Velma Dinkley
Encyclopedia
Velma Dace Dinkley is a fictional character
in the American television animated series
Scooby-Doo
. She is prone to losing her glasses. She is usually seen wearing a baggy orange
sweater
, short pleated skirt (or in later episodes shorts), knee socks, and Mary Janes
. She is seen as the brain of the group.
, Velma is described by her younger sister Madelyn as being "born with a mystery book in her hand". Consequently, Velma is usually the one to figure out the mystery, sometimes with the help of Fred and Daphne
.
In the first series, notably "Where are you!" and "New Movies", a running gag
is Velma's severe nearsightedness and her trouble with keeping her glasses on her face (often resulting in them falling off while she is being chased by the villain).
When Scooby is too afraid to volunteer to help with a mission, Velma often offers him a dog treat called a "Scooby Snack
" as a bribe. Her catchphrases are: "Jinkies!," "Jeepers!" (also used by other members of the gang, notably Daphne) and "My glasses! I can't see without my glasses!"
In the original Where are you! series, Velma attended the same high school as the rest of the gang (as stated in the episode A Knight for a night). However, in the second series, the New Scooby Doo Movies, Velma is said to have graduated from a different high school than her friends (as stated in the episode Spirited Spooked Sports Show).
, Detective Beau Neville in Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island
, George the mailman from their old hometown and two celebrity crushes on Guy L'Avorton and JC Chasez in What's New, Scooby-Doo?
, a possible love interest with Prince Omar in Scooby-Doo! in Where's My Mummy?, and even once had a boyfriend Patrick in Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
. Recently Velma fell head over heels for Winsor in Scooby-Doo! Legend of the Phantosaur
, an archaeology student. Winsor was practically her counter part in appearance and as almost personality, both were instantly smitten. However, Velma would receive a big shock when the gang discovered Winsor and his professor were behind the "phantosaur" to in hopes of getting the fame and most likely money for a dinosaur they found encased in quartz. Eventually, Winsor would regain her trust, after many apologies. Even to the point that she asked if they could date, once he's released from jail.
In the most recent series, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated, Velma and Shaggy have begun dating and Velma is pushing Shaggy to make their relationship official. Shaggy, however, is hesitant as he wants to hide the relationship from Scooby until such a time when he feels confident enough to tell him. This causes some tension between Shaggy and Velma. On top of that, Velma became very controlling - telling Shaggy what to eat, what to wear, even what to say. Under advice from Daphne, she increased this behavior for a brief period, but toned it down upon Shaggy's request.
Eventually, Scooby becomes aware that they are dating. Scooby's initial reaction was exactly what Shaggy had feared: anger, jealousy, and a sense of betrayal. Following the revelation, there is animosity between Scooby and Velma - even elevating to insults (a stark contrast from previous incarnations of the characters). In the end, Velma (repeatedly) gave Shaggy an ultimatum: he had to choose between them - a decision that it can be assumed Shaggy wished to avoid. Ultimately, Shaggy chooses Scooby, breaking up with Velma telling her that he doesn't feel ready to have a girlfriend, leaving Velma heartbroken and humiliated. Despite bitter feelings over the breakup, Velma admits to Scooby that she still had feelings for Shaggy. Later on Velma reconciles her friendship with Shaggy but reveals that she no longer has romantic feelings for him. Ironically, during their breakup, Shaggy appears to have actually developed romantic feelings for Velma which now seem to be unrequited, making their current relationship the inverse of what it started out as. However, lately she seems to have shown signs of regret over the break-up.
In Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster
, Shaggy becomes smitten with Velma very early on in the film. From that point, he follows Velma around, slowly working up the courage to ask her out on a date. Velma is oblivious to all this (partly due to being possessed by Wanda Grubwort) until Shaggy eventually does ask her out; to which she somewhat reluctantly agrees. Scooby (once again jealous of this new, budding relationship) attempts to sabotage the date. Velma leaves early after getting the moonstone Shaggy was planning to give to her later. To Shaggy, it appeared that date did not go well, but it is later revealed to the gang that Velma is possessed. Shaggy is able to save her by complimenting her and singing "By the Light of the Silvery Moon". When Velma comes to, she asks Shaggy if he meant the things he said and he confirms that he meant every word. Goaded on by Fred and Daphne, they kiss each other only to come to the conclusion that there is no chemistry between them. They agree to stay friends and Scooby gives a sigh of relief.
