5.2 Reasons We Enjoyed the Heck out of Teen Titans Go!

Tuesday night saw the premiere of the brand-new Cartoon Network series Teen Titans Go!, a semi-follow-up to the original Teen Titans animated show and spinning out of the New Teen Titans shorts that aired as part of the DC Nation block of programming.

If you missed it, worry not because CN will be re-airing the premiere Saturday morning during the show’s regular scheduled timeslot as part of DC Nation. So, you can catch it then. However, you might want to click away from here as fast as you can because we’re about to geek out over the 5.2 Reasons We Enjoyed the Heck out of Teen Titans Go!

1. The Return of the Original Voice Cast

It’s like reuniting with old friends—or in this case people we totally wish we were, in fact, actual friends with. Greg Cipes, Scott Menville, Khary Payton, Hynden Walch and the legendary Tara Strong all reprise their roles as Beast Boy, Robin, Cyborg, Starfire and Raven, respectively, for the new series, and just hearing those voices again brings a smile to our face.

2. Silly Storylines

Although not billed as a typical super hero series, the series’ first segment featured the classic super hero trope of the heroes splitting up and using their unique skills and abilities to accomplish their mission—which in this case involved, you know, assembling a sandwich. There’s even lots of action as the heroes battle sandwich guardians... except for Robin, who battles a shopping cart and long lines. It’s simply great, ridiculous fun.

3. Moments both Light-hearted...

Simple little moments that brings lots of laughs. Like when Robin shows off his skills with his staff (hilariously pointing out the body parts he imaginarily hits) to a grocery store customer who then puts down his handcart and backs away slowly or when Starfire plays Duck, Duck, Goose to hilarious results. We could watch Robin being attacked by a goose 20 times and still crack up.

 

 

4. ... and Dark

Okay. The light-hearted beats anyone can get, but then there’s things adults might notice. For example, in the second segment, Raven jokes that maybe the secret ingredient in the delicious pies they’re eating is people. The Titans all laugh at the joke, but in the background, twice we see customers being led away to the kitchen. We later discover the owner of the store intends to make pies of the Titans. They escape of course, but you know who we never see again? Those two customers from earlier. Yeah. Put those pieces together.

5. Visual Gags

There’s a lot of great little visual gags throughout the episodes—from Beast Boy burrowing through the ground as a mole and quickly turning into a cat so he lands on his feet when he falls into a cave to Starfire’s interpretation of balloon animals as actual animals trapped in balloons to even a little Darkseid plushie in the Titans Tower.

5.1 The Theme Song

Will never, ever, ever, ever leave your head. We’re... we’re still not sure whether this is a pro or a con.

 

5.2 Pretty, Pretty Pegasus

Raven’s favorite show is now one of our favorite things.

 

What was your favorite moment from the premiere? Let us know in the comments below!

All new DC Nation episodes on Cartoon Network!

Be sure to catch exciting episodes of Green Lantern the Animated Series and watch the hilarious adventures of Teen Titans Go! that will be sure to entertain the whole family. 10AM/9C Saturday on Cartoon Network

Here's a preview:


Catch a Green Lantern: The Animated Series favorite from Season 1: Didn’t catch the GLA that saw Hal Jordan knocked into a parallel world containing a steampunk Earth complete with its own Steam Lantern? Now is your chance to check it out

 

DC Comics World’s Funniest: People loved these adorable shorts so much last season, DC Nation has more of them for Season 2. DC Comics Super Heroes plus adorable British kids’ voices delivers unequalled cuteness everyone can enjoy.  Click here to watch!

 


DC Nation Farm League: It's the JL, but morphed into silly animals like Super Manatee, Wonder Wombat, Aquamandrill, and The Flish. Very ridiculous,very funny shorts. Click here to watch! 





Jim Lee, Co-Publisher of DC Comics, talks about how the smallest actions can make big differences -- and make anyone a hero. Find out more about DC Entertainment’s giving Campaign here and inspire your own hero-in-training with this inspirational poster created by Jim Lee share this PDF with your child.

