Matthew Lillard first entered the world of Scooby Doo in 2002 - and 13 years on, he's become the go-to Norville 'Shaggy' Rogers.

The actor voices Shaggy in new animated series Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! - having inherited the mantle from Casey Kasem, who passed away last year.

Boomerang



Lillard told Digital Spy that he is determined to "protect the legacy that was created" by Kasem, recalling how he would listen to tapes of the actor to prepare for his role in 2002's Scooby Doo film.



"I would listen to a recording - I had five episodes of Casey on loop and I would just mimic him the entire time," he revealed. "That's what really solidified the voice and the character, and carried me all the way through."

Lillard played Shaggy in two live-action outings - the first film, and a 2004 sequel - and admitted that his feelings about the divisive movies have changed over the years.



"When they first came out, I thought that they were incredible," he said. "I was super-proud of my performance and I was happy to be at the forefront of a huge franchise for Warner Bros.



"But then, for a while, I lost my street credibility - it's like, 'Oh you're in kids' movies about a talking dog?' - it's kind of a joke. So there was a moment where I had a lot of shame about being that guy.

"Now I'm on the other side - I'm 45 years old, 13 years older. The movies are what they were, and I don't judge them. I certainly am proud I did Scooby-Doo and I don't know what I'd be doing if I didn't have that character in my life."

Frazer Harrison



Scooby and Shaggy are now heading back to the big-screen - with a new animated movie in the works - and Lillard said he thinks the franchise will always appeal to kids.



"It's a kids' first introduction to the wonders of mystery," he suggested. "You can't jump right into the world of Sherlock Holmes. You need something to baby-step into that.

"There's something visceral about watching a Scooby-Doo episode when you're a kid. You'll be able to tell that story time and time again, and kids will fall in love with it time and time again."

Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! launches on Sunday 4th October at 8am on Boomerang.

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Watch a clip from Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! below:

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