[ID: a very simply drawn three panel comic. the first panel shows a person approaching a cat that’s laying on the floor and reaching down to hug her, saying “gertie.” the second panel shows two coins falling from the person’s shirt pocket. the third panel shows the coins bouncing off the cat, who doesn’t care.]
awhile ago a coworker and i were play arguing whether or not the mystery gang were all romantically a thing/polycule or just really good friends (yknow bored at work things) and knowing my bfs interest in scooby doo i texted him asking him to be the tie breaker and he responded “well it depends which canon youre going off of” and just instantly cold sweat knew i was out of my depth
ok, let’s break it down…
is Mystery Inc. a polycule? - based on every Scooby-Doo adaptation:
TV Shows
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! - Yes, absolutely. It’s the fucking ‘60s and they’re hippies who live in a van with their dog
The New Scooby-Doo Movies - Yes
The Scooby-Doo Show - They’re on-again off-again
Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo - No
The New Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo Show - No
The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo - No
A Pup Named Scooby-Doo - No, not yet
What’s New, Scooby-Doo? - Yes, but they’re less hippie-dippie about it. more like a modern, Y2K polycule
Shaggy and Scooby-Doo Get a Clue! - No
Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated - Yes, their bond after that finale is inseparable
Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! - No, not yet, but they’re on their way there
Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? - Yes
Velma - No
Movies
Scooby-Doo Meets the Boo Brothers - No
Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School - No
Scooby-Doo! and the Reluctant Werewolf - No
Scooby-Doo! in Arabian Knights - No
Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island - They previously drifted apart and are now in the awkward getting-back-together phase, but nonetheless Yes
Scooby-Doo! and the Witch’s Ghost - Yes, and the Hex Girls (they’re a polycule too btw) probably join every now and then
The Scooby-Doo Project - No, too dysfunctional
Scooby-Doo and the Alien Invaders - Yes
Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase - Yes
Scooby-Doo! and the Legend of the Vampire - Yes
Scooby-Doo! and the Monster of Mexico - Yes
Scooby-Doo! and the Loch Ness Monster - Yes
Aloha, Scooby-Doo! - Yes
Scooby-Doo! in Where’s My Mummy? - Yes
Scooby-Doo! Pirates Ahoy! - Yes
Chill Out, Scooby-Doo! - Yes
Scooby-Doo! and the Goblin King - Yes
Scooby-Doo! and the Samurai Sword - Yes
Scooby-Doo! Abracadabra-Doo - Yes
Scooby-Doo! Camp Scare - Yes
Scooby-Doo! Legend of the Phantosaur - Yes
Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire - Yes, absolutely
Big Top Scooby-Doo! - Yes
Scooby-Doo! Mask of the Blue Falcon - Yes. Blue Falcon and Dyno-Mutt are allies
Scooby-Doo! Adventures: The Mystery Map - they’re on-again off-again, but mostly Yes
Scooby-Doo! Stage Fright - Yes
Scooby-Doo! Wrestlemania Mystery - Yes
Scooby-Doo! Frankencreepy - They’re on the rocks for a moment there but nonetheless Yes
Scooby-Doo! Moon Monster Madness - Yes
Scooby-Doo! and Kiss: Rock and Roll Mystery- Yes. Kiss are not allies
LEGO Scooby-Doo! Haunted Halloween - Yes
Scooby-Doo! and WWE: Curse of the SpeedDemon - Yes
Scooby-Doo! Shaggy’s Showdown - Yes
LEGO Scooby-Doo! Blowout Beach Bash - Yes
Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and The Bold - Yes. Batman is an ally
Scooby-Doo! and the Gourmet Ghost - Yes. Bobby Flay is hesitantbut slowly becomes an ally
Scooby-Doo! and the Curse of the 13th Ghost - They’ve sense reunited and warmed to one another, so Yes
Scooby-Doo! Return to Zombie Island - No
Happy Halloween, Scooby-Doo! - Yes
Scooby-Doo! The Sword and the Scoob - Yes
Straight Outta Nowhere: Scooby-Doo! Meets Courage the Cowardly Dog - Yes. Courage and Muriel are allies,Eustace is not
Trick or Treat, Scooby-Doo! - Yes
Scooby-Doo! and Krypto, Too! - Yes. Krypto and Superman are allies
SCOOB! - No, and Blue Falcon and Dyno-Mutt are definitely not allies
Scooby-Doo (live action 2002) - They break up but reconcile and get back together, so Yes
Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed - Yes
Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins - they’re on-again off-again
Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster - they’re on-again off-again
Daphne & Velma - No
(this is all 100% factual canon btw, William Hanna and Joseph Barbera rose from their graves and approved this list)
I love just how many absurd consequences have come from the fact that they forgot / didn’t think they needed to cap Mario’s backwards speed in Mario 64