My (two decades late) pitch for the 5th Mook Animation film

It would be titled “The Curse of Atlantis” and be released in 2002, with the same voice cast returning from Cyber Chase (Scott Innes as Shaggy and BJ Ward as Velma). For this film, I would tweak the formula and go for more of an anime / steampunk vibe (the final act features the gang using mech suits to fight off an army of Atlantean spirits unleashed by the villain, while the villain and one of the other protagonists fight one on one). I would really like the film to be done in cel animation, but almost certainly it would be done in digital animation, like Cyber Chase.

Aside from the gang, these would be the characters introduced in this movie:

• Naomi and Elliot Blackwell - an eccentric millionaire couple in their early-mid 30s who are passionate about finding Atlantis. Later revealed to be apparent villains, but they were actually in the dark about their friend’s true motivations, and ended up helping the gang defeat him. Naomi is revealed to be descended from Atlanteans.

• Oliver Harrison - a mythology professor in his late 30s, and a close friend of Naomi and Elliot, later revealed to be descended from Atlanteans, and later still, as the true villain.

• Duke, Aria, and Wilson - three crew members on the expedition who dressed up as Atlantean spirits in an attempt to scare the gang off. They ended up helping the gang after Oliver betrayed them.

• Zola - a kindhearted and idealistic Atlantean who give the gang a tour of the city and, unlike most of his kind, does not have a deep distrust of the outside world, and even believes Atlantis may be able to rejoin the world someday and share its technology for the greater cause of mankind. He befriends the gang and takes them to his home to meet his family, and later, helps them escape when Oliver turns on them.

The curse is connected to a magical stone tablet imbued with the power of the gods (which led the group to Atlantis) which is Oliver was able to unleash the spirits. The tablet is a holy relic which is traditionally held by kings and contains immense power, but if the tablet is damaged or destroyed, a curse is unleashed upon its holder. This is how the island of Atlantis was originally cursed by the gods, as the hubris of the Atlanteans caused the tablet to be damaged and lost as sea during battle, it’s also how Oliver is defeated.

The film would be more explicitly connected to the previous 4 films canon wise, as Eric from Cyber Chase would make an early appearance recommending the gang’s services in translating the tablet, while Crystal and Amber from Alien Invaders are also mentioned while the gang are on Atlantis, as Shaggy and Scooby are wondering if any of the advanced technology on Atlantis could be used to contact them. Maybe there could also be a Hex Girls poster in the mystery machine as an Easter egg.

The first act involves the story of the fall of Atlantis being told as a frame narrative, which is then revealed to be a lecture from Oliver, who is later revealed to be planning an expedition to Atlantis with his wealthy friends Naomi and Elliot, who are funding everything. The trio have been unable to find anyone who can translate the tablet, until Eric, who is a student at the same university, points them towards mystery Inc. Velma succeeds in translating the tablet and the gang are invited to join the expedition as thanks.

Shaggy and Scooby would be chased by Atlantean spirits on the ship, which raises some suspicion for the gang about what’s really going on. Later, the gang would spend a day on Atlantis getting up to their usual shenanigans, but the spirits would return to cause trouble again, and Fred would come up with a plan to trap them. That night, they would lure the spirits into the trap, with it actually working perfectly on the first try, and the spirits would be unmasked and revealed as the crew members trying to scare them off before they realize that the main trio are here to loot the city.

Suddenly, said trio would appear carting out priceless treasures, but once Oliver realizes the charade is over, he betrays everyone else and reveals that his true intentions are far worse, as he plans to use the might of Atlantis’ advanced weaponry to subjugate the world to his will, as his ancestors once sought to do until they lost the tablet (Oliver and Naomi are both descended from Atlanteans who escaped the island’s original fate and spread out across the world). Oliver would then use the tablet to unleash an army of real Atlantean spirits which capture the gang, but they make a getaway thanks to Zola, their tour guide from earlier. During this chase, an original song would play called “Atlantis Awakened”. This leads to the aforementioned final act.

Like Ben from Witch’s Ghost, Oliver ends up having a “fate worse than death” defeat, as the spirits turn against him when the tablet is destroyed, and prevent him from escaping as the island sinks back into the ocean. The implication is that he will face the wrath of the gods alone, while the other Atlanteans will be spared, and all we see is his pure terror as he vanishes beneath the waves along with Atlantis.

The film would deal with the theme of whether the outside world is ready to coexist with Atlantis, and if they can be trusted to use Atlantean technology for good, with the answer being left at “not yet”, as even Zola, who has always been optimistic on this, concedes in the end. Meanwhile, despite being passionate about this subject, and having the potential to become rich and famous beyond their wildest dreams, Naomi and Elliot decide it’s best to ditch any evidence of Atlantis and tell the world it’s just a myth after all. Throughout the film, I envision the score being very thoughtful and mysterious, yet also melancholy, as it’s an unknown frontier, similar to Alien Invaders. The final shot would be of the gang standing by the ocean and gazing out upon the calm waters at sunset, knowing they’ll be amongst the few to ever know the truth, before driving off towards home.

I actually have the entire plot summary written up for this idea. I really did put all of this thought into something that has no chance of happening :p.