Scooby-Doo is officially going anime, and honestly, this is one of those crossover ideas that sounds weird for five seconds before it starts making total sense.
According to Anime Corner, citing Variety, the new series is titled Yokoso Scooby-Doo! — basically Welcome, Scooby-Doo! — and it will be produced by Warner Bros. Animation. The actual animation work is being handled by OLM, the Japanese studio with serious family-anime and mainstream credentials, including Pokémon and The Apothecary Diaries alongside Toho Animation Studio.
For Malaysian and SEA fans who grew up catching Scooby-Doo on TV, this is a pretty fun full-circle moment. Scooby has always lived in that space between comedy, spooky mystery, and snack-fuelled chaos. Moving that formula into anime — especially with a Japan-set story involving mythical monsters — feels like a clean fit, not just a random IP remix.
The series will stream exclusively on Tubi in North America, while Cartoon Network will handle overseas streaming. No Malaysia-specific release date or platform details have been announced yet, so don’t lock in your watch party plans just yet. But the Cartoon Network angle is the one SEA viewers should keep an eye on, since that gives the show a clearer path outside the US than a Tubi-only release would.
A big win for long-time fans: Matthew Lillard is returning as Shaggy. He has been strongly tied to the character for years, including the 2002 and 2004 live-action movies. Frank Welker is also back as Scooby-Doo, continuing a role he has voiced for more than two decades. For a project that could easily feel like a reboot cash-in, keeping those voices gives it some legit continuity.
The anime is directed by Itsuro Kawasaki, whose credits include work across Cardfight!! Vanguard, The Foolish Angel Dances with the Devil, The Legend of the Legendary Heroes, and The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting. Francisco Paredes, credited as a writer on Young Justice and Baby Shark’s Big Show!, is attached as producer.
Story-wise, Yokoso Scooby-Doo! sends Scooby and Shaggy to Japan for what is supposed to be the ultimate foodie trip. Classic mistake, bro — because instead of just makan-makan, they accidentally release hundreds of mythical monsters across the country. To clean up the mess, they team up with Scooby’s uncle Daisuke-Doo, a magical girl named Yume, and a gadget expert called Takumi.
That setup is very anime-coded without throwing away what makes Scooby-Doo work. You’ve got food, monsters, mystery-solving, a new local cast, and plenty of space for comedy. If OLM leans into expressive character acting and proper yokai-flavoured chaos, this could be a surprisingly charming gateway show for younger anime fans — and a nostalgia hit for older viewers who still remember the Mystery Machine era.
For Malaysia, this also sits in a nice lane: familiar Western IP, anime production, Japan travel vibes, and Cartoon Network-style accessibility. It may not be a hardcore seasonal anime title, but it could become one of those easy weekend watches for families, younger fans, and anyone curious to see how far the Scooby formula can stretch.
Now we just need to see the actual trailer. If Shaggy starts reacting to Japanese street food like it’s the final boss, I’m in.
Source: Anime Corner