Scooby-Doo and Pals Go Ghost Hunting

Video

Scooby-Doo! and the Witch’s Ghost. Warner Bros. Family Entertainment. 70 minutes. $20.

The case of the demon mummies is closed--they were really disgruntled archeologists--so Scooby the greedy Great Dane, his bumbling, scraggly haired human soul-mate Shaggy and their ghost-hunting pals go to New England for some supernatural sleuthing with famous horror novelist Ben Ravenscroft.

Was Ben’s ancestor Sarah just a “healer” or is her ghost hurling fireballs at Shaggy and Scoob? Are the fanged Hex Girls an “eco-Goth” rock group or real witches? Does Ravenscroft’s dark side exist only in his fiction? Wiccans, witches, what’s the difference? And what’s with that giant turkey?

The basic animation has lusher background art than the TV show, and with slapstick, music video-type interludes, chase scenes and pyrotechnics--plus Billy Ray Cyrus singing the theme song--fans won’t be disappointed.

Steven Speilberg Presents Toonsylvania. DreamWorks Home Entertainment. 82 minutes. $15.

Dr. Vic Frankenstein’s crafty, creepy servant Igor creates an adorable little baby in a cocktail shaker. Too bad the baby has the teeth and appetite of “Jaws.” Hulking dimwit Phil the Monster’s “Darling Doily Doll” is unexpectedly handy with sharp instruments, and Igor (voiced by Wayne Knight, “Seinfeld’s” diabolical postal worker Newman) reads Phil “Morbid Moral” bedtime stories about horrible little Melissa Screetch.

With a definite gross-out factor, these quirky animations are a howl for kids. Adults may find them a guilty pleasure, too, especially the other component of the show: the adventures of the Deadmans, a nice zombie family living in suburbia. They regularly lose body parts but not their family values.

Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein. Universal Studios Home Video. 78 minutes. $20.

Those high-pitched Chipmunk pop harmonies are an acquired taste, but one that many people savor, judging from the Chipmunks’ 40-year popularity.

This elaborate, direct-to-video production, a first, finds headstrong Alvin, brainy Simon and timid Theodore booked for a “Spookfest” concert at Majestic Studio Movie Park. Leading the others astray as usual, Alvin heads for a pre-show ride in Dragonland, taking over a tour bus but getting the trio lost and locked in after hours. They end up tangling with the real Dr. Frankenstein and his monster at the Frankenstein’s Castle attraction.

The happy ending comes after a wild chase through the dark park, a frantic search by their manager-guardian, Dave, and a surprising discovery by shy little Theodore. Along the way there are sly digs at amusement park protocol, Hollywood types and show biz.

Little Witch. Sony Wonder. 30 minutes. $13. https://www.sonywonder.com/.

For the younger crowd, this features forgettable animation but a good-natured tale, based on Deborah Hautzi’s books about a little witch who can’t please her witchy mom and aunts: She can’t remember to slam the door or keep her room dirty. “How many times have I told you not to be so good?” Mom scolds, but she gives hugs, too.

Little Witch makes friends with some normal neighborhood kids and uses her powers to travel to outer space, to a pirate’s ship and to a Las Vegas lounge act.

Audio

Spiders in the Hairdo. August House Audio. 55 minutes. $12. Ages 10 to adult. https://www.augusthouse.com.

In this wickedly funny, Grammy-nominated spoken-word recording, master storytellers David Holt and Bill Mooney, sounding oh-so-sincere, put outrageous embellishments on such urban legends as the black widows that nested in a woman’s ratted beehive hairdo, the Las Vegas tourist and his involuntary kidney donation, the serial killer and the woman with car trouble, the ghostly hitchhiker and other tales that always seem to have happened to someone’s uncle or the friend of a friend.

The pieces are connected by musical interludes composed and played by jazz piano great Dick Hyman.

Baba Yaga the Witch. Baba Yaga Records. CD: $8. Cassette: $5. 19 minutes. (877) 302-1739. https://www.babayaga.com/.

Baba Yaga, the witch of Russian folklore who lives in a hut built atop living chicken legs, inspired this colorful radio-theater-style release, written and produced by Hollywood sound effects artist and composer Keith Bilderbeck.

A little girl, Vassilisa, ends up in Baba Yaga’s clutches when her evil stepmother sends her into the forest. The girl’s kindness to others saves her when she escapes, chased by the witch traveling via flying mortar and pestle.

It’s an entertaining yarn, with vivid sound effects and serviceable vocal performances, although Bilderbeck’s image-packed script and lyrics could be acted with more theatrical acumen and better breath control.

Bilderbeck’s music is an effective pastiche of orchestral instrumentation and unexpected percussive jazz rhythms.