View source for Velma Dinkley

:''This article is about the original incarnation of Velma Dinkley. For other incarnations, see [[Velma Dinkley (disambiguation)]].''
{{Character Infobox
| image= Velma_Dinkley.png
| alias= Velm; V
| gender= Female
| hair= Auburn
| eyes= Black
| job= Amateur sleuth <sup><small>([[Velma Dinkley#Occupation|for other jobs, see below]])</small></sup>
| affiliation= [[Mystery Inc.]];<br />[[Scooby-Doo Detective Agency]] (''formerly'')
| family= [[Mr. Dinkley]] (father);<br />[[Mrs. Dinkley]] (mother);<br />[[Madelyn Dinkley]] (sister)
| firstapp= {{SDWAY}}: {{WAY101}}
| actor= [[Kate Micucci]] <sup><small>([[Velma Dinkley#Voices of Velma|for previous actors, see below]])</small></sup>
}}
{{Introquote|The sarcastic girl speaks the truth.|[[Elder (Scooby-Doo! and KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery)|The Elder]]|''[[Scooby-Doo! and KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery]]''}}
'''Velma Dinkley'''<ref>{{TNSDMysteries}}: {{TNSDMysteries101}}, season 1, episode 1.</ref> is the bespectacled resident genius of [[Mystery Inc.]], often being the one to decipher the clues and solve the crimes.

==Physical appearance==
:For a full list of what Velma wears, see ''[[Velma's outfits and disguises]]''

Velma is a teenage female, with chin-length auburn hair and freckles. She is somewhat obscured by her fashion choices, wearing a baggy, thick turtlenecked orange sweater, with a red skirt, knee length orange socks and black Mary Jane shoes. Velma has a slightly wider waist than the thinner framed [[Daphne Blake]], as seen when both are dressed in swimwear, but this may be exaggerated due to her sweater, which makes her look somewhat heavyset. Her facial shape is also more circular/square compared to the ovular shape Daphne. She is also well known for her thick-framed, square glasses.

==Personality==
She has a fascination with mysteries (her younger sister [[Madelyn Dinkley|Madelyn]] said that she was "born with a mystery book in her hand".<ref>{{DTV14}}, direct-to-video film 14.</ref> At times she can be competitive with other people who are very intelligent like she is, such as [[Verona Dempsey]].<ref>{{WNSD}}: {{WNSD301}}, [[What's New, Scooby-Doo? season 3|season 3]], episode 1.</ref>

She is sharp-witted and sometimes sarcastic, not lost on others.<ref>{{DTV24}}, direct-to-video film 24.</ref> She also seems to love secrecy, and has a bit of slyness in her character, as she was the only gang member to actually perpetrate a hoax, albeit for a noble reason, as she was helping [[Omar Karam]] protect [[Cleopatra]]'s riches.<ref name="DTV 9">{{DTV9}}, direct-to-video film 9.</ref> In the same case, she was also overly-caring of the gang, as she wanted to protect them from harm's way, despite everything they've been through.<ref name="DTV 9" />

When she found some unappetizing chicken at the [[Addams Family mansion]], she said "it's time to start my diet." While this may be an excuse, the phrasing "my" rather than "a" implies that she may diet regularly, perhaps self-conscious of her weight.<ref>{{TNSDMovies}}: ''[[Wednesday is Missing]]'', [[The New Scooby-Doo Movies season 1|season 1]], episode 3.</ref>

She [[Velma Dinkley loses her glasses|loses her glasses]] on a regular basis, immediately claiming "My glasses. I can't find my glasses" or "I can't see without my glasses," before hitting the floor to crawl around until she finds them.

She is a very serious skeptic, and has a philosophy that they're always a rational explanation (and admits that it's kinda boring).{{Cite}}

She conquered her extreme [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coulrophobia phobia of clowns] during the [[Menacing Metallic Clown]] case.<ref>''WNSD'': ''[[A Terrifying Round with a Menacing Metallic Clown]]''</ref>

She also thinks herself as pure of heart and got annoyed that no one kidnaps her during the [[Lord Valdronya|Valdronya]] case.

