For my first review, I thought I'd do one of the earliest influences of anime I've had in my life that most definitely contributed to my love of anime now. Introducing one of my childhood favorites: Teen Titans!
What is an anime really?
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| (Left to right): Cyborg, Robin, Beast Boy, Starfire, and Raven |
Now I know what you're thinking if you happened to grow up with it too or have heard of it... "That's not an anime, Tatiana... that's a cartoon.." But is it? Really, it's debatable as to whether it could be called a cartoon or an anime based on several reasons; and, to get to the context of this review, we have to answer a couple of questions first. To answer our first question, yes. Yes, it
is a cartoon, but it's a cartoon with quite a lot of influence from anime. Next we need to answer the question, "How do you define what's an anime and what's a cartoon?" The main thought that comes to mind when we think anime is that it's Japan-based
animation or even from Japan. This makes sense, since the word "anime" is derived from the word "animation" to make it short or distinguished even. However, there are a select few examples of anime such as The Boondocks and Code Lyoko that tell us this can be wrong. The Boondocks which originated in the U.S. and Code Lyoko which originated in France both have spitting aspects of anime. (Although I have not watched The Boondocks personally, I have done a good amount of research to make this analysis.) Both have the same style of animation as anime as well as a more realistic view of the world with, for example, the cultural aspects of a race (Boondocks) and a more mature aspect (Code Lyoko). Anime is also what the Japanese call cartoons so technically by that classification, all cartoons are anime and vice versa.
Now that we classified Teen Titans as an anime, so-to-speak, we can get on with the real review!
Summary
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| Slade |
Teen Titans takes place in the fictional world of West Coast city and is about the lives of a group of superhuman... teens that.. fight crime.. by the name of... Teen Titans. Pretty cliche, but hey!-- we have cliches for the reason being that they just work!! The beginning of this series' storyline is pretty simple and get's right to it; however, as the story progresses, it not only focuses on the never-ending crime but also on the different backgrounds and struggles of each character. The five main protagonists of Teen Titans are Robin, Starfire, Cyborg, Raven, and Beast Boy. Another "main" character, Terra, pops up later in the series who is very important to the storyline. The only main and noteworthy antagonist is Slade; but there are, of course, plenty other "bad guys" in the series :)
This is considered to the majority as a cartoon for a reason. It is totally kid-appropriate. Heck, it's quite close to Young Justice. But don't be fooled into thinking it's too childish for you.. Yes, like a cartoon it does not show any blood or swearing, but there are some aspects which have a bit of maturity to it, and I'd say just enough to peak your interest. Some parts to it are, like most anime sadly, unbiblical :( Four things we're looking at here with the Bible in mind: appearance, witchcraft, man in relation to animals, and idolatry.
Appearance
Some characters' clothes are a tad revealing. While it's not that bad in this series, I do want it to sink in that it's not necessary as the media makes it out to be. You see this everywhere, and it's one of the biggest issues that girls face in today's society, especially in the Christian community. However, the Bible says in 1 Timothy 2:9-10, "I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God." The Word says this for a good reason. Guys get distracted; they think with their eyes. That being true, wouldn't it be better to cover up a bit and get the guy to focus on you, you know.. not just your looks but your personality as well? Not only that, but you reflect God as a Christian and should present yourself accordingly as 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies." Keep in mind that this doesn't mean you shouldn't focus on your appearance at all of course, just don't put all your focus into it, and make sure that when you do, it's to glorify God :)
Witchcraft
Now in this society, one of the most highly praised series is Harry Potter. I myself enjoyed the movies and books and think that the movies did an amazing job of portraying the books 'cause let's face it, most of the time the books are far better than the movies.. But I also realize as a Christian, it's not the best thing to watch because of witchcraft. Where am I getting at here? Lot's of the powers of these characters can be considered "witchcraft." Mainly Raven's whose power is magic. Deuteronomy 18:14 says this about witchcraft: "The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so." Now I'm not saying you practice witchcraft.. but I know it's out there and is reaching the surface. It might not be as serious as the stuff in Harry Potter, but it is real and is a real threat. "Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD; he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance, and did not inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse." -1 Chronicles 10:13-14. It's not like you're gonna be killed because you watch Harry Potter, this is just God showing how serious He is about it. Which sadly also means that "good" witches, are not good in God's eyes. Love the sinner, hate the sin, if y'know what I mean ;)
Man in relation to animals
Magic aside, there's Beast Boy whose power is to shape-shift into different animals. Because of his power, he is a vegetarian. Two things I want to talk about. Firstly, this brings up the topic of evolution. As a Christian you shouldn't believe in evolution because the Bible clearly says several times in Genesis that man was created in God's image such as in Genesis 2:7 and Genesis 1:26 which says, "God said, 'Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.'" This verse also allows me to move onto the the next topic, man's rule over animals/being a vegetarian.