Mr. and Mrs. Dinkley
Madelyn Dinkley
Aunt Meg and Uncle Evan
Marcy
Chloe Dinkley: Velma's 13 year old sister
Velma has been voiced by several actresses. From 1969 to 1974, Nicole Jaffe
voiced Velma; from 1976 to 1979, the late Pat Stevens
voiced the character. From 1979 to 1980, Marla Frumkin provided her voice. Velma did not speak in the Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo final episode, "The Ransom of Scooby Chief". After the character's absence from 1980 to 1983 series, Marla Frumkin reprised the role of Velma as a guest star in The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries. Velma was absent again until A Pup Named Scooby-Doo
when Christina Lange voiced the role. B.J. Ward voiced Velma in a Johnny Bravo
crossover episode. From the animated movie, Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island
, B.J. Ward reprised her role in all movies though Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase
. Nicole Jaffe
returned to voice Velma in the movies, Scooby-Doo and the Legend of the Vampire
and Scooby-Doo and the Monster of Mexico
.
In the latest three Scooby series, What's New, Scooby-Doo?
, Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue!
and Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated, as well as all cartoon movies made since 2004, Velma is voiced by Mindy Cohn
. In the 2002 and 2004 live-action movies, Velma is played by Linda Cardellini
. Velma is portrayed by Hayley Kiyoko
in the 2009 live-action movie Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins
and its live-action sequel Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster
.
speculated that Velma was a lesbian
. The original Scooby-Doo series did not refer to homosexuality
. James Gunn, the screenwriter of the Scooby-Doo
film, said that he was "pretty sure she's gay." Linda Cardellini
, the actress who portrayed Velma in the film, said "There were a few scenes where Velma comes out of her shell. I wouldn't say she comes out of the closet." Cardellini added, "I thought more along the lines that maybe her sexuality is a little ambiguous." Jeffrey P. Dennis, author of "The Same Thing We Do Every Night: Signifying Same-Sex Desire in Television Cartoons," argued that the romantic connection between Velma and Daphne Blake
is "mostly wishful thinking" because Velma and Daphne "barely acknowledge each other's existence." The makers of the film script inserted a reference to the rumor, where Velma ogles Daphne, in a draft script and the writers later intended for Velma to kiss Daphne, but the scenes were cut from the final film.
Later movies, including the second Scooby-Doo film
, Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island
, Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost
, a couple of episodes of What's New, Scooby-Doo?
and the Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated series, depict her as being attracted to male characters without explicitly defining her sexual orientation beyond this.
In Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster, she is saved from the spirit of Wanda Grubwort by Shaggy, who had taken a romantic interest in Velma earlier on in the movie, and they both kiss but there is no "chemistry" between them so they decide to remain as friends. This is the only time there is any actual romance with the character, which also includes a date between Velma and Shaggy earlier on in the film.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in the American television animated series
Cartoon series
A cartoon series is a set of regularly presented animated television programs with a common series title, usually related to one another. These episodes typically share the same characters and a basic theme...
Scooby-Doo
Scooby-Doo
Scooby-Doo is an American media franchise based around several animated television series and related works produced from 1969 to the present day. The original series, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, was created for Hanna-Barbera Productions by writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears in 1969...
. She is prone to losing her glasses. She is usually seen wearing a baggy orange
Orange (colour)
The colour orange occurs between red and yellow in the visible spectrum at a wavelength of about 585–620 nm, and has a hue of 30° in HSV colour space. It is numerically halfway between red and yellow in a gamma-compressed RGB colour space, the expression of which is the RGB colour wheel. The...
sweater
Sweater
A sweater, jumper, pullover, sweatshirt, jersey or guernsey is a garment intended to cover the torso and arms. It is often worn over a shirt, blouse, T-shirt, or other top, but may also be worn alone as a top...
