For the uninitiated when Scooby Doo was attempting a new formula, they turned “Scooby Doo” in to a series of movies where they solved crimes with big celebrities like Dick Van Dyke and Sonny and Cher. Among the most popular crossovers was Batman and Robin. For years Batman and Robin were the most consistent allies of Mystery, Inc. getting in to all kinds of scrape ups with them, and battling people like Joker and the Penguin. They just seemed to click. “The Brave and the Bold” continues the long tradition by teaming them together by pairing the modern iteration of Scooby Doo with the family friendly animated “Batman: Brave and Bold” and it works.
After chasing around a puppet master and his sentient puppeteer, the Scooby Gang are stunned to discover they are being initiated in to Batman’s “Mystery Analysts of Gotham.” They team up to track down the identity of the mysterious Crimson Cloak, a ghost like criminal planning to use a teleportation device for their own heinous plans. Along with Batman’s allies (The Question, Black Widow, Martian Manhunter, Plastic Man, and Detective Chimp) they learn about Batman’s past with the Crimson Cloak, which involves a tragic confrontation with a scientist. Now with The Crimson Cloak gaining the upper hand, and the Mystery Inc. group being blamed for a crime, they have to figure out how to stop the Crimson Cloak once and for all.
“Scooby-Doo & Batman: the Brave and the Bold” is a continuation of the long running “Scooby-Doo” series but it’s also an unofficial end to the acclaimed “Brave and the Bold” series. Everything from the art style to the series’ signature humor is here, and it compliments the suspense and family friend humor of Scooby Doo perfectly. Diedrich Bader is even back as Batman, portraying him a s a leader of great detectives whose interest in the Mystery, Inc. group is at least plausible. The movie is every bit a Batman movie as it is a Scooby-Doo adventure, as the animators have a great time paying tribute to the Dark Knight. Not only do they get to visit the Bat Cave, and ride the Batmobile, but there’s even a lot of great lip service paid to past Batman sidekicks, including Ace the Bat Hound. Fans of “Brave and the Bold” will love how much respect this movie pays it, and as another classic crossover between the Scooby Gang and Batman, it’s a lot of fun with a surprisingly interesting mystery.