Vampire Bats and Scaredy Cats
- Episode aired Sep 17, 1977
- 24m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
216
YOUR RATING
The gang visits Daphne's old friend Lisa on Skull Island and helps her discover the truth of a dark family secret.The gang visits Daphne's old friend Lisa on Skull Island and helps her discover the truth of a dark family secret.The gang visits Daphne's old friend Lisa on Skull Island and helps her discover the truth of a dark family secret.
Daws Butler
- Scooby Dum
- (voice)
Casey Kasem
- Shaggy Rogers
- (voice)
- …
Don Messick
- Scooby-Doo
- (voice)
- …
Heather North
- Daphne Blake
- (voice)
John Stephenson
- Leon Vanaugh
- (voice)
- …
Frank Welker
- Fred Jones
- (voice)
- …
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe name Skull Island comes from King Kong (1933). (The name isn't actually spoken in that movie, but is given in promotional materials.) Scooby and company have visited other Skull Islands in Go Away Ghost Ship (1969) and The Creepy Case of Old Iron Face (1978).
- GoofsWhen the gang was about to set their trap, the vampire called for Lisa through the vent which kick-started the gang's plan in a hurry. However, for some reason the audio had cut out again and only Scooby reacting to the sound was seen and then suddenly Fred declared that the vampire is coming.
- Quotes
Lisa Vanhoff: [as a vampire] Beauty Hints?
- Crazy creditsFirst "Scooby-Doo Show" episode to use a title card.
- Alternate versionsThe VHS release of Scooby-Doo's Spookiest Tales features an alternate, possibly work-in-progress cut of this episode with many differences: The title card is missing, probably because the two episodes that this one airs in-between have no title card at all. Character animation is generally rougher, with many shots in the finished cut completely redrawn to stay closer to model guidelines, with several unique medium shots and closeups replaced with stock assets. Many shots are also framed differently. When Scooby-Dum photographs Great Skull Island, he merely chuckles upon snapping. In the finished version, he says "Smile!" before snapping, and his shot uses the camera's flash. After Fred says, "Next stop: Lisa's hotel!", the Mystery Machine's driving animation is more smooth, and the vampire materializes from its exhaust accompanied by a spacey sound. In the finished cut, the Mystery Machine has more crude animation, there is no exhaust smoke, and the camera merely zooms out to show the vampire. Different sound effects were used for Scooby-Dum's reactions as he and Scooby-Doo try to load the coffin into the Mystery Machine. Mr. Dracul has a softer voice, being portrayed by Frank Welker, instead of Casey Kasem. When Shaggy and Dracul carry the coffin, the transition from light to dark is rougher. After Velma says to Daphne "I've locked the door and the windows, so nothing can get in here", the two immediately rush into their beds without explanation. In the finished cut, an exterior shot of window's shutters slamming shut in the wind is inserted. When Shaggy and Scooby crash into the girls' room, only the crash is heard before the shot immediately changes to a medium shot of Fred and Velma. In the finished version, the two are shown sliding down the closet door before the medium shot. Velma's "And that RAT was real enough..." was corrected to "And that BAT was real enough" in the finished version, through noticeable audio manipulation instead of a separate take. When Daphne answers the phone, she says "Hello? Hello? Is anybody there? Hello?". In the finished cut, only the first and last "Hello?"s are kept. The scene where Shaggy and the Scoobys are blocking the door from the vampire (as Lisa gets her post-hypnotic trigger phone call), the door is to the left. In the finished version, the shot is flipped so that the door is on the right, and decal in the background is changed. After the vampire finds Shaggy and Scooby in the wardrobe, there is an additional "Help!" from Shaggy that is not retained in the finished version. When Shaggy and the Scoobys are hiding from the vampire in the ballroom, the blue carpet disappears in some backgrounds. In the finished version, the carpet is kept throughout to maintain continuity with previous shots. When the Scoobys trap the vampire in the coffin at the pool, he merely sinks. In the finished version, he continues to bob up and down.
Featured review
Vampire awesomeness
The Scooby Doo franchise proved that it could balance spooky mystery and vampire lore very well more than once. "Vampire Bats and Scaredy Cats" is one of the finest examples of this. Will admit to finding Scooby Dum on the annoying side in my primary school years going into secondary school, especially the laugh and his found a clue motif, but actually on the most part really liked the episodes he featured in. "Vampire Bats and Scaredy Cats" was always my personal favourite of the four.
