'Scooby Doo and Scrappy Doo' "Scooby's Swiss Miss"/"Et Tu Scoob"/Soggy Bog Moggy" (1980)
Opening thoughts: After a few very watchable triple bills, 'Scooby Doo and Scrappy Doo' is back to disappointment with "Scooby's Swiss Miss"/"Et Tu Scoob"/"Soggy Bog Scooby". It does feature one of the best shorts of the show in "Soggy Bog Scooby", but there is very little to recommend about the other two. Especially "Et Tu Scoob". There are good things in all three, actually didn't have an awful lot negative to say about "Soggy Bog Scooby", but there is a lot wrong and it's the usual issues.
Good things: "Soggy Bog Scooby" is the best of the shorts by far and one of the best of them. Let down only by the flat, rushed looking animation and the overuse of annoying Scrappy. Absolutely loved the setting and the cool and creepy monster, both had a very classic Scooby Doo vibe and it is amusing.
Loved Scooby's skating skills in "Scooby's Swiss Miss". Voice work from all involved is spirited on the whole, Casey Kasem and Don Messick are great as Shaggy and Scooby. Have always liked the theme tune, which is catchy.
Bad things: A lot is wrong unfortunately. The animation is very rushed looking and flat with very irregular character designs. The music is nice on its own but doesn't always gel with the action, some of it on the repetitive side. Good gags are too far and between and most of the too few that are there fall flat from feeling too rehashed and predictable, as well as really corny. "Et Tu Scooby" is humourless and very forgettable.
Most of the storytelling is very thin and over-stretched, with the action lacking variety and being too reminiscent of past prime Tom and Jerry. Particularly in "Et Tu Scooby". Other than the swamp monster, the rest of the supporting characters make little impression. The gladiator is too ordinary and the whole conflict between him and the trio is too bully versus gang with no tension. The bulldog annoys and the poodle is too out of kilter creepy.
Furthermore, Scrappy brings things down significantly, he dominates far too much to the point where it feels like he is the main character and even more of a problem is that he is also incredibly annoying. Due to negative character traits (namely arrogance, over-zealousness and being pushy) being exaggerated, his behaviour and catchphrases already being incredibly repetitive and his ability to make things worse rather than better by putting Shaggy and Scooby in danger with little remorse or mistake acknowledgement. Messick is great as Scooby, but overdoes it as Scrappy. Do wish that Shaggy had more to do.
Concluding thoughts: Overall, one good short and two mediocre ones.
4/10.
Opening thoughts: After a few very watchable triple bills, 'Scooby Doo and Scrappy Doo' is back to disappointment with "Scooby's Swiss Miss"/"Et Tu Scoob"/"Soggy Bog Scooby". It does feature one of the best shorts of the show in "Soggy Bog Scooby", but there is very little to recommend about the other two. Especially "Et Tu Scoob". There are good things in all three, actually didn't have an awful lot negative to say about "Soggy Bog Scooby", but there is a lot wrong and it's the usual issues.
Good things: "Soggy Bog Scooby" is the best of the shorts by far and one of the best of them. Let down only by the flat, rushed looking animation and the overuse of annoying Scrappy. Absolutely loved the setting and the cool and creepy monster, both had a very classic Scooby Doo vibe and it is amusing.
Loved Scooby's skating skills in "Scooby's Swiss Miss". Voice work from all involved is spirited on the whole, Casey Kasem and Don Messick are great as Shaggy and Scooby. Have always liked the theme tune, which is catchy.
Bad things: A lot is wrong unfortunately. The animation is very rushed looking and flat with very irregular character designs. The music is nice on its own but doesn't always gel with the action, some of it on the repetitive side. Good gags are too far and between and most of the too few that are there fall flat from feeling too rehashed and predictable, as well as really corny. "Et Tu Scooby" is humourless and very forgettable.
Most of the storytelling is very thin and over-stretched, with the action lacking variety and being too reminiscent of past prime Tom and Jerry. Particularly in "Et Tu Scooby". Other than the swamp monster, the rest of the supporting characters make little impression. The gladiator is too ordinary and the whole conflict between him and the trio is too bully versus gang with no tension. The bulldog annoys and the poodle is too out of kilter creepy.
Furthermore, Scrappy brings things down significantly, he dominates far too much to the point where it feels like he is the main character and even more of a problem is that he is also incredibly annoying. Due to negative character traits (namely arrogance, over-zealousness and being pushy) being exaggerated, his behaviour and catchphrases already being incredibly repetitive and his ability to make things worse rather than better by putting Shaggy and Scooby in danger with little remorse or mistake acknowledgement. Messick is great as Scooby, but overdoes it as Scrappy. Do wish that Shaggy had more to do.
Concluding thoughts: Overall, one good short and two mediocre ones.
4/10.
