Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo (2006)

Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo (2006)

Dirs. Michael Chang + Ben Jones + Matt Youngberg

A feature-length adventure set after the end of the Teen Titans TV Series (2003-06). It's a movie in its own right, but can be seen as a series finale, too, which helps salve the feeling that the series didn't get a satisfying final episode of its own.

The mini heroes go to Tokyo in pursuit of a bad guy, and despite Robin insisting that it's not a vacation, the rest of the team don't pay much attention to him - Beast Boy, in particular.

It's funny, fast-paced, well-written, full of heart, and has wonderful characterisation. The Titans are voiced by the same actors as they were in the series, with the addition of Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa and Keone Young on the Japanese side.

As well as tackling the main villain, the team members have their own challenges to overcome.

Teen Titans (2003-06)

Teen Titans (2003-06)

5 seasons | 65 episodes total, approx 22 mins each.

From front centre and going clockwise, the TT's are Robin, Beast Boy, Raven, Starfire, and Cyborg.

Their base of operations is a T-shaped skyscraper named Titans Tower, located on an island in Jump City bay. Besides the obligatory training rooms and gym, it has a large TV for movies and video games because even superheroes need a hobby.

Just like their elder peers in the DC universe, the teens defend the world from those that would threaten personal freedoms, all while battling personal conflicts. The latter may be unique to each member, but more often than not problems are best resolved through teamwork, highlighting the importance of acknowledging and accepting individual strengths and weaknesses, which is a theme that defines the series, overall.

Justice League Unlimited (2004-06)

Justice League Unlimited (2004-06)

39 episodes, approx 22 minutes each, split over 3 seasons.

A continuation of the excellent Justice League (2001-04) animated series, set approximately two years after its end.

As you'll see in the accompanying image, while the core team remain Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, etc, there are a lot more supporting characters than before. And that's just a sample. There's even more in the series proper, some that are obvious choices and some that certainty aren't.

The extended roster is both a good and bad thing. It's good because with new faces come new challenges, which can open the door to new types of story, that can in turn give rise to internal conflicts and additional depth.

Some examples are the stories involving The Question (Jeffrey Combs) and Huntress (Amy Acker); and the love triangle that revolves around Green Lantern John Stewart (Phil LaMarr), Vixen (Gina Torres), and Hawkgirl (Maria Canals-Barrera).