Independent Films, Film Profiles

Arabian Nights (1994 TV special)

Arabian Nights is an animated TV special produced by Hanna-Barbera and premiered on TBS in 1994. This special is animated with bright colors, stylized character designs and a flater style to the previous TV movies, and musically scored like a classic Warner Bros. cartoon, similar to Tiny Toon Adventures and Animaniacs. It is an adaptation of The Book of One Thousand and One Nights.In spite the cameo appearances, this was the final cartoon from Hanna-Barbera Productions to feature its famous classic characters, Yogi Bear and Boo Boo, Magilla Gorilla, Scooby-Doo and Shaggy and as well as a string of new characters made for this special. It is also the last time that Don Messick voiced Scooby-Doo.Scooby and Shaggy are hired as royal food-tasters by a young Arab Caliph - a job offer they can't refuse. When they eat everything, the Caliph gets mad and has his guards chase them, until he finds Shaggy disguised in drag as a harem girl. In order to make the prince fall asleep, Shaggy tells him two classic stories: The first tale is about a female character named Aliyah-din and how the genies (played by Yogi and Boo Boo) help her obtain the love of a prince while thwarting the plot of the evil wizard Haman. The second tale is about Sinbad the Sailor (played by Magilla Gorilla) and how he mistakens a pirate ship for a cruise ship. When Shaggy is about to escape, the Caliph decides to start the ceremony right away. When the wedding cake arrives, Shaggy pigs out and his ruse is discovered. He and Scooby are asked to be the royal storytellers, and the duo accept as well as being the royal food tasters again.