So someone realized at the Cartoon Network that there was really nothing else they could do with the “Teen Titans.” It was a fantastic show, albeit an acquired taste, but it ended when it had to end. The Titans defeated their biggest foes, there was a huge war, they came out victorious thus it ended its narrative. So someone took out all of the anime, chibi, and goofy comedy from the series, omitted the action, science fiction, and rich characterization, and basically just decided to feed us “Hai Hai Puffy Ami Yumi” all over again, except with the Teen Titans in place of Japanese pop stars. Goody.
Each episode is only eleven minutes in length, and there isn’t a narrative or larger arc at hand. Cartoon Network dipped back in to a very popular property and decided to dumb it down immensely, and it works as a moronic alternative to a much better series. It even often satires itself, which is kind of difficult to really comprehend, considering the original series was rarely deadly serious anyway. The original Titans cast returns for the series and really do nothing but play the same characters all over again without any actual development.
The series is set in a void of time where it has no actual place to set it within the frame narrative of the original show. It’s just a series of short banal scenarios that serve their purpose in continuing the “Teen Titans” property. “Driver’s Ed” involves Robin trying to learn how to drive because no one else wants to teach him, for some reason. “Dude Relax!” features the group trying to teach Robin how to unwind when there’s no danger afoot. And in “The Date,” Robin asks out Starfire and is having trouble figuring out the best approach. Ah, the rich narrative is sure to keep fans debating for years! In either case, what I did enjoy about “Teen Titans Go!’ was the easter eggs, and there are plenty in the backgrounds.
Robin’s room has a poster of the Joker with Batarangs jammed in to its face, and he has a Superman doll hanging from his ceiling. Starfire even has a group of Teddy Bears dressed as the Justice League. One of her big bears even has on the Christopher Nolan Bane mask! That’s just hilarious. “Teen Titans Go!” obviously works on a lower budget than the original show, so the animation is awful. The backgrounds are terrible, the scenes all feel like bargain basement Flash characters, and the series really does nothing to continue what “Teen Titans” set down in terms of action, and interesting characters. It’s one big hollow series that will disappoint fans of the original show. The two disc DVD garners no special features, and almost three hours of shorts.