History WebVideo / MysterySkullsAnimated

Mystery Skulls Animated is one of two official music videos for Music/MysterySkulls' song ''Ghost''. Alternate terms for it include Mystery Skulls Ghost and MSA.

Created by BigNameFan [[https://www.youtube.com/user/MysteryBen27 MysteryBen]], the video follows [[AllThereInTheManual Vivi, Arthur and their dog Mystery]], [[AffectionateParody a trio of]] [[ScoobyDoo paranormal investigators]], as they traverse a haunted house and flee from a hostile ghost.

Despite consisting solely of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlEb3L1PIco one music video]] and a [[http://mysterybensmysteryblog.tumblr.com/CharacterProfiles handful of character profiles provided by MysteryBen]], it enjoys a thriving fan community, with said video having eight times more views than the "original" official music video.

----
!!This work provides examples of:
* AffectionateParody: It's basically ScoobyDoo with a cast of [[{{Expy}} expies]]. However, it quickly takes a tragic turn.
* AllThereInTheManual: [=MysteryBen=]'s [[http://mysterybensmysteryblog.tumblr.com/ Tumblr]] has information on the main characters of ''Animated!Ghost'', like their names, interests, and [[http://mysterybensmysteryblog.tumblr.com/post/101475725113/i-hope-this-ask-gets-to-you-in-the-sea-of-asks-im-sure affinity for musical instruments.]]
** The list of profiles now includes [[spoiler:[[http://mysterybensmysteryblog.tumblr.com/post/105403522123/character-profile the mysterious entity who possessed Arthur in the flashback]], [[MindScrew shown only as Arthur's possessed arm with all the details left as "???", and the palm reveals an eye during the beats.]] There's also [[http://mysterybensmysteryblog.tumblr.com/post/108415841938 a strange woman]] who seems to have some kind of connection with Mystery]]
** In addition to profiles, he's also posted information on minor characters like Arthur's [[http://mysterybensmysteryblog.tumblr.com/post/109367000868/arthurs-uncle-lance-owner-and-head-mechanic-at uncle Lance]], [[http://mysterybensmysteryblog.tumblr.com/post/104646397768/arthurs-pet-hamster-galahad-while-that-is-his his hamster Galahad]] and [[http://mysterybensmysteryblog.tumblr.com/post/110783256058/mr-and-mrs-pepper-owners-and-chefs-of-the Mr. and Mrs. Pepper]], [[spoiler: Lewis's adoptive parents]].
* AmazingTechnicolorWildlife: Mystery is a white dog with red and black hair at the top of his head. [[spoiler: Though he might not even be a dog...]]
* {{Animesque}}: Very noticeably so when compared to [[ScoobyDoo the inspiration]]. Among other things, there are facial expressions that make it look like an episode of Anime/{{Bleach}}, as well as rather extravagant character designs.
* AmputationStopsSpread: In the flashback Arthur's left arm is shown turning green from the hand to the shoulder [[spoiler: before he kills Lewis with it]] and the side of his face and eye are turning green before [[spoiler: Mystery rips the arm off.]]
* AntiVillain: Lewis [[spoiler:was, in life, a member of the group and dating Vivi. He was murdered by a possessed Arthur, and most of his actions are either attempts to be reunited with Vivi or get his revenge on Arthur. When Arthur grabs Vivi just as they're about to reconcile, Lewis flips out.]] It's really hard not to feel sorry for him.
* ArtificialLimbs: After the [[spoiler:green cave incident]] Arthur's left arm was replaced with a robotic one.
* [[invoked]]BigNameFan: [[https://www.youtube.com/user/MysteryBen27 MysteryBen]], a flash animator, who created ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhjk5x54bsE Turntable Turnabout]]'', an unofficial music video for ''Money''. It got so popular that Mystery Skulls actually asked him to make an official animated music video for ''Ghost''. And he did, and it is awesome.
* BigEater: Vivi and Mystery are found by Arthur (being chased by Lewis) about to eat a pair of enormous sandwiches. Humorously, Mystery's sandwich actually extends ''up to the top of the screen.''
* ColorCodedCharacters: Vivi is blue, Arthur is yellow, Mystery is red, and Lewis is pink. [[spoiler: There's also Green for the demon that posessed Arthur, and Red yet again for the mysterious woman who's out for Mystery...]]
* DagwoodSandwich: Vivi and Mystery are on the verge of eating these when they get interrupted by Arthur and the skeleton.
* CrazyJealousGuy: [[spoiler: Arthur, whose jealousy made him vulnerable to DemonicPossession, but is horrified by what he did. Painfully justified with Lewis, who was murdered by Arthur and is justifiably angry that he accidentally prevented him from reconciling with Vivi.]]
* DemBones: Lewis' ghost form is a skeleton [[BadassInANiceSuit wearing a suit]].
* DemonicPossession: [[spoiler:Arthur's arm was possessed by a malevolent green cave entity a la ''Film/EvilDead2''.]]
* DownerEnding: [[spoiler: Despite its inspiration, the video doesn't really end well. Everyone who wasn't already dead gets out alive, but Lewis is left heartbroken, and nobody is able to reconcile his tragic death and put his soul to rest.]]
* EvilHand: [[spoiler:Evil ''arm'' in Arthur's case.]]
* {{Expy}}: The video features a cast that is basically a homage to ScoobyDoo, but with their own twists.
