Scooby-Doo Where Are You Complete Series DVD Gift Set

Know any 70’s cartoon fans and need a last-minute gift idea? Check out this Mystery Machine Van Replica that Warner Bros. has released, containing 41 episodes from the original Scooby-Doo Where Are You! series. I’m a sucker for collectible DVD packages, and this one is pretty awesome. It’s the first DVD set I’ve seen that actually holds it’s own on a shelf next to your other collectibles as far as coolness-factor goes.

You know what to expect from the cartoon itself: pure 70s Hanna-Barbera camp. That’s not a bad thing by any means. Scooby-Doo Where Are You! became a template of sorts for HB cartoons in the 70s and 80s, but none of the other shows really captured the goofiness and fun of watching Shaggy, Scooby, and the gang solve mysteries every week.

There have been many incarnations of Scooby-Doo over the years, but this set covers the one that started it all. All three seasons of the series are here on eight discs, for a total of over 16 hours of campy 70’s animation. This series was written by Ruby-Spears, who went on to create their own studio and cartoons such as Superman (which I reviewed last year). The series has been available on DVD for a few years now, but this is the first time it’s been released in one set. For someone who doesn’t own any of the classic episodes yet, this makes for a pretty cool collection.

The Mystery Machine replica is pretty solid considering it’s just DVD packaging. The discs are stored in the back of the van, so it actually displays nicely without giving away the fact that it holds them at all. Complete series sets usually come with a high price tag, so it’s nice to at least get a cool collectible thrown in for the same price. At around $60, it’s not a bad deal.

The episodes are spread throughout the first seven discs of the set, and the eighth is filled with bonus features. There are a few featurettes such as:

• Scooby-Doo The Whole World Loves You
• The Eerie Mystery of the Scooby-Doo History
• The Scooby-Doo Gang: In Their Own Words
• Funky Fashions
• Music Video: America Loves Scooby-Doo

If you know a huge Scooby-Doo fan or just want to pick up a few hours of nostalgic animation to force your kids to watch, this DVD set would be a great buy.

Disclaimer: This review was based on a free review copy. Read my blog disclosure statement for more.