Scooby-Doo! in Arabian Nights

Last updated
Scooby-Doo! in Arabian Nights
DVD cover of Scooby-Doo in Arabian Nights.jpg
DVD cover
Based on Scooby-Doo
by William Hanna, Joseph Barbera, Iwao Takamoto, Joe Ruby & Ken Spears
Yogi Bear & Magilla Gorilla
by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera
One Thousand and One Nights
Written byGordon Kent
Directed by Jun Falkenstein & Joanna Romersa
Voices of Don Messick, Casey Kasem, Eddie Deezen, Greg Burson & Allan Melvin
ComposerSteven Bernstein
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producersWilliam Hanna, Joseph Barbera, Buzz Potamkin, Blair Peters & Chris Bartleman
Producer Jun Falkenstein & Joanna Romersa
Running time69 minutes
Production company Hanna-Barbera
Original release
Network Syndication
ReleaseSeptember 3, 1994 (1994-09-03)

Scooby-Doo in Arabian Nights (also known as Arabian Nights) is a 1994 made-for-television film produced by Hanna-Barbera, and aired on syndication on September 3, 1994. It is an adaptation of The Book of One Thousand and One Nights and features appearances by Scooby-Doo and Shaggy Rogers, in wrap around segments.

Contents

The bulk of the special is devoted to two tales, one featuring Yogi Bear and Boo-Boo Bear, and the other starring Magilla Gorilla. It is animated with bright colors, stylized character designs and a more flat style compared to the previous television films, and musically scored by veteran animation composer Steven Bernstein, showing strong influence from the high-budget Warner Bros. Animation and Steven Spielberg cartoons of that era, Tiny Toon Adventures and Animaniacs .

This would prove to be the last film in which Don Messick voices Scooby-Doo and Boo Boo before his retirement in 1996 (though he would voice Scooby-Doo one more time in the Scooby-Doo Mystery video game), [1] and the last in which Allan Melvin voices Magilla Gorilla (as well as his last film role overall).

Plot

Prologue

Scooby-Doo and Shaggy arrive in Arabia on a magic carpet to become royal food tasters for the young Caliph. After getting hired, they eat everything in sight and leave no food for the Caliph, who, along with the Royal Chef, gets angry and orders his guards to kill them. Shaggy and Scooby-Doo find a place to hide, and Shaggy takes on the disguise as a harem girl. The Caliph, who is looking for a bride, falls in love with the disguised Shaggy and decides that they shall be married. Hoping to make the Caliph fall asleep so they can make their escape, Shaggy tells him two stories.

Aliyah-Din and the Magic Lamp

The Sultan of the land is worried as his son, The Prince, has not yet chosen a bride to marry; so he decides to have every eligible woman arrive the next day. However, the Prince notices a young woman near a river washing her clothes and falls in love with her. After seeing him, she runs off, leaving her scarf behind.

Meanwhile, Haman the vizier is trying to become Sultan. He learns of a magical lamp hidden in a cave that is revealed every three years during a blue moon. However, only a person pure of heart can enter the cave; that person being Aliyah-Din, the woman the Prince longs for. Haman finds Aliyah-Din and tells her about the lamp, saying its powers can help heal the sick Sultan.

While searching for Aliyah-Din, the Prince also attracts attention from many women who seek to marry him. On her way to meeting with Haman, Aliyah-Din discovers the news that the Prince shall choose a bride the next day. She and the Prince then bump into each other. Despite loving him, she remembers her duties to the supposedly sick Sultan and is forced to leave.

At night, Aliyah-Din meets with Haman where they witness the cave opening. Aliyah-Din enters it and finds the lamp. However, the cave starts to collapse and soon closes, leaving her and the lamp trapped inside. Aliyah-Din then rubs the lamp which releases Yogi Bear, a Genie, and his sidekick Boo-Boo, a Genie-in-training. Now she is their new master, and they can grant her three wishes.

Back at the Palace, Haman creates a potion that makes the Sultan fall into a deep sleep. When the Prince notices his father's condition, Haman puts him under the same spell. Haman then brings the unconscious Prince to the dungeons before taking on his appearance.

Aliyah-Din then goes to the palace after wishing to become a princess. Haman reveals himself, takes the lamp, and has Aliyah-Din thrown into the dungeon. Haman uses his first two wishes to make himself sultan and ruler of the whole universe. Aliyah-Din escapes from the dungeon and removes the lamp from Haman's grasp, leaving him without a third wish. Aliyah-Din gets a do-over of three wishes and uses her first one to bring everything back to normal.

With everything restored, The Prince regains consciousness and orders the palace guards to arrest Haman. The Prince then reunites with Aliyah-Din and returns her scarf before asking her to marry him. The now-awakened Sultan arrives and the Prince introduces his father to Aliyah-Din and reveals his desire to marry her. The Sultan, however, cannot bless their union, as his son can only marry a princess.

