'Scooby Doo and Scrappy Doo's' fifth episode "Shiver and Shake, That Demon's a Snake" was one of the first episodes watched of the show. Way back in primary school when still in Saturday morning cartoons mode (actually miss those days), back when Saturday morning television was worth waking up early for. It left a big impression on me as a child, particularly the Snake Demon, and despite it creeping me out it also entertained and intrigued me hugely even back then.
From a young adult perspective, "Shiver and Shake, That Demon's a Snake" still stands up as one of the best 'Scooby Doo and Scrappy Doo' episodes. Have often seen it considered one of the best episodes of the season and show, even by those that don't care for most of the show, and it is very easy to see why. "Shiver and Shake, That Demon's a Snake" not only is every bit as good now, to me it's actually even better and has one of the higher re-watch counts of all the episodes of the season.
It has a couple of things that don't quite work in my view. Scrappy is annoying and his humour, catchphrases and running gags have already gotten old.
At times, some of the animation in the drawing lacks finesse and has a hasty look.
However, most of the animation is good and one of the best looking episodes of the season. It is particularly good with the character animation of the Snake Demon. The music is characterful but also atmospheric, with standouts being the opening scene and the climactic scene at the parade. The theme song sticks in the head but has never been annoying to me. The voice acting is without complaint, Casey Kasem and Don Messick haven't been bettered or even equalled when it comes to talking about Shaggy and Scooby's numerous voice actors and Frank Welker shows how brilliant he is voicing animals and animal sounds.
The Snake Demon is a prime reason as to why "Shiver and Shake, That Demon's a Snake" works so well as an episode, one of the show's best easily. He's fun, he is cool and scary to look at and he is truly creepy as well, apparent in one of the show's eeriest opening scenes (out-creeped only by that for "Rocky Mountain Yiiiii!"). "Shiver and Shake, That Demon's a Snake" is also one of the funniest episodes with some classic Shaggy and Scooby humour, priceless lines from Shaggy (i.e. The ACA one) and some wildly entertaining and not too coincidental interactions with the Snake Demon. It is one of only four episodes of the season where the identity of the perpetrator was a surprise, the others being "I Left My Neck in San Francisco", "Rocky Mountain Yiiiii!" and especially "The Ghoul, The Bat and the Ugly" and liked too that it was not immediately clear what the demon was after.
Overall, very good and one of the show's best. 8/10.
From a young adult perspective, "Shiver and Shake, That Demon's a Snake" still stands up as one of the best 'Scooby Doo and Scrappy Doo' episodes. Have often seen it considered one of the best episodes of the season and show, even by those that don't care for most of the show, and it is very easy to see why. "Shiver and Shake, That Demon's a Snake" not only is every bit as good now, to me it's actually even better and has one of the higher re-watch counts of all the episodes of the season.
It has a couple of things that don't quite work in my view. Scrappy is annoying and his humour, catchphrases and running gags have already gotten old.
At times, some of the animation in the drawing lacks finesse and has a hasty look.
However, most of the animation is good and one of the best looking episodes of the season. It is particularly good with the character animation of the Snake Demon. The music is characterful but also atmospheric, with standouts being the opening scene and the climactic scene at the parade. The theme song sticks in the head but has never been annoying to me. The voice acting is without complaint, Casey Kasem and Don Messick haven't been bettered or even equalled when it comes to talking about Shaggy and Scooby's numerous voice actors and Frank Welker shows how brilliant he is voicing animals and animal sounds.
The Snake Demon is a prime reason as to why "Shiver and Shake, That Demon's a Snake" works so well as an episode, one of the show's best easily. He's fun, he is cool and scary to look at and he is truly creepy as well, apparent in one of the show's eeriest opening scenes (out-creeped only by that for "Rocky Mountain Yiiiii!"). "Shiver and Shake, That Demon's a Snake" is also one of the funniest episodes with some classic Shaggy and Scooby humour, priceless lines from Shaggy (i.e. The ACA one) and some wildly entertaining and not too coincidental interactions with the Snake Demon. It is one of only four episodes of the season where the identity of the perpetrator was a surprise, the others being "I Left My Neck in San Francisco", "Rocky Mountain Yiiiii!" and especially "The Ghoul, The Bat and the Ugly" and liked too that it was not immediately clear what the demon was after.
Overall, very good and one of the show's best. 8/10.
