Potions

> *"Inside were beakers full of colorful chemicals and bowls of something gloppy and glowing." - Shaggy, Chapter 11 (Shaggy)*
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A **potion** (also called **chemicals**, **substances**, **juice**, or **gunk**) is a liquid with special properties and are commonly associated with magic and science in fiction. Many of them can be seen throughout all versions of The Potions Scene, as they are the cause of Shaggy and Scooby's transformations.

## Naming

While never referred to in the film scene or the book, the original script, the video game, and several other versions refer to them as potions. In the Ladybird Book, the potions are also referred to as "gunk". In the HBO Max Audio Description, it alternates between potions, "chemicals", and "substances". In the Amazon Audio Description, they are always called "liquids".

## Description

These potions were created by Jonathan Jacobo, who is seen doing experiments on occasion during the film. The purpose for most of them is unknown, as they seem to have bizarre and unhelpful effects, and none of them are shown to be used by him. It's possible he was unaware of the potion's effects and just created an assortment of chemicals that could possibly do anything. Many are seen as unlabeled, making any of the effects or contents unknown, further implying Jacobo had no intentions of even using them. Most of the transformations caused by the potions produce green smoke, meaning they likely contain randamonium, the same elements used to create the monsters in the film.

The potions come in many bright colors and inside various types of containers, such as beakers, test tubes, and flasks. They are usually confused for yogurt or fruit drinks like lemonade by Scooby. Some are described as having the constancy of pudding, but some seem to have the properties of any average liquid instead.

## Effects

The potions are able to drastically alter the drinker's physically features within a matter of seconds. This can include muscle growth, extra limbs unnatural to the drinker, a change in gender, and even a change in one's dimension. It can also effect their behavior, such as standing upright more than normal or moving in a different fashion.

Some also affect mental states, making the person smarter or dumber, or make them behave more like the form they take on. Some of these mental changes are very drastic, such as Scooby Brainiac's increased intelligence and voice, or more subtle, such as how Monster Scooby seems unaware of his new tentacles.

Some potions can also, somehow, manifest articles of clothing, such as shirts, pants, and glasses. These clothing items, in Shaggy's case, are made to resemble his own, with a green shirt and brown pants. In Shaggy Chick's case, it can even engrave the name of the drinker onto the clothing. Likewise, it can also dematerialize articles of clothing. In Scooby's case, his collar disappears once he becomes Tasmanian Devil Scooby, but returns when he becomes Scooby Brainiac. This seems to imply the potion is aware of the clothing (and name) of any given drinker, and creates an outfit fit to their new form based on their current one.

While the chemical compounds of each potion remain the same, the effects seem to vary between drinkers. For example, the same potion that turns one drinker into a cartoon character could also turn another drinker into a female. The potions' effects can also occur after consuming a small portion (such as when Shaggy becomes Shaggy Chick) or through contact (such as when Tasmanian Devil Scooby becomes Scooby Brainiac). Whether this is due to the amount drunken, the method at which it is absorbed, or the species of the drinker (human or dog) remains unclear.

Many of these effects are flat out impossible, in particularly the ones that can manifest matter in seconds. But, the Scooby-Doo series has always been very cartoony, and by extension the film itself also is. This gives these potions an excuse to cause these unrealistically overblown effects.

## History

### Transformers

Scooby-Doo and Shaggy find a lab with a fridge full of potions. They begin to drink them (both intentionally and unintentionally) and transform into various things. It isn't until Scooby becomes a super intelligent genius that he is able to create an antidote to transform the both of them back to normal.

### Chapter 11 (Shaggy)

In the book, the effects are similar, although clothing does not seem to ever change.

### Mutate Madness

In the game, the potions must be combined with a mixing flask to be effective. Only Scooby drinks potions in the game.

## List of Potions

### Transformers

*See Potions/List of Potions (Transformers)*

### Mutate Madness

* Several potions for mixing
	+ A red potion
	+ A blue potion
	+ A yellow potion
	+ An orange potion
	+ A green potion
	+ A purple potion
	+ A pink potion
	+ A white potion
* Several potions as results
	+ A pink potion mixed from red and white
	+ A purple potion mixed from red and blue
	+ A green potion mixed from blue and yellow
	+ An orange potion mixed from red and yellow
	+ A black potion mixed from any two incorrect colored potions

#### Scholastic Reader

* A yellow and pink potion in test tubes, one of which is the Antidote.
* A blue, red, and green potion in test tubes closed with corks
* A boiling green potion in a conical flask over a Bunsen burner
* A dripping yellow potion in a volumetric flask with a spiral hose

## Trivia

* According to some of the stickers on both the potions and the fridge, some things can be inferred about the potions.
	+ Some potions have pictures of a skull and crossbones on them, implying they are poisonous.
	+ Various biohazard symbols can be seen, meaning these could be harmful to organic beings like humans.
	+ 1.4 explosive stickers are seen, which indicates the threat of a small explosion (comparable to a firework).
	+ Fire stickers can be seen, possibly meaning the potions are flammable or can cause a fire.
* While not potions, many containers next to them seem to contain candy. It's unknown if these have similar properties or effects to potions.
* The potions have different effects on humans and dogs. It is unclear what (if any) effect these potions have on other species.
* Interestingly, every potion used in the film version comes from the third shelf, except for the Highly Combustible Potion and Antidote, which start off as potions on the top shelf.
* Some of the potions are bubbling and boiling which implies that they have low boiling points.
* The members of Big Brovaz also drink potions in their "Thank You" music video, most of which cause nothing more than outfit changes.
* In the Mad Libs Book, the potions are contained in (Type of Container, Plural), with the reader needing to fill in the blanks. One of the potions is also labeled "(Silly Word) Antidote". The way Scooby consumes this antidote is also left blank, making it possible he does not need to drink or be splashed with the potion in order to transform.
* In the special featurette "True Ghoul Hollywood Stories" seen on the Scooby-Doo 2 DVD, Aggie Wilkins, a patron of the Faux Ghost in the film based on the Ozark Witch, mentions that she was often making potions. It's possible, though unlikely, that she was somehow involved in the creation of the potions seen in Jonathan Jacobo's Lab.
* Many of the potions in the fridge have stickers with warning symbols on them, however the red potion on the second shelf from the bottom appears to be the only one with a "Hand Wash Station" symbol on it, showing a hand under a compression faucet. In chemistry labs, this symbol is normally reserved for sinks with running water. This could be a production error, or perhaps an indication that this potion has a cleansing effect.
	+ Considering hand washing stations are typically used to remove harmful chemicals from the body, this potion could be an overlooked antidote. This would make it ironic that Shaggy pushes it out of the way in Shot 22.