Customer Reviews

Teen Titans - The Complete First Season (DC Comics Kids Collection)

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This 2-disc set collects the first 13 episodes of Teen Titans, which were also previously released on 2 single-disc editions.

I like Teen Titans. It's a very different take on the DC characters than Batman, Superman, and Justice League, and there are obvious anime influences in the fight scenes and gags. What's nice about the series is that while it generally writes towards a younger audience, it's never so simplistic that it alienates the older crowd. The chemistry between the five leads is great, and there are occasional moments of lunacy that will make you wonder if the staff is secretly taking anything in the back room (ie the Mad Mod episode). Plus season 1's underlying subplot involving Slade (voiced expertly by Ron 'Hellboy' Perlman) is as dark and driven as anything in the Batman shows. The only time this show falls flat for me is when it puts stylized action over story essentials, which some of the early episodes here fall into.

Again, this set collects material that WB has already released. I think even the bulk of the bonus features have been carried over. I'm hoping this was a sudden shift in WB's animation-on-dvd strategy as opposed to milking the consumer with re-releases, as the single discs were already quite generous in their own way. A great consideration if you haven't purchased the old discs yet, great for kids but adults should find some amusement too.

I'll admit, I wasn't feeling particularly hopeful for "Teen Titans" when I saw the first previews. We were already seeing quite a few animated shows copying the style of Japanese animation as it became more popular. So it was a very pleasant suprise when I found that "Teen Titans" not only featured a much deeper understanding of the workings of anime, but also focused on top notch voice acting and character centered storytelling. It took them an episode or two to really find their footing, but once they did, "Teen Titans" was one of the best shows on television, and later seasons only improved on what had been set up. I can see how the use of the more cartoony aspects of anime - super-deformed characters, anime inspired wild takes, and the like - might turn some people off, but do yourself a favor and watch a few episodes. Once you get used to the style, you'll start seeing the storytelling that kept fans of the show coming back.

The four star rating (as opposed to five) is largely because of the special features. There are two "Making Of" documentaries with the voice actors and show creators, which are pretty good. There's the fun music video of the theme song. The interview with Japanese songsters Puffy Ami Yumi is fun, but a little too long, and the device of having the Titans "conduct the interview" is pretty lame. The short two part cartoon, "The Hiro's" (yes, I know that apostrophe doesn't belong there, but that's how they spell it) is rather bad and unfunny. But the biggest problem is something that's left off the DVD, namely commentary. WB has been notoriously slow to recognize how much fans want episode commentary, with only 3 to 4 commentaries on the Batman and Superman DVDs. Commentray with cast and crew for "Teen Titans" would have been great. But despite a somewhat small set of special features, "Teen Titans - Season One" is deifinitely worth picking up.

My kids (and to some extent myself) happen to like the Teen Titans animated series. Though I prefer the 90's Batman Animated Series, Titans is nice in that it doesn't take itself too seriously.

My biggest problem isn't with the show, but with Warner Brothers' standard business practice of making you buy the same episodes of your favorite WB TV shows more than once in the guise of "testing the waters" with DVDs containg only a couple to a few episodes. They did it with Babylon 5, both the 90s and 2000s Batman animated series', the Superman animated series, and now they're doing it with Teen Titans (and Justice League, which I hear is finally going to season sets in 2006).

I'm glad WB seems to be finally getting the message. In the case of this TT season set, though, it's a little too late for me.

I would say get this one if you haven't bought the other two discs with the same episodes - it will reinforce the message to the powers-that-be at Warner.

If you love Teen Titans like my family does, PLEASE send emails (letters work even better) to Cartoon Network (go to CartoonNetwork.com) demanding, begging, pleading that CN renew the show! As of January 12, 2006, there are only three episodes left. By the way, you can't go wrong with this DVD, it's just a shame that the rest of us were bilked by CN into buying two separate DVDs that contained Season One. The episodes are funny, action packed and leave you wanting more. Buy and enjoy! This is the best show on Cartoon Network!

This was actually a gift for my girlfriend... she was a long time fan of the show, whereas I had only seen snippets of it and was initially turned off by the anime-like animation.

