Scooby Doo is an iconic cartoon and has paved its way through the decades in the form of multiple different shows and movies. However, one thing has always stayed the same in the franchise which would be the amazing color palettes and styles of each character. In this post, I’ll be analyzing the different designs of each character, specifically from the Mystery Incorporated version, and showcasing how I would style them in our world today!
Fred
First up for me to analyze is Fred! In the show, Fred is often showcased as the "dumb jock" character which could be a foil to other characters, such as Daphne and Velma. Because of this, his costuming often includes stereotypically manly colors, such as orange and blue. Fred also has a more sensitive side, especially with Daphne, which is portrayed with softer, yellow accent colors. In the outfit that I styled around him, I included a tank top which has an embroidered angel design. This is to represent Fred's "goody two shoes" quality. I also included pants with a squared, denim pattern to portray the blocky design of Fred's character. Elements of his character, such as his chin and chest, have sharper edges to show his position as the lead male in the group. You can see the contrast in the difference in the character design with Shaggy, who has more of a rounded character shape. In addition, I included a letterman jacket as a connection to his role on the football team at Crystal Cove High School.
Daphne
Daphne's color palette has always been my favorite in the show! I love how the female characters have conventionally untraditional color palettes, which shows how their personalities are not like your typical female character. Daphne is often disregarded as she is perceived as not being smart, but I would argue that her and Velma are the most useful members on the team. Daphne is often the one to find clues and analyze them! I illustrated this in her outfit by focusing on the purple tones of her outfit as purple is seen as the color of wisdom, and even royalty. I think the royalty element also plays an important role in her character design, as she comes from a high class family. One of my favorite things about her character is that she uses other people's conceptions of her to her advantage by demonstrating her positive qualities.
Velma
I don't think that this outfit screams Velma when you first see it. However, once you look deeper you can match elements of Velma to this outfit. Velma is very confident in her abilities and is often the person that everyone can count on, even though she is often the one left alone. This is illustrated in a loud, colorful outfit. However in the show, she experiences a lot of insecurities, especially in her relationship with Shaggy. So, I decided to give her a liberated outfit that states that she is independent. And of course, her outfit wouldn't be complete without a pair of glasses. I hope she doesn't lose these ;)
Shaggy
Shaggy has one of the simplest color palettes in the show, which could be symbolic of other's perceived notions of him. He is often perceived as a coward or someone who doesn't care, but I would argue that he and Scooby are the bravest characters in the show. They are always the ones who are volunteered for positions that involve head-on confrontation with monsters. He also has rare moments of courage when protecting his friends, even though he is not always successful. In this outfit, I simulated other's perceived notions of him in a simple silhouette, being just a top, pants, and rings. However when you look deeper you see the fun patterns in the top, the corduroy texture of the pants, and the opacity of the rings. This would be the complex nature of his character.
Scooby Doo
Scooby Doo and Shaggy have the most characteristic speech patterns in the show, with Shaggy saying "like" frequently and Scooby misplacing his r's. I think that this shows the connection between the two of them, as they share the strongest relationship in the group. I illustrated this unbreakable bond with a monochromatic outfit. Scooby's biggest character strength is his loyalty and he illustrates this by never leaving his friends' sides during the entirety of the show. The blue and gold on his collar illustrate this loyalty and are included in the outfit through the beaded necklaces. Finally, I tried to emulate his paws with giant, platform sneakers.