Talkin’ Teen Titans : Glen Murakami Raps About His Latest Superhero Series

Dr. Toon sat down with Glen Murakami to rap about his latest superhero excursion, Teen Titans.
Posted In | Magazines: AnimationWorld | Columns: Dr. Toon

Dr.T: The only character I noticed that doesn’t have an anime feel — in fact, he feels like a throwback to you earlier work on Batman — is Slade the Terminator. Was that done on purpose to set him more apart from the Titans characters?

GM: I guess so. The threat should seem real; the villain should be serious, because if he’s not then you won’t have any tension or drama. The Titans have to behave like normal teenagers, but in the case of Slade, I don’t think you have to humanize him.

Dr.T: The original Teen Titans writer Marv Wolfman has already penned an episode for the upcoming season. Have any other comic book writers stepped forward to take a crack at the show as well?

GM: If there has been I really don’t know about it, because that would be trafficked by David Slack. There’s nothing wrong with that, but I really want to make something that’s more of a companion piece, rather than an extension, of what’s been done before.

Dr.T: I understand that DC Comics has some influence over the show. Have they ever supplied you with a specific list of “do’s” or “don’ts.”

GM: Not really. The Titans are their characters, so we do have to honor their property, but so far they’ve been very good about what we can or can’t do, and not in a restrictive way.

Dr.T: Do you feel that your team has a really good feel for the show right now?

GM: Yeah. It was real learning curve but we’ve pulled it off. I think we’ve made an entertaining show that we think people will really like.

Dr.T: A real learning curve in what way?

GM: After working with Bruce Timm for 10 years, I’ve learned to focus on stories and to tell then the way that Bruce would tell stories. So I had to learn to go against what I learned from Bruce.

Dr.T: Sam Register stated that there would be no continuing episodes or event movies. If the Teen Titans really take off, could we see a direct-to-video release or feature-type events in the future?

GM: I have no idea at this point. That would be cool, but there are no plans right now. I’m just trying to finish up the first two seasons at this point and then see where we’re at.

Dr.T: Since you’ve begun your career in animation, you’ve been working on DC Comics properties. Are there any original ideas of your own in the works that you would someday like to produce?

GM: I guess someday, but for right now I’ve been pretty happy with what I’ve had to work on. Hey, Batman, Superman and the Justice League — that’s not too bad. Sure, I’d like to do my own thing someday but right now, I like what I’ve been doing.







Comments


come on the show has to come back... soon too... cartoon network has gone stupid after it went off air.

Anonymous (not verified) | Sat, 12/05/2009 - 08:40 | Permalink

Could you please bring back TT and make new episodes??? I know its four years later but listen to your own script it keeps me goin:
Beast Boy- its never too late
Robin- hope thats the point
Starfire- we never give up

Anonymous (not verified) | Wed, 12/02/2009 - 19:05 | Permalink

PLEASE BRING BACK TT!!! Its the best show ever!!! I think it should come back for christmas and have a christmas episode as the season opener. I found a pretty good fanfic that had red x in it. I noticed this: season 1 was a robin season, season 2 was terra, season 3 was cyborg, season 4 was raven, and season 5 was beast boy... but there was never a starfire story. I think it should come back!!! PLEASE!!! Bring the titans back on air on CN!!! Mail me a reply!!! PLEASE!!!

Anonymous (not verified) | Tue, 12/01/2009 - 14:07 | Permalink

I mean they have to come back they are totally my fave.(this is angel again anyone who agrees with me and wants to talk about new ideas about the teen tians coming back and what kind of shows to be on there mail me at friendschatter2000@yahoo.com and if u see my screen name it will say Sophia but dont worry about it it is me I just use that name alot because I love it! Mail me!!);)

Anonymous (not verified) | Thu, 11/26/2009 - 14:03 | Permalink

Omg u r so right I mean star and robin could be left off from the movie something happens, they get in a fight, and then they make up!!!

Angel (not verified) | Wed, 11/25/2009 - 16:58 | Permalink

Sir please bring the teen titans back! its my FAVORITE show and it would mean the world to me if you made it come back on air on cartoon network! i love your show and i feel there was a lot more awesome adventurous stories to be told! and im not just speeking for me. im speeking for all titanlovers (a lot). it would be cool to make a starfire arch, have slade come back, have red x come back, and have another mad mod episode, and pick up from trouble in tokyo, which was an awesome movie!!! BRING THE TITANS back!!!

Anonymous (not verified) | Thu, 11/19/2009 - 18:39 | Permalink

Can you please please please get teen titans back on PLEASE! My whole family loves TT and we really want the show back. DO SOMETING! Almost all my friends love it too. it would mean the galaxy to us. Please do something(unless its killing off a titan just the bad guys please but not the good awsome ones that always appear). Why dont u put on a new titan that relates with all of them and knows all about them ( that could be part of her yes please her power). Thank you.

Angel (not verified) | Tue, 11/17/2009 - 18:26 | Permalink

Hey can u please bring back teen titan?? I mean that was the best show u ever made!!!!

Anonymous (not verified) | Thu, 10/15/2009 - 14:23 | Permalink
Dear Mr Murakami, Can you please talk to everybody and bring back Rorek and give him the same powers as Raven but white like shields, objects, teleport in a white hawk,stronger than Raven, summon things like he did his book in spellbound.He should have some different clothes like a white outfit like Speedy and he falls for Starfire. He should join the titans or titans east. Thank You
jai rose (not verified) | Wed, 02/02/2005 - 01:00 | Permalink
I would first off like to say that Teen Titans is a pretty cool show. How you come up with the ideas is awesome. The reason I am emailing you is because I have a new episode idea in the works. When it is conveinient, please reply to rsmith@sterling.net and let me know if you take new episode ideas from various people. If so I will email it to you. Thanks
Chase Smith (not verified) | Tue, 08/24/2004 - 00:00 | Permalink

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