The adult animated series “Velma” is set to return for its second season on April 25, 2024. The show, which airs on Max, serves as a prequel to the beloved “Scooby-Doo” franchise, focusing on the origin story of Velma Dinkley, the unsung brains of the Mystery Inc. gang.
The series is produced by Warner Bros. Animation and features Mindy Kaling as the voice of Velma, along with a star-studded supporting cast, including Glenn Howerton as Fred, Constance Wu as Daphne, and Sam Richardson as Norville Rogers, a reimagined version of Shaggy. The show also includes the voices of Jane Lynch, Wanda Sykes, Russell Peters, Melissa Fumero, Stephen Root, Gary Cole, Ken Leung, Cherry Jones, and Ming-Na Wen.
The first season of “Velma” premiered on January 12, 2023, and received mixed reviews from critics. While the voice acting and animation were generally praised, the humor and departure from the traditional “Scooby-Doo” format divided audiences. The show was particularly criticized for its portrayal of Velma, who was depicted as a “snarky” and “bisexual” South Asian American.
Despite the mixed reviews, “velma” became the most-watched animated original show on HBO Max during its premiere, breaking records for the platform.
It remains to be seen whether the second season of “Velma” will address some of the criticisms from its inaugural season.
