters who are utterly charming from the moment that they appear on-screen. They’re just the kind of characters one expects from this franchise, and as a result the entire film is a funny adventure.

NEXT: Scooby-Doo: 10 Scariest Villains, Ranked