A Pup Named Scooby Doo is a VITAL PART of Scooby canon

Did you know that the name 'Coolsville' was first used to name the gang's city in A Pup Named Scooby Doo?

Did you know that Velma's surname 'Dinkley' was first coined in this series?

Did you know that Shaggy's real name 'Norville' was actually stated first in this series?

Did you know that earlier Scooby Doo series made nods at the gang knowing themselves before the first series?

Did you know that Fred and Daphne's personalities in this series were used in part to mold the personalities of the Fred and Daphne portrayed in the first two live-action films?

Did you know that 'What's New Scooby Doo' and 'Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed' make direct references to this series? For example, there's an episode in What's New Scooby Doo?' season 3 that had a flashback that showed the characters in their younger selves, using the same character designs in a Pup Named Scooby-Doo.

Also, in 'Monsters Unleashed' the gang goes to their tree house headquarters, just like they had in A Pup Named Scooby Doo. There's also a flashback in the film that recalls the gang being together when they were way younger. The Chickenstein case was referenced also, even the costume was exposed in the Coolsonian Museum in this film.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Scooby Doo! The Mystery Begins. I think its a great movie, just like the other two live action films. In my head, I do like to think this movie happened before 'A Pup', because in this series the gang already knew each other. I do imagine in my mind that this film had things go slightly different. For example, I like to imagine that Fred was blonde (although it really doesn't bother me now) and that the gang was younger and still in junior high when they first met. This way it would PERFECTLY keep in tune with A Pup Named Scooby Doo.