Among the DC comic properties to be adapted to the TV or movies, there was only one that got a different kind of look. The animation styles used for kids shows during the 2000s for this particular era was pretty standard. Of the Saturday morning cartoons to be shown, Static shock, Justice League, Batman, Superman and even The Zeta Project were all drawn similarly because they all existed in the same animated universe. Of these properties though, Teen Titans was a special cartoon as it was animated with aspects of both western and eastern influences. It has the look of an American made program but had traits of Japanese anime. Despite it only lasting five seasons, the show was very popular and ended up getting one film after its five season run.
The plot is about a foreign enemy attacking the Titans on
their home turf, only for them to be led to Japan. The script was written by
David Slack, the same writer behind Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot, Jackie
Chan Adventures and Totally Spies! The feature in itself serves similarly to
other TV show specials where it feels like an extended episode. This is fine,
because if anything the script is written so that it further develops the
relationship between Starfire and Robin. An emotional struggle that many fans
have wanted to see come to a full close. Directing this feature is Michael
Chang, Ben Jones and Matt Youngberg. Two of which Chang and Jones have directed
the same TV shows. The consistency is important otherwise the team behind
making the film would not have a solid footing.
The viewing experience is very much a standard affair with
how the story plays out. There’s just more the characters to get involved with
since the runtime is longer. Beast Boy is all for taking a vacation despite the
trip not being intended for one. Cyborg is all for touring around the country.
Raven who apparently understands many languages looks to find something that
she’ll understand in Japan. And lastly Robin and Starfire talk about whether
being a hero is important one hundred percent of the time or not. At least one
of these aspects can be familiar to a viewer as almost each Titan represents
something a tourist feels while in another country. Also, since Japan is
country known for its devoted fans of the culture.
The voice acting is all respectable to say the least. Greg
Cipes as Beast Boy does his best to get as much of Japan as possible as well as
singing his own Karaoke of the Teen Titans theme song. Before he was Beast Boy, Cipes played Atlas
in the latest Astro Boy TV show reincarnation. Scott Menville as Robin plays
his character like he always has. Before Robin, he also voiced Red Herring in a
Pup Named Scooby-doo. Khary Payton as Cyborg plays his role well, which he
basically is best known for now. Tara Strong as Raven who has voiced many
female and male characters does her best as always with the drab sounding
heroine. Lastly Hynden Walch as Starfire shows the team a new trick or two they
weren’t aware of.
From a visual perspective, the look of is not so much a
negative but more of misunderstanding. Although the animation and action all
look good, it’s a little weird how the show can get a feature film, one would
think the production quality would be somewhat higher end. Instead what is
shown on the screen looks very much like it was produced as an extended episode
with no production upgrade. Musically speaking though, the film did receive an
album composed by Lolita Ritmanis, Michael McCuistion and Kristopher Carter.
The three began their careers with Bruce Timm’s Batman: The Animated Series who
have produced many musical cues. The album itself contains almost thirty tracks
of music and sounds very much the same to what is in the show. It’s nice when
lesser known composers get album treatments.
Other than the animation looking relatively unchanged, which
it could have been for feature film, the viewing experience is serviceable. The
voice acting is great, the music is given a notable release and the story
itself works in further developing its beloved characters.
Points Earned --> 8:10
