"Happy Birthday Scooby Doo" is not just the first two parter of 'The New Scooby Doo Mysteries', it is also the first episode of the show. Always have really liked this episode, while not loving it, and that is true of almost all of the show's two parters (especially "The Nutcracker Scoob"). The one exception being "Ghosts of the Ancient Astronauts". As a child, what stood out to me about this were the villain, the climax and Scooby's birthday celebration.
As said, "Happy Birthday Scooby Doo" was an immensely enjoyable episode as a kid. It still is as an adult, though the second half is generally not as good as the first. It's one of the better episodes of 'The New Scooby Doo Mysteries', which had a few average or less episodes, but was actually rather underrated. While not one of the best of the show's two parters ("The Nutcracker Scoob" being the best) and there is a preference for "Halloween Hassle at Dracula's Castle" and "Sherlock Doo", "Happy Birthday Scooby Doo" turned out to be a very good beginning.
There is a lot to like about it. The animation is colourful and nicely detailed, with the characters not looking rushed or garish looking. This is one of the best looking two parter episodes to me. The music is a great mix of nostalgic, energetic and haunting, especially in the 'This is Your Life'-like celebration scenes that dominate Part 1. Have always liked the intro, which is very catchy theme tune wise, and the titles sequence visually is clever and fun to watch (the Michael Jackson "Thriller" influence was a great touch).
Furthermore, the writing is fun and amiable. The humour is amusing if goofy and the first part's writing is very charming and affectionate. The rabies shot joke is hilarious, as was Scooby's attempts to get everyone's attention at the start. Shaggy also has one of his best lines of the show in the climax, what a way to insult a villain when in jeopardy. The birthday celebrating and the 'This is Your Life'-like scenes are very lovingly done. Shaggy and Scooby have such great chemistry, it was great to see Fred and Velma in their first of the three episodes where the whole gang are together (the others being "Ghosts of the Ancient Astronauts" and "Halloween Hassle at Dracula's Castle") and Daphne has really evolved as a character. Scrappy gets a lot of hate as a character, but personally didn't have a problem with him here or in this show.
It always helps to have a good villain and the Red Skull is that, one of the show's scariest. "Happy Birthday Scooby Doo" is notable too for having one of the show's darkest climaxes, one of the few times of 'The New Scooby Doo Mysteries' and of the franchise where the characters were in real jeopardy, was very scared for Scooby. Also for being one of not many times where one of the gang is the prime suspect, this aspect was done well but Fred's innocence was never in doubt whereas when Daphne and Shaggy were prime suspects in other incarnations one was convinced at points that it was them. The voice acting is great, Don Messick and Casey Kasem have never been equalled as Shaggy and Scooby and Frank Welker excels too in multiple roles (especially as Red Skull), if slightly too distinctive.
Did feel though, and always have felt, that the mystery is on the thin side and only really gets started towards the end of the first half. It is also very obvious all round, despite Red Skull being memorable the identity of the perpetrator (a case of it could have only been them) is not a surprise at all and neither is the motive, which is suspectable halfway through. Only the darkness of the climax surprises or has much suspense.
Very nice and enjoyable episode. 8/10.
