Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island: Terror Time Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray Review)
- Review Date: Oct 29, 2025
- Format: Blu-ray Disc
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Director
Jim StenstrumRelease Date(s)
1998 (October 28, 2025)Studio(s)
Hanna-Barbera Cartoons/Warner Bros. Animation (Warner Archive Collection)- Film/Program Grade: B
- Video Grade: B+
- Audio Grade: A
- Extras Grade: C+
Review
In the late 1990s, new Hanna-Barbera projects were fewer and fewer, a far cry from their massive output in the 1970s and 1980s. Arguably their most popular and longest-lasting property due to its long-term appeal was Scooby-Doo, and its many iterations for film and television. By 1998, it was so popular that the company partnered with Warner Bros. Animation and Mook Animation in Japan for Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island. Its success on home video, as well as its subsequent airing on Cartoon Network later that same year, led to a series of Scooby-Doo direct-to-video movies that continue to this day.
After their many adventures, the Mystery Inc. gang have grown tired of chasing ghosts and monsters after they all turn out to be fakes, deciding amicably to go their separate ways. Daphne and Fred create a TV show in the hopes of tracking down real supernatural beings, Velma opens her own bookstore, and Shaggy and Scooby get jobs as customs agents at an airport. Hearing that Daphne’s birthday is forthcoming, they all reunite and head off in search of what they hope will be real monsters. Their journey leads them to New Orleans and they’re invited to Moonscar Island, where an ancient Southern plantation sits that is supposedly haunted. They’re welcomed with open arms, but they soon discover that this time around, the monsters are actually real.
The biggest takeaway from Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island is its change in style from the earlier TV shows. Hanna-Barbera were limited by their weekly budgets in those days, so much so that character movements were often limited. This is apparent in Zombie Island, where characters are overly-animated at times, which takes some getting used to if you’re mostly familiar with the earlier shows and specials. Seeing the gang come back together for a real supernatural threat with a somewhat darker tone is refreshing. They’re still the same characters of the past, although Daphne has been updated to be less of a prissy, clumsy teenager who’s more worried about her hair. Now she’s a self-driven, outspoken individual with actual goals. It’s a progressive and necessary change since Shaggy and Scooby are more than capable of taking up the slack for traditional goofiness and slapstick.
Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island is a fun horror comedy romp that manages to successfully bring the characters behind the wheel of the Mystery Machine into the future without fundamentally altering them to the point where the initial concept is lost. Today it’s considered a classic by fans who saw it when they were young at the time, and it manages to hold up.
Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island was animated on 35 mm film using traditional cel animation, finished photochemically, and presented in the aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The Warner Bros. Terror Time Collector’s Edition re-release of the film is presented on a single-layered BD-25, previously released by Warner Archive alongside Scooby-Doo! Return to Zombie Island on a dual-layered BD-50 disc. Quality-wise, there’s no difference since the film has a scant 67:02 running time and about a third of the screen is black. It appears to be the exact same encode, with bitrates primarily sit between 35 and 40Mbps, with a lovely boost in color and high levels of detail. Scratches, speckling, and cel dirt are all accounted for, with some mild grain management, as well as perfect contrast, deep blacks, and only minor instability. There’s nothing that tampers with line art or fine detail, coming through with wonderful clarity.
Audio is included in the same English 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio container with optional subtitles in English SDH. The film was recorded in Dolby SR, which this track takes full advantage of with good surround support for music and sound effects, and clean dialogue.
Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island is presented on Terror Time Collector’s Edition Blu-ray in a blue Amaray case alongside a 12-page booklet with stills from the film and the essay Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island: A Landmark in Animation by Matt Dugan. Also included is a double-sided insert with the original home video artwork on the front (and slipcover), and a chapters listing on the reverse. The following extras are included on the disc:
- Audio Commentary by Matt Dugan
- Promotional Trailer (SD – 3:25)
The newly-added audio commentary features Scooby-Doo superfan Matt Dugan, which is a very upbeat and screen-specific track from a die-hard fan who also provides details about the cast, stopping for musical cues and charmingly appreciating the film in all of its various facets. The trailer is also interesting as it shows a combination of finished animation and storyboards.
Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island is a fan favorite, and it’s surprising to see Warner Bros. not only double-dipping on it, but adding some bonus content to it, as well. If you already own the Warner Archive Hanna-Barbera Double Feature Blu-ray, I can understand not wanting to pick this up again. However, it’s still a nice release and comes highly recommended.
- Tim Salmons
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