User blog:ARTaylor/20 Years of Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island

Today is the twentieth anniversary of the release of Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island. The 1998 direct-to-video feature is a continuation of the long-running mystery franchise. The feature follows Mystery, Inc., having disbanded after becoming bored unmasking regular criminals, as they reunite to search for real ghosts, only to become trapped on an island where the supernatural threat is very real.

The video was a hit with fans and critics. Critics praised the video for its darker direction while honoring the original series. The video revitalized the franchise inspiring a series of direct-to-video follow-ups, new animated series, and live-action theatrical features.

Production on the video was started at Hanna-Barbera Productions before moving to their then-new parent company. It was based on characters created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera who also served as executive producers. It was written by Glenn Leopold and co-directed by Hiroshi Aoyama. The film features the acting talents of Billy West as heroic slacker Norville "Shaggy" Rogers, Mary Kay Bergman as heroic reporter Daphne Blake, Frank Welker being the only actor to reprise his role from the previous series as Daphne's producer and love interest Fred Jones, Betty Jean Ward as heroic bookstore owner Velma Dinkley, Tara Strong as plantation helper Lena Dupree, Cam Clarke as gardener Beau Neville, Jim Cummings as ferry captain Jacques and zombie pirate Morgan Moonscar, Mark Hamill as angry fisherman Snakebite Scruggs, and Ed Gilbert in one of his final roles as failed criminal real estate agent Mr. Beeman.

The movie is dedicated tot he memory of Don Messick, who was the original voice of Scooby-Doo.