What determines a good comic-based television show? In my opinion, the best comic-based shows balance the action packed stories and light hearted scenes that most shows pick a side on. Teen Titans hits that balance and provides stories that fans of all ages can enjoy watching. The show also offers characters most people don't know as well as Superman, Batman and other A-List DC heroes. But an element of the show I believe to be its strongest is its independence from the rest of the DC universe. This week's recommended piece of Rants & Recommendations is DC's 2003 show, Teen Titans.
Unlike previous DC cartoons, Teen Titans did not connect with the DC Animated Universe which was a shared universe within various cartoons based on DC properties. To further separate it, the developers of the show went with art heavily influenced by Japanese Animation. This style of animated made the show feel fluid, vibrant and expressive. There would often be moments when the characters break the fourth wall by using more comedic animation to express their feelings. The animation also lends itself to the creative fight scenes of the show and its thanks to this animation that the character's diverse means of combat are shown at their peak. But the real driving point are the characters themselves. Robin is a determined leader who can sometimes overwhelm himself with responsibility. Cyborg is the most realistic, having both strength and smarts while retaining his high school attitude, but having hidden sadness over his half-dead body. Raven is very distant and carries a pessimistic tone, but also presents deep care for her teammates. Beast Boy is immature and comedic, but is not a stranger to anger or youthful confusion. Starfire is bubbly and compassionate, although her past contains tragedy among her whole species. Despite being both emotionally and thematically different from each other, the Teen Titans prove that a singular goal can unite any group of people and turn them into friends. Outside the team were villains who not only drove the team further, but created personal battles for them as well. Some villains include Brother Blood, a manipulator who tried controlling gifted youths into taking over the world. Brother Blood would hold a rivalry with Cyborg because Cyborg's technological brain made him the only person immune to Blood's control. For Raven, her personal villain was the demon Trigon. As it happens, Trigon is Raven's father and she was put on Earth as a means for his evil plans. But the strongest presence comes in Deathstroke. Called Slade in this show, he was an assassin who wanted an apprentice. He saw Robin as a promising student, but his endeavors also made him a personal rival to both Raven and Beast Boy as well. These characters and stories create a relatable battle for viewers to get behind and as the show went on it included more Titans and larger threats to be defeated, while personal shortcomings also became their challenges.
If you're looking for a superhero cartoon accessible to yourself or to a younger person, Teen Titans is defiantly my suggestion. The show offers colorful interactions and deeper understandings for larger than life heroes. With Teen Titans standing without any mentors or reminisce of the rest of the DC universe, it is an easier show to pick up on and reinforces the idea of teens becoming adults and moving out of the shadows of adult superheroes.
I hope you enjoyed the first official week of The Panel Biter and I thank you for reading my posts. I'll see you readers at the start of this week with more insight into the world of Comic Books!
Unlike previous DC cartoons, Teen Titans did not connect with the DC Animated Universe which was a shared universe within various cartoons based on DC properties. To further separate it, the developers of the show went with art heavily influenced by Japanese Animation. This style of animated made the show feel fluid, vibrant and expressive. There would often be moments when the characters break the fourth wall by using more comedic animation to express their feelings. The animation also lends itself to the creative fight scenes of the show and its thanks to this animation that the character's diverse means of combat are shown at their peak. But the real driving point are the characters themselves. Robin is a determined leader who can sometimes overwhelm himself with responsibility. Cyborg is the most realistic, having both strength and smarts while retaining his high school attitude, but having hidden sadness over his half-dead body. Raven is very distant and carries a pessimistic tone, but also presents deep care for her teammates. Beast Boy is immature and comedic, but is not a stranger to anger or youthful confusion. Starfire is bubbly and compassionate, although her past contains tragedy among her whole species. Despite being both emotionally and thematically different from each other, the Teen Titans prove that a singular goal can unite any group of people and turn them into friends. Outside the team were villains who not only drove the team further, but created personal battles for them as well. Some villains include Brother Blood, a manipulator who tried controlling gifted youths into taking over the world. Brother Blood would hold a rivalry with Cyborg because Cyborg's technological brain made him the only person immune to Blood's control. For Raven, her personal villain was the demon Trigon. As it happens, Trigon is Raven's father and she was put on Earth as a means for his evil plans. But the strongest presence comes in Deathstroke. Called Slade in this show, he was an assassin who wanted an apprentice. He saw Robin as a promising student, but his endeavors also made him a personal rival to both Raven and Beast Boy as well. These characters and stories create a relatable battle for viewers to get behind and as the show went on it included more Titans and larger threats to be defeated, while personal shortcomings also became their challenges.
If you're looking for a superhero cartoon accessible to yourself or to a younger person, Teen Titans is defiantly my suggestion. The show offers colorful interactions and deeper understandings for larger than life heroes. With Teen Titans standing without any mentors or reminisce of the rest of the DC universe, it is an easier show to pick up on and reinforces the idea of teens becoming adults and moving out of the shadows of adult superheroes.
I hope you enjoyed the first official week of The Panel Biter and I thank you for reading my posts. I'll see you readers at the start of this week with more insight into the world of Comic Books!
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