Customer Reviews

The 13 Ghosts of Scooby Doo: The Complete Series

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

When I was a kid, I loved to watch Scooby Doo in syndication. There was nothing better than sitting down with a bowl of cocoa puffs and waiting for that crazy dog to grace my tv screen. My favorite series? The 13 Ghost of Scooby Doo of course! It was something rare to see Cartoon Network play this particular series much though, considering there were atleast 5 other incarnations of Scooby to choose from, but when they would show it, I was ecstatic!

How has it held up over the years? Wonderfully! I just finished watching my set earlier this morning, and nostalgia has set in, and I am in awe. Let's do an episode run down.

1x01 - To All the Ghouls I've Loved Before - Scooby and his pals crash in the a creepy town where 2 ghost await their arrival.

1x02 - Scoobra Kaboobra - In this episode, the gang must face an evil warlock who is bent on discovering a magical wand to give him infinite magic.

1x03 - Me and My Shadow Demon - This particular episode is one of my favorites. Queen Morbidia is throwing a party, and of course she wants the chest, so why not trap the gang in an infinite maze?

1x04 - Reflections in a Ghoulish Eye - The gang must travel to an Arabian villiage to expel a demon from a haunted mirror.

1x05 - That's Monstertainment - Zomba the red fleshed demon decides that she'll trap the gang in an old black and white movie to obtain the chest.

1x06 - Ship of Ghouls - Poor Scooby is so scared now, that the gang decided to take him on a cruise. Unbeknownst to them, the cruise is ran by ghosts, and they're heading to the Bermuda triangle!

1x07 - A Spooky Little Ghoul Like You - Vincent Van Ghoul has won the most coveted Warlock award known, but a certain Demonstress wants his magic, so she puts him in a love trance. Cant the gang save him in time?

1x08 - When You Witch Upon a Star - Marcella, a demon wind wants to be flesh again, so she recruits 3 idiot witches to help her, the gang can outsmart the 3, but can they outsmart Marcella?

1x09 - It's A Wonderful Scoob - How will the team fare against a ghost who can control time? What would life be like if Scooby quit the team? Watch and see!

1x10 - Scooby in KwackyLand - Yet another demon is after the chest, but how will the gang save it if they're trapped in a comic strip?

1x11 - Coast to Ghost - Ol' Vince is turning to stone, how can the gang save him? By teaming up with Bogel and Weird to get half way across the US to obtain a special mask!

1x12 - The Ghouliest Show on Earth - Scooby and the gang need a break, so they head back to Scooby's home town, little do they know, an evil circus has risen!

1x13 - Horror-scope Scoob - The finale! How can the gang stop the most powerful demon from stealing the chest? They may not!

Characters

Scooby - Our hungry hero who unexpectedly opens the chest releasing the spirits.
Shaggy - Scooby's owner, who is almost as dimwitted as Scooby!
Scrappy - Scooby's nephew, the mean bulldog stuck inside a pup's body! He's itchin to start a fight!
Daphne - The only sane person of the core 4, and the only female to boot.
FlimFlam - The fast talking, pint sized con artist.
Vincent Van Ghoul - Voiced by Vincent Price, he's the warlock that helps the team (Ala Charlie from Charlie's Angels)
Bogel and Weird - 2 idiot ghosts that try to foil the plans of the team.

DVD Set

The set is a nice one, the episodes, although grainy are in great shape. They have included subtitles and other languages also. The biggest problem that I have with the set? Every episode had a small segment before the opening credits that usually showed the featured ghost. Well, with the set, some of the episodes play the credits before the short opening, while other's keep the original order. These episodes are also uncut. The only features included are a video game preview, and an episode of one of the new incarnations of Scooby doo.

All in all, its a great set, so dont pass up on it.

I was happy to get this as part of my collection. I found it interesting, yet incomplete.


Pros:
+Trying to capture the thirteen ghost of a Demon Chest was a very fascinating storyline.
+Scrappy didn't seem to try to steal the spotlight from his uncle. In fact, I didn't find him annoying at ALL.
+Scooby's parents.
+Vincent was an excellent addition to the season. I loved his episode narrations.
+Same classic humor from the original series. I did enjoy them dressing up for certain situations.
+Scooby snacks seemed to have a different effect on Scooby then usual.