** Arthur is basically [[LovableCoward Shaggy]], but apparently is the leader of the group (though WordOfGod claims that it's Vivi [[http://mysterybensmysteryblog.tumblr.com/post/104300614663/character-profile-2-vivi instead]]). Has a robotic arm. [[spoiler:He took this role from Lewis by murdering him, likely due to DemonicPossession driven by his jealousy of him, but [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone was utterly horrified by what he did.]]]]
** Vivi is an amalgamation of [[{{Nerd}} Velma]] and [[MaleGaze Daphne]], taking the former's smarts and appearance and the latter's LoveInterest role, except with the Shaggy character [[spoiler: though not always so]]. For some reason she also got Shaggy's appetite, and is the de facto leader of the group. [[spoiler:Was in a relationship with Lewis, and witnessed his death first-hand at the bottom of the cave, which did ''something'' to her, possibly symbolic for severe trauma. She saw Lewis die, but unfortunately she doesn't know HOW.]]
** Mystery is basically a mixture of the video's AuthorAvatar and [[BigFriendlyDog Scooby]] himself, serving the role as the goof-ball animal mascot. [[spoiler:Witnessed Arthur's murder of Lewis, having been right behind them the whole time, and apparently actually some kind of six-tailed wolf-like creature, many fans think a {{Kitsune}}, his act was to tear off the possessed arm that caused Arthur to push Lewis to his death, presumably to remove his possession.]]
** The ghost, Lewis, [[spoiler:was the former leader of the group, and basically [[TheGenericGuy Fred]]. Arthur pushed him off a cave ledge into a room full of spikes, killing him, and causing him to come back as a vengeful wraith. Was in a relationship with Vivi, and keeps a heart-shaped locket with a photo of him and her inside. The song's lyrics are from his perspective.]]
* FlamingHair: A more solid variation than usual. The ghost manifests a glowing pompadour from pink flames, although it does become a raging inferno later on.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: See TheMirrorShowsYourTrueSelf.
** During the line "[[PrecisionFStrike Fuck]], it's you I hate the most", Lewis is [[GivingSomeoneThePointerFinger pointing towards Arthur]]. [[spoiler:Guess who murdered him while possessed?]]
* FreezeFrameBonus: During a flashback, at the bottom left of the screen, before [[spoiler:Arthur is possessed and murders Lewis]], you can see Vivi behind some green smoke. [[spoiler:This indicates she saw Lewis die.]]
* HeartInTheWrongPlace: Lewis' heart is where his left lung would be. [[spoiler: Justified because it's not really his heart--it's a locket.]]
* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: [[spoiler: This is how Lewis died.]]
* LoveMakesYouCrazy: Both subverted and played straight in different instances. [[spoiler: Subverted with Arthur, as while his jealousy made him susceptible to DemonicPossession, he heavily regrets killing Lewis. Painfully straight and justified with Lewis, who was murdered by a possessed Arthur and takes the chance to kill him, and is even more enraged when he prevents him and Vivi from reconciling.]]
* LyricalDissonance: Despite the seemingly wacky ScoobyDoo parody overtones, it quickly becomes more and more suited to the lyrics, especially since it represents one of the main characters, who even practically speaks one of the lines.
* MickeyMousing: Everything in the video moves along to the music.
* MimeAndMusicOnlyCartoon: The video is nothing but a cartoon where the characters actually move along to the music, ''no matter what is going on at the moment''. This leads to moments like Ghost Lewis chasing the trio after getting splattered with sandwiches and ''[[TheComicallySerious still moving along to the music]]''.
* MindScrew: It has a ''lot'' of symbolism, to put it frankly, and it'll likely be difficult to decipher until [=MysteryBen=] clarifies what's actually going on.
* TheMirrorShowsYourTrueSelf: The gang passes by a trio of mirrors when they fall into a trap door. Vivi's reflection has no eyes, Arthur's is missing his robotic arm, and Mystery's mirror ''shatters'' when he looks into it. [[spoiler:This is {{foreshadowing}} for their backstory, in which Vivi has a HeroicBSOD[[note]]and possibly LaserGuidedAmnesia[[/note]], Arthur loses his arm to DemonicPossession and Mystery is [[{{Kitsune}} not]] [[TheFairFolk a]] [[AnimalisticAbomination dog]].]]
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: [[spoiler:This is Arthur in the flashback when he realized that his possessed half had just killed off Lewis by pushing him over the cliff. Half of his face is in tears.]]
* MythologyGag: All four of the moving paintings are references to previous work by both Ben and Mystery Skulls: they feature the priest from ''Live!Ghost'', [[VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney Miles Edgeworth with Phoenix Wright's spiky hair]] in reference to ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhjk5x54bsE Turntable Turnabout]]'', and [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Rarity]] & [[RhythmHeaven The Wrestler]] in reference to Ben's ''Rhythm Is Magic'' animations.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Arthur [[spoiler:takes advantage of Lewis' hesitation to grab Vivi and get the hell out of dodge. This nearly gets the gang killed due to Lewis unleashing his rage in an explosion of fire, leaves Lewis heartbroken, and his soul likely still restless.]] An instance where the LovableCoward tendencies he inherited from Shaggy have adverse consequences.
