Tubi has secured an exclusive deal with Warner Bros. Animation to premiere a new "Scooby-Doo" anime series on the free, ad-supported streaming platform. The show transports the classic mystery-solving duo of Scooby and Shaggy to Japan, where they face off against mythical monsters rooted in Japanese folklore.
The move represents a strategic shift for both parties. Warner Bros. Animation continues mining its iconic IP for international adaptations, following the success of anime collaborations like "Batman: Ninja" and "Superman: Man of Tomorrow." For Tubi, the acquisition signals aggressive expansion into anime content and family-friendly programming as the platform competes for younger viewers against Netflix, Disney Plus, and Crunchyroll.
The "Scooby-Doo" franchise remains a cornerstone of Warner Bros.' portfolio, generating consistent revenue across movies, series, and merchandise since its 1969 debut. Localizing the property through anime format appeals to both longtime fans and audiences who embrace anime as mainstream entertainment. Japan's monster mythology provides fresh narrative territory for the franchise without abandoning its core formula of mystery, humor, and supernatural encounters.
Tubi's acquisition strategy reflects the free ad-supported video on demand sector's evolution. As AVOD platforms mature, they're investing in exclusive prestige content rather than relying solely on back catalog licensing. Original anime partnerships distinguish Tubi from competitors and capitalize on anime's exponential growth in Western markets.
The timing aligns with Warner Bros.' broader strategy to leverage anime as a creative vehicle for legacy properties. By partnering with Tubi rather than traditional cable or premium streaming, Warner Bros. reaches cord-cutting households and ensures broader distribution through the platform's presence on smart TVs and streaming devices.
Details on episode count, release date, and creative talent remain unconfirmed, but the series