How do the characters in ‘Velma’ differ from the original version?

Coming to the HBO Max catalog this Thursday, the 12th, ‘Velma’, the new spin-off series of ‘Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?’ (1969), presents not only a new target audience, since the plot will be developed with adults in mind, but also an unprecedented focus on the problems and riddles that Mistério S/A will have to solve: the murders.

In addition to these changes, the story that will tell the origin of the group of meddling teenagers also brings an even greater point of divergence compared to the original animation, since the appearances of Shaggy Roogers, Scooby-Doo dog, Fred Jones, Daphne Blake and Velma Dinkley also underwent changes for the new spin-off.

How do the characters in ‘Velma’ differ from the original version?

Starting with the title character of the series, Velma continued with the bob haircut, the big prescription glasses and the orange sweater. However, instead of having fair skin with freckles on her face, the character was reimagined to be from East Asia.

It is worth remembering that the decision came from Mindy Kaling, actress and screenwriter who is responsible for creating the series and also for lending her voice to Velma. Thus, the classic figure gave way to a version that embraced its new creator, since mindy is of Indian descent.

Another change came about in Shaggy, who appears to be called not by his curious nickname, but by his given name: Norville. In addition, the hair has been changed and, like Velma, the character has similar characteristics to her voice actor, since, like Sam Richardsonhe is a young black man.

As for Daphne, the well-off preppy girl who is voiced by Constance Wu Is still has the iconic, voluminous red hair. However, she now has yellow skin and slanted eyes, living up to her Asian ancestry.

Fred, voiced by Glenn Howerton, had its main physical aspects kept the same as the original version, that is, the football player and leader of Mistério S/A has blonde locks. Check out the new looks!

Finally, a big difference between ‘Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?’ and the new production is that the HBO Max series does not have the presence of the dog who will do anything for a cookie. The reasons behind the decision are the change of target audience that did not allow the character to be included in a fun way in the series and also a ban on the use of Scooby in the series.

negative reaction

When the new visuals of the group that travels the world in the Mystery Machine were released, netizens didn’t wait long to share their reactions on social networks in criticisms that arose from the design of the characters to their physical changes. Check out some reactions!

Highlighting the essence of the characters, one of the users of the social network questioned what happened to the way the group’s personality is portrayed.

Among the biggest criticisms is Shaggy’s look, as the only characteristic of the original character that can be seen in the new version is the green shirt.

In addition, part of the comments were also directed at Velma, which Mindy responded to in an interview with Late Night With Seth Meyers:

I couldn’t understand why people can’t imagine that a nerdy girl, very smart and with bad eyesight, who loves solving mysteries, could be Indian. Like, there are Indian nerds. It shouldn’t come as a surprise to people,” she revealed. “But people were like, ‘No, no, no.’ And by the way, that’s a small percentage of people. But it really made me think ‘OK, we have to be careful with this character’, which we will because we really love her.”

The first season of ‘Velma’ has ten episodes already available on HBO Max. Remember the trailer!