5. Making The Series A Comedy
The original Teen Titans show certainly had its funny moments. As previously mentioned, there were many anime-inspired cutaway gags which involved chibi-style animation or over the top character reactions. In fact, there were entire episodes of the series such as "Mad Mod" or "Fractured" which had a very comedy focused plot. For the most part, the series tried to take itself seriously. The conflicts faced by the characters seemed real and there were plenty of serious moments, particularly during the season finales. The series knew when it was time to tell a joke and when to play up the superhero melodrama. The New Teen Titans animated shorts had a mostly comedy set-up, but with a two minute animated short you cannot really establish a strong plot. Teen Titans Go! on the other hand is presented as a straight out comedy. This series focuses on the "funny business" that happens between the Teen Titans are not saving the world. Episode subjects include Cyborg and Beast Boy being lazy on a Sunday and being convinced by the "Couch Spirit" to remain in their sloth. The emphasis on comedy shows a disconnect from the original series, which could mean that the producers are aiming at a younger demographic with the new series. Admittedly, some of the setups for episodes are very funny. "The Legendary Sandwich", "Sidekick", "The Colours of Raven", and "The Left Leg" are all examples of episodes which are very entertaining and engaging. However, when every episode is a laugh-fest it again shows how much the series is disconnected from its roots. Even occasions where the Titans battle super villains are played up for laughs. On one occasion, they challenge the Hive Five to a dodgeball game. There are no words to describe the disappointment.