Overview

To celebrate the beloved global legacy of Scooby-Doo™, Carbon9 partnered with Warner Bros. to launch the Scooby-Doo Character Studio—an interactive, web-based platform that allows fans to create their own custom Scooby-Doo-inspired characters and order personalized merchandise. The result was a seamless blend of nostalgia, creativity, and cutting-edge tech that brought fans closer to the franchise through immersive digital experiences and collectible customization.

Objectives

• Build an engaging avatar customizer rooted in the Scooby-Doo universe
• Connect user-created 3D avatars with a real-time merchandise preview and purchase system
• Design an interface that’s playful yet intuitive across devices
• Create a branded digital product that boosts both fan engagement and eCommerce performance

Challenges

• Delivering a lightweight but powerful browser-based 3D character builder
• Ensuring accurate IP representation while allowing high levels of personalization
• Merging real-time 3D rendering with print-ready asset generation for custom products
• Maintaining smooth performance across all modern browsers and mobile devices

Solution

🧩 Web-Based 3D Character Builder

Users could personalize avatars with:

• Custom hair, skin tone, facial features, accessories, and clothing
• Classic Scooby-Doo styles and character-driven designs
• A 360° rotatable, real-time preview of the character as they build

🛍️ Dynamic Merch Integration

The app enables users to:

• Preview their avatars on a wide range of merchandise—t-shirts, mugs, posters, stickers, and more
• View live mockups in real-time before purchasing
• Complete purchases via an integrated Shopify eCommerce system

✨ Immersive UX Additions

• High-fidelity 3D rendering true to the cartoon art style
• Animated environments and branded sound effects
• Optional AR filters for users to experience their avatar in the real world
• Download and share functions to amplify reach across social media

Design & UX Highlights

• 🎨 IP-accurate 3D assets modeled to reflect classic Hanna-Barbera style
• 📱 Mobile-first responsive design ensuring accessibility on all devices
• 🔁 Live preview, undo/redo, and progress saving for a smooth creation experience
• 🎮 Game-like feel with web-speed performance and instant feedback

Results

• 👤 Thousands of personalized avatars created by fans within the first month
• 🛍️ Significant increase in product conversion rates over traditional eCommerce models
• 📣 High levels of organic social sharing, driving brand impressions
• 🧩 Increased fan connection through interactive storytelling and creative expression

Why It Worked

By turning fans into creators, Carbon9 transformed a passive product-buying process into an interactive narrative journey. The Scooby-Doo Character Studio tapped into fandom nostalgia while leveraging digital innovation to drive sales and community engagement.

Conclusion

The Scooby-Doo™ Character Studio by Carbon9 is a standout example of how immersive customization, 3D technology, and branded eCommerce can come together to create joyful, repeatable user experiences. More than a merch platform—it was a way for fans to become part of the story.

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