, short pleated skirt (or in later episodes shorts), knee socks, and Mary Janes
Mary Jane (shoe)
Mary Jane is an American term for a strap shoe or bar shoe that typically has low heels, broad and rounded closed toes, and a single-buckle strap across the instep and/or around the ankle...
. She is seen as the brain of the group.
Character description
Throughout her various incarnations, Velma is usually portrayed as a highly intelligent young woman with highly specific interests in science (which in the Scooby and Scrappy Doo series leads her to pursue a career as a NASA research scientist) or merely being very well read on and sometimes obscure fields, such as ancient Viking writing (as in the third Scooby Doo series The New Scooby Doo Mysteries). In Scooby-Doo! Abracadabra-DooScooby-Doo! Abracadabra-Doo
Scooby-Doo! Abracadabra-Doo is the fourteenth of a series of direct-to-video animated films based upon the Scooby-Doo Saturday morning cartoons. It was produced in 2009 by Warner Bros. Animation and it was released on February 16, 2010. It made its television debut on July 10, 2010 on Cartoon...
, Velma is described by her younger sister Madelyn as being "born with a mystery book in her hand". Consequently, Velma is usually the one to figure out the mystery, sometimes with the help of Fred and Daphne
Daphne Blake
Daphne Anne Blake is a fictional character in the long-running American animated series Scooby-Doo. Daphne, depicted as coming from a wealthy family, is noted for her red hair, her fashion sense, and her knack for getting into danger...
.
In the first series, notably "Where are you!" and "New Movies", a running gag
Running gag
A running gag, or running joke, is a literary device that takes the form of an amusing joke or a comical reference and appears repeatedly throughout a work of literature or other form of storytelling....
is Velma's severe nearsightedness and her trouble with keeping her glasses on her face (often resulting in them falling off while she is being chased by the villain).
When Scooby is too afraid to volunteer to help with a mission, Velma often offers him a dog treat called a "Scooby Snack
Scooby Snacks
Scooby Snacks are a fictional food item. They are used as a form of incentive payment for the cartoon characters Scooby-Doo and Shaggy from the Hanna-Barbera series Scooby-Doo and its various spin-offs.- Composition :...
" as a bribe. Her catchphrases are: "Jinkies!," "Jeepers!" (also used by other members of the gang, notably Daphne) and "My glasses! I can't see without my glasses!"
Character background
Like all of the Scooby Doo gang, later ret-conned as Mystery Incorporated members, Velma has differing personal backgrounds and histories depending on which series one is referring to.In the original Where are you! series, Velma attended the same high school as the rest of the gang (as stated in the episode A Knight for a night). However, in the second series, the New Scooby Doo Movies, Velma is said to have graduated from a different high school than her friends (as stated in the episode Spirited Spooked Sports Show).
Relationships
Unlike Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated, neither she nor Shaggy ever showed signs of attraction in any of the previous incarnations. Their relationship always showed nothing beyond friendship. And up until the show, she had the best relationship with Scooby-Doo. Though Velma never dated, she did have several possible love interests in the other incarnations—Ben Ravencroft in Scooby-Doo and the Witch's GhostScooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost
Scooby-Doo! and the Witch's Ghost is the second in a series of direct-to-video animated films based upon Hanna-Barbera's Scooby-Doo Saturday morning cartoons. It was released on October 5, 1999, and it was produced by Warner Bros. Animation starting in 1998. The Mystery, Inc...
, Detective Beau Neville in Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island
Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island
Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island is a 1998 American animated comedy film based on the animated television series Scooby-Doo Saturday morning cartoon franchise...
, George the mailman from their old hometown and two celebrity crushes on Guy L'Avorton and JC Chasez in What's New, Scooby-Doo?
What's New, Scooby-Doo?