Check out more DC Nation info, watch clips at CartoonNetwork.com, and catch all the action Saturdays 10AM/9C Saturday on Cartoon Network

 

This Week on DC Nation on Cartoon Network

Preview the action on DC Nation every week right here on DC Comics Fan Family. You always get one episode each of "Young Justice: Invasion" and "Green Lantern: The Animated Series," plus a DC Nation Animated Shorts -- every Saturday at 10am/9 Central on Cartoon Network. Check out the preview videos in the gallery above.

This Saturday, DC Nation brings you ...

Young Justice: Invasion – “Endgame”
On the verge of finally ending the alien invasion, the team discovers the price of victory may be the entire planet Earth!

Green Lantern: The Animated Series – “Dark Matter”
In the season finale episode, the Aya Monitor returns to the dawn of time to stop all emotion and all life from ever existing.  Now, Hal must find a way to stop her - while Razer realizes the only way to save the universe may mean killing the woman he loves.

DC Nation’s Farm League – “Swimming Lessons” and “Talk to the Lamprey”

This Week on DC Nation on Cartoon Network

Preview the action on DC Nation every week right here on DC Comics Fan Family. You always get one episode each of "Young Justice: Invasion" and "Green Lantern: The Animated Series," plus short cartoons -- every Saturday at 10am/9 Central on Cartoon Network. Check out the preview videos in the gallery above.

This Saturday, DC Nation brings you ...

Young Justice: Invasion - “Summit”
The Light calls a summit to decide the final fate of Aqualad, the team…and the entire planet Earth!

Green Lantern: The Animated Series - “Ranx”
The Aya Monitor is after a secret weapon on the deserted planet Ranx, and sends a massive army of Manhunters to retrieve it.   While Hal, Kilowog and Razer are ordered to the planet, the Green Lantern Corps, led by Guy Gardner, launch a simultaneous attack to beat her to it.

DC Nation Animated Shorts: Amethyst: Princess of Gemworld – “Level 7: Welcome Home”

5.2 Reasons We Love DC Nation

This Saturday at 10 am on Cartoon Network, the DC Nation block of animated programs launches into all new episodes of Young Justice: Invasion and Green Lantern: The Animated Series. Of course, the icing on this animated cake of awesomeness is that we’ll also get brand-new installments of DC Nation shorts. That’s right. More Mad Presents... That's What Super Friends Are For! More The Batman of Shanghai!

 

Okay, some of you are likely freaking out with us right now while the rest of you are looking at us strangely. Well, don't back out of the room slowly just yet and ignore the crazed look in our eyes for a moment because we're about the give you 5.2 Reasons that DC Nation Is the Greatest Thing in the History of Everything Ever!

 

Nope. That title is a bit unruly and just makes us sound more crazy-go-nuts. Okay, let's try that again.

 

The return of the DC Nation has a lot of us pretty excited. Sure it reminds us of watching Saturday morning cartoons during our younger years, but also... well, here's the 5.2 Reasons We Love DC Nation!

 

1. All Ages Means All Ages

These days, when someone hears the term "all ages," they tend to interpret it as meaning "just for kids." Admittedly, sometimes this is the case. But other times, like with Young Justice and Green Lantern, all ages means literally that. While the show is perfect for younger fans—ripe with action and adventure—there are plenty of sophisticated themes and complex characters that will entice older viewers as well. Characters die, one guy loses a limb, and there are jokes that will give older viewers quite a laugh (especially one from Artemis about something being "not in a fun way").

 

 

2. Intricate Plots

Storytelling is a tricky thing. Sometimes you get all this build-up that never pays off and lets you down (we're lost on an example of that one), but other times you get mind-blowing revelations that compel you to go back and re-watch earlier episodes to catch the clues that were there all along. Young Justice especially has this in spades. Heck, even the opening scene from the first episode, which has the teen heroes taking down ice-themed villains, actually has a pay off near the end of the season.

 

 

3. Complex Characters

Throughout the course of the first 13 episodes of Green Lantern, viewers saw Razer go from villainous Red Lantern to courageous hero and Kilowog went from being badass to being even more awesomely badass (dude took on an armada!). Young Justice is no slouch in this department either. Every character goes from misleadingly one-note in the first episode to deeply and incredibly complex—none more so than Miss Martian. We must have sat with our jaw on the floor for an hour after viewing the episode "Image." Literally mind-blowing—as in a character actually got his mind blown. Ha! Jokes are fun... Seriously, though, that episode was crazy.

