DVD Review: Teen Titans The Complete 5th Season
Warner Bros. and Cartoon Network Brings DC Comics Series to TV
A lot of comic book fans disliked Warner Bros. Animation and The Cartoon Network's re-imagining of Teen Titans, with its kid-friendly vibe and anime-influenced design aesthetic. So much so that the show was canceled at the end of its 5th season, the final episode airing on January 16, 2006. This makes Teen Titans: The Complete Fifth Season the final chapter of this series, and it's a shame because it's a surprisingly charming little show that mixed comedy with G-rated violence.
What's Teen Titans About?
For those of you who didn't follow either the comic book or the television series, the Teen Titans featured former Batman-sidekick-en-route-to-becoming-Nightwing Robin striking out on his own and forming a new crime-fighting group.
Joining the Boy Wonder are mecha-brotha Cyborg, alien hottie Starfire, the goofy-but-conflicted Beast Boy and dark witch Raven. From their T-shaped tower in Jump City, the Titans venture forth to battle the evil Brain and his many sinister henchmen, including the ancient General Immortus, simian Monsieur Mallah and the rubbery Madame Rouge. In order to sell the televised Teen Titans with comics fans, most of the show's scripts were adapted from the beloved early 1980's "revival" era, masterminded by writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez.
Season 5 focused on the junior member of the team, Beast Boy. Regularly a green-skinned 12-year-old with fangs, Beast Boy (AKA Garfield) has the ability to transform into whichever animal he wants to be. Generally the comic relief of the group, Beast Boy ends up becoming crucial to the Teen Titans' battle against Brain's latest scheme to put our heroes out of action.
The Final Analysis
While many fans embraced this televised version of the Teen Titans, not enough liked the show's anime-inspired look and goofy humour to help it last beyond 5 seasons. However, those who can look beyond the silliness will find a fun little show that didn't take itself too seriously. Okay, there are a few deus ex machina moments in the scripts, and some continuity issues (the final episode, "Things Change," featured magically self-repairing glass), but there's a great energy here, set up by the bubbly theme music by Japanese pop group Puffy AmiYumi. Some of anime's stylistic gestures are used to great effect here, especially when the Japanese-lyrics theme song signals a "silly" episode.
So if you're looking for an animated superhero series that isn't a half-hour toy commercial or doesn't crumble under its own self-importance, definitely check out Teen Titans. It's funny, and tons of fun, and that excuses a lot. 7/10.
Teen Titans: The Complete Fifth Season hits DVD shelves on July 8th.
