Another classic animated property is heading to live action, this time, it’s Scooby-Doo (again). Netflix has officially greenlit a live-action origin series from the team behind Wednesday, focusing on the early days of Mystery Inc.
You can read more about it here: https://deadline.com/2025/03/scooby-doo-live-action-origin-series-netfli...
Over the last decade, we’ve seen a steady stream of beloved animated titles: The Lion King, Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Little Mermaid, Cowboy Bebop, reimagined as live-action projects. While some find new audiences or offer fresh takes, others receive mixed reactions from longtime fans.
As animators and fans of animation, how do you feel about this ongoing trend?
Do you see it as an exciting evolution or a sign that original animated storytelling is being pushed aside in favor of nostalgia-driven content?
Would love to hear your thoughts below, especially from those working on or pitching original animation right now. Is this trend shaping how you approach development and pitching? Let’s chat.
3 people like this
Love it! Great memories and new exposure for younger audiences. Existing IP has its place, and is wildly successful. Originals are certainly loved and in demand (I believe there's a 40-60% split in the theatrical market - will have to do a post on it. :) Definitely look forward to this as many will. A classic!
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I just found out about this, and I'm excited, Ashley Renée Smith! I don't like the way most of the live-action adaptations look, but I think the How to Train Your Dragon live-action adaptation looks fantastic! I'd like to see more live-action video game adaptations, like Earthworm Jim, Dino Crisis, Donkey Kong Country (I think they should make it look like Rise of the Planet of the Apes), Battletoads, and Final Fight. I played all these games growing up.
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I am sort of tired of live actioning of animations, but I guess Hollywood needs something to do.
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I never saw the live action movies but they seemed to be well done Ashley Renée Smith. I think it's simply a matter of how well it's executed. As far as trends go, I'm watching to see how AI will influence animation moving forward especially with mocap.There are some pieces I have (Jupiter Chronicles) that could be either live or animated. If there was some future convergence of both that would resonate with audiences, I'd be OK with that. Not a Roger Rabbit thing but something more akin to live environments with mocapped animated characters that don't look animated. Or vice versa.
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Depends on who's doing it and how it's executed. Ngl, the minute I saw the headline, I got concerned, but if done the right way, this could actually be something interesting and new in the Scooby-Doo Universe.
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Maurice Vaughan same! My personal favorite video game adaptation right now is FNAF(but that's in large part because I grew up with it lol). But if done right, I think something like Doki Doki Literature Club, Undertale or Fran Bow could be amazing films as well.
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I like the FNAF movie, Holly Fouche! I haven't played the games, but I've seen gameplay on YouTube. I'm looking forward to FNAF 2! I just looked up Doki Doki Literature Club, Undertale, and Fran Bow. I think they all could be live-action movies.
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I agree Holly Fouche, it's all in the execution. I loved the live action Scooby Doo that came out in 2002 and still rewatch it from time to time.
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I am pretty bored with most live-action adaptations of animated content.
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I dont blame you, Bob Harper. There have been so many disappointing ones that it's a bit hard to get excited.