Scooby-Doo (character) Scooby-Doo (character) Scoobert "Scooby" Doo is the eponymous character and protagonist of the animated television franchise of the same name created in 1969 by the American animation company Hanna-Barbera. Scooby-Doo is a male Great Dane and lifelong companion of amateur detective Shaggy Rogers, with whom he shares many personality traits. Named after a nonsense vocal line in Frank Sinatra's hit song "Strangers in the Night", he features a mix of both canine and human behaviors (reminiscent of other funny animals in the Golden age of American animation), treated by his friends more or less as an equal while speaking in
Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (1979 TV series) threatening cancellation for the show, whose ratings were in decline. ABC was going to choose between two shows-Scooby-Doo or an unnamed pilot from Ruby Spears Enterprises. Therefore, for its 1979–1980 season, "Scooby-Doo" was given a major overhaul, adding the character of Scooby's nephew Scrappy-Doo, voiced by Lennie Weinrib, and changing the name of the show to "Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo". Although still present in these episodes, the characters of Fred, Daphne, and Velma became less essential to the plot and Shaggy, Scooby and Scrappy were the main focus. Marla Frumkin took over Pat Stevens' role as Velma Dinkley towards the end