* NightmareFetishist: Vivi's initially excited and intrigued when paranormal things started happening around them. Her profile states horror is her favorite genre.
* OhCrap: When the ghost pointing a finger at him [[spoiler: puts on Lewis' hairstyle]] Arthur starts running.
* PinkBoyBlueGirl: Literally, in the case of Lewis and Vivi. Based solely on the video, Lewis seems sensitive and emotional, and Vivi is pretty strong since she can carry Arthur and Mystery like it's nothing.
* PlayingWithFire / HavingABlast: [[spoiler: Lewis]] has this ability [[spoiler: as a ghost]], as shown during the moment of UnstoppableRage.
* PrecisionFStrike
--> ''Time for givin' up the ghost\\
Fuck, it's you I hate the most''
* PurpleIsTheNewBlack: Well, more like ''pink'' is the new black, but the eponymous ghost is associated with the color, which also matches other supernatural phenomena within the house.
* RetCanon: According to the video's creator, [=MysteryBen=], the MythologyGag to ''Live!Ghost'' was not the original plan. At the time he began working on the animated video, ''Live!Ghost'' hadn't been created, and the official one was to be [=MysteryBen=]'s. Since it took a while to finish the music video, Mystery Skulls created their own video to pad out the wait between the video's announcement and its eventual release. [=MysteryBen=] decided to return the favor by including the [[spoiler:fake]] preacher from the video.
* RoseHairedSweetie: A rare male example with [[spoiler:Lewis. While he is aggressive with Arthur, he's very good at expressing his emotions, including protectiveness and love.]]
* RuleOfSymbolism: EVERYTHING in the video, from the colors (Pink represents the supernatural, [[spoiler: Green represents evil]]) and a few weird happenings in the early parts (See TheMirrorShowsYourTrueSelf).
* ScoobyDoobyDoors: Naturally.
* ShoutOut: There are three haunted paintings featuring characters from sources [=MysteryBen=] has made videos of, namely Miles Edgeworth from the ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' series, the MaskedLuchador from ''Videogame/RhythmHeaven'', and a human version of Rarity from ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic''.
** Before Vivi and Mystery run back into Arthur, they're seen in the mansion's kitchen about to eat two enormous sandwiches, a la ''ScoobyDoo''
** The head-bobbing and general rhythmic feel of the whole video was a huge one to ''Videogame/RhythmHeaven''.
** The [[spoiler:severing of Arthur's possessed arm]] is a reference to Ash Williams from the ''Franchise/EvilDead'' franchise.
** Lewis is wearing [[Music/DaftPunk Thomas Bangalter's gloves]].
** Uncle Lance, aside from being a shoutout to the Arthurian Mythos by ThemeNaming, has his character design as a WholeCostumeReference to Coop from Series/MegasXLR, coincidentally one of Arthur's favorite series. In terms of personality though, the two are as different as can be.
** Galahad, Arthur's hamster, is somewhat similar in terms of design to the hamsters from the ''Hampster Dance'' music video.
** The fourth haunted painting is of the dancing priest from the Live Action video for Ghost.
* SupernaturalIsPurple: Lewis' color scheme as a ghost.
* SurpriseCreepy: [[spoiler: It starts off as a cute and colorful homage to ''Franchise/ScoobyDoo'', before the MindScrew and tragic backstory set in...]]
* TechnicolorFire: The mystical fire that Lewis uses is purple in color, [[SupernaturalIsPurple fittingly]] [[PurpleIsPowerful enough]].
* ThemeNaming: There's quite a bit of Arthurian Mythos surrounding Arthur; the repair shop where he works is called "Kingsmen Mechanics", his uncle is named Lance(lot), and he has a hamster named Galahad.
* TrueBlueFemininity: Vivi is blue all over.
* UnstoppableRage: [[NiceJobBreakingItHero Because of Arthur taking the opportunity to run,]] [[spoiler: Lewis and Vivi]] lose their moment to reconcile, breaking [[spoiler: Lewis' heart.]] As a result, [[spoiler: Lewis]] becomes enraged [[StuffBlowingUp and cuts loose with its power.]]
* VillainProtagonist: [[spoiler:The song takes place from Lewis's perspective, as he tries to get revenge on Arthur for his part in his death.]]
* VileVillainSaccharineShow: The music video is a bright and colorful ''Franchise/ScoobyDoo''-esque cartoon, but then we have [[spoiler:the mysterious entity that forced Arthur to push Lewis to his death and eventually led to the loss of Arthur's own arm.]]
* WhamShot: After the camera zooms into a painting Mystery notices, showing events before the video, the one driving the van is [[spoiler:a human Lewis]].
* WhatHaveIBecome: [[spoiler: Lewis']] reaction upon first waking up from his coffin.
* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: Vivi has blue hair, Human Lewis has purple hair, and Ghost Lewis has pink hair.

