Customer Reviews

Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've loved everything about the Teen Titans series since episode 1, and I must say, this movie succeeded in living up to what made the show so enjoyable to watch. Trouble in Tokyo was exciting, funny, and all around a blast to watch. It's especially a must-have if you're a big Teen Titans fan!

I will admit that the plot was a bit Robin-heavy, though I get the feeling that was intended. Despite this, the amusing antics of the other Titans (specifically the loveable green joker, Beast Boy) in a strange new place make for a fun-filled adventure of a movie. Starfire and Robin also finally manage to sort through their feelings while in Tokyo; definitely not something to miss, especially if you've been a fan of these two.

The music was also beautifully done, and some of the art was especially captivating. The characters singing their own mangled version of the theme song in the ending credits was also quite a treat, and left me in stitches by the time it was done playing.

Overall, an enjoyable film that's definitely worth buying. Here's to hoping that the Titans get more Direct-to-Videos (or even better- more episodes)!

A sigh of relief for all you Titan fans out there, it's your favorite superhero team in their very first full-length movie where they all head off to the "Land of the Rising Sun". (You know, Japan. How appropriate...) Endless sights aside, the Titans are on a mission to locate the enigmatic villain Brushogun and stop him once and for all.

I'd hate to do this but, let me tell you the top five things you may or may not know about the DVD movie (This depends on any of you seeing the movie when it made it's Cartoon Network premiere last September.):

5. In the "special features", amidst the bonus mini game: "Robin's Underworld Challenge", there's also supposed to be the Titans' "Lost Episode" that was originally released online from Post cereals. I'm anxious to see that because it features a brand-new villain named Punk Rocket.

4. Some of the secondary characters and villains in the movie sound just like Kaz from "Hi Hi Puffy Ami Yumi". Maybe because it's the same actor that plays him. This principle goes the same to Numbuh 3's dad in "Codename: Kids Next Door".

3. Speaking of which, musical montages abound in this movie, but neither of them is a song by J-pop duo "Puffy Ami Yumi". Darn.

2. Beast Boy sings a rather "lopsided" version of the "Teen Titans" theme song. Seems to me like a translated version of the Japanese version of the song. Either way, it's not at all bad, especially with the fact that ALL the Titans sing it during the credit roll.

1. We see Robin and Starfire - *GASP* - KISSING ?!?! OK... I didn't expect that at first either.

I hope Cartoon Network is planning to rerun the movie again, because I can't wait that long (the beginning of February ?!?!) for the DVD release.

My son loved it. He watched it over and over again. If you are Teen titans fan you will enjoy this one.

After the final season of Teen Titans, this direct-to-dvd was released as the final Teen Titan adventure we'd ever see. The story goes a little something like this....A robot shows up in Jump City and blows up the Titans Tower. Robin is quite pissed about this but figures out that it was from Tokyo. So, the gang heads off to Tokyo in search of this robot. What they get is more than they bargained for. While it lacks the better polish of the TV episodes(in terms of storylines & content), it more than makes up for in humor. I couldn't stop laughing at some of the idiotic antics that went on onscreen. It was simply hilarious to me. The only extras we get are The Lost Episode and the dvd game:Robin's Underworld Race Challenge. While it woulda been nice to have had more from its' creator, it was an okay addition to the dvd(although, in my opinion, wasn't anything special). There was selection of trailers as well as a trailer of the CGI TMNT movie.

Overall; I feel it could have been a whole lot better but, given what we were given, it was good. As far as purchasing it goes, rent it first and base your decision on that. Sadly, I went ahead and purchased it. Course, I'm happy with the purchase as I like the Titans.

"Teen Titans...GO!.......er, they're gone!!!.... :("

I've watched the titans for a long time, and this was a good dvd. Definitely recommended

I've loved Teen Titans from episode 1. The characters, the nicely paced fight scenes, the villians... Sure it had its lame moments (and moments when they tried too hard to be "anime") but overall it was a great action series! When I heard about this movie, I was excited by the previews. The fight scenes looked cool and there was a lot to laugh about as an anime fan from all the hidden references they put in (a robot that looks like Astro Boy, the gal style in Japan where they tan their bodies in put on white lipstick, etc etc etc). So I was pumped.

