CBR's "Top Ten Cartoons That Aged Terribly/Or Are Timeless"

[ZariusTwo]

Back in the ’80s, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles took the world by storm. Based on a decidedly not “kid friendly” comic book, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles debuted in 1987 and offered a family friendly take on the mutated heroes. It ran until 1996, and along with a mega popular toy line, it seemed like every kid loved the heroes in a half shell.

So, how does the cartoon hold up? Not well. The humor is very immature, and the turtles often times come across as annoying. Shredder is surrounded by villains that are either dumb or annoying (sometimes both). The show was clearly made just to sell toys, and doesn’t hold a candle to the many superior cartoons and movies that have been made since.

https://www.cbr.com/terrible-and-timeless-cartoons/

...The same article lists Transformers G1 as "timeless", but cite the same reasons they deride the first TMNT show for (simplistic stories, made to sell toys, but it's FUN)

[CyberCubed]

and the turtles often times come across as annoying.

What. I don't how the Turtles can be considered annoying.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

What. I don't how the Turtles can be considered annoying.

Very, very easily. Extremely annoying.

[MikeandRaph87]

As an adult I see the humor is nearly perfect for my sense of humor. I love puns and sarcasm and that is the basis of the humor in the the 1987 cartoon. I believe my taste in humor was formed thanks to this cartoon peppered with Full House. The 2012 cartoon had darker moments (like Splinter's murder and death of three villains) yet its goofy humor was not my thing. Butt canons on Kraang robots among other things? Its gross humor or stupid funny. Neither humor amuses me as it does not follow the humor type that the 1987 cartoon had and shaped my preferences.

Originally Posted by CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy

Very, very easily. Extremely annoying.

Michelangelo is annoying outside of the 1987 cartoon on the small screen.

[Papenbrook]

Originally Posted by Michael Hollan

So, how does the cartoon hold up? Not well.The humor is very immature, and the turtles often times come across as annoying. Shredder is surrounded by villains that are either dumb or annoying (sometimes both). The show was clearly made just to sell toys, and doesn’t hold a candle to the many superior cartoons and movies that have been made since.

[sdp]

It's just a random guy's crappy opinion on a big website but it doesn't validate it and the only reason he has that job you can see by looking at all the other articles he's written, it's all clickbait. The list is rather safe with a few of his personal favorites tainting the whole list's credibility.


I found transformers awful, what makes TMNT more re-watchable than G1 is that it never took itself too seriously and was always self-aware while G1 has the same faults but tried to play it straight.

I also find the humor of the OT fare superior to the other TMNT shows including TNM/2k3/Nick. The OT humor is either self-aware, straight up bizarre and the dumb jokes are so dumb they're just funny even if not the way they're supposed to. While the other shows go for either gross out humor or "i'm acting silly so it's funny", so yeah usually Mikey acting sillier than any of the OT turtles ever did in any one episode.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Even if I like such lists, and most people would agree with animated Batman, don't take the lists too serious. At the end, it's the writer's taste.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

I've watched some GI Joe later (never as a child), and like it. Cobra are so badass for a terrorist group, brainwashing their enemies, forcing them to fight Roman gladiator-styled games, and torturing them!

The science fiction elements in GI Joe make the Baader-Meinhof Group and Islamic State appear like infants in a sandbox.

[Sumac]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

What. I don't how the Turtles can be considered annoying.

I wonder what people behind this "thinkpiece" would have thought of Mike from 2k12?

Never ever Turtles from 87 felt as annoying to me. Guess, I have better tolerance for silly humor, than some of local jaded veterans.

Also, the fact that those people consider Transformers G1 timeless, when it's guilty of the same stuff as Turtles, is hilarious. I was trying to watch G1 decade ago and was able to slog only through the first few episodes.

Originally Posted by ZariusTwo

There can be ways to enjoy it as an adult, either if you have kids yourselves and want to give them a starter before moving up to the edgier material, or, like me, watching classic episodes and "rewriting them" as fanfic adaptations.

Or just appreciating silly cartoon for what it is.
But since you are all grown up and serious this is absolutely forbidden!!

Originally Posted by CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy

Stay classy, Shark Blade.

Harmless comparison has triggered you?

Originally Posted by MikeandRaph87

As an adult I see the humor is nearly perfect for my sense of humor. I love puns and sarcasm and that is the basis of the humor in the the 1987 cartoon. I believe my taste in humor was formed thanks to this cartoon peppered with Full House. The 2012 cartoon had darker moments (like Splinter's murder and death of three villains) yet its goofy humor was not my thing. Butt canons on Kraang robots among other things? Its gross humor or stupid funny. Neither humor amuses me as it does not follow the humor type that the 1987 cartoon had and shaped my preferences.

My ninja!

[Lisardo]

Originally Posted by Sumac

Never ever Turtles from TMNT'87 felt as annoying to me. Guess, I have better tolerance for silly humor, than some of local jaded veterans.