She can also identify fake jewels by looking at them, having dealt with a variety of monster jewel thieves for years.

==Skills and abilities==
;Mental
Velma knows Morse Code, which she claims to have learned in Girl Scouts.{{Cite}}

;Physical
As a young child, she knew martial arts.<ref>{{APNSD}}</ref>

She has above-average grip and core strength, as in a sea episode she was able to dangle on a very wide pipe (bigger objects are more difficult to grip than smaller diameter bars) and hold her legs out straight in front of her (90 degree bend in hips) to avoid hitting a monster as it ran past her through a doorway.

Velma is also incredibly strong in her shoulder overhead pressing muscles (trapezius, deltoids). She was able to simultaneously life two female wrestlers (who tend to be heavier than normal women due to the extra muscle) and throw them through the air above her head level, one per hand. She claimed the move was called the "[[Flying Dinkley]]".<ref>''WNSD'': ''[[Wrestle Maniacs (What's New, Scooby-Doo?)|Wrestle Maniacs]]''</ref>

==History==
===Animated history===
{{Main|Velma Dinkley/animated history}}

===Comic history===
{{Main|Velma Dinkley/biographical account of comic appearances}}

===Novel history===
{{Main|Velma Dinkley/biographical account of novel appearances}}

===Video game history===
{{Main|Velma Dinkley/biographical account of video game appearances}}

==Family and relatives==
:''For a complete list of Velma's family, look [[Dinkleys|here]]. For other relatives, look [[:Category:Dinkley relatives|here]].''

==Occupation==
* Junior detectives-for-hire: When the gang was in their preadolescence, they worked out of [[Scooby-Doo Detective Agency clubhouse|a clubhouse]], calling themselves the [[Scooby-Doo Detective Agency]], and charged a minimal fee for their services in solving the mysteries in their hometown of [[Coolsville]]. ({{APNSD}})
* Movie extra: The gang was given parts as extras in [[Sandy Duncan]]'s film, after solving the case at [[Mammoth Studios]]. (''[[The New Scooby-Doo Movies|TNSDMovies]]'': ''[[Sandy Duncan's Jekyll and Hyde]]'')
* Carnival owner: Scooby, along with the rest of the gang, was given a share of [[Dick Van Dyke]]'s [[Dick Van Dyke's Carnival|carnival]], after saving it from going under. (''TNSDMovies'': ''[[The Haunted Carnival]]'')
* Assistant research scientist: The first time [[Mystery Inc.]] broke up, she put her I.Q. to the test by becoming an assistant research scientist at [[NASA]]. ({{TNSDMysteries}}: ''[[Happy Birthday, Scooby-Doo]]'', ''[[A Night Louse at the White House]]'')
* Bookshop proprietor: The second time Mystery Inc. broke up, she opened up a [[Velma Dinkley's bookshop|mystery-themed bookshop]]. When the gang reunited for tour in [[Louisiana]], she apparently still owned it, but inevitably the gang took up all of her time, and she likely sold it as it was never mentioned again. (''[[Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island]]'')

==Behind-the-scenes==
Velma was inspired by Zelda Gilroy (played by Sheila James) on the early 1960's sitcom ''The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis''.<ref>[[Mark Evanier|Evanier, Mark]] (June 10, 2002). [https://www.newsfromme.com/2002/06/10/shaggy-dog-story/ Shaggy Dog Story]". Retrieved March 28, 2018.</ref> Although the characters are quite different, in that Zelda would scheme to get the Dobie (the Fred type), instead of the hippy, being Maynard. In the unrelated ''[[Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated]]'', Velma was very interested in Shaggy.

Original voice actress, [[Nicole Jaffe]], adlibbed the catchphrase, "Jinkies."<ref>Ryan, Patrick (September 3, 2019). [https://eu.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2019/09/12/scooby-doo-turns-50-cast-creative-team-talk-mystery-gangs-legacy/2275829001/ "'Scooby-Doo' at 50: Cast, creative team reflect on celebrity guests, origins of 'Jinkies!'"]. ''USA Today''. Retrieved October 21, 2019.</ref>

==Voices of Velma==
[[Nicole Jaffe]] was the original voice of Velma, and portrayed the character in both ''[[Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!]]'' (1969-72) and ''[[The New Scooby-Doo Movies]]'' (1972-74). Jaffe married and retired from acting in 1974.

