"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" (2003) TV series 2003-????

Writers:

Kevin Eastman (creator Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book & characters) &
Peter Laird (creator Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book & characters) ...

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | unknown

Release Date:

29 July 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Comedy | Thriller

Plot:

The lean, mean, green fighting machines are back in an all-new action packed series! Leonardo, Raphael...

Plot Keywords:

Martial Arts | New York | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Mutant | Ninja Turtle

Cast

Michael Sinterniklaas	...	Leonardo / ... (154 episodes, 2003-2009)
Wayne Grayson	...	Michelangelo / ... (154 episodes, 2003-2009)
Gregory Abbey	...	Raphael / ... (154 episodes, 2003-2009)
Sam Riegel	...	Donatello / ... (153 episodes, 2003-2009)
Darren Dunstan	...	Splinter / ... (111 episodes, 2003-2009)
Marc Thompson	...	Casey Jones / ... (92 episodes, 2003-2009)
Veronica Taylor	...	April O'Neil / ... (64 episodes, 2003-2009)

Also Known As:

TMNT (USA) (alternative title)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Back to the Sewer (USA) (seventh season title)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Fast Forward (USA) (sixth season title)

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

USA | South Korea

Language:

English | Japanese | French

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:PG | Denmark:7 (video rating) | Finland:K-7 (DVD rating) | USA:TV-Y7

Company:

Mirage Studios

Trivia:

The "Planet Racers" from Episode 72 (Across the Universe) are in fact from the comic book with the same name, written by Peter Laird and penciled by Jim Lawson (who did and does draw the TMNT comic books as well).

Quotes:

[to the Turtles]
Shredder: The time for games has ended. No more charades.
[takes his helmet off]
Shredder: You see me as I am and it will be the last thing you will ever see.
[puts his helmet back on]
Shredder: Prepare to face your destiny and your doom.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash-Up (2009) (VG)

Soundtrack:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Second Genesis

I always dreamed of the day a cartoon adaption based upon the original books would come, and now that it has I must say I am not disappointed. I want to clear up one major misconception that most seem to hold about this series: this is NOT a revamp. This cartoon has nothing to do with the 80s/90s series (outside of a few jokey references and multi-colored bandannas), it goes back to the original source comics for its stories and inspiration (some influence from the 1st live action film is evident also). That said, it seems, from reading the reviews of those who dislike this show are viewing it in a perspective colored by nostalgia for the old cartoon. While all are entitled to their own opinion, you are missing the point if you believe this to be a "revamp" or "remake" of the old show. It is like being disappointed that the 1992 Batman cartoon was not faithful to the 1968 Filmation produced series. They both share the same original source, but the similarity ends there. They can be forgiven however, b/c most would not except the original show to have ignored the comics as much as it did, hence since this one follows it much more faithfully it looks alien to those only familiar with the 80s/90s show. However, even if you never read the books, I think, if you can view this with an open mind (and stop comparing it to the old show and griping over no Bebop, Krang, etc.) you may like it.

This animated series produced by 4kids (who usually exports anime to the US) takes an opposite approach to the characters of the TMNT comic universe: In the books there existed groupings of characters (a villain, an ally or allies) that were connected in one way or another and appeared in the same stories together with the TMNT with few exceptions. Two villains never even appeared in the same issue if my memory serves correctly, nor did a certain ally help fight a different TMNT villain than they were normally associated with, the groupings were always the same. In this new cartoon we are slowly introduced to a very tight-nit universe where eventually we find nearly everyone connected in some mysterious or shady way and team-ups abound. As such this manages to be both new and unique while being faithful to both the spirit and stories of the 1980s Mirage comics. I loved seeing some of my favorite comics being retold in a new light with twists and surprises and yet still following the stories' outline. The story weaves a long yarn that builds and any loose threads are eventually picked up along the way and woven into the bigger picture. This show does not lay bricks with one wacky isolated adventure after another like the old show.

The personalities are taken from the books but borrow from the more refined and animated (no pun intended) characterizations of the 1st film. Unlike the Fred Wolf series, these turtles are real ninjas and strike out of, and fade into the shadows. Not fighting in broad daylight like they did constantly in the former. At the core of this series is the values and virtues of the family unit: brotherhood and father-son relationships, just like the original books. A fan like myself couldn't have been more pleased.

The TMNTs and co. are big, lean and muscular and actually look they could possibly perform the feats we see on screen, unlike the previous series' inflatable-looking puff-balls. The artwork is very cool, slightly reminiscent of Jim Lawson's work IMO (one of the most enduring of the turtles' artists), but is mostly unique within itself while still borrowing from anime (like the 1st series, or at least it's 1st season) as has been typical for US cartoons for nearly 20 years. The coloring is the art's best attribute. Beautiful blend of light and dark, with just enough of that omni-present cartoon lighting in the shadows when they want the viewer to see what the characters can't. The bright and vibrant contrasting with the dark brings a new dimension to the turtles not seen before, since the comics were almost always in black and white and the old cartoon was not as creative artistically.

Final verdict: this is one of the, if not the, best cartoon on TV now, as far as continuous story and character building. It is currently on the back burner to introduce a sillier more child-friendly future oriented spin-off titled "Fast Forward." Hopefully this show will return in time. For now, all you newbies can play catch-up.