Cons:
-I felt that the season was incomplete. They didn't capture all thirteen ghosts. It appeared to be only eleven of them. I felt as if the season should have ran fifteen or sixteen episodes.
-Flim Flam did gain my appeal with his sales pitches, however, trying to overpower the season really made me dislike him. He had too many plot contrivances.
-I hated the makeover of the Mystery Machine.
-Most of the episodes were weak with villians that weren't even a challenge to defeat. Funny because the gang spent most of their time running.
-They made Daphne virtually invisible. She didn't add much to the season at all.
-Weerd and Bogul were able to do some things, yet not be able to do other things. Didn't make any sense.
-I really missed Fred and Velma. They were really the smarter half of the gang.


Episodes:
1) I found Lotsa Luck Joy Juice being too convenient. Uck! I found it farfetched that Shaggy was their pilot. Discarding those two plotlines, I found this to be an intriguing episode that set the premise for the entire season. 4.5/5
2) Maldor in my opinion was the most challenging ghost that they had to capture. To me, it was an exciting episode which still had me anticipating what was next. Scooby being close to a Danish prince was cool. The scenes when they were trying to wake up Daphne was touching. Best episode of the season. 5/5
3) It was a cool twist that the shadow wasn't one of the ghosts that they had to capture. 4/5
4) By this point, being four times in a row, I got tired of Flim Flam catching the ghosts. Not only that, but the season was starting to focus too much on him. The trophy and song scene really was too much. 2.5/5
5) The villian was laughable in this somewhat fun episode. 3/5
6) Technically, from my understanding, the ghost that they captured was a combination of the ghosts that were already in their possesion. Flim Flam was beginning to be more and more of a show stealer. 3/5
7) One of my least favorite episodes so far. It's not explained how someone that Vincent knew from the past was one of the thirteen ghosts. 1/5
8) Yet another situation where they could not have won without Vincent's help. He was the leader of this task force. 2.5/5
9) Slime Time was a really good villian in a really weak episode. The thought of them replacing Scooby was insulting. How could the future that Vincent had shown Scooby exist if they were supposed to be killed by the guy in the armor? 1/5
10) Finally, another episode that I really liked, but why couldn't Daphne or Shaggy be the one holding the chest when Scooby threw the comic section into it? 4/5
11) It would have been more appropriate for Shaggy to be holding the chest in this episode instead of Scrappy and Flim Flam for the second time in a row. Ghost proof Handcuffs. Yeah, right! 2.5/5
12) Another episodefocused on Flim Flam. Ugh! However, I did enjoy this one. 4.5/5
13) Finally, Daphne was actually portrayed as one of the smarter characters, however, it was too little too late. Very weak episode for a season finale. It left me with a very unsatisfying feeling. 2.5/5


Overall ratings: 3/5


I couldn't imagine not having this as part of my collection, but it was an unfinished season. I hope that this review was helpful.

Even though the 13 Ghosts of Scooby Doo maybe have not been my favorite Scooby Doo show it definetly deserved a DVD release and I'm glad to see to make it to DVD. Although this show doesn't have Velma or Fred they also got new characters along with the well known Scooby Doo, Shaggy, Scrappy, and Daphne. The new characters consists of Flim Flam and Vincent Van Ghoul who helped the gang with what the main plot consisted of.
The main plot was that they were trying to put the 13 ghosts that they had released from the Chest of Demons by accident. While trying to do this two not so intelligent ghosts Weerd and Bogel get in the way and always tried to stop the gang but never really succeeded.

There were thirteen episodes produced and are listed below.

1. To All the Ghouls I've Loved Before
2. Scoobra Kadoobra
3. Me and My Shadow Demon
4. Reflections in a Ghoulish Eye
5. That's Monstertainment
6. Ship of Ghouls
7. A Spooky Little Ghoul Like You
8. When You Witch Upon A Star
9. It's A Wonderful Scoob
10. Scooby in Kwackyland
11. Coast to Ghost
12. The Ghouliest Show on Earth
13. Horror-Scope Scoob

So I'm very excited to see what else will be coming out on DVD soon. From the looks of it Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1980s, Vol. 1will be put on DVD and Super Friends!: Season One, Vol. Two will also be coming on DVD soon.



UPDATE:

I just recieved my copy of the DVD on July 16th 2010 and I was so excited. As soon as I had a chance I popped the disc out and watched the first episode. I really enjoyed it and really liked how Hanna Barbera made a sort of introduction episode to show how it all begins unlike some other shows.

The DVD itselve, I think looks good. Although it's a small thing and doesn't have any special features that actually talk about the show it still really good. I think as long as all the episodes are here then you should be happy. I really think Warner should do more DVD s like this for the shows that the don't want to spend lots of money on for a DVD release because of their worries that they won't sell good and even if they weren't the most popular shows it would still be good for the people who really enjoy then today. So yes I like the DVD and I'm happy to get to own these episodes for myself. So trust me if your having your doubts about the DVD in my opinion you should buy it.

