Best TMNT Show/Adaptation

[Sumac]

2003 series.
I don't care how close it was to the original comic books, because, I haven't read them, but the characters and their development, pacing and story arcs have been some of the best I've seen in any animated shows I've ever watched.

Yes, by the end of its run it had suffered due to "kiddification", but first 4 seasons were one of the best stuff I've ever seen.

1987 show is good for what it was intended to be - kiddy show with great and fun characters marketing toys, but I can't put it higher than 2003, since its story was rather...mediocre.

Even though I love 87 show and it was my childhood I still like it and 03 equally, but I give my due where it's due. When it comes to characters and story 2003 show blows competition away. Oh, and it gave us Turtles Forever!!



I haven't watched 2012 show to the end, since its' drop in quality in the beginning of the season 3. I can stomach only so many parodies of good movies at once. After this, show have lost me and I've stopped caring about it altogether. Not that I cared about very much after somewhat disappointing second season.

I haven't watched anything from Rise of TMNT. I watched its trailer and I can say, it's not "my" thing at all.


P.S.
I think the last option in the poll should be fixed - it displays smiley face instead of a number.

[Wesley]

@Sumac I agree with you about ‘03 and ‘87.

Unpopular opinion: ‘03 is way better than Batman: TAS which doesn’t hold up well for me. Or maybe I’m just not a big Batman fan.

[M.A.C.O.]

Originally Posted by Sumac

P.S.
I think the last option in the poll should be fixed - it displays smiley face instead of a number.

Yes, I noticed after I made the poll. A number "8" next to a right parentheses ")" makes a "cool emoji" face. Once polls are made, you can't edit them. So, that's a bummer. But everyone knows when Rise of TMNT came out.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

As much as I loved both 87 and 03, the Nick 2012 one just seems to have something for everyone, and the fact they used so many former VAs from other series or movies cements it. It tops the list for creativiy, nostalgia, call-back characters and plots, and humor. As well as being darker and more daring in many ways.

[Leo656]

Canceled out by "April and Casey are kids now Just Because" and "Vast acres of real estate given to April/Don shipping".

All of that was extremely pointless and why I gave up on 2012 relatively early. I HAVE given random episodes a chance several times since then and it just really ain't for me. I groan and roll my eyes even more than at the FW cartoon, which I never even thought was possible. Could I just be catching random "bad" episodes? Maybe, but I doubt it. I never even made it to the movie parody stuff, which is where it seems most people lost interest.

I sat down for the pilot with great enthusiasm, and thought it was pretty good, but a few episodes in and I was already getting annoyed with it. Too many choices I didn't agree with, and no patience to sit around waiting for it to get better (and given the discussions I've read and the episodes I have seen, it doesn't seem like the things I didn't like were ever improved at all, rather given increasingly more focus).

So it definitely didn't have "something for everyone" because it had absolutely zero for me. I guess I can say, the art style was alright. Given that I'm no fan of CG animation, that's actually a pretty big compliment. I don't think it's a bad show, but it never impressed me and I have very little desire to ever see it again.

Was it poorly-done? No (although there's definitely things I think they shouldn't have done). Did it entertain me? No.

[CyberCubed]

It's hard for me to say, I like the first 3 almost equally for completely different reasons. But as an actual series obviously the 2003 is the best written in terms of action/storytelling, etc. 2012 was also very strong through most of it, with very few complaints aside from a few fillers and such.

I love the original cartoon for the nostalgia/cheesy/sci-fi 80's plots of it all, but if you didn't grow up with it I can understand why some wouldn't care for it. The original cartoon was basically a "you had to be there" kind of thing. Although I'd still argue the very best episodes of the original cartoon are great even for people who never saw it before.

[Leo656]

I think if the entire 80s cartoon was the same as the first five episodes, this would be a much different conversation.

[pferreira]

Yeah obviously I go with the 1987 series. It grabbed my imagination and no other TMNT so far has managed to bring a style and imagination in an animation aesthetic I like. The other shows are either derivative attempts at aping some parts of the FW series or just don't hold the same appeal as the 1987 cartoon series which is fun and enjoyable. The FW series along with The Real Ghostbusters is my favourite cartoon of all time so of course I'd go with the original series.

[Prowler]

Originally Posted by Leo656

I think if the entire 80s cartoon was the same as the first five episodes, this would be a much different conversation.

Good point, indeed...

It'd have been remembered as an underrated gem from the 80s and would have a cult following nowadays... and thus there'd probably be no other TMNT cartoons.

[Wesley]

Originally Posted by Leo656

I think if the entire 80s cartoon was the same as the first five episodes, this would be a much different conversation.

Yep. Season 1 was great, even though it had its own flaws. It has the most rewatch value. If the whole series was like that, it would be better remembered.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by Candy Kappa

only the Kirby episode is good.

So, the Kirby episode is the only episode you like?

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Originally Posted by Leo656

Canceled out by "April and Casey are kids now Just Because" and "Vast acres of real estate given to April/Don shipping".