I was wrong. This is very well-crafted show with storylines ripped right from the comics I used to read as younger man. I highly recommend this series to anyone who has even a passing interest in the DC universe.

This set compiles two previously released discs, making up the entire first season of Cartoon Network's breakaway hit that introduced the Titans to a new generation and paved the way for Japanese popsters Puffy Amiyumi to develop their own cartoon show. Season 1's overall arc introduces Slade (known in the comics as Deathstroke The Terminator) and his attempts to coerce Robin into becoming his apprentice, and Robin's continued battle against Slade and his influence.

Slade is presented here as the anti-Batman, making a much more frightening villain than Bane (who is actually a good villian but has been presented in most cinematic media as a thorough waste of ink). Despite the detractors' complaints of its anime influence, Teen Titans is a well-written and extremely well-done series, with seasons 2, 3, and 4 going on to deal with Slade's destruction and its aftermath, Brother Blood and the Hive, the creation of the West Coast team, the threat of Raven's demonoid father Triton and her attempts to break from her past, and an all-out battle with the Brotherhood Of Evil featuring an appearance from the honest-to-God DOOM PATROL (one of DC Comics' most underrated and creative concepts, and often unfairly compared with the X-Men).

All in all, a good and enjoyable buy worth having in your hero-toons collection. Now if they'll release the other seasons mentioned here in box sets, and if Warner Bros. will do the same thing with its Justice League series, and Nickelodeon does the same with Danny Phantom and Teenage Robot, all will be cool. (Note to TV studios: Due to the dearth of good TV, some of us out there WILL BUY DVD sets if they're done right--no need to dribble stuff out!)

Ok, I am a mother of 3 little girls. My two oldest are 3 and 4 and they love the Teen Titans, and I must admit that I like them, too. I have already bought the first 3 releases. Season 1, volume 1 and 2, and season 2, volume 1. Does anyone know how many more episodes are on this dvd that aren't on volume's 1 and 2? I hate to spend the money on this dvd if there aren't many other episodes on it.

Thanks to any who respond....and we are a Teen Titan family, lol. I think that's all we watch, over and over and over again. But my husband and I always find ourselves asking the girls to move so we can watch, too. LOL

First off, a note: People are WAY too impatient for friggin JL sets. There's a whole laundry list of reasons why JL hasn't been released yet, but I don't want to go into it now. We know they're coming, just calm down and be patient. Sheesh.

Since I missed the first two releases, I'll definately be picking this up (thank the heavens that it's in an Amaray case!), as I really enjoy the show. The animation and fight choreography are some of the best I've ever seen from ANY animated work, though the producers haven't quite perfected using the anime look (though that'll get fixed by Season 2.5/Season 3). The music is awesome, especially the theme, and the stories are very entertaining while still being engaging. Really, there are few cartoons on the air as good as Teen Titans, and considering the show got canned to make way for Leigon of Superheroes, this is a good, inexpensive way to relive the past.

Just wish we could get some commentaries and have it under the "DC Classic Collection" like Batman/Superman/Batman Beyond/JL so we could get some nicer extras.

This was an awesome deal, in my opinion (especially throwing in free shipping!). I've been a huge fan of the Teen Titans since I started watching the show, and even though my personal favorite season is the fourth one, I still loved watching all the "oldie" episodes again. It somehow eased the disappointment of the show being canceled in the middle of a plot. I sincerely hope they continue to release the complete seasons, as I think it's a waste of money buying them when they're split up into pieces.

Also, I noticed the several comments about the interesting mix of anime and western art. Personally, I always found it fascinating (being something of an artist), even though I've never really watched much anime besides the occasional feature-length film that are dished out. The blend makes the cartoon a little more easy on the eyes than some of the other cartoons I've seen.

And lastly, whoever is in charge of releasing the seasons, please hurry up and just release the complete second season! We all know it'll be a better deal in the end! Why not just release them all at once? It's faster, and if I were the producers I'd release all the seasons while people are still interested in the show.

The show is covering new territory. It is taking a more personal aspect to superhero lives. It focuses more on the aspects of teamwork and on unique contributions to a complete team. The animation may be mildly shabby but in all the concepts and ideas behind the show are great. The producers have created a more realistic show where these five teens actually go through common situations with a hero twist.