Tubi’s Yokoso Scooby-Doo Anime Series Brings Scooby to Japan

Tubi has officially greenlit an original anime series titled Yokoso Scooby-Doo!, marking a historic cultural shift for the beloved fifty-seven-year-old mystery franchise. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, the upcoming streaming exclusive sends the iconic Great Dane and his best companion, Shaggy Rogers, to Japan for a chaotic, monster-filled culinary vacation.

Warner Bros. Animation is collaborating directly with Japan’s acclaimed OLM Studios to deliver this unprecedented global television project. Consequently, the streaming platform will hold exclusive North American rights, while international distribution is expected to roll out across Cartoon Network to capture multi-generational audiences.

Unmasking the Anime Evolution

For over 50 years, Mystery Inc. has unmasked corrupt real estate developers hiding beneath rubber monster masks. However, Yokoso Scooby-Doo! completely departs from the haunted amusement parks of Middle America. The new series shifts its focus entirely to Shaggy Rogers and his cowardly Great Dane, as the iconic duo travels to Japan on what is described as the ultimate culinary adventure.

Naturally, their voracious appetites lead them directly into supernatural trouble. The hungry travelers unwittingly unleash hundreds of mythical folklore spirits across the island nation. As a result, the story expands into a full-scale paranormal crisis requiring an entirely new ensemble cast. Unlike previous iterations, Fred, Daphne, and Velma are notably absent from early cast announcements for this spin-off. This leaves the duo to assemble a fresh network of localized supernatural experts to survive their unexpected predicament.

The new rescue squad introduces Scooby-Doo’s long-lost Japanese uncle, Daisuke-Doo. He is joined by two young local companions: Yume, a magical girl who brings anime-inspired flair to the franchise, and Takumi, a gadget prodigy capable of engineering specialized ghost-hunting tools. Together, the eclectic group must recapture rogue spirits through a blend of classic slapstick and modern anime action.

Will Fred, Daphne, and Velma Cameo?

While they are absent from the core cast and promotional synopsis, it remains unconfirmed whether Fred, Daphne, and Velma will appear in cameo roles, such as a brief farewell scene before Shaggy and Scooby depart for Japan. Historically, when the franchise splits the gang up (as seen in earlier Scooby-Doo iterations), the trio occasionally appears in minor non-speaking roles or brief appearances, leaving the door open for future surprises.

Creative Titans Leading the Mystery Machine

Frank Welker and Matthew Lillard will return as Scooby and Shaggy in the ‘SCOOBY-DOO’ anime series.

Coming soon to Tubi. pic.twitter.com/rAq3eKXSb3

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) May 18, 2026

This production marks the first full-length television anime adaptation in the franchise’s history. The closest prior experiment was the 2009 film Scooby-Doo! and the Samurai Sword, which incorporated Japanese themes but retained a traditional Western animation style. To ensure authenticity, the project is directed by Itsuro Kawasaki, known for his work on Cap Revolution Bottleman and Lady Jewelpet. Veteran producer Francisco Paredes also joins the project as co-producer, strengthening the creative team behind the series.

OLM Studios, best known for global hits such as Pokémon, Yo-kai Watch, and Beyblade Burst, brings its signature style of expressive character design and fast-paced storytelling. Their involvement is expected to significantly reshape the visual identity of Scooby-Doo while maintaining its comedic core.

Frank Welker and Matthew Lillard are officially confirmed to voice Scooby and Shaggy. Lillard continues his long-standing legacy with the character after first portraying Shaggy in the 2002 live-action Scooby-Doo film, preserving continuity for longtime fans.

Corporate Executives Bet Big on Free Streaming

The unexpected greenlight represents a major tactical victory for the Fox Corporation-owned streaming platform Tubi as it aggressively hunts original intellectual property. Traditionally known as a repository for licensed archive movies, the free streamer is evolving into a serious first-party competitor. Securing a premium Warner Bros. Discovery brand proves that free ad-supported streaming television services can attract massive fan-first programming.

“Scooby-Doo is one of the most beloved franchises in entertainment, and Yokoso Scooby-Doo! lets us reinvent it,” stated Tubi Chief Content Officer Adam Lewinson. Lewinson elaborated on the underlying corporate strategy, noting that the bold anime world connects deeply with expansive global fandoms. He emphasized that this project delivers the exact type of chaotic, cross-generational mystery that defines their expanding animation slate.

Warner Bros. Discovery also expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration. Sam Register, President of Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios, and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe, welcomed the partnership publicly, stating: “Welcome to Mystery Inc., Tubi!”

Register promised that the partnership would push the fifty-year-old franchise forward into exciting contemporary territories. He noted that working alongside OLM allows them to unmask fresh mysteries while preserving signature comedic hijinks. Naturally, classic staples like the iconic Scooby Snacks will remain central to the narrative despite the dramatic visual transformation. 

The Shifting Landscape of Animation Distribution

The announcement reflects a broader industry trend: major studios increasingly licensing flagship IP to external platforms rather than keeping it exclusively within proprietary streaming ecosystems. Warner Bros. Discovery’s willingness to distribute key animated properties externally highlights a shift toward maximizing licensing value across platforms.

For Tubi, the addition of a flagship anime adaptation strengthens its position within the competitive free, ad-supported streaming space. The platform already hosts a large catalog of classic animated series, including earlier Scooby-Doo iterations, making the new series a natural extension of its audience base.

Meanwhile, anime continues its global expansion, particularly among younger demographics. By merging a classic American franchise with Japanese animation production, Yokoso Scooby-Doo! aims to bridge both audiences in a single hybrid format.

A Dual Era for the Mystery Inc. Franchise

Interestingly, this anime project is not the only major Scooby-Doo production in development. Netflix is also working on a separate live-action series titled Scooby-Doo: Origins, which explores the formation of Mystery Inc. That project stars McKenna Grace as a young Daphne Blake, offering a grounded reinterpretation of the franchise’s beginnings.

Together, these parallel adaptations signal a new era for Scooby-Doo, one that spans multiple formats, tones, and global audiences. Whether through anime experimentation or live-action storytelling, the franchise continues to evolve while remaining firmly embedded in pop culture.

Featured image: Tubi/WB Animation

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