If you know the Bible, you know that wine is a quite popular beverage. Jesus' first miracle was turning water into wine, and He even drank wine in the Last Supper. Wine itself isn't bad, it's getting drunk from it that is. Same concept with meat. It's not bad to kill animals and use them for food, but it's abusing them that is wrong. Don't think they don't feel pain when little neko-chan is hurt from a sliver stuck in its paw. God wants us to take care of animals, but he also gave them to us so that we may use them including for food. I won't support a vegetarian that thinks otherwise because that's unbiblical. Not all of them are bad though, I mean the lovely Iona is a vegetarian but only because she was raised where she didn't eat much meat and thus doesn't like it. Same thing we have to go through with our fruits and veggies ;)
Idolatry
Here's a really important one. What's idolatry? According to thefreedictionary.com it's the "Worship of idols" or "Blind or excessive devotion to something." Hmm.. I wonder what that could mean... I'm tempted to put this in every review I do because instead of relating to one in particular, this can apply to all anime, manga, and everything else in general. When you devote yourself (this means your love, time, effort, thoughts, body, etc.) into something other than God more than into God himself, you're in danger of idolatry. That thing or person, whatever it may be, turns into an idol for you. This is a big thing in Japan. Ever recall watching a show like Kirarin Revolution, Uta no Prince-Sama, or Skip Beat! where they call famous people "idols"? See what I mean now? I didn't even think about it at first. It just slipped my mind for so many anime series! It's not just Japan though. Korea, China, and even though we don't call them by the name of "idol," we sometimes treat celebrities as idols in the States. Ever heard of American Idol?? Out of all the Scripture references I could use, I decided on the most famous one on idolatry found within the Ten Commandments, Exodus 20:2-6, which (to summarize) says that we should not have anything else placed first before God.Why does the Word say so?? Because God is actually jealous and wants you all to Himself! How amazing is that love?
Personal Thoughts
Now as I've said, this is one of my childhood favorites! I love the characters as they are each unique in their own way yet find a way to bond to create the best team of crime fighting teens ever! They each went through some tough backgrounds and continue to go through some crazy experiences, but they manage to come out stronger than before, developing their individual personalities. It's their teamwork and friendship though that really pull through till the end. The end, however, is not very satisfying.. to save from spoilers, it may or may not feel finished to some. Personally, I've been debating which is the case for myself and still can't decide. Either way, it's a perfect example of the need to let go of the past and move on to the future cause God is always movin' forward y'know ^_^ even though it's not always easy.. trust me.. But looking back, I'm still glad to have seen shows that I'm sad to have finished because, despite the down aspects, the combinations of it all are what makes me just want to smile, and this one is no exception! It has amazing characters; good story arcs; is seriously, pretty funny; and has the classic feeling of Saturday morning's superhero tv shows that we all watched as a kid :)
Ratings
Music: Music, although a big part of anime, is not very prominent in this series because Teen Titans is more of a cartoon than an anime. The only noteworthy music is the opening which has a very tokyo-pop feel to it :) it's sung by Puffy AmiUmi and is called... Teen Titans :D It's sung in both English and Japanese alternating between light-hearted episodes (English) with serious ones (Japanese). There is more of a soundtrack in the movie but it doesn't make up for the lack of it in the series.
Animation: The animation of Teen Titans is very cartoonish. It's colorful, not too much shading, and not very realistic. However, there is one aspect that I find a nice bonus which would be the facial expressions! Surprisingly, they are very much like the comedic type of animation with the facial expressions. They are indeed very animated and lively and fun to see!
Characters: The characters have a lot of different personalities, and although a bit cliche, they really go well with the whole theme of this anime because, honestly, I think it's all a bit cliche. You'll recognize some of these characters right away even if you've never seen Teen Titans because most of them aren't very original. You may or may not fall in love with the characters, but you'll definitely like 'em. I did see this one in English dub, and I'm not sure what other dubs there are, but the voice actors did a great job at matching up their personalities as well as expressions, emotions, and actions quite well. All these combined make the characters very memorable.
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| Terra |
Storyline: The storyline for this series is really good. It mainly breaks off into five story arcs changing each season. The first season focuses on Robin's struggle with the Teen Titans against Slade which really continues throughout the series on a smaller scale. The second season introduces Terra and is about her personal struggles and relationship that she builds with Beast Boy. The third season is Cyborg's time to shine as he questions his path to leadership and battles against Brother Blood. In the fourth season, Raven's story is revealed when she struggles with her past and her future having to do with her father. This is the
best story arc of them all and I'd highly recommend watching the series just for this reason! It's deep and intricate and really shows another side to her. The last season is all about BB (Beast Boy) and his fight against the Brotherhood of Evil.What about Starfire you say?? Her story is a bit scattered throughout the series and focuses on her sister and her relationship with Robin.
How I Recommend Watching
On a (sort of) side note, sometimes I find an anime with OVAs, movies, and then other regular episodes and wonder what's the best order of watching them. I can't seem to find places online that say. Also it's not always easy finding out where to watch an anime, especially when you use an iPod like I do most of the time. SO for that very reason, I have included what I find to be the best order of viewing anime based on my own experience, importance of the storyline's order, and for overall enjoyment; as well as where to watch anime based on dub and/or sub, quality, and (of course) on my own experience.
Recommended Order of Viewing
- OVA (the lost episode/episode 0)
- the series seasons 1-5
- the movie Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo
Recommended Sites
- YouTube (Sadly, since I saw this on YouTube, which is unreliable, the videos aren't there anymore. It's possible someone will manage to put them up again.. However, again it's YouTube. I'll try looking for other more reliable sources for this series and update when something new comes around.)
Conclusion
In reality, as an anime, Teen Titans is "just okay"; however, I do recommend this "anime" because it really
is just fun to watch, laugh, and even cry to a bit as well as get excited about the character development. I'd also recommend this to those of all ages from 6-7 and up. Ya I know, even though I said there's some little mature things in there, this is really rated PG for good reason. It's actually a funny and generally fun one to watch, and I guarantee if you like superheroes, laughing, and just watching a good show, you'll definitely like this one!
Sources:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090803181455AAJFeuo
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090806013924AAvLm0N
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080312233917AA1lp36
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boondocks_(TV_series)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_Lyoko
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teen_Titans_(TV_series)
http://www.biblegateway.com/
(My personal Bible,) The Teen Study Bible
(All Scripture references are NIV translation.)
-Tatiana