[[Patricia Stevens]] was brought in as Jaffe's replacement when Scooby-Doo resumed production in 1976.

[[Marla Frumkin]] replaced Stevens mid-way through the 1979-80 season of ''[[Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (first series)|Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo]]'' (1979-1980). Frumkin voiced the character in four more episodes of ''Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo'' before Velma was dropped from the series. Velma later returned as a semi regular character in four episodes of ''[[The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries]]'', with Frumkin again voicing the character.

[[Christina Lange]] voiced the preadolescent Velma in ''[[A Pup Named Scooby-Doo]]'' from 1988 to 1991.

[[B.J. Ward]] voiced the character in several direct-to-video films from 1997 until 2002.

[[Mindy Cohn]], formerly a lead actress on the 1980s TV sitcom ''The Facts of Life'' became the voice of Velma in the series ''[[What's New, Scooby-Doo?]]'' from 2002-2006 and remained the voice on TV up to the series ''[[Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated]]'' (2010-2013). She portrayed Velma in the  direct-to-video films from 2004 to 2015; with the exception of two direct-to-video films in 2003 in which Jaffe returned to voice Velma. In the DTV {{DTV17}} her singing voice is provided by [[Bets Malone]] in the song, ''[[Done With Monsters]]'' and [[Done With Monsters (reprise)|its reprise]].

[[Kate Micucci]] began voicing Velma in the series ''[[Be Cool, Scooby-Doo!]]'' (2015-2017) and has also voiced Velma in the continuing direct-to-video film series.

===In other languages===
{| class="wikitable"
! Actor
! Language
! Notes
|-
| [[Tiziana Avarista]]
| '''Italian'''
| ''[[Bravo Dooby-Doo]]'', {{DTV3}}
|-
| [[Agata Gawrońska-Bauman]]
| '''Polish'''
| Current (since the 90s); before 2006, she was credited as Agata Gawrońska.
|-
| [[Tomoe Hanba]]
Mei
| '''Japanese'''
| ''[[Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!]]'', ''[[Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (first series)|Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo]]'' (first series), ''[[The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries]]'', {{DTV1}}, {{DTV2}}, ''Scooby-Doo and the Alien Invaders'', {{DTV4}}


Lego Scooby-Doo! Haunted Hollywood
|-
|Caroline Pascal
|'''French'''
|[[Scooby-Doo! Return to Zombie Island]]
|-
|Giuliana Jakobeit
Tanya Kahana
|'''German'''
|Batman: The Brave And The Bold


[[Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue!|Shaggy and Scooby-Doo Get A Clue!]]
|-
|Orly Tagar
Eti Castro
|'''Hebrew'''
|Batman: The Brave And The Bold
[[What's New, Scooby-Doo?|What's New, Scooby-Doo]]
|-
|Nair Amorin
|'''Portuguese'''
|[[Scooby-Doo and the Alien Invaders]], [[Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase]], [[Scooby-Doo! and the Legend of the Vampire|Scooby-Doo and the Legend of the Vampire]], [[Scooby-Doo! and the Loch Ness Monster|Scooby-Doo and the Loch Ness Monster]], [[Scooby-Doo! and the Monster of Mexico|Scooby-Doo and the Monster of Mexico]], [[Scooby-Doo! and the Samurai Sword|Scooby-Doo and the Samurai Sword]], [[Scooby-Doo! and the Witch's Ghost|Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost]], [[What's New, Scooby-Doo?]], [[The New Scooby-Doo Movies]], [[Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island]], [[Aloha, Scooby-Doo!]], [[Chill Out, Scooby-Doo!]], [[Scooby-Doo! in Where's My Mummy?|Scooby-Doo in Where's My Mummy?]], [[Scooby-Doo! Pirates Ahoy!]], [[Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!|Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?]]
|-
|Olga Golovanov
|'''Russian'''
|[[What's New, Scooby-Doo?|What's New, Scooby-Doo]]
|}

