This is the first direct-to-video movie to have the flatter, bright animation style of the What's New, Scooby-Doo? TV series, departing from the darker shading and effects used in the four prior released movies. It is also the first Scooby-Doo movie to return to the original format where the monster isn't real. The series returned to a lighter tone than that of the prior four grim and darker movies.