Ok I hope my review is helpful. Oh and I'm excited to see that Johnny Bravo: Season One is now available. Also I'm excited to see Dexter's Laboratory: Season One to come out soon and also Scooby's All Star Laff-A-Lympics 2 (Full) coming out soon too.

Just want to say my kids love this dvd I have watched scooby doo since I was a child and this one is one of my favs
I waited for along time for this to finaly come out on DVD and it has so my advise to you a def must get for you & your family for all the Scooby lovers out their....add this one to your collection!!!! :)

My daughter + I, found all 13 episodes very intriguing + full of adventure, in every scene. From the opening of the chest, with the 13 ghosts, hence, the plot thickens. It is just Velma, Shaggy, Scrappy Doo + ofcourse, Scooby Doo. With the help of a new found friend Flim Flam + Vincent van Ghoul, is Vincent Price. Perfect casting ! And Vincent Price, was a perk for me. Mr. Price, adds a new twist to Scooby Doo !

While 13 Ghosts is not among my Favorite Scooby Doo I have to rate it very high because my 9 year old grandson and 11 year old granddaughter love it. They laugh and laugh and watch it over and over. Needless to say this gives me great joy.

THE 13 GHOSTS OF SCOOBY-DOO is an unusually promising middle-period variant of the long-running Mystery-Comedy Cartoon series. The addition of a strong fantasy element is a breakout landmark.

Most of all, the continuing guest character of Mystic "Vincent Van Ghoul", voiced by Classic Horror Star Supreme, VINCENT PRICE, lends this particular show a distinction unmatched in the Universe of Doo.

13 GHOSTS is the first serialized version of SCOOBY-DOO which follows in sequence a continuing storyline established in the initial episodes.

An intriguing element is the focus on some of Scooby's earliest encounters with "real" supernatural spooks (as opposed to masked crooks). This foreshadows such superior DVD animated features as SCOOBY-DOO ON ZOMBIE ISLAND, SCOOBY-DOO AND THE WITCH'S GHOST and SCOOBY-DOO AND THE GOBLIN KING.

A disappointing aspect of 13 GHOSTS is that the serial abruptly stops just shy of the overall story's conclusion. Unfortunately, the show was prematurely canceled before the final episodes could be made.

The absence of regular characters Freddy and Velma, the misuse of made-over ingénue Daphne as mere decor, along with the (albeit subdued) presence of unpopular little Scrappy-Doo, are further counts against the show.

However, it's the grating dominance of the extraneous new character Film-Flam, a token ethnic street brat with a flippant, arrogant attitude, that most seriously mars the series.

Happily, the redeeming presence of the magnificent Price and a fresh touch of color and imagination save the show and restore the high quality of earlier (pre-Scrappy) series. For these reasons, THE 13 GHOSTS OF SCOOBY-DOO is recommended to all fans of the Scoob, as well as admirers of the sublime Vinnie.

{Vincent Price may be best known to young viewers for his memorably sinister spoken monologue in Michael Jackson's momentous "THRILLER". Reasonably mature Scooby fans desiring a deeper acquaintance with Vincent Price would enjoy the legendary Hollywood actor's rich, deliciously over-ripe performances in the following "starter set": THE INVISIBLE MAN RETURNS, LAURA, DRAGONWYCK, HOUSE OF WAX (1953), HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL (1958), THE FLY (1958), RETURN OF THE FLY, THE TINGLER (1959), HOUSE OF USHER (1960), PIT AND THE PENDULUM (1961), TALES OF TERROR, THE RAVEN (1963), COMEDY OF TERRORS, THE HAUNTED PALACE, THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH (1964), THE TOMB OF LIGIEA, WITCHFINDER GENERAL/THE CONQUERER WORM, THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES, DR. PHIBES RISES AGAIN and THEATRE OF BLOOD.}

Rating: 7/10 ***½ GOOD.

This is an interesting series of episodes where Scooby and Shaggy are tricked by 2 ghosts into opening a chest full of 13 dangerous ghosts. As a result they end up going around the world with Daphne, Scrappy Doo, and their new friend Flim Flam trying to retrap them in the chest.

Helping Scooby and the gang is their new warlock ally voiced by Vincent Price. Mr. Price really adds a nice touch.