What's New, Scooby-Doo? is the ninth incarnation of the Hanna-Barbera Saturday morning cartoon Scooby-Doo, and a revival of the original show Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!. It was the first time the franchise was revived in over a decade. The animated series was developed and produced by Warner Bros....
, a possible love interest with Prince Omar in Scooby-Doo! in Where's My Mummy?, and even once had a boyfriend Patrick in Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed is a 2004 film, and sequel to 2002's Scooby-Doo based on the Hanna-Barbera series classic, Scooby-Doo. It is the second installment in the Scooby-Doo Live-Action film series. It was directed by Raja Gosnell, who also directed the first film, and was written by James...
. Recently Velma fell head over heels for Winsor in Scooby-Doo! Legend of the Phantosaur
Scooby-Doo! Legend of the Phantosaur
Scooby-Doo! Legend of the Phantosaur is the sixteenth Direct-to-DVD movie based upon the Scooby-Doo Saturday morning cartoons, to be released on September 6, 2011, postponed from July 6th...
, an archaeology student. Winsor was practically her counter part in appearance and as almost personality, both were instantly smitten. However, Velma would receive a big shock when the gang discovered Winsor and his professor were behind the "phantosaur" to in hopes of getting the fame and most likely money for a dinosaur they found encased in quartz. Eventually, Winsor would regain her trust, after many apologies. Even to the point that she asked if they could date, once he's released from jail.
In the most recent series, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated, Velma and Shaggy have begun dating and Velma is pushing Shaggy to make their relationship official. Shaggy, however, is hesitant as he wants to hide the relationship from Scooby until such a time when he feels confident enough to tell him. This causes some tension between Shaggy and Velma. On top of that, Velma became very controlling - telling Shaggy what to eat, what to wear, even what to say. Under advice from Daphne, she increased this behavior for a brief period, but toned it down upon Shaggy's request.
Eventually, Scooby becomes aware that they are dating. Scooby's initial reaction was exactly what Shaggy had feared: anger, jealousy, and a sense of betrayal. Following the revelation, there is animosity between Scooby and Velma - even elevating to insults (a stark contrast from previous incarnations of the characters). In the end, Velma (repeatedly) gave Shaggy an ultimatum: he had to choose between them - a decision that it can be assumed Shaggy wished to avoid. Ultimately, Shaggy chooses Scooby, breaking up with Velma telling her that he doesn't feel ready to have a girlfriend, leaving Velma heartbroken and humiliated. Despite bitter feelings over the breakup, Velma admits to Scooby that she still had feelings for Shaggy. Later on Velma reconciles her friendship with Shaggy but reveals that she no longer has romantic feelings for him. Ironically, during their breakup, Shaggy appears to have actually developed romantic feelings for Velma which now seem to be unrequited, making their current relationship the inverse of what it started out as. However, lately she seems to have shown signs of regret over the break-up.
In Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster
Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster
Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster is a live action/CGI television film by Warner Premiere for Cartoon Network based on the Saturday morning cartoon series Scooby-Doo by Hanna-Barbera. It is the fourth live-action Scooby-Doo film...
, Shaggy becomes smitten with Velma very early on in the film. From that point, he follows Velma around, slowly working up the courage to ask her out on a date. Velma is oblivious to all this (partly due to being possessed by Wanda Grubwort) until Shaggy eventually does ask her out; to which she somewhat reluctantly agrees. Scooby (once again jealous of this new, budding relationship) attempts to sabotage the date. Velma leaves early after getting the moonstone Shaggy was planning to give to her later. To Shaggy, it appeared that date did not go well, but it is later revealed to the gang that Velma is possessed. Shaggy is able to save her by complimenting her and singing "By the Light of the Silvery Moon". When Velma comes to, she asks Shaggy if he meant the things he said and he confirms that he meant every word. Goaded on by Fred and Daphne, they kiss each other only to come to the conclusion that there is no chemistry between them. They agree to stay friends and Scooby gives a sigh of relief.