* MickeyMousing

Created by BigNameFan [[https://www.youtube.com/user/MysteryBen27 MysteryBen]], the video follows [[AllThereInTheManual Vivi, Arthur and their dog Mystery]], [[AffectionateParody a trio of]] [[ScoobyDoo paranormal investigators]], as they traverse a haunted house and flee from a hostile ghost. Midway through, it's revealed that [[spoiler: the ghost chasing them, Lewis, used to be a friend and member of their group, but was killed by Arthur ([[DemonicPossession who was possessed at the time]])]].

** During the line "[[PrecisionFStrike Fuck]], it's you I hate the most", Lewis is GivingThePointerFinger towards Arthur. [[spoiler:Guess who murdered him while possessed?]]

* LoveMakesYouCrazy: Both subverted and played straight in different instances. [[spoiler: Subverted with Arthur, as while his jealousy made him susceptible to DemonicPosession, he heavily regrets killing Lewis. Painfully straight and justified with Lewis, who was murdered by a possessed Arthur and takes the chance to kill him, and is even more enraged when he prevents him and Vivi from reconciling.]]

* CrazyJealousGuy: [[spoiler: Arthur, whose jealousy made him vulnerable to DemonicPosession, but is horrified by what he did. Painfully justified with Lewis, who was murdered by Arthur and is justifiably angry that he accidentally prevented him from reconciling with Vivi.]]

Despite consisting solely of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlEb3L1PIco one music video]] and a [[http://mysterybensmysteryblog.tumblr.com/CharacterProfiles handful of character profiles provided by MysteryBen]], it enjoys a thriving fan community.

* ColorCodedCharacters: Vivi is blue, Arthur is yellow, Mystery is red, and Lewis is pink.

* RuleOfSymbolism: EVERYTHING in the video, from the colors (Pink represents the supernatural, [[spoiler: Green represents evil]]), a few weird happenings in the early parts (See TheMirrorShowsYourTrueSelf) and even the head bopping [[spoiler: which shows a connection to life... All the ghosts don't bop their heads except for the paintings, and once Lewis loses his heart locket, he stops bopping his head and the mansion disappears forever]].

** Vivi is an amalgamation of [[{{Nerd}} Velma]] and [[MaleGaze Daphne]] (though ultimately she comes off more like the former), though for some reason she also got Shaggy's appetite, and is the de facto leader of the group. [[spoiler:Was in a relationship with Lewis, and witnessed his death first-hand at the bottom of the cave, which did ''something'' to her, possibly symbolic for severe trauma.]]

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: [[spoiler:This is Arthur in the flashback when he realized that his possessed half had just killed off Lewis by pushing him over the cliff.]]

* NightmareFetishist: Vivi's initially excited and intrigued when paranormal things started happening around them.

* MythologyGag: All four of the moving paintings are references to previous work by both Ben and Mystery Skulls: they feature the priest from ''Live!Ghost'', [[AceAttorney Miles Edgeworth with Phoenix Wright's spiky hair]] in reference to ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhjk5x54bsE Turntable Turnabout]]'', and [[MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Rarity]] & [[RhythmHeaven The Wrestler]] in reference to Ben's ''Rhythm Is Magic'' animations.