It is an interesting series where they travel through different parts of the world on their quest to recapture the ghosts, and there is delightful comedy. (If sometimes a little campy.)

Sadly, the series is incomplete, and there are a few things that will make you say: "Huh?" For one thing, the ghosts all escaped when Scooby and Shaggy were tricked into opening the chest. But when they open the chest to retrap a ghost, there doesn't seem to be any danger of the already trapped ghosts escaping. Oh, the chest is opened in the Bermuda triangle to be sure and some ghosts escape. (But no one we have already seen.)

Also, while there seems to be a danger of one ghost gaining control of the chest from time to time, the 2 ghosts who tricked Shaggy and Scooby into opening the chest never express concern that the ghosts are gradually being recaptured.

And sadly, the story doesn't exactly conclude. Now one possibility is that the series was terminated before the story could finish. But it still leaves us with an incomplete story.

An interesting side note is that this was the last Scooby Doo series where Heather North provided the voice of Daphne. (Though she would briefly reprise her role some years later in the 2 films "Scooby Doo and the Legend of the Vampire" and "The Monster of Mexico.")

It's a cute series. And it certainly didn't hurt that Vincent Price teamed up with Scooby Doo, Shaggy, Daphne, and their friend Flim Flam. But this series does suffer from the lack of a real conclusion.

So many great series from my childhood have been coming out recently. 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo was one of those I have been pining for since I started collecting animation.

Basically this is not a set that is going to please any purists. There's no Fred or Velma. Instead they are replaced by Vincent Van Ghoul (Vincent Price) and a mischevious kid named Flim-Flam. Scrappy-Doo is also here, and Shaggy and Daphne have 80s makeovers. So if you are looking for classic Scooby, prepare to be annoyed.

13 Ghosts is one of the campiest of all Scooby shows. The 13 episodes all revolve around 13 ghosts that have been released from a chest of demons. And the gang has to try to defeat them all. Two ghosts in particular, Bogel and Weerd, are the main villains of the series and they are fabulous. The remaining 13 are also pretty cool. The dopey ghosts remind me the old Pac-Man cartoon from the early 80s. Speaking of a series long overdue for a DVD release...

For me this is the greatest series for two reasons. First, you've got Vincent Price, one of my lifelong idols. The man is one of the most important figures of American cinema, and he also holds a huge place in the hearts of children in the 80s for his work with Michael Jackson and now Scooby-Doo. The other reason is the perfect mid-80s Hanna-Barbera production. The look and sound are excellent.

One final note. The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo has one the top openings of any cartoon of the 80s. It is an updated version of the old Scooby theme with Vincent Price narrating. It's spectacular.

I still throw these on on Saturday mornings. Essential purchase for Scooby / 80s collectors.

Interesting review title, isn't it? While watching the DVDs on this set, and finally rewatching the cartoons I remembered from my childhood, I realized that this show did some things that pretty much brings the Scooby-verse together.

For one, this series has real ghosts in every episode. No Fred and Daphne. It was the last series with Scrappy. Both Daphne and the Mystery Machine got a visual update.

Now, the series utilizes imagery from the old titles sequences of older Scooby-Doo series' to be representative of real ghosts and their powers. For instance, the ghost who looks like an evil version of He-Man's Orko has eyes like the outlined eyes near the end of the "Scooby-Doo Where Are You?" titles. In one episode a ghost's powers creates an orange swirling portal like the the swirling orange tunnel in the opening sequence of "The New Scooby-Doo Movies".

Flim-Flam many believe is an annoying addition to the gang, but actually he's a counterpoint to Scrappy that was much needed. He has the trap mentality of Fred but the showmanship flair of many of the old Shaggy & Scooby chase scene trick the monster antics.

Vincent Price as Vincent Van Ghoul lends a credibility to Scooby-Doo like nothing else. The addition of his character helps make the show having real ghosts seem more real, more believable, and his narrative poetry is not to be missed!

The reason why I say credibility is because the fake ghost era of Scooby-Doo was much like early huanted house film era horror in the USA with all monsters being hoaxes (such as "The Cat And The Canary" from 1927). By adding Vincent Price though it takes Scooby into the next phase, "House On Haunted Hill", "13 Ghosts", and such...and I mean the originals, NOT the remakes!

It's a great series and a must-have for any Scooby collector. Also, this series does have other attributes which were later added into "A Pup Named Scooby-Doo" from our seeing Scooby's parents for the first time, to the classic stop the story for a comedic news segment, and for the first time the characters break the 4th wall and acknowledge that they are in fact in a cartoon!

Sincerely,
Exchronos