BUT... I hate to say this, I really do, but this movie was a huge disappointment for us older fans. Here's the basic, basic plot: The Titans get attacked by a strange multi-colored spandex wearing ninja. After interrogating him, they find out he came from, duh, Tokyo. So off they go. Once there, they discover a plot to take over Japan and I'm guessing the world as well. However, things get really nasty when Robin kills the ninja (don't worry mothers/fathers, it's not as bad as it sounds, but I won't say why because it's a "surprise" ) the Titans become Tokyo's most wanted.

This sounds cool, but it's really not. First of all, the pacing is bad. There are moments that made me want to turn the DVD off BADLY and watch SpongeBob or something. There are whole scenes that are suppose to be entertaining/funny/cute but they just slow the whole movie down. Also, fans of Robin/Starfire will get their fill, but the moments are cliche and not as cute/funny as their moments in the series. But..the ending will probably make up for all these awkward, long moments in the movie for most rabid R/S fans. Secondly, the (few) fight scenes aren't as great or exciting as the ones in the series. I mean, yes, there are a few good moments in these fights but I just wasn't on the edge of my seat. And when I mean moments, I mean moments. Finally, the writers were trying way too hard to jam in every anime sterotype in the movie. At first, us anime fans are like "That guy looks like Zenigata from Lupin III!" or "Hey, a cat girl!" But after seeing about 30 references to anime/stereotypes in ONE SCENE...it gets old fast.

All in all, this is a shockingly mediocore "movie." There have been pleads to buy this movie so that Warner Brothers will release more Teen Titans direct-to-DVD movies. But if they're all as useless as this one, I think I'll move on from Teen Titans, thanks. It's a shame, really, that Teen Titans' future hangs in the balance of how many people by THIS movie. You can see this movie had potential, but it just never lives up to it. The good thing about this DVD release is that, as usual, the animation is decent and the voice acting is top-notch, oh and the Titans sing during the credits. But if this is the last Titans, it could've been better.

Nice movie!!! Finally Robin and Starfire together! Besides, it's good to see a new bad guy.

TEEN TITANS: TROUBLE IN TOKYO is the first and hopefully not the last direct to TV and DVD movie based on the cartoon series produced by Warner Bros. Animation. The cartoon series was based on the DC Comics superheroes that came out in the 1960s. At the time, the Teen Titans consisted of Robin, Kid Flash, and Aqualad. They were all sidekicks to major icons in the DC Comics universe.

Later, Wonder Girl was added to the roster. As the popularity of the Teen Titans grew, more superhero sidekicks were added in the membership. Speedy, the young archer who was partnered with Green Arrow, joined the team on a semi-regular basis. He was quickly followed by Hawk and Dove, two brothers who had mystical-based powers that augmented their real life abilities. (Hawk and Dove were also featured in an animated Justice League episode. Just goes to show that all of these characters have remained popular for almost 40 years.) Beast Boy, fresh from the Doom Patrol, joined them and brought a whole new level of levity to the series.

After while, as most series do, the Teen Titans comics folded. In the 1970s, white-hot comic writer Marv Wolfman wanted to take a shot at creating a new Teen Titans comic. When he did he brought Robin, Kid Flash, Wonder Girl, and Beast Boy into the new series and added three new characters: Cyborg, half-teen, half-machine; Starfire, alien warrior princess with amazing powers; and Raven, whose heritage as half-demon was hidden from the rest of the team for a while.

Wolfman's vision of the Teen Titans lasted for years and introduced several characters and key concepts that were later used in the animated series. Characters like Deathstroke the Terminator, Brother Blood, the H.I. V.E. and many others came out of that series and found their way into the cartoons.

Warner's decision to render the Teen Titans as more of an anime style for the younger viewers met with a lot of resistance and derision. Diehard fans wanted their heroes to be treated as "real" as Batman and Superman had been. The camp style of the Warner Bros. cartoon series took a little while to catch on, but it caught on in a big way.

It wasn't long before everyone loved the Teen Titans. Diehard fans just accept the fact that this was a Teen Titans they had not seen before and decided to enjoy the series anyway. Young viewers who had never seen the Teen Titans fell in love with them. A conscious decision was made to never show the young superheroes in their secret identities. They were superheroes all the time.

