Okay, fellow time travelers, let's rewind the tape. Picture this: it's 1999. The Y2K buzz is building, dial-up internet is screeching, and over in the animation aisle of the video store, something cool is brewing. After the surprisingly mature and genuinely spooky Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island blew our collective minds the year before, Hanna-Barbera and Warner Bros. Animation doubled down, proving it wasn't a fluke. Enter Scooby-Doo! and the Witch's Ghost, a direct-to-video release that landed like a perfectly aimed Scooby Snack, cementing this new, slightly darker, and infinitely more interesting era for Mystery Inc.
### More Than Just a Mask This Time?
Following the gang's encounter with actual zombies, Witch's Ghost takes us to the charmingly autumnal town of Oakhaven, Massachusetts, at the invitation of famed horror novelist Ben Ravencroft (voiced with delicious theatricality by the legendary Tim Curry). Ravencroft, who Daphne has a bit of a fangirl crush on, needs help clearing the name of his ancestor, Sarah Ravencroft, accused of witchcraft centuries ago. It seems like classic Scooby fare – a historical mystery, a quaint town, maybe a disgruntled local in a costume. But, echoing the shift started by Zombie Island, director Jim Stenstrum (who helmed several of these excellent late-90s/early-00s Scooby features) and writers Rick Copp and David A. Goodman quickly signal that things might not be so simple. There's a genuine eeriness to Oakhaven, a sense that the supernatural elements might just be real this time, too.
### Meet the Hex Girls
Let's be honest: for many of us, the absolute standout element, the thing that lodged itself firmly in our pop-culture consciousness, was the introduction of The Hex Girls. Thorn, Dusk, and Luna – an eco-goth rock band with killer tunes and an effortlessly cool vibe – weren't just background characters; they felt like fully formed additions to the Scooby universe. Voiced by Jennifer Hale (Thorn), Jane Wiedlin of The Go-Go's (Dusk), and Kimberly Brooks (Luna), their performances, particularly during their iconic songs "Hex Girl" and "Earth, Wind, Fire and Air," were magnetic. I distinctly remember those songs getting stuck in my head for weeks after catching this on VHS. They were a brilliant creation, adding a contemporary edge and genuine musical appeal. Their popularity endures even today, a testament to how perfectly they captured a moment.
### Voices Carry the Mystery
While the guest stars shine, the core cast delivers familiar comfort. This film features Scott Innes capably handling both Scooby and Shaggy, the eternally optimistic Frank Welker as Fred, and the wonderfully talented Mary Kay Bergman as Daphne. Bergman’s performance here is particularly poignant; tragically, she passed away shortly after the film's release, making this one of her final roles. Hearing her lively portrayal of Daphne adds a layer of bittersweet appreciation upon rewatch. And of course, having Tim Curry onboard elevates any project; his Ben Ravencroft shifts moods seamlessly, keeping you guessing about his true motives.
### A Touch of Darkness, A Dose of Fun
Witch's Ghost continued the trend of slightly more sophisticated storytelling for the Scooby gang. The animation, while still distinctly Scooby-Doo, felt richer and more atmospheric than the classic Saturday morning cartoons. The mystery itself has a genuinely intriguing twist (slight spoiler ahead!) that plays cleverly with the "real monsters vs. fake monsters" dynamic established in Zombie Island. It leans into genuine peril without sacrificing the humor and heart that defines Scooby-Doo. The stakes feel higher, the threat more tangible, culminating in a climax that feels surprisingly epic for a direct-to-video feature. It wasn't just about pulling off a rubber mask anymore; these adventures carried a bit more weight.
This film, along with its predecessor, represented a smart evolution. It acknowledged that the kids who grew up on Scooby in the 70s and 80s were now older teens or young adults, ready for mysteries with a little more bite (pun intended). It respected the original formula while daring to expand its boundaries, resulting in one of the most memorable entries in the entire Scooby-Doo canon. Finding this gem on the rental shelf felt like discovering a secret upgrade to a beloved classic.
Rating: 8/10
This score reflects Witch's Ghost's success as a high-quality animated feature that perfectly balanced nostalgia with a fresh, slightly darker direction. The animation is strong, the voice acting (especially Tim Curry and the Hex Girls) is superb, and the story offers a genuinely compelling mystery with a satisfying twist. It loses a couple of points perhaps for some familiar Scooby tropes that persist, but its introduction of the iconic Hex Girls and its effective blend of spooky atmosphere and fun earn it a high place in the Scooby pantheon and our VHS-loving hearts.
For fans of Scooby-Doo or anyone seeking a dose of late-90s animated nostalgia with surprisingly catchy tunes and a genuinely spooky vibe, Scooby-Doo! and the Witch's Ghost remains a bewitching good time. It proved that even decades later, those meddling kids (and their dog!) still had new tricks up their sleeves.