It still is through young adult eyes. Actually love "Vampire Bats and Scaredy Cats" even more now and have noticed and appreciated things not as obvious as a child. The vampire was always one of the scarier villains of 'The Scooby Doo Show', but what has really stood out over the years is how shocking the vampire's plan and the perpetrator was for reasons that will be elaborated upon later on. Also have found surprisingly that Scooby Dum has grown on me over-time, even if he will never be one of my favourite Scooby Doo characters. Not the worst though, of all the regular/recurring characters in all the Scooby Doo shows Flim Flam from 'The 13 Ghosts of Scooby Doo' (which to me is actually not that bad) will always hold that title.
"Vampire Bats and Scaredy Cats" looks pretty good. Nice atmosphere in the colours and the backgrounding is meticulously done. The vampire is both very cool and creepy and the use of shadow is effective. The music has a nice nostalgic style that is true to the style of 'Scooby Doo Where Are You' while having enough of its own flavour. The theme song is one of the best of the franchise as well as one of the catchiest. The writing is both fun and intriguing, Shaggy's response to the vampire's "I want blood" did amuse me although one can totally relate to his terror at that moment. In fact all the best lines belong to Shaggy.
Loved the story too. It has energy and doesn't feel padded or rushed, and doesn't feel simplistic or convoluted. What stands out though is its atmosphere. There are some genuinely creepy moments, such as the vampire looming over a sleeping Daphne and the vampire is a very memorable villain. In terms of the villain's plan and the perpetrator, "Vampire Bats and Scaredy Cats" does stand out, as there are not many episodes of any Scooby Doo show to have a plan this dark, something not as obvious as a child. The perpetrator is one of the show's, and perhaps franchise's, most despicable which is equally shocking, the actual identity may not be as big a shock but their true colours and the lengths they went through definitely are.
All the gang are true to character and don't disappoint. Shaggy and Scooby are still delightful as always, and regardless of whether one thinks Scooby Dum is necessary to the plot or not he has grown on me. He is amusing and is not a detriment in solving the case. The voice acting is solid, John Stephenson as the vampire making an even bigger impression than the definitive voices for Shaggy and Scooby courtesy of Casey Kasem and Don Messick.
Brilliant episode on the whole, was willing to forgive the inconsistency of whether the Scoobies are cousins or brothers. 10/10
It still is through young adult eyes. Actually love "Vampire Bats and Scaredy Cats" even more now and have noticed and appreciated things not as obvious as a child. The vampire was always one of the scarier villains of 'The Scooby Doo Show', but what has really stood out over the years is how shocking the vampire's plan and the perpetrator was for reasons that will be elaborated upon later on. Also have found surprisingly that Scooby Dum has grown on me over-time, even if he will never be one of my favourite Scooby Doo characters. Not the worst though, of all the regular/recurring characters in all the Scooby Doo shows Flim Flam from 'The 13 Ghosts of Scooby Doo' (which to me is actually not that bad) will always hold that title.
"Vampire Bats and Scaredy Cats" looks pretty good. Nice atmosphere in the colours and the backgrounding is meticulously done. The vampire is both very cool and creepy and the use of shadow is effective. The music has a nice nostalgic style that is true to the style of 'Scooby Doo Where Are You' while having enough of its own flavour. The theme song is one of the best of the franchise as well as one of the catchiest. The writing is both fun and intriguing, Shaggy's response to the vampire's "I want blood" did amuse me although one can totally relate to his terror at that moment. In fact all the best lines belong to Shaggy.
Loved the story too. It has energy and doesn't feel padded or rushed, and doesn't feel simplistic or convoluted. What stands out though is its atmosphere. There are some genuinely creepy moments, such as the vampire looming over a sleeping Daphne and the vampire is a very memorable villain. In terms of the villain's plan and the perpetrator, "Vampire Bats and Scaredy Cats" does stand out, as there are not many episodes of any Scooby Doo show to have a plan this dark, something not as obvious as a child. The perpetrator is one of the show's, and perhaps franchise's, most despicable which is equally shocking, the actual identity may not be as big a shock but their true colours and the lengths they went through definitely are.
All the gang are true to character and don't disappoint. Shaggy and Scooby are still delightful as always, and regardless of whether one thinks Scooby Dum is necessary to the plot or not he has grown on me. He is amusing and is not a detriment in solving the case. The voice acting is solid, John Stephenson as the vampire making an even bigger impression than the definitive voices for Shaggy and Scooby courtesy of Casey Kasem and Don Messick.
Brilliant episode on the whole, was willing to forgive the inconsistency of whether the Scoobies are cousins or brothers. 10/10
- TheLittleSongbird
- Jan 21, 2021
- Permalink
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