Netflix has sparked sharp criticism from fans after revealing the first look at its upcoming live-action prequel series, "Scooby-Doo: Origins," set for release in 2027.
Viewers quickly took to social media to voice disappointment over the appearance of the titular canine, arguing that the real-life puppy fails to resemble the iconic cartoon Great Dane.
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The eight-part series, showrun by Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg, depicts the initial meeting between a young Scooby-Doo and Shaggy Rogers during a summer camp mystery involving a supernatural murder.
According to the official logline, the storyline follows teenage characters Daphne Blake, Shaggy Rogers, Velma Dinkley, and Fred Jones as they cooperate to solve a case threatening to expose their secrets.
The reimagined Mystery Inc. gang stars Tanner Hagen as Norville "Shaggy" Rogers, Maxwell Jenkins as Fred Jones, Abby Ryder Fortson as Velma Dinkley, and Mckenna Grace as Daphne Blake.
Veteran voice actor Frank Welker, who has portrayed the character since 2002, will return to provide the voice for the four-legged lead.
Discontented fans widely shared their disapproval regarding the visual direction chosen for the iconic main character on platforms like Instagram.
"During their final summer at camp, old friends Shaggy (Hagen) and Daphne (Grace) get embroiled in a haunting mystery surrounding a lonely lost Great Dane puppy that may have been a witness to a supernatural murder," the logline reads.
"Together with the pragmatic and scientific townie, Velma (Fortson), and the strange, but ever so handsome new kid, Freddy (Jenkins), they set out to solve the case that is pulling each of them into a creepy nightmare that threatens to expose all of their secrets," the logline adds.
Online critics complained that the animal looked more like a Labrador retriever than a traditional Great Dane.
"It's not even close to real Scooby," wrote one user.
Social media commentators expressed immediate frustration with the production decisions.
"Y'all had one job..." commented another.
Some users questioned how the creators could deviate so far from the original design created by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears.
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"SCOOBY IS A GREAT DANE!!!!!! How do you mess up something so simple????"
wrote one person on Instagram.
Other viewers noted that public expectations did not match the realities of actual canine development.
"People have never seen a Great Dane puppy and it shows," suggested another.
Defenders of the casting pointed out that a real Great Dane puppy naturally possesses soft, floppy ears unlike the stylized, cropped ears seen in the classic animation.
"Not every animal needs to be 'real' for it to have emotional weight in a story.
Scooby works cuz he's basically a child in a giant CARTOON dogs body," said another.
Many maintained that the nostalgic charm of the animated character was lost in the realistic translation.
"I mean, it's cute, but it's not Scooby," said another.
In contrast, some social media users attempted to moderate the intense online debate by highlighting the fictional nature of the series.
"This is a show about a talking dog. And it's live action which means no cgi talking dog.
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Who cares if he's not a normal looking Great Dane puppy you all think he should be," stated some.
