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Wednesday September 11, 2024

Mindy Kaling's adult 'Velma' drops Scooby-Doo

Don't raise your hopes to see Scooby-Doo in Mindy Kaling's 'Velma'

By Web Desk
October 09, 2022
Mindy Kalings adult Velma drops Scooby-Doo

Mindy Kaling's Velma is a take on the adult version of the character; however, one thing is missing from the teaser: where is Scooby-doo?

During an interview with Polygon, the showrunner Charlie Grandy explained the absence of a brown-spotted Great Dane, "What made Scooby-Doo a kid show is Scooby-Doo," Grandy added.

"We couldn't have a take on it, like how can we do this in a fun and modern way. [Our efforts] coincided with Warner Bros. Animation saying we can't use the dog!"

The Velma's showrunner justifies the omission of the iconic character of Scooby-Do to differentiate it from the adult tone of the show.

Moreover, Velma's creators reimagined the role of the brains of the gang as being of South Asian descent because "most Indian American [women], when they see a skeptical, hardworking, underappreciated character, they can identify with her. This show is for them."

Daphne and Shaggy have also been cast as East Asian and Black because "no one on [Scooby-Doo] is defined by their whiteness," said Kaling — "except Fred is extremely white."

The original Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! debuted in 1969 on CBS. Velma and co-gang have undergone various avatars, from cartoons to live-action movies to video games.