Velma Dinkley
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Velma Dace Dinkley is a fictional character in the American television animated series Scooby-Doo, about the adventures of four crime-solving teenagers and their Great Dane companion, Scooby-Doo. The bespectacled character is portrayed as the resident genius of the quartet, often being the one to decipher the clues and solve the crimes.
Contents |
[edit] Overview
[edit] Voices
Nicole Jaffe (1969-1974, 2002-2003)
Pat Stevens (1975-1979)
Marla Frumkin (1979-1980, 1984-1985)
Christina Lange (1988-1991)
B.J. Ward (1997-2001)
Mindy Cohn (2002-present)
[edit] Character biography
Velma is the most intelligent in the group despite her being the youngest and often makes great use of her skills in such areas as reading Chinese, deciphering scientific formulae, operating communications equipment, and so forth. A running gag of the series is Velma's trouble with keeping her glasses on her face (usually from being accidentally knocked off of her face while being chased by the villain), as she is very nearsighted. When Scooby and Shaggy are too afraid to volunteer for a mission (which tends to be most of the time), Velma often offers him a dog treat called a "Scooby snack" as a bribe.
Velma is reconized by her famous orange sweater and glasses. Every time the group "splits up" Velma almost always joins Fred and Daphne, however, she sometimes goes with Shaggy and Scooby, too. Her catchphrase "Jinkies" is her signature for the show.
[edit] Relatives
Relatives of Velma shown during the series' run include:
- Mr. and Mrs. Dinkley: Velma's parents.
- Aunt Thelma: works with dolphins at a marine institute.
- Dave Walton: Velma's uncle.
- Uncle John: an archaeologist.
- Uncle Cosmo: another archaeologist.
- Uncle Elmo: a doctor.
- Aunt NutMeg and Uncle Evan: Velma's aunt and uncle, who live in a small town called Banning Junction which features in a Hallowe'en episode.
- Marcy: Velma's cousin, the daughter of Meg and Evan.
[edit] Trivia
- The junior-high school aged Pup Named Scooby-Doo version of Velma was animated with a rapid walk similar to that of Marvin the Martian. She was also drawn with glasses somewhat as large as her head, and wore the same clothes style as she does when she is older. This younger Velma always carried a suitcase with her (compact size) that holds a gigantic computer. Her surname "Dinkley" was often used in this series (previous series rarely mentioned it).
- In the Johnny Bravo episode "Bravo Dooby Doo," the Scooby Doo cast meet Johnny, with Velma briefly developing a crush on Johnny, but soon changing her mind by the episode's end; although in an appoximately-2004 commercial featuring her, Dexter and him, she seems to resumed her crush.
- Also in "Bravo Dooby Doo," homage is paid to Velma's catchphrase, "Jinkies!" When Johnny and the gang are being chased by the evil gardner Johnny exclaims, "Jinkies," then wonders, "Jinkies, Jinkies. Hey, isn't that a breakfast cereal or something?"
- A parody of the Scooby-Doo characters appeared in the 2001 film Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, and the Velma character (listed in the credits as "Bookish Girl") was portrayed by actress Jane Silvia. This portrayal made implications to the character's lesbianism.
- The live-action stage version of Scooby Doo which toured prior to the live action movie portrayed Velma fawning over Daphne's outfit briefly--another nod to her cult lesbian status at the time.
- The second-season episode of The Venture Bros. entitled "¡Viva los Muertos!" features the entire Scooby-Doo cast re-imagined as famous serial killers and radicals. Velma's analogue, "Val", is a parody of Valerie Solanas, the militant misandrist who shot Andy Warhol.
- In Scooby-Doo! in Where's My Mummy? Velma is technically one of the villains due to taking on the persona of Cleopatra as part of a hoax she perpetrates during the movie.
- In What's New Scooby Doo series, we find out that Velma is a huge fan of ice hockey, especially of the American ice hockey team. In the series, we also find out that she knows how to wrestle.