Relatives
Relatives of Velma shown during the series' run include:Mr. and Mrs. Dinkley
- Velma's parents.
Madelyn Dinkley
- Velma's younger sister voiced by Danica McKellarDanica McKellarDanica Mae McKellar is an American actress, academic, and education advocate. She is best known for her role as Winnie Cooper in the television show The Wonder Years, and later as author of the three The New York Times bestsellers, Math Doesn't Suck, Kiss My Math, and Hot X: Algebra Exposed, which...
. She appears to be in her late teens and somewhat resembles her older sister in appearance & personality. Ironically, Velma herself refers to Madelyn as a nerd and doesn't seem to realize how much alike they really are. Unlike Velma, Madelyn wasn't exactly sure what she wanted to do for a living and had previously attended clown college until she discovered a fondness for stage magic and enrolls in a school for stage magicians. Madelyn has a huge crush on Shaggy RogersShaggy RogersNorville "Shaggy" Rogers is a fictional character from the American animated television series Scooby-Doo, about the adventures of four crime-solving teenagers and Shaggy's pet great dane, Scooby-Doo. Shaggy is a cowardly slacker more interested in eating than solving mysteries. He is the only...
and as a result of this, Shaggy refers to Madelyn as "Doe-eyed Dinkley" or by simply "Madds". She plays an important role in Scooby-Doo! Abracadabra-DooScooby-Doo! Abracadabra-DooScooby-Doo! Abracadabra-Doo is the fourteenth of a series of direct-to-video animated films based upon the Scooby-Doo Saturday morning cartoons. It was produced in 2009 by Warner Bros. Animation and it was released on February 16, 2010. It made its television debut on July 10, 2010 on Cartoon...
, when the magic school she's enrolled in is being terrorized by a giant griffinGriffinThe griffin, griffon, or gryphon is a legendary creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle...
.
Aunt Meg and Uncle Evan
- Velma's aunt and uncle, who live in a small town called Banning Junction which features in a HalloweenHalloweenHallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
episode of What's New, Scooby-Doo?What's New, Scooby-Doo?What's New, Scooby-Doo? is the ninth incarnation of the Hanna-Barbera Saturday morning cartoon Scooby-Doo, and a revival of the original show Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!. It was the first time the franchise was revived in over a decade. The animated series was developed and produced by Warner Bros....
.
Marcy
- Velma's cousin and the daughter of Meg and Evan. She is studying mechanical engineering in college, but unlike Velma she is fashionable. This along with Marcy's interest in Fred made her Daphne's rival of sorts. She was born on HalloweenHalloweenHallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
which over time led to her hatred of the holiday as it usually upstaged her birthday (even her parents have forgotten it). Consequently, she used local legend and her engineering background to create "Mechanical Scarecrow Monsters" to terrorize the town.
Other Relatives
- Aunt Thelma: works with dolphinDolphinDolphins are marine mammals that are closely related to whales and porpoises. There are almost forty species of dolphin in 17 genera. They vary in size from and , up to and . They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves, and are carnivores, mostly eating...
s at a marineOceanAn ocean is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the hydrosphere. Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by ocean, a continuous body of water that is customarily divided into several principal oceans and smaller seas.More than half of this area is over 3,000...
institute. - Uncle Dave (Walton):
- Uncle John: works as an archaeologist.
- Uncle Cosmo: also works as an archaeologist.
- Uncle Elmo: a doctorPhysicianA physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
. - Uncle Ted: also works as an archaeologist
Chloe Dinkley: Velma's 13 year old sister
Nicole Jaffe
Nicole Jaffe is an American actress and voice actress, best known as the original voice of Velma Dinkley in Hanna-Barbera's Scooby-Doo Saturday morning cartoon series from 1969 to 1974...
voiced Velma; from 1976 to 1979, the late Pat Stevens
Pat Stevens
Pat Stevens, also known as Patricia Stevens is an American actress and voice actor. She is perhaps best known for her role as Nurse Baker on M*A*S*H and her role as the second voice of the popular character Velma Dinkley during the same period .-Career:She voiced the character of Velma Dinkley...
