Teen Titans Go! might not be the first series that comes to mind when most comic book fans are asked to name the longest-running DC animated series of all time — a point brought up in the recently aired and hilariously meta 400th episode — but it currently is. The wacky series’ longevity is a testament to its always-hilarious writing and performances, as well as its dedicated fandom, according to Raven voice actress Tara Strong, who graciously sat down to chat with us in the lead-up to the show’s incredible milestone.

It’s insane. Literally, the longest running animated DC series, which, when you think about it, is cuckoo.
I started in ‘Batman’ in my 20s. Like, of every show I’ve done, ‘Teen Titans Go!’ is the longest running DC animated show. It’s amazing, and a testament to the fans too. We had so much fun.

The show initially premiered amid fans waiting for Teen Titans Season 6 (they still are, by the way), so the success of the, tonally, much sillier Teen Titans Go! was never guaranteed. However, the show’s undeniably clever meta-humor has helped Teen Titans Go! endear itself to even the most skeptical fans over the years. As Strong puts it, “You can’t deny how funny it is.”

I think initially we were concerned, because most of the fans that were waiting for Season 6 were disappointed that that wasn’t this show. But once they understood that really this is a different universe but same characters, they’ve sort of embraced us.
Every time I read my script for ‘Teen Titans Go!,’ I laugh every single time. And sometimes in the sessions — which, by the way, since COVID, we do like this on Zoom — I’ll ruin people’s takes because I’m laughing so hard at someone else’s performance.

The 400th episode of Teen Titans Go! — which aired on Cartoon Network this morning and is slated to release on Max tomorrow — pokes fun at itself and several other shows it surpassed to become the longest-running DC animated series of all time. In celebration of this amazing milestone, the Titans are animated in stop-motion. The hilariously fourth-wall-breaking team of heroes is very aware they are now in the most expensive form of animation and must utilize clever techniques to be cost-efficient to avoid being canceled.

Related Every Movie Coming to Max in December 2024 No matter what kind of film audiences are looking for, they’re likely to find something worthwhile with Max next month.

Of course, this isn’t the first time Teen Titans Go! has celebrated a major milestone in an ingeniously meta fashion. For episode 200, the Titans met animated versions of their voice actors and many other creatives behind the celebrated animated series. When asked how long Teen Titans Go! might run for, Strong jokingly responded, “… in our minds, we’re gonna get to episode 10,000.” Still, while the actress might be joking about 10,000, there is currently no end in sight for Teen Titans Go!

What’s Next For ‘Teen Titans Go!’

Of course, Teen Titans Go! doesn’t need an excuse to be meta. Over the years, the series has poked fun at the greater DC universe countless times. In episode 365, the Titans went to Warner Bros. and met director Zack Snyder. As you can guess, the episode referenced the director’s filmography — especially the filmmaker’s DC projects, Man of Steel, Batman v Superman, and Justice League.

Still, there is a sense that the hypothetical 500th episode of Teen Titans Go! might feature an even zanier storyline. What this might look like is anyone’s guess at the moment, but Strong does have one idea that should get fans excited:

I mean, since the 400th episode is us in stop-motion, I think maybe 500 should be us on camera and like ‘Roger Rabbit’ that stuff. You know, that would be fun.

At this point, it’s hard to see Teen Titans Go! slowing down anytime soon. At 400 episodes and counting, the series is still going strong on Cartoon Network, making 500 episodes and beyond feel more like an inevitability.

If people are loving it, you know, why not keep going? I think we’re here on this planet to bring people joy and and share light. And whatever you have, whatever your gift is, if you can share that and make people feel happy, bring people together. I hear at cons all the time. ‘This was the show that my family sat together and watched’ or ‘this really got me through a hard time.’ It’s like, if this is bringing people joy, we are all here for it, as long as they’ll have us.

And for those wondering where Season 6 of Teen Titans is, you’re not alone; Strong would also like to know. If the actress had it her way, it wouldn’t have to replace Teen Titans Go! either: “Let’s do both because they’re two different shows. There’s no reason why we can’t give the fans this well-deserved ending to this pivotal story arc that we sort of left everybody hanging at.”

The 400th episode of Teen Titans Go! aired this morning on Cartoon Network and will be available to stream on Max tomorrow (December 1, 2024).

Release Date April 23, 2013