Why Coco Diablo From Trick Or Treat Scooby-Doo! Sounds So Familiar

Scooby-Doo and Mystery Inc. are investigating their most interesting case yet. 2022 may have seen the cancellation of HBO Max's "Scoob! Holiday Haunt" but Hanna-Barbera still has a spooky Scooby-Doo project up its sleeve, just in time for Halloween. "Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo!" was released digitally on October 4, and will hit home video on October 18. The latest "Scooby-Doo!" romp sees the gang have their Halloween plans thwarted by ghost-like doppelgangers who haunt them. Joining Mystery Inc. on their latest adventure is costume designer and supposedly reformed villain Coco Diablo, a newcomer to the franchise.

Strange things begin to happen with Coco Diablo's presence but that isn't enough to stop Velma, who's crushing on the costume designer. "Trick or Treat" is the first time the beloved Velma Dinkley (Kate Micucci) is seen falling for a female love interest. Of course, Velma is also falling for the film's villain, which further complicates the mystery. As "Scooby-Doo!" history is made, fans are curious about Diablo and how she fits into the franchise. The character's relationship with Velma has been positively received by staunch "Scooby-Doo!" fans on the unofficial subreddit. With such a flurry surrounding the character, audiences may not realize that the actress behind Diablo has voiced some of the most memorable animated characters in recent memory. Diablo is voiced by Myrna Velasco, who has quickly become a rising star in the world of voice acting. 

Before she was scaring Scooby-Doo and the rest of the gang, Myrna Velasco got her first major franchise-focused voice acting gig with the Disney Channel's "Descendants: Wicked World." An animated spin-off based on the "Descendants" film series, "Wicked World" ran for two seasons, concluding in time for the release of "Descendants 2." Dove Cameron, Sofia Carson, Booboo Stewart, and Cameron Boyce all returned to voice their characters, making the CGI show a definitive part of the "Descendants" canon. Set after the events of the first Emmy-nominated Disney Channel film, "Wicked World" sees the main roster of characters trying to be good in a world that still sees them as villains. While the series is far more whimsical than the films, the animation introduces a bevy of new villain kids who leave a major impact on the main four characters.

Among the new characters introduced is CJ (voiced by Velasco), the daughter of Captain Hook. Known for loving dramatic entrances and thriving on chaos, CJ's introduction causes issues for both the villain kids and Auradon children. While CJ never made the jump to the live-action films, her brother Harry Hook (Thomas Doherty) is featured in "Descendants 2" and the threequel. The character received her own spin-off book, titled "School of Secrets: CJ's Treasure Chase," which showcases her adventures when she's not plotting against the villain and Aruradon kids.

After wrapping up her time as the nefarious CJ in "Wicked World," the "Scooby-Doo!" star joined another mega franchise, this time as a superhero. Myrna Velasco was tapped to voice Jessica Cruz, the Green Lantern in the animated "DC Super Hero Girls." This iteration of the team features Wonder Woman (Grey Griffin), Batgirl (Tara Strong), Supergirl (Nicole Sullivan), Zatanna (Kari Wahlgren), and Bumblebee (Kimberly Brooks). The group made their debut with the short "#TheLateBatsby," which was attached to the theatrical release of 2018's "Teen Titans Go! To the Movies." The series officially debuted in 2019 and has since crossed over with "Teen Titans Go!" on numerous occasions.

In an interview with The Beat, Velasco opened up about how she's gotten comfortable playing Jessica Cruz after several years. "It feels like a really comfy pair of sweatpants when it comes to her voice," she discussed. "At first it was definitely a process learning how to be Jessica and learning to grab from my personal life so that she and I have more overlap." 

The voice actress also revealed how being able to work with veteran voice actors on the show helped develop her skills: "It was my master class and master program ... To be able to sit in the room with these women who have 20+ years of experience," Velasco shared. "To sit and watch them work and embody the whole experience of making animation not just in the recording room was vastly important." While the series currently appears to be on pause, Velasco hopes that a Season 3 is in the works. 

While Myrna Velasco has worked with a variety of franchises to bring unique characters to life, perhaps the most recognizable IP on her CV is one set in a galaxy far, far away. Velasco voiced a prominent character on "Star Wars Resistance," which ran for two seasons, producing 40 episodes Airing on Disney Channel and Disney XD, the Emmy-nominated series follows the adventures of a Resistance pilot who spies on the First Order. Created by Dave Filoni, "Resistance" has been highly praised for expanding the "Star Wars" sequel trilogy's lore, giving a grounded perspective on the Resistance.

Velasco played Torra Doza, a Resistance pilot who lived on the Colossus. A friend and ally to protagonist Kaz (Christopher Sean), Doza is best remembered for playing a key part in the battle to protect the Colossus and for being a key member of the Ace Squadrons team. Director Justin Ridge has described Doza as "gung-ho" and someone who wants to make an impact (via StarWars.com). With characters like Ahsoka Tano making the jump to live-action, it will be interesting to see if the same can be afforded to Doza.  

"Madagascar" is one of DreamWorks' most popular franchises, having grossed over $1.8 billion at the box office (via The Numbers). With such success, it's no surprise that the comedy series made the jump to the small screen. Following the releases of "The Penguins of Madagascar" and "All Hail King Julien," DreamWorks Animation Television commissioned "Madagascar: A Little Wild," a prequel series that puts the spotlight on Alex, Gloria, Melman, and Marty's early childhood days at the zoo. The animated series has received mixed to positive reviews, sporting a 5.9 rating on IMDB. "A Little Wild" ran for eight seasons, producing just over 50 episodes.

Myrna Velasco appeared in 12 of the show's episodes, joining the franchise in Season 3 as Lucia, the sloth. Enthusiastic, charming, and excitable, Lucia takes many opportunities to bond with the main "Madagascar" roster. She's also known to challenge the characters on their New York City bias, inviting them to experience and understand the different cultures that other animals from the zoo come from. 

While speaking with The Beat, Velasco described the series as "super wholesome," and called Lucia one of her favorite characters. Lucia is, unfortunately, not seen in the "Madagascar" trilogy. Should a fourth "Madagascar" film be made, it would be interesting to see an older Lucia interact with the four best friends that any animal could have.