voiced the character. From 1979 to 1980, Marla Frumkin provided her voice. Velma did not speak in the Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo final episode, "The Ransom of Scooby Chief". After the character's absence from 1980 to 1983 series, Marla Frumkin reprised the role of Velma as a guest star in The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries. Velma was absent again until A Pup Named Scooby-Doo
A Pup Named Scooby-Doo
A Pup Named Scooby-Doo is the eighth incarnation of the Hanna-Barbera Saturday morning cartoon Scooby-Doo. This spin-off of the original show was created by Tom Ruegger and premiered on September 10, 1988 and ran for three seasons on ABC as a half-hour program, until August 17, 1991...
when Christina Lange voiced the role. B.J. Ward voiced Velma in a Johnny Bravo
Johnny Bravo
Johnny Bravo is an American animated television series created by Van Partible for Cartoon Network. The series stars a muscular beefcake young man named Johnny Bravo who dons a pompadour hairstyle and an Elvis Presley-like voice and has a forward, woman-chasing personality...
crossover episode. From the animated movie, Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island
Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island
Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island is a 1998 American animated comedy film based on the animated television series Scooby-Doo Saturday morning cartoon franchise...
, B.J. Ward reprised her role in all movies though Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase
Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase
Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase is the fourth of a series of direct-to-video animated films based on Hanna-Barbera's Scooby-Doo Saturday morning cartoons. It was released on October 9, 2001. It features the Mystery, Inc. gang, which includes Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Freddy, Daphne and Velma...
. Nicole Jaffe
Nicole Jaffe
Nicole Jaffe is an American actress and voice actress, best known as the original voice of Velma Dinkley in Hanna-Barbera's Scooby-Doo Saturday morning cartoon series from 1969 to 1974...
returned to voice Velma in the movies, Scooby-Doo and the Legend of the Vampire
Scooby-Doo and the Legend of the Vampire
Scooby-Doo! and the Legend of the Vampire is the fifth of a series of direct-to-video animated films based upon the Scooby-Doo Saturday morning cartoons. It was completed in 2002, and released on March 4, 2003 and it was produced by Warner Bros...
and Scooby-Doo and the Monster of Mexico
Scooby-Doo and the Monster of Mexico
Scooby-Doo! and the Monster of Mexico is the sixth of a series of direct-to-video animated films based upon the Scooby-Doo Saturday morning cartoons. It was released on September 30, 2003, and it was produced by Warner Bros. Animation...
.
In the latest three Scooby series, What's New, Scooby-Doo?
What's New, Scooby-Doo?
What's New, Scooby-Doo? is the ninth incarnation of the Hanna-Barbera Saturday morning cartoon Scooby-Doo, and a revival of the original show Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!. It was the first time the franchise was revived in over a decade. The animated series was developed and produced by Warner Bros....
, Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue!
Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue!
Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue! is the tenth incarnation of Hanna-Barbera's Scooby-Doo series of Friday night cartoons. It debuted on September 23, 2006, and ran on Kids WB on Saturday mornings. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, this was the last cartoon series produced by co-creator, Joseph...
and Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated, as well as all cartoon movies made since 2004, Velma is voiced by Mindy Cohn
Mindy Cohn
Mindy Heather Cohn is an American actress, comedian known for her role as Natalie Green, the smart, overweight student of Edna Garrett , on the TV show The Facts of Life, and also being the current voice for Velma Dinkley in the Scooby-Doo franchise, which she has held since 2002.She currently...
. In the 2002 and 2004 live-action movies, Velma is played by Linda Cardellini
Linda Cardellini
Linda Edna Cardellini is an American television and film actress. She is best known for her roles as high school student Lindsay Weir on Freaks and Geeks, as Velma Dinkley in the live-action Scooby-Doo films, and as Samantha Taggart on ER.- Early life :Cardellini was born in Redwood City,...