Saddened, The Prince apologizes to Aliyah-Din. However, upon learning her name, The Sultan realizes that Aliyah-Din is the long-lost princess the Prince was engaged to and allows them to be married. The Prince and Aliyah-Din celebrate their engagement and kiss, as Boo-Boo becomes a full-fledged Genie.

Interlude

After the first story, the Caliph, still awake, starts to make plans for the wedding by having the Royal Dress Worker pick out a dress. Scooby-Doo posing as the Royal Dress Worker's assistant to measure out a dress. Afterwards, Shaggy begins the next story.

Sinbad the Sailor

The second and final tale is about how Sinbad the Sailor mistakes a pirate ship for a cruise ship. Abandoned by his own crew, the maniacal pirate captain takes advantage of Magilla's situation and passes himself off as a cruise director with the plan to use Sinbad for stealing a rare rhuk egg from its nest, jewels from the Stream of Precious Gems, and a golden toothbrush (owned by a rich cyclops), passing off the thefts as being part of a scavenger hunt.

Finale

Before Shaggy can escape, the Caliph decides to start the ceremony. When the wedding cake arrives, Shaggy pigs out, and his ruse is discovered by the Royal Chef. However, since the Caliph enjoyed listening to the stories and was distracted from his hunger, he decides to make Shaggy and Scooby royal storytellers which the duo happily accept as well as maintaining their royal food tasting job. Shaggy, Scooby-Doo, the Caliph, and the Royal Chef then eat the cake.

Voice cast

Follow-up film

The Scooby-Doo! animated film series wound up being stalled further until Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island was released on September 22, 1998.

Related Research Articles

Scott Innes is an American voice actor, author, songwriter and radio personality. He is best known for his voice over work in various Warner Bros. and Hanna-Barbera animated films, television shows, video games and commercials, most notably as Scooby-Doo, Shaggy Rogers, Scrappy-Doo, Popeye the Sailor, Fred Flintstone, Barney Rubble, Foghorn Leghorn, Muttley, Bugs Bunny, Yogi Bear and Captain Caveman. He has also provided the voice of Fred Jones, Boo-Boo Bear, Snagglepuss, Papa Smurf, Elroy Jetson, Astro, Quick Draw McGraw, Baba Looey, Elmer Fudd, Spike Bulldog and Ranger Smith in various commercials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scooby-Doo (character)</span> Animated cartoon dog

Scoobert "Scooby" Doo is the eponymous character and protagonist of the animated television franchise created in 1969 by the American animation company Hanna-Barbera. He is a male Great Dane and lifelong companion of amateur detective Shaggy Rogers, with whom he shares many personality traits. He features a mix of both canine and human behaviors, and is treated by his friends more or less as an equal. Scooby often speaks in a rhotacized way, substituting the first letters of many words with the letter 'r'. His catchphrase is "Scooby-Dooby-Doo!"

<i>Yo Yogi!</i> American animated television series

Yo Yogi! is an American animated television series, and the seventh entry in the Yogi Bear franchise, produced by Hanna-Barbera that aired from September 14 to December 7, 1991, on NBC for 13 episodes.

<i>Scooby Goes Hollywood</i> 1979 Scooby-Doo TV special

Scooby Goes Hollywood is a 1979 animated television special starring the cast of Hanna-Barbera's Saturday-morning cartoon series Scooby-Doo. It was originally broadcast on ABC on December 23, 1979 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the franchise.

<i>Arabian Nights</i> (miniseries) 2000 multi-national TV series or program

Arabian Nights is a two-part 2000 miniseries, adapted by Peter Barnes from Sir Richard Francis Burton's translation of the medieval epic One Thousand and One Nights. Mili Avital and Dougray Scott star as Scheherazade and Shahryar respectively. Produced by Dyson Lovell and directed by Steve Barron, the serial was produced by Hallmark Entertainment and originally broadcast over two nights on 30 April and 1 May 2000 on BBC One in the United Kingdom and ABC in the United States.

<i>Scooby-Doo! and the Reluctant Werewolf</i> 1988 film by Ray Patterson

Scooby-Doo and the Reluctant Werewolf is a 1988 animated comedy horror made-for-television film produced by Hanna-Barbera for syndication as part of the Hanna-Barbera Superstars 10 series. It marked Scrappy-Doo's last appearance as a protagonist in the Scooby-Doo franchise to date; he would not appear in a Scooby-Doo production again until the live-action Scooby-Doo film as the villain in 2002. It is also the last appearance of Shaggy's outfit from The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo until Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase.

<i>Scooby-Doo Meets the Boo Brothers</i> 1987 television film directed by Carl Urbano Paul Sommer

Scooby-Doo Meets the Boo Brothers is a 1987 animated comedy horror made-for-television film produced by Hanna-Barbera as part of the Hanna-Barbera Superstars 10 series. The two-hour film aired in syndication. It is the first full-length film in the Scooby-Doo franchise.

