‘Scooby-Doo! And the Mystery Pups’ will join Cartoonito’s preschool lineup in 2024, with franchise vets Frank Welker and Matthew Lillard returning to voice Scooby and Shaggy.
HBO Max and Cartoon Network have announced the first-ever Scooby-Doo preschool series, Scooby-Doo! And the Mystery Pups.
The show, from Warner Bros. Animation, is a CG-animated adventure comedy that features Scooby and Shaggy as mystery-solving sleep-away camp counselors. The iconic duo enjoys a summer filled with nature hikes, rafting trips, and fireside ghost stories, eventually teaming with “three young camper pups destined to become their own preschool version of Mystery Incorporated.”
“This show combines everything we love about Scooby - his humor, his loyal friendship with Shaggy, his mystery-loving spirit - all in an innovative and accessible format for preschoolers,” said Warner Bros.’ head of kids & family programming, Amy Friedman. “Cartoonito parents and caregivers will get to introduce kids to their beloved childhood hero in a totally new way.”
“We are thrilled to finally give preschoolers a version of Scooby to call their own,” added Sam Register, president of Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios. "With plenty of laughs, fun, and clues to chase, this show promises to entertain the youngest of mystery solvers."
Tailored for its target audience, Scooby-Doo! And the Mystery Pups is billed as “more kooky than spooky,” and a means by which preschoolers can learn “about curiosity and the joy of discovery.” The show encourages audience interaction with the clues it disperses. This format is in line with Cartoonito’s Humancentric Learning Framework’s stated philosophy -- to “help children develop their unique potential by inspiring [them] to greet every mystery they encounter with wonder, confidence, and cooperation.”
Series veteran voice actors Frank Welker and Matthew Lillard will lead the cast, playing Scooby and Shaggy respectively. Mark Palmer (Hello Ninja, Treehouse Detectives) will co-executive produce serve as showrunner, with Erik Knutsen as supervising producer. Sam Register will also executive produce.
Scooby-Doo! And the Mystery Pups will be added to the Cartoonito preschool block in 2024.
Max Weinstein is a writer and editor based in Los Angeles. He is the Editor-at-Large of 'Dread Central' and former Editorial Director of 'MovieMaker.' His work has been featured in 'Cineaste,' 'Fangoria,' 'Playboy,' 'Vice,' and 'The Week.'