 

 

4. Something for the Fans

As comic fans, we get a bit of a thrill from noticing and pointing out things regular viewers might miss. The creators of Green Lantern and Young Justice love this fact as both shows are filled with hidden Easter Eggs and nods to comics and continuity. One episode of Green Lantern was practically straight up an adaptation of "Mogo Doesn't Socialize" and even the preview image below of the upcoming episode of Young Justice has a little nod to comic continuity:

 

 

5. DC Nation Shorts

We mentioned these earlier during our intro, but we really want to stress how awesome these are. They're delightfully hilarious and as comic fans it sort of amazes in the best way possibly that cartoons starring Animal Man and Plastic Man exists. Last season we saw great stuff like New Teen Titans and DC's World's Funnest (from Aardman, the animation studio behind Wallace and Gromit), and this season already has lined up Thunder & Lightning, Amethyst: Princess of Gemworld and a new series of shorts mashing up the Justice League with the animal kingdom.

 

5.1 Dick Grayson is Absolutely Awesome

 

 

5.2 Lauren Faust's Super Best Friends Forever

 

Cartoon Network Announces New CG-Animated Series "Beware the Batman"

 Yesterday, Cartoon Network announced a slew of new shows including a new CG-animated series from Warner Bros. Animation, Beware the Batman. Here's the official description of the show, slated to hit the airwaves later this year:

 

 

Beware the Batman

 

A cool, new take on the classic Dark Knight franchise, Beware the Batman incorporates Batman’s core characters with a rogues gallery of new villains not previously seen in animated form. Along with backup from ex-secret agent Alfred and lethal swordstress Katana, the Dark Knight faces the twisted machinations of Gotham City’s criminal underworld led by the likes of Anarky, Professor Pyg, Mister Toad and Magpie. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, this action-packed detective thriller deftly redefines what we have come to know as a “Batman show.” Featuring cutting-edge CGI visuals to match the intricate twists and turns of the narrative, Batman steps out of the shadows and into the spotlight for an entirely new generation of fans. With WBA’s Sam Register executive producing, and Batman Beyond’s Glen Murakami and Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated’s Mitch Watson producing, Beware the Batman, based on characters from DC Comics, is coming soon to Cartoon Network!

 

DC COMICS ALL ACCESS: IAN SATTLER TALKS MORE DC NATION!

More DC NATION!

 

We're so excited about DC NATION that we can hardly contain ourselves! A couple of weeks ago, All Access showed you some images from the short cartoons that take you on a wild tour of the DC Universe every week. That proved to be a pretty popular idea, so we decided to give you some more to check out. DC NATION is an hour-long block of programs including new episodes of Green Lantern: The Animated Series, Young Justice and short stories from all over the DC Universe in different styles of animation from some of the best talent in the entire world. You can see DC NATION every Saturday at 10am on Cartoon Network. I have only one last thing to say: ANIMAL MAN!

 

-- Ian Sattler, DC Entertainment

DC COMICS ALL ACCESS: IAN SATTLER TALKS DC NATION

DC Nation in Animation!

 

For a lot of us, cartoons have always been destination programming. Whether it was Saturday mornings, after-school or prime time, we knew where we had to be to see our heroes have adventures on the small screen (or I guess "adventures on the giant flat screen" is more appropriate now). I'm super excited to let you know that it's time for a new appointment on your cartoon calendars because DC NATION is now on every Saturday at 10am on Cartoon Network! DC NATION is an hour-long block of awesome starting with Green Lantern: The Animated Series and followed by new episodes of Young Justice. In between these two great shows you'll also get to see short stories from all over the DC Universe in different styles of animation from some of the best talent in the entire world. But don't just take my word for it - take a look at these images from the show and then get in front of your televisions every Saturday at 10am and tune in to DC NATION to see what's in store for you that week!

 

- Ian Sattler, DC Entertainment

 

See the images here.

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