<i>Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School</i> 1988 film

Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School is a 1988 animated comedy horror made-for-television film produced by Hanna-Barbera for syndication as part of the Hanna-Barbera Superstars 10 series.

<i>The Good, the Bad, and Huckleberry Hound</i> 1988 animated Western TV film

The Good, the Bad, and Huckleberry Hound is a 1988 animated Western television film produced by Hanna-Barbera for syndication as part of the Hanna-Barbera Superstars 10 series. This film marks the final time Daws Butler voiced Huckleberry Hound, Quick Draw McGraw and Baba Looey, Snagglepuss, Hokey Wolf, and Peter Potamus, as he died a couple weeks after its telecast from a heart attack.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera (ride)</span> Defunct simulator ride

The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera was a simulator ride at Universal Studios Florida and one of the park's original attractions. The story line tells that Dick Dastardly and Muttley have kidnapped Elroy Jetson. Yogi Bear and Boo-Boo give chase and the audience is in for the ride of their lives. The attraction opened on June 7, 1990 and closed on October 20, 2002.

Yogi and the Invasion of the Space Bears is a 1988 animated made-for-television film produced by Hanna-Barbera for syndication as part of the Hanna-Barbera Superstars 10 series. This Hanna-Barbera production was the last to feature Daws Butler as the voice of Yogi Bear and Julie Bennett as Cindy Bear. Yogi and Boo-Boo go on an out-of-this-world voyage. When they are kidnapped by spacemen, the duo are cloned, and the clone bears soon invade Jellystone Park.

<i>Yogis Ark Lark</i> 1972 American animated television special

Yogi's Ark Lark is a 1972 American animated television special produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, intended to raise ecological awareness. Written by Bob Ogle and Dick Robbins and directed by Joseph Barbera and William Hanna, it was broadcast on ABC on September 16, 1972, as part of The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie and served as the two-part episode for Yogi's Gang.

<i>Yogi Bears All Star Comedy Christmas Caper</i> 1982 American animated Christmas television special

Yogi Bear's All Star Comedy Christmas Caper is a 1982 American animated Christmas television special starring Yogi Bear. It is the third and final Yogi Christmas special. Produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, it first aired on December 21, 1982 on CBS. Along with Yogi's traditional cast, the characters also met up with many other Hanna-Barbera characters, including Magilla Gorilla and Fred Flintstone.

<i>Hanna-Barberas 50th: A Yabba Dabba Doo Celebration</i> 1989 American live-action/animated television special

Hanna-Barbera's 50th: A Yabba Dabba Doo Celebration is a 1989 American live-action/animated television special written, directed and produced by Marshall Flaum, which premiered on TNT on July 17, 1989. It is hosted by Tony Danza, along with Annie Potts; it also stars Whoopi Goldberg, Betty White, Sammy Davis Jr., Tommy Lasorda, Jonathan Winters, Phyllis Diller, Valerie Harper, Shari Belafonte, Joe Ferguson and Tiffany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magilla Gorilla</span> American animated television character

Magilla Gorilla is a fictional gorilla and the star of The Magilla Gorilla Show by Hanna-Barbera that aired from 1963 to 1965.

<i>Laff-A-Lympics</i> American animated television series

Laff-A-Lympics is an American animated comedy television series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions. The series premiered as part of the Saturday-morning cartoon program block Scooby's All-Star Laff-A-Lympics, which consists of 24 episodes, on ABC on September 10, 1977. The show is a spoof of the Olympics and the ABC primetime series Battle of the Network Stars, which debuted one year earlier. It featured 45 Hanna-Barbera characters organized into teams which competed each week for gold, silver, and bronze medals. In each episode, the Really Rottens would try in each event to cheat only to get caught by Snagglepuss each time. One season of 16 episodes was produced in 1977–78, and eight new episodes combined with reruns for the 1978–79 season as Scooby's All-Stars. Unlike most cartoon series produced by Hanna-Barbera in the 1970s, Laff-A-Lympics did not contain a laugh track. Scooby’s Laff-a-Lympics was originally owned by Taft Broadcasting; Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution currently owns the series through its two in-name-only units, Warner Bros. Family Entertainment and Turner Entertainment.

The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera Arena Show is a 1981 live-action/animated variety television special produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions which premiered on NBC on June 25, 1981.

Hanna-Barbera Educational Filmstrips is a series of filmstrips of educational material produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions' educational division. The series ran from 1977 to 1980 for a total of 26 titles, featuring the studio's animated characters from The Flintstones, The Yogi Bear Show, The Jetsons, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, The Banana Splits, Cattanooga Cats, and Jabberjaw.

References

  1. "Don Messick Video Game Credits and Biography". MobyGames. Retrieved 2021-09-28.