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

I think because its missing the point. The original TMNT cartoon was never trying to be a serious cartoon. It was a parody/satire of action cartoons from the start. The show made fun of itself all the time, we're not supposed to wonder why the villains are incompetent.

Thank you! I totally agree with you on that one! Sure TMNT'87 is cheesy at times, but in my opinion it's not as cheesy as the original '80s Transformers or He-Man! The dialog in TMNT'87 was bit goofy at times, but like the 'Adam West' Batman, it's more of a joke or parody. In other words, it's not to be taken too seriously. I guess it really boils down to, "to each their own" kinda thing, because to be perfectly honest, I can EASILY get thru multiple episodes of TMNT'87; not so much for the '80s TF's or He-Man!

[Xav]

He's right though, compared to the 2k3 or 2k12 series the show has very little action or continuity, and most episodes after the first season aren't very good.

[Sumac]

Originally Posted by Xav

He's right though, compared to the 2k3 or 2k12 series the show has very little action or continuity, and most episodes after the first season aren't very good.

I think the big problem is that its compared not to other TMNT series, but to other cartoons of the 80-s, which were made in the same mold as TMNT.

[ssjup81]

Originally Posted by Xav

He's right though, compared to the 2k3 or 2k12 series the show has very little action or continuity, and most episodes after the first season aren't very good.

That's because it was the 80s and the show was originally syndicated. Of course it was episodic, like practically everything from that time and prior. It was set up that way so that any viewer can watch an episode and not be lost. It's not like now where you can hop on Hulu and Netflix and marathon shows. Back then when you missed an ep, you MISSED it...unless you recorded it. Who knew when the episode would air again. This is a poor point to use as a negative towards the series.

Originally Posted by MsMarvelDuckie

Exactly. Three also had episodes like The Gangs All Here and Michelangelos Birthday, both of which began with the more serious premise from earlier seasons, and brcame increasingly comedic as they progressed.

This was about the time CBS started airing it, right? It had to be toned down a bit since it was airing on a network station on Saturday morning, I'm assuming. That's when the show became sillier, imo.

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

It happens all the time in regular action cartoons, DC or Marvel cartoons. Justice League Unlimited, Teen Titans, Avengers: EMH, etc. Even Nick's TMNT gave us April ass shots in the camera and she's only 16 in that series.

I honestly didn't notice the thing with April until YOU brought it up all that time ago.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by Lisardo

I can EASILY get thru multiple episodes of TMNT'87; not so much for the '80s TF's or He-Man!

Even if the action scenes aren't the best, TMNT has the best humour-dynamic with characters interacting (Manhattan sewers, Channel 6 and Technodrome).

[FredWolfLeonardo]

I thought the article was heretical enough to criticize the Original Tmnt Cartoon.

Then, I saw Superman the Animated Series on there and knew I had enough

[neatoman]

Originally Posted by Michael Hollan

So, how does the cartoon hold up? Not well. The humor is very immature, and the turtles often times come across as annoying. Shredder is surrounded by villains that are either dumb or annoying (sometimes both). The show was clearly made just to sell toys, and doesn’t hold a candle to the many superior cartoons and movies that have been made since.

And this is true, so what's the problem?

[CyberCubed]

I think because its missing the point. The original TMNT cartoon was never trying to be a serious cartoon. It was a parody/satire of action cartoons from the start. The show made fun of itself all the time, we're not supposed to wonder why the villains are incompetent.

[FredWolfLeonardo]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

I think because its missing the point. The original TMNT cartoon was never trying to be a serious cartoon. It was a parody/satire of action cartoons from the start. The show made fun of itself all the time, we're not supposed to wonder why the villains are incompetent.

bbbuttttt iiiittttss aaallllll pppoiiintlesssss!

Originally Posted by ZariusTwo

The problem is you've grown up

I don't think being an adult is a barrier to enjoying the Original Cartoon.

[neatoman]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

I think because its missing the point. The original TMNT cartoon was never trying to be a serious cartoon. It was a parody/satire of action cartoons from the start. The show made fun of itself all the time, we're not supposed to wonder why the villains are incompetent.

But if he thought it was annoying and immature, does the intention really matter?

Originally Posted by FredWolfLeonardo

I don't think being an adult is a barrier to enjoying the Original Cartoon.

It mostly is. I guess alcohol, marijuana, sleep deprivation and nostalgia might break it down a bit. I doubt most adults with little to no experience with it would like it while sober.

[ZariusTwo]

Originally Posted by neatoman

It mostly is. I guess alcohol, marijuana, sleep deprivation and nostalgia might break it down a bit. I doubt most adults with little to no experience with it would like it while sober.

There can be ways to enjoy it as an adult, either if you have kids yourselves and want to give them a starter before moving up to the edgier material, or, like me, watching classic episodes and "rewriting them" as fanfic adaptations.