Created in 1969 by writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears through their animated series,Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!,theScooby-Doofranchise has served several generations of fans. The premise of a cowardly dog joining his human friends in solving mysteries proved to be a hit. Predictably, others felt the urge to draw water from the same well. Several ripoffs thus popped up in the ‘70s, and even though most were decent, they simply werenotScooby-Doo, hence they were forgotten.
Interestingly, Hanna-Barbera, the studio behindScooby-Doo, was behind several clone shows. Perhaps the executives figured that this was the kind of story everyone wanted. Or perhaps they got tired of bad pitches and decided to simply flood the market with the same product under different brand names. Most of the imitations involve young mystery solvers aided by an animal or a madcap sidekick.
10’The Funky Phantom' (1971-1972)
The Funky Phantomfollows three teens and their dog as they tackle supernatural cases. Whenthey accidentally release two Revolutionary-era ghosts (a patriot and his pet cat), the plot thickens, mystery-wise and otherwise. Will friendship blossom between the teens and the seemingly cynical, perhaps even nefarious ghosts? It’s great fun finding out.
Not so Funky
The Hanna-Barbera show was released only a year afterScooby-Doo, Where Are You!,ended, and it pillages the original show mercilessly. Teen sleuths with a pet dog? There are a few differences though.Instead of a van, the characters drive around in a dune buggy called the Looney Duney. And the ghosts are real.Unfortunately, viewers weren’t impressed with what they saw here, so the show only lasted 17 episodes.
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9’Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kids' (1973)
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kidshas no relation to the1969 Western of the same name(without the last S). The show is about a teen pop group (called the Sun Dance Kids) with a dog named Elvis. The membershave a secret career as government-backed crime fighters.
Crime and Rock n’ Roll
The show’s episodes vary in substance, butall burst with the same sardonic cleverness, cultured wit, and joie de vivre. The similarities toScooby-Dooare annoying, and so is the choice to ride on the popularity of one of the best movies at the time. Thankfully, there is a lot to enjoy, including the music.
8’Speed Buggy' (1973)
Speed Buggyfollows an orange anthropomorphic dune buggy who solves mysteries together with his teenage buddies Debbie, Mark, and Tinker.The group also participates in various racing competitions around the world.Apart fromScooby-Doo, the show also drew inspiration fromSpeed RacerandThe Love Bug.
Scooby-Doo, Minus the Dog
The show stands as a first-rate animated series, released at a time when we needed it most. There was acar movie craze in the 1970s, andSpeed Buggyoffered something less complicated for kids. This could have been a better show without the blatant Scooby-Doo imitation. One characterlooks like Shaggy, right from the hair to the attire, while the other two look like Daphne and Fred. Interestingly, the two groups would cross paths in the crossover episode “The Weird Winds of Winona.”
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7’Goober and the Ghost Chasers' (1973)
Similar toScooby-Doo, Where Are You!,Goober and the GhostChasershas three teens—Ted, Tina, and Gilly—solving mysteries with a green-colored Saluki named Goober. The teens are investigative journalists for theGhost Chasers Magazine, andtheir work often involves differentiating real ghosts from fake ones.
Gooober Loves the Viewers
From the slapstick moments to the jump scares.Goober and the GhostChasersstructures most elements in line with the show that inspired it. Here, we also have a character with Velma’s hairstyle, minus the glasses. To prevent this from looking like a direct clone, a few things were switched up. For example,Goober can speak more coherently than Scooby-Doo, with his lines mostly consisting of fourth wall-breaking retorts. Interestingly, only viewers hear what he says. The characters hear normal barks.
6’Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels' (1977-1980)
Captain Caveman and the Teen AngelscombinesScooby-Doowitha little bit ofCharlie’s Angeles. The Teen Angeles, a group of unwavering principles, works over various hoodlums and misdemeanor offenders with the swaggering confidence of veteran law enforcement officers.Aiding them is a prehistoric caveman whom the girls discovered and thawed from a massive block of ice.
No Dog for a Change
Honed to tense perfection by showrunner Charles A. Nichols, the animated series is a showcase for fine, inspired ensemble voice acting. Viewers enjoyed it more, hence it lasted three seasons.There is no dog, but Captain Caveman is clearly meant to occupy the Scooby role.He is incompetent and communicates just as incoherently as the popular dog. On top of that, there is a van. This show also proved to be more.
5’Buford and the Galloping Ghost' (1978-1979)
Once in a while, two or more recurring cartoon tales were squeezed into a 30-minute or hour-long slot.Buford and the Galloping Ghostrelied on such a format, presentingThe Buford Files— revolving around abloodhound solving cases with teens in the Deep South,andThe Galloping Ghost, abouttwo ranch girls with a ghost as sidekick.
The Double-Serving is Nourishing
Crisp pacing, pun-packed dialogue, and expert editing make this fascinating cartoon worth watching.Champions of courage over weakness will also appreciate howBuford is resourceful instead of timid.Interestingly, both segments also featured Frank Welker, the legendary voice actor behind theScooby-Doo' character of Fred Jones (and later Scooby), as the main character.
4’Jabberjaw' (1976)
Jabberjawis not only a Scooby-Doo ripoff, but also an attempt to cash in on the shark-mania of the 1970s,triggered byJaws. Here, a15-foot amphibious great white shark is the drummer for The Neptunes, a rock group that lives in an underwater civilization.Together, they dive into whodunits.
If Scooby Lived Underwater
With his Brooklyn accent and cowardly nature,Jabberjaw is arguably funnier than Scooby-Doo.He, too, prefers fleeing from villains than confronting them, and loves lamenting, so much so that his catchphrase is “I don’t get no respect!” In a way,the show was also ahead of timeas it features a society where robots have taken over most jobs.
3’The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan' (1973)
It’s all about family inThe Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan. The legendary Chinese detective Charlie Chanis both aided and impeded by his brood of 10 children and their dog Chu Chu. The Chan clan moves around the world using a vehicle that can transform itself.
“Let’s Split”
A running joke on the internet pokes fun at how Fred usually insists on remaining with the ladies (Daphne and Velma), whenever he asks the group to split up in search of the villain. InThe Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan,the Chan kids also have a habit of breaking into small groups.Outside the Scooby-Doo similarities, the show has enough intriguing plots and music to keep a child engaged.
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2’Clue Club' (1976-1977)
Instead of one dog,Clue Clubhas two,a bloodhound and basset hound named Woofer and Wimper, who only talk to each other. Both like sitting at the back of the car as they and their four teenage detective buddies ride out to solve cases of disappearances.
Two Scooby-Doos?
Also known asWoofer & Wimper, Dog Detectives, Clue Clubis much better than the other ripoffs. Cryptic, Macabre, and haunting,the show keeps you consistently on edge with mind-bending twists, tense pacing, and an atmosphere of spectral uncertainty.You’ll like Woofer more as he is always confronting suspects without evidence.
1’Inch High, Private Eye' (1973)
Inch High Private Eyerevolves around a miniature detective (only one inch tall), whoattained his minuscule stature after taking a secret shrinking potion.He has a way of exposing criminals whose carefully arranged alibis always seem airtight, and often enlists the help of his niece, her boyfriend, and their dog Braveheart.
Braveheart the Cowardly Dog
Like another cartoon dog we know, Braveheart is more chicken than lion. Despite that, he is very likable. Beyond him, the show makes great efforts to differentiate itself from the rest.Inch High is so cool that he has a Hushmobile, a vehicle that never makes a sound, making it easier for him and his team to sneak up on criminals. A reboot would be nice, followed by a crossover with Ant-Man.
