SCOOBY-DOO ON ZOMBIE ISLAND (1998)
Terror Time Collector's Edition Blu-ray
Label: Warner Bros.
Region Code: Region-Free.
Rating: Unrated
Duration: 77 Minutes
Audio: English DTS-HD MA 2.0 Stereo with Optional English Subtitles
Video: 1080p HD Fullscreen (1.37:1)
Director: Jim Stenstrum
Cast: Scott Innes, Billy West, Mary Kay Bergman, BG Ward, Frank Welker
Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island (1998) is a direct-to-video feature-length animated movie with some fun horror-chops that turned out a bit spookier than I would have imagined. The original Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! show was sort of a catalyst for this horror-loving kid from a young age, and this new adventure featuring Shaggy (Billy West, Futurama), Velma (B.J. Ward, G.I. Joe: The Movie), Daphne (Mary J Bergman, Scooby-Doo and the Alien Invaders) and Fred (Frank Welker, the only returning original voice cast from the original series,) who reunite after a year apart to celebrate Daphne's birthday by taking part in her and Fred latest endeavor, a ghost hunting TV show looking for some real ghosties. Initially they only find the usual ghouls in rubber masks, before arriving in New Orleans, Louisiana where they are invited by Lena Dupree (Tara Charendoff, Ben 10) to visit Moonscar Island, which is allegedly haunted by the ghost of the pirate Morgan Moonscar, and to stay at the pepper plantation mansion where she works, which is owned by her employer Simone Lenoir (Adrienne Barbeau, The Fog). There they encounter zombies, ghost pirates and a secret cabal of cat-statue worshipping voodoo were-cats! This flick is a truly frightfully fun spooktacular with some actual supernatural elements as opposed the the gang's usual unmasking a rubber-faced villains that are very human in nature, though it's not the first time, but it was pretty rare for the franchise. Also onboard for this adventure are a curmudgeonly gardener named Beau Neville (Cam Clarke, The Tick) who has a secret of his own, and a weirdo local fisherman Snakebite Scruggs (Mark Hamill, Batman: The Animated Series) who is always chasing after a legendary local catfish "Big Mona". This has everything a monster kid could want from a Scooby-Doo toon, Shaggy and Scooby scared witless and perpetually ravenous with hunger, secret passageways, a creepy bayou plantation, ghouls galore, and life-force draining were-cats - it's a real banger of a Scoob flick. It also benefits from animation that closely approximates the style and look of vintage series, with animation done by the Japanese studio Mook Animation (Æon Flux) that I found quite attractive. The character designs are terrific with cool-looking zombies, ghosts and were-cats, the backgrounds are classic spooky Scooby-Doo and add loads of atmosphere, and I loved all the wonks and nods to the original series.
Audio/Video: Scooby-Doo On Zombie Island arrives on 1080p HD region-free Blu-ray from Warner Bros, this being the same transfer as the Warner Archive Blu-ray with this film and it's sequel review HERE. The film is presented in the original 1.33:1 fullscreen presentation. The colors on both look wonderful, deep saturated colors that are bold and vibrant, the moody backgrounds looks terrific, black levels are deep, the characters are well-defined and animation lines are clean.
Audio comes by way of English DTS-HD MA 2.0 stereo with optional English subtitles. The trac is clean and well-balanced, the spookier elements are effective, and the music sound great, including a version of the "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?" theme by 90's alt rockers Third Eye Blind, as well as a pair of song "It's Terror Time and "The Ghosts are Here" by Skycycle, which I quite enjoyed, and a score by Steven Bramson (Tiny Toon Adventures).
The single disc release arrives with a single-sided sleeve of artwork in a standard keepcase with a Audio Commentary by Matt Dugan, plus the 3-min Trailer. Packaging extras include a Limited Edition Collectible O-card slipcover, a Wrap with interior artwork and chapter list, plus a 12 page Collectible Booklet with Writing by Matt Dugan.
Special Features:
- Audio Commentary by Scooby-Doo historian Matt Dugan
- VHS-era Trailer (3:26)
- Collectible O-card slipcover
- Wrap with interior artwork and chapter list
- 12 page Collectible Booklet with Writing by Matt Dugan
Screenshots from the Warner Bros. Blu-ray:
SCOOBY-DOO ON ZOMBIE ISLAND (1998)
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