Velma is a new series coming to HBO Max, which will focus on the character Velma from Scooby-Doo. This version of the character, however, will be extremely different from what audiences are used too. The show is going to be an adults-only animated series that is boosting some fairly graphic scenes. While this trend of creating animation for adults has been extremely successfully for series like Rick and Morty and Harley Quinn, not every property is a good fit for this format. Velma is the perfect example of character who may not be suited for an adult show.
Scooby-Doo Where Are You! first aired in 1969 and since then Scooby and the entire gang of Mystery Inc. have become beloved cartoon icons. There have been many iterations of their series, including live-action movies, but most of them have focused on the same themes as the original series. Creating fun mysteries that are solved through funny antics and silly traps. While many of the series, and definitely the films, had jokes that older audiences would appreciate more, Scooby-Doo has always remained very child-friendly. Moving any of the characters away from a family-friendly environment seems like a disservice to the long-running franchise.
The series is clearly inspired by the huge success that adult animation has had in recent years, especially Harley Quinn. The fundamental differences between Velma and series like Harley Quinn, Archer, or Big Mouth is that none of those series are based on a character traditionally associated with children. While Harley may have started off as a goofier side character to the Joker, she has long since moved past that persona. At first glance, the series seems like an attempt to get on board with the adult animation trend while it is still relevant and to use Velma and the Scooby-Doo brand as a springboard into that world.
Seeing how Velma or other characters of Mystery Inc started off is a great idea as a concept. People love to see the backstory of favorite characters, but there is nothing in that concept that demands an adult audience. The series could easily generate a large, if not even bigger, audience if it was geared towards families and children. If the show kept with the pattern of other Scooby-Doo projects, it could present a fun and exciting series for kids, that offered quiet innuendos for adults to enjoy. If the story is about Velma before Mystery Inc, it seems there is a big gap between exploded heads and pulling the mask of a ghost.
The idea that making something R-Rated, or only for adults, generates better content has been circulating around for a few years. Yet, this notion seems extremely flawed. While some properties and characters have traits that can only be portrayed with a more adult rating, the majority of characters don't need it. Adult stories and themes can be portrayed while still keeping shows family friendly. Star Wars: The Clone Wars walked this line perfectly. The series dealt with a lot of adult themes, such as loss, betrayal, and rage, while still maintaining a series that was suitable for all ages.
Velma needing nudity and gore to tell an adult story seems like a fundamental misunderstanding of animated storytelling. Animation in all forms can tell interesting and incredibly compelling stories that all ages can enjoy. Using well-established brands and animated icons to sell a show to adults seems like the cheapest form of nostalgia. While adult animation is a fantastic medium, Velma seems like its being made for adults just so that its part of the trend.