Animation Guild | We are 839 Digital Magazine
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kind of shape," Watson says. "If you cared about the characters, and you didn't want to see them harmed, the horror becomes that much greater." Giving Scoob and the gang emotional resonance was just the beginning. The look was also a significant departure from the original. Art Director Dan Krall's artwork was jagged and angular, and "we very specifically [wanted] to shoot this like a horror movie," Watson says. This meant techniques like low camera angles and things happening off camera to build a sense of dread. Stylistically, the team was inspired by the films of John Carpenter and David Cronenberg, and the bright, prismatic color palette of Dario Argento's Italian horror films. Still, it was Scooby-Doo. There was only so far they could go. At one point they shot an episode with zombies. "We did it in such a way—we're not going to play this as a joke," Watson says. "It's all going to be straight. We scored it with a really frightening piece of music. When it went to Cartoon Network, they kicked it back. Too scary." That was the early 2010s. What a difference a decade makes. Artwick notes this page: (top) Angular character design was a huge departure for Scoob and the gang in Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated; (below) Saturated colors were inspired by Italian horror films. Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated images courtesy of Warner Bros. Animation. the popularity of dark, grim video games and serious, sinister anime among younger audiences, and Songco says, "It does feel like kids are watching scarier things at a younger age. There are some eight-year- "If you cared about the characters, and you didn't want to see them harmed, the horror becomes much greater." –Mitch Watson olds who are watching Stranger Things." "Now, if you're competing with that, you've got to raise the bar animation- wise," Watson says. "What used to be scary is no longer going to be as scary." FALL 2023 29