First Impression

[AquaParade]

I cant beleive how long it has been since Tmnt2k3 first aired :)
So, what were everyones first impressions when watching the first episdoes of thje show for the first time? Did you like what you saw? Did you have high hopes for the show? What did you expect of it?

[syk_skillz]

I loved having them back on air. i just hated the voices.

[Masked Ninja]

I saw a small article in the newspaper for it around the time it was going to be released, along with a clipart picture of Michelangelo. You know, from the model sheet - where they look their absolute worst. (No way they actually use those model sheets, but anyways...)

I thought, "Ugh. No. Why bring the Turtles back? You'll just wreck 'em! And that design sucks!"

But over a summer (2004, I think) I started watching Saturday morning cartoons, or at least the ones I could stand. I happened to catch an episode of Turtles and was intigued. What followed could be best described as me getting "sucked in." The first eps I saw were "The King" and "The Unconvincing Turtle Titan," so I was a little weirded out at first. Good thing I stuck around to be blown away by better eps.

[TheShowstoppa]

I saw a small article in the newspaper for it around the time it was going to be released, along with a clipart picture of Michelangelo. You know, from the model sheet - where they look their absolute worst. (No way they actually use those model sheets, but anyways...)

I thought, "Ugh. No. Why bring the Turtles back? You'll just wreck 'em! And that design sucks!"

But over a summer (2004, I think) I started watching Saturday morning cartoons, or at least the ones I could stand. I happened to catch an episode of Turtles and was intigued. Slowly I got sucked in, finally realizing just how good the show was.

Tsk, tsk, tsk... Masked Ninja was being too closed minded... JEEZ!

*Ducks out of the way of the flying shuriken*

I was kidding!!!! ;)

The first ep I had seen was "Meet Casey Jones" after I had come home from work one day. When I saw it, I was sucked in like nothing else. It was so different and edgy from the show I could hardly remember from my early childhood. The next show I saw was Way of Invisibility. By this time, they were on the reruns of the first season, and I had already begun looking for the dvds. Ever since Return to New York, I have been regularly collecting the DVDs so I would NEVER miss anything TMNT.

[ThemanthatwouldbeRaphael]

When I first heard about the show, I jumped up out of my chair, ran around the house, and did the happy dance.

The days leading up to it, I was pissing myself with anticipation

Finally, when I saw it, I was not disappointed. I loved the first scene of the episode, and from that point I was hooked.

[Inner City Blues]

When I saw a new show was coming out, I was a bit skeptical. Hearing the new theme song made me even more skeptical because I hated the theme song (I still don't like, that's why I clip it out all of my rips along with the bumpers). But I started watching the series from the start and I was immediately drawn in. I liked the fact that they weren't pulling the Shredder out from the start, at least not his armored form. In addition, I liked how the campiness disappeared along with robot Foot Ninja and bumbling villains. But probably the biggest improvement was the Turtles sticking to stealth as their primary skill, something you didn't see in the other series.

So although, I was hesitant about the concept art (no pupils), the theme song, and just the idea of a new series, I downloaded episodes every week (I'm a college student, what else can you do?) and I've been following it ever since. I have every DVD and I plan on getting Hun on the Run come May 16. I would say for me, the primary draw for a show is the writing because if that's not good, I can't watch the show. It's the same reason why I hate The Batman, the concept art was alright, but the show is just so flat.

[MasterMole]

I was so excited about the show and counting the days until that Feb. 8 when it started. I sure also was excited about the new toyline, though for awhile now it doesn't live up to its great show's counterpart. I saw this as a great new start for me as a Turtle fan, for I didn't closely follow it during the old series. I did though buy many of the old toys. When I did watch the first episode, I loved it and was so happy watching it. It is a great episode. I couldn't wait for the DVD's to come out so I could start owning all the episodes, and as of now I have all the DVDs and I am anxious for "Hun on Run", finally, after about a year after it aired. I still look forward to each week's episode, and can't wait for Fast Forward and those seemingly good-looking toys. I desparately want to see "Insane in the Membrane" and the Lost Season.

[iris]

My first encounter with the current turtles show was flipping channels one Saturday morning, doing a double-take, and saying "what the heck!" It was the second mouser episode, I think.

I was extremely grateful the turtles were "normal" and couldn't like turn into supermutants by holding their breaths or something. I was ecstatic that April was not yellow-jumpsuited reporter, and was instead her techhie self. And I loved that you could feel the ninja/shadow aspect of TMNT. The casual and brotherly way the guys interacted with each other... that was a level of detail I'd have never dreamed of expecting from a "kids' show." My jaw pretty much dropped at that point.

I guess my impression moved rapidly from wide-eyed wariness to cheesin' enthusiasm.

However, I hated how they substitute the word "shell" for "hell" every (it seemed to me) other line. May as well just say "hell." I still dislike that, but I've come to terms with it.

[J Legault]

I had goosebump when I saw "Things Change" aired back in February 8, 2003.

i automatically fell in love with the series as I did with the old school one.;)

[Chris]

After seeing all the concepts and reading all the previews (ah the good old days when we got summaries for every episode at the start of the season) I was already really excited by this show and couldn't wait for it to start. I'd started with the Mirage comics a few years earlier and was really happy that this