'The New Scooby Doo Movies' is a very patchy (re-watching it through older eyes) but entertaining show, and fares better than most succeeding Scooby Doo incarnations warts and all.
While there are better episodes in the show than "The Ghostly Creep from the Deep" (like the Batman and Robin episodes, "Wednesday is Missing" and "The Haunted Horseman of Hagglethorn Hall"), it is better as far as earlier episodes go than "The Ghastly Ghost Town" and "Sandy Duncan's Jekyll and Hyde" and later on than from memory the Jerry Reed, Josie and the Pussycats and Jeannie (that as a child seemed a very out of place episode and didn't feel like Scooby Doo) episodes.
Starting with the flaws, the animation continues to be less than brilliant, apart from a creepy atmosphere and some nice colours some of the weakest animation of the show is in this episode, with crude and less than smooth drawings, the Harlem Globetrotters being flatly drawn and coloured and (despite being a much better villain than on the 'Scooby Doo Where are You' episode "Go Away Ghost Ship") Redbeard is one of the worst looking ghosts on the show.
Guest appearance of the Harlem Globetrotters was very much mixed, through adult eyes they do appeal less to me than as a kid. The guest appearance itself sometimes isn't enough then feels too much in other parts, the humour varies in effectiveness with some of it being very amusing and some of it feeling tired and while the chemistry is undeniable, they have some charm and very well voiced a few members of the team verge on annoying (especially Curly). To be honest, Shaggy and Scooby's humour is more consistent and much funnier.
Fred, Velma and Daphne also seem a bit bland and feel side-lined by everything else. The music however is full of energy and atmosphere, and the theme tune continues to be catchy and infectious if not as iconic as that for 'Scooby Doo Where are You'. The story has atmosphere and the mystery is pretty decent, not suffering from the pacing issues and over-stretched storytelling that has eluded other episodes in the show.
Most memorable asset of "The Ghostly Creep from the Deep" is the villain Redbeard, much more interesting, menacing and enjoyable here than in "Go Away Ghost Ship". Just goes to show that some of the episode's best lines, a more memorable personality and very enjoyable and much more subtle voice work are enough to compensate for the poor character design. Shaggy and Scooby continue to bring their usual laughs and charm, and their friendship, a huge part of the franchise's appeal, also brings charm to the episode. The voice acting is very well done.
All in all, a good if patchy first episode for The Harlem Globetrotters as guest stars. 7/10 Bethany Cox
While there are better episodes in the show than "The Ghostly Creep from the Deep" (like the Batman and Robin episodes, "Wednesday is Missing" and "The Haunted Horseman of Hagglethorn Hall"), it is better as far as earlier episodes go than "The Ghastly Ghost Town" and "Sandy Duncan's Jekyll and Hyde" and later on than from memory the Jerry Reed, Josie and the Pussycats and Jeannie (that as a child seemed a very out of place episode and didn't feel like Scooby Doo) episodes.
Starting with the flaws, the animation continues to be less than brilliant, apart from a creepy atmosphere and some nice colours some of the weakest animation of the show is in this episode, with crude and less than smooth drawings, the Harlem Globetrotters being flatly drawn and coloured and (despite being a much better villain than on the 'Scooby Doo Where are You' episode "Go Away Ghost Ship") Redbeard is one of the worst looking ghosts on the show.
Guest appearance of the Harlem Globetrotters was very much mixed, through adult eyes they do appeal less to me than as a kid. The guest appearance itself sometimes isn't enough then feels too much in other parts, the humour varies in effectiveness with some of it being very amusing and some of it feeling tired and while the chemistry is undeniable, they have some charm and very well voiced a few members of the team verge on annoying (especially Curly). To be honest, Shaggy and Scooby's humour is more consistent and much funnier.
Fred, Velma and Daphne also seem a bit bland and feel side-lined by everything else. The music however is full of energy and atmosphere, and the theme tune continues to be catchy and infectious if not as iconic as that for 'Scooby Doo Where are You'. The story has atmosphere and the mystery is pretty decent, not suffering from the pacing issues and over-stretched storytelling that has eluded other episodes in the show.
Most memorable asset of "The Ghostly Creep from the Deep" is the villain Redbeard, much more interesting, menacing and enjoyable here than in "Go Away Ghost Ship". Just goes to show that some of the episode's best lines, a more memorable personality and very enjoyable and much more subtle voice work are enough to compensate for the poor character design. Shaggy and Scooby continue to bring their usual laughs and charm, and their friendship, a huge part of the franchise's appeal, also brings charm to the episode. The voice acting is very well done.
All in all, a good if patchy first episode for The Harlem Globetrotters as guest stars. 7/10 Bethany Cox