. Velma is portrayed by Hayley Kiyoko
Hayley Kiyoko
Hayley Kiyoko Alcroft , known professionally as Hayley Kiyoko, is an American actress, singer, songwriter, musician, and dancer...
in the 2009 live-action movie Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins
Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins
Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins is the prequel of Scooby-Doo that was first aired on September 13, 2009, the fortieth anniversary of Scooby-Doo...
and its live-action sequel Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster
Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster
Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster is a live action/CGI television film by Warner Premiere for Cartoon Network based on the Saturday morning cartoon series Scooby-Doo by Hanna-Barbera. It is the fourth live-action Scooby-Doo film...
.
Reception
Members of the fanbase of the original Scooby-DooScooby-Doo
Scooby-Doo is an American media franchise based around several animated television series and related works produced from 1969 to the present day. The original series, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, was created for Hanna-Barbera Productions by writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears in 1969...
speculated that Velma was a lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
. The original Scooby-Doo series did not refer to homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
. James Gunn, the screenwriter of the Scooby-Doo
Scooby-Doo (film)
Scooby-Doo is a 2002 American comedy film based on the Hanna-Barbera television cartoon series Scooby-Doo about a group of young detectives and their talking dog. It is the first installment in the Scooby-Doo live action film series...
film, said that he was "pretty sure she's gay." Linda Cardellini
Linda Cardellini
Linda Edna Cardellini is an American television and film actress. She is best known for her roles as high school student Lindsay Weir on Freaks and Geeks, as Velma Dinkley in the live-action Scooby-Doo films, and as Samantha Taggart on ER.- Early life :Cardellini was born in Redwood City,...
, the actress who portrayed Velma in the film, said "There were a few scenes where Velma comes out of her shell. I wouldn't say she comes out of the closet." Cardellini added, "I thought more along the lines that maybe her sexuality is a little ambiguous." Jeffrey P. Dennis, author of "The Same Thing We Do Every Night: Signifying Same-Sex Desire in Television Cartoons," argued that the romantic connection between Velma and Daphne Blake
Daphne Blake
Daphne Anne Blake is a fictional character in the long-running American animated series Scooby-Doo. Daphne, depicted as coming from a wealthy family, is noted for her red hair, her fashion sense, and her knack for getting into danger...
is "mostly wishful thinking" because Velma and Daphne "barely acknowledge each other's existence." The makers of the film script inserted a reference to the rumor, where Velma ogles Daphne, in a draft script and the writers later intended for Velma to kiss Daphne, but the scenes were cut from the final film.
Later movies, including the second Scooby-Doo film
Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed is a 2004 film, and sequel to 2002's Scooby-Doo based on the Hanna-Barbera series classic, Scooby-Doo. It is the second installment in the Scooby-Doo Live-Action film series. It was directed by Raja Gosnell, who also directed the first film, and was written by James...
, Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island
Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island
Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island is a 1998 American animated comedy film based on the animated television series Scooby-Doo Saturday morning cartoon franchise...
, Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost
Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost
Scooby-Doo! and the Witch's Ghost is the second in a series of direct-to-video animated films based upon Hanna-Barbera's Scooby-Doo Saturday morning cartoons. It was released on October 5, 1999, and it was produced by Warner Bros. Animation starting in 1998. The Mystery, Inc...
, a couple of episodes of What's New, Scooby-Doo?
What's New, Scooby-Doo?
What's New, Scooby-Doo? is the ninth incarnation of the Hanna-Barbera Saturday morning cartoon Scooby-Doo, and a revival of the original show Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!. It was the first time the franchise was revived in over a decade. The animated series was developed and produced by Warner Bros....
and the Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated series, depict her as being attracted to male characters without explicitly defining her sexual orientation beyond this.
In Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster, she is saved from the spirit of Wanda Grubwort by Shaggy, who had taken a romantic interest in Velma earlier on in the movie, and they both kiss but there is no "chemistry" between them so they decide to remain as friends. This is the only time there is any actual romance with the character, which also includes a date between Velma and Shaggy earlier on in the film.