All of that was extremely pointless and why I gave up on 2012 relatively early. I HAVE given random episodes a chance several times since then and it just really ain't for me. I groan and roll my eyes even more than at the FW cartoon, which I never even thought was possible. Could I just be catching random "bad" episodes? Maybe, but I doubt it. I never even made it to the movie parody stuff, which is where it seems most people lost interest.

I sat down for the pilot with great enthusiasm, and thought it was pretty good, but a few episodes in and I was already getting annoyed with it. Too many choices I didn't agree with, and no patience to sit around waiting for it to get better (and given the discussions I've read and the episodes I have seen, it doesn't seem like the things I didn't like were ever improved at all, rather given increasingly more focus).

So it definitely didn't have "something for everyone" because it had absolutely zero for me. I guess I can say, the art style was alright. Given that I'm no fan of CG animation, that's actually a pretty big compliment. I don't think it's a bad show, but it never impressed me and I have very little desire to ever see it again.

Was it poorly-done? No (although there's definitely things I think they shouldn't have done). Did it entertain me? No.

I think you got caught up in the hype on the shipping- there really wasn't much of it after the first 1 1/2 seasons. In fact, after Casey was introduced, the focus seemed really to switch more toward their friendly rivalry, which ended up feeling more like the original movie, especially once they get to Northhampton. Those were some of the most fun episodes, especially the Speed Demon one when they built the roadster- reminded me of the scene when they were fixing the old truck in the movie. Others that stick out as great were the Big Trouble parody, and the final Shredderbattle arc, the future episodes (with no Casey or April in sight), and the Usagi and monster arcs. (And this is just me, but I found the Ice Cream Kitty music video hilarious!)

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by Wesley

Yep. Season 1 was great, even though it had its own flaws. It has the most rewatch value. If the whole series was like that, it would be better remembered.

Why not at least make season 2 like that? Turtlemania didn't truly begin until 1989. By 1988, parents hadn't began to complain that much over too much violence in TMNT.

[mikey0]

Originally Posted by Original TMNT Cartoon Fan

Why not at least make season 2 like that? Turtlemania didn't truly begin until 1989. By 1988, parents hadn't began to complain that much over too much violence in TMNT.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were a fad in 1989. The first ever live-action movie pushed the fad into a phenomenon in 1990. Turtlemania was a 1990 event.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by mikey0

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were a fad in 1989. The first ever live-action movie pushed the fad into a phenomenon in 1990. Turtlemania was a 1990 event.

Bu season 3 (1989) had the most seasons.

[mikey0]

Originally Posted by Original TMNT Cartoon Fan

Bu season 3 (1989) had the most seasons.

Season 3 (1989) had the most episodes of the syndicated series, but the Fred Wolf show was moved to the CBS Saturday morning lineup in the fall of 1990. Moviegoers who saw the 1990 flick made it a point to watch the weekday series shortly before and after the movie was in theaters.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by FredWolfLeonardo

Very well-done background music as well as an amazing theme song.

Here's how I tank theme songs

1. Next Mutation (even if I don't like hiphop and rap otherwise)

2. 4 Kids (seasons 1-5)

3. Fred Wolf (seasons 8-10)

4. Fred Wolf (seasons 1-7)

4. Rise of the TMNT

5. Nickelodeon

6. Back to the Sewer and Fast Forward (I haven't heard them many times, would skip when watching it over the Youtube)

[newfan]

I've not heard Mutation's theme song.
Of the other show theme songs, Nick again as fav for me. (Actually I wouldn't mind the end credits as a ring tone).
Of the others, only one I didn't like and would fast forward, was fast forward. Preferred 4kids main seasons theme (and series)

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by newfan

I've not heard Mutation's theme song.
Of the other show theme songs, Nick again as fav for me. (Actually I wouldn't mind the end credits as a ring tone).
Of the others, only one I didn't like and would fast forward, was fast forward. Preferred 4kids main seasons theme (and series)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4F-nlT8IwI

[FredWolfLeonardo]

Originally Posted by Original TMNT Cartoon Fan

Here's how I tank theme songs

1. Next Mutation

2. 4 Kids

3. Fred Wolf

4. Rise of the TMNT

5. Nickelodeon

Have you heard the Next Mutation Netflix theme? Also, how would you rank the Red Sky, Fast Forward, Back to the sewers and tales of the tmnt?

Originally Posted by newfan

I've not heard Mutation's theme song.
Of the other show theme songs, Nick again as fav for me. (Actually I
wouldn't mind the end credits as a ring tone).
Of the others, only one I didn't like and would fast forward, was fast forward. Preferred 4kids main seasons theme (and series)

I'm not the biggest fan of the Fast Forward theme, but I like it better than the Back to the Sewers theme. I admittedly like the part of the theme where the turtles themselves speak.

"Get outta my way!"

"It's so not yesterday!"

"It's the only way to play!"

"I guess we're here to stay!"