One of the world's most famous dogs Scooby-Doo celebrated his 50th birthday in Australia with the nation's largest dog cake and a birthday bash attended by a furry friends.
To celebrate half-a-century of Scooby snacks, 50 years of meddling kids and five decades of epic mask reveals, Boomerang worked with celebrity chef Anna Polyviou to create the cake weighing over 120kg and sitting at over 150cm high.
“The collaboration was my dream job, I grew up watching Scooby-Doo and still watch it with my niece and nephew," Polyviou says.
"It brings back so many happy memories for me enjoying my coco-pops on a Saturday morning trying to solve the mystery with the gang. I’m a big kid at heart so not much has changed, I’ve just moved on to oats.”
Robi Stanton, vice president and general manager of Turner Australia, which operates Boomerang, says the concept took three months from ideation to creation and was a "nod to Scooby's insatiable appetite".
“We really wanted to create an event that captures the good memories that Scooby-Doo has made with so many fans around the world. It is an incredible milestone to turn 50, and to still look so good," Stanton says.
Polyviou, who is a guest judge on Masterchef, was chosen to create the cake because she was known to be a huge fan of the show.
The birthday party, which was held in Sydney, was a cacophony of food, fur and fun with lots of dogs of all shapes and forms who devoured, destroyed and enjoyed the delicious dog cake.
Guests included insta-famous dogs, Coco, The Norton Mouse Pugs, Hugo the Bichoodle and Beren the Lab.
Dog cake experts, Woof Gateaux Boutique Pet Bakery Sydney, consulted on the project to ensure the cake was sugar-free, dairy-free and wheat-free.
This meant the dogs could enjoy the nutritious treat without worrying about their waistline.
“It has taken us years to refine and develop a cake recipe that dogs can enjoy," says Jason Blachowski from Woof Gateaux Boutique Pet Bakery Sydney.
"We are thrilled to be a part of the celebrations. As a dog lover, I have always loved Scooby-Doo, I’m pretty sure I often morph in-to the Scooby voice when I am talking to my own dogs...ruh-roh!”
Stanton says the franchise's success drills down to being "trans-generational", perfect for families of all ages.
"Everyone wanted to take part in this. I think that's the nature of Scooby-Doo that everyone has a memory that relates to Scooby-Doo," Stanton says.
Scooby-Doo has more episodes than any other cartoon franchise.
A new series Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? has kicked off on Boomerang where the Mystery Inc. gang will be welcoming new members as they’re faced with some of their toughest mysteries to date.
Celebrities will be helping Scooby and the gang on their mysteries include NBA superstar Chris Paul, recording artist Halsey and Australian singer Sia, Ricky Gervais, Kenan Thompson, Bill Nye, Neil deGrasse Tyson and Mark Hamill.
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