Not only that, with the anime-style in mind, they were slackers, video game junkies, and connoisseurs of pizza. The characters were drawn more liberally, and they were played for laughs. Beast Boy became a perennial favorite because of his antics and his ability to change into animals. Raven was the perpetual downer, the voice of doom and gloom. Starfire was an innocent (a far cry from the warrior princess she had been in Wolfman's series) and so naive it hurt.

After the series wrapped, Warner Bros. released TEEN TITANS: TROUBLE IN TOKYO and took the team to Japan for the first time. The movie opens with an exciting chase sequence that allows viewers to see the different vehicles the Teen Titans use while in pursuit. (Can we say, Toy Op?) And the action is just as wild as it ever was in the regular series.

But no visit to Tokyo -- especially a visit by the Teen Titans, because anything can happen to them -- is complete without a fight with a giant lizard rampaging the city. After hooking up with a local Tokyo superhero team, Robin and the others find themselves locked in mortal combat with "Gorgo."

Despite the confrontation, Robin quickly gets back to his original mission of finding Brushogun, the man they originally came to Tokyo to apprehend. He and Starfire fall into a romantic tangle that makes it hard on both of them. Robin feels that being a superhero crowds is life to the point that he can't be anything else -- not even a boyfriend.

Beast Boy tries to get in to see his favorite manga publisher, but the corporate offices are closed. While visiting the local bookstores, Raven discovers the legend of Brushogun. According to what she reads, Brushogun was a wizard who fell in love with the drawing of a woman he had made and tried to bring her to life. That kind of explains the creepy characters that now stalk the team.

The action remains fast and furious as Robin gets framed and chased by the police. Even though the movie is three times the length of a regular episode, it flies by. The story is chock full of action and plenty of visual treats as well as jokes. Of course, at the end of the movie the Teen Titans triumph and expose the bad guy. But there's a hint and a promise of the new budding romance between Robin and Starfire.

The movie is a must for fans of the animated series, and it's a good showcase for people who never seen the series. Now that the series is coming out in DVD sets, TEEN TITANS: TROUBLE IN TOKYO would be a good introduction.

Interestingly enough, another animated Teen Titans direct-to-DVD movie is also coming out soon. TEEN TITANS: THE JUDAS CONTRACT has been scripted by Marv Wolfman and Tom DeSanto. This is going to be a definite departure from the anime style and more in line with BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES. The story will be edgier and darker.

Trouble in Tokyo was released following the Season Finale and cancellation of the television series Teen Titans. It more or less wraps up the show and completes the character arcs of our young heroes. The Teen Titans are thrown into action when a new dichromatic foe, Saico-Tek, attacks their tower. After a brief interrogation and mysterious disappearance of the villain, the Titans follow their only clue to Japan in search of "Brushogun". While most of the Titans are enjoying a "vacation", Robin utilizes his detective skills to uncover their mysterious opponent. After battling a Godzilla like monster, it becomes clear that not everything is well in the streets of Tokyo. Each Titan is attacked by a monster possessing similar powers to their own, Robin is framed for a crime, and the villain Brushogun is nowhere to be found. Can Robin solve the mystery in time to save the Titans from Japanese prison, or death at the hands of these mysterious creatures?

Teen Titans succeeds because it knows exactly what it is and what its going for. It's thoroughly a kids movie and knows better than to take itself too seriously. We get some well choreographed fight scenes, (especially one surprisingly emotional scene with Robin), but there's also some cartoon humor and silly montages. The artists definitely utilized the Tokyo setting. I loved the anime references in art style, and there were some really hilarious genre mashup segments. (The Godzilla attack was fantastic).
As far as plot and general interest, Teen Titans lacks what the other features have going for them. It isn't nearly as serious or intriguing as the other films and most people probably wouldn't give Trouble in Tokyo a second thought. Trouble in Tokyo is more like an 80 minute cartoon than a true movie. But it also knows exactly what its going for and nails it spot on the head, and I am definitely rewarding that. I'd rather watch a movie that knows what it wants and succeeds with flying colors than something like Invincible Iron Man that plans big but falls flat on its face.

If your a fan of Teen Titans this should be added to your collection. Good viewing.