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Velma Dinkley

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File:Daphne velma wnsd.jpg
Daphne (left) and Velma (right), in What's New, Scooby Doo?

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. Her character is famous for the lines "Jinkies!" and "My Glasses! I can't see without my glasses!" In the two feature length films, she is portrayed by Linda Cardellini.

Overview

Voices

Character biography

Velma is the most intelligent in the group and often makes great use of her skills in such areas as reading Chinese or Japanese, 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. Another somewhat running gag is that she is actually stronger than she appears, often able to carry Shaggy and Scooby in her arms and still be able to run. And on occasions she's able to carry Daphne and Freddy too, managing to carry all four, still able to run, and mysteriously know where she is going all at the same time.

Velma is recognized by her famous orange sweater and glasses. When the gang splits up, Velma usually goes off with Fred and Daphne but sometimes goes with Scooby-Doo and Shaggy and on occasion, even by herself. As far as the group dynamic goes, Velma is usually the one who solves the mystery, while Fred sets up the trap to catch the criminal, and, though the earlier episodes generally show the two of them (and, at times, the entire gang working as a detective team (generally leapfrogging off of eachother to solve the mystery), this dynamic has been exaggerated in recent portrayals to the point where Velma is the sole brain of the outfit.

There is also a very concernable subject for parents on the matter of their children's favourite show "Scooby Doo". It has adult themes as Velma is a lesbian who has rejected Shaggy (who wanted a quick snog in a never-before-seen episode) and has a major CRUSH on Daphne and, therefore, hates Fred as Daphne only loves and dates Fred (it is also suggested they do it all the time).

Relatives

Relatives of Velma, many of whom appear to be well-educated professionals, 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 Meg and Uncle Evan: Velma's aunt and uncle, who live in a small town called Banning Junction which features in a Halloween episode.
  • Marcy: Velma's cousin, the daughter of Meg and Evan.

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). This version of Velma also rarely talked, and usually only spoke with the word "Jinkies!", meaning she had figured something out or had solved the case. She would also explain how the crime was committed when unmasking the villain. She is also noted for being much more violent in this incarnation, such as when she announces jinkies and nobody hears her, her eyes turn red and she screams in their ears.
  • 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 approximately-2004 commercial featuring her, Dexter and Johnny, she seems to have resumed her crush. In another commercial, Johnny relates how he and Velma had a whirlwind romance that ended when she rejected his marriage proposal.
  • Also in "Bravo Dooby Doo," homage is paid to Velma's catchphrase, "Jinkies!" When Johnny and the gang are being chased by the evil gardener 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. The Velma character (listed in the credits as "Bookish Girl") was portrayed by Jane Silvia. This portrayal implied that Velma was a lesbian.
  • 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 as a way of luring out treasure hunters like Dr. Amelia Von Butch.
  • Velma is said in the What's New Scooby Doo series to be an avid fan of American ice hockey, and is also revealed to be an accomplished wrestler. Also, she's a great fan of videogames and she doesn't like long dresses.
  • There is an old Cartoon Network commercial showing the gang running late. It reveals a barefoot Velma, looking through her drawers for a pair of her trademark orange socks.
  • Velma and the gang appear one of the episodes of "Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law" where Shaggy and Scooby Doo are accused of doing drugs and running from police. She is also seen in the slide show of how the other gang members appear to be on drugs too.
  • Velma has been scared of clowns ever since her 5th birthday.
  • Linda Cardellini reprises Velma in the Robot Chicken episode "Operation: Rich in Spirit."
  • VelmaDinkley.com shows the character design history and the different actresses who played Velma
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