==Notes/Trivia==
* The junior-high school aged, ''[[A Pup Named Scooby-Doo]]'' version of Velma was animated with a rapid walk similar to that of Marvin the Martian. She was also drawn with glasses somewhat as large as her head. This younger Velma always carried a suitcase with her (compact size) that holds a very advanced computer.
* In the ''[[Johnny Bravo]]'' episode, ''[[Bravo Dooby-Doo]]'', the Scooby-Doo cast meet Johnny, with Velma briefly developing a crush on him, but changed her mind by the episode's end. Also in ''Bravo Dooby-Doo'', homage is paid to Velma's catchphrase, "Jinkies!" When Johnny and the gang are being chased by the evil gardener, Johnny exclaims, "Jinkies," then wonders, "Jinkies... Jinkies. Hey, isn't that a breakfast cereal or something?". He also paraphrases another catch phrase, when, after a collision, both Velma's and Johnny's glasses are knocked off. As they search around for them, Velma says her signature phrase, [[Velma loses her glasses|"My glasses! I can't see without my glasses!"]] while Johnny laments, "My glasses! I ''can't be seen'' without my glasses!"
* ''[[What's New, Scooby-Doo?]]'' tried to add interests and phobias that were neither mentioned before or after the series aired:
* Velma is a huge a fan of ice hockey, knowing most of the game strategies (she discusses a few of them with [[Brett Hull]]). She even gets to play for the [[United States]] team in the finals.<ref>''WNSD'': ''[[Diamonds Are a Ghoul's Best Friend]]'', season 3, episode 7.</ref>
* She is the only member of Mystery Inc. to ''be'' the monster during a case, albeit for a noble reason.<ref name="DTV 9" />
* Velma's redesign in ''[[Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue!]]'', is based on [[Linda Cardellini]]'s [[Velma Dinkley (Raja Gosnell films)|portrayal]] in {{SDTM}} and {{SD2MU}}.
* A goat villager from the ''Animal Crossing'' franchise shares Velma's name and appearance.

==Gallery==
===Artwork===
<gallery>
Littlevelma2.jpg|Velma from ''[[A Pup Named Scooby-Doo]]''.
ClassicVelma.png|
Velma1.jpg|
Original_Velma.jpg|
Velma_in_her_swimsuit_(Camp_Scare).png|Velma out of her trademark sweater.
</gallery>

===Toys===
<gallery columns="3">
Velma Wacky Wobbler.jpg|Wacky Wobbler Bobble Head by [[Funko]].
Velma Dorbz.jpg|Dorbz by Funko.
Velma Funko Pop!.jpg|Pop! by Funko.
BendEms Velma.jpg|Bendable toy by [[BendEms]].
</gallery>

''See also: [[LEGO]]; [[Playmobil]].''

==See also==
* [[Velma Dinkley/animated history]]
* [[Velma Dinkley/biographical account of comic appearances|Biographical account of comic appearances]]
* [[Velma Dinkley/biographical account of novel appearances|Biographical account of novel appearances]]
* [[Velma Dinkley/biographical account of video game appearances|Biographical account video game appearances]]
* [[:Category:Velma Dinkley images|Categorised gallery]]
* [[Velma Dinkley loses her glasses]] - a complete list of Velma's losing her glasses.
* [[Scooby-Doo and Velma Dinkley]]
* [[Shaggy Rogers and Velma Dinkley]]
* [[Scooby-Doo, Shaggy Rogers, and Velma Dinkley]]
* [[Daphne Blake and Velma Dinkley]]
* [[Fred Jones and Velma Dinkley]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dinkley, Velma}}
[[Category:Businesspeople]]
[[Category:Coolsville citizens]]
[[Category:Culprits]]
[[Category:Dinkleys]]
[[Category:Mystery Inc.]]
[[Category:Scientists]]
[[Category:Scooby-Doo Detective Agency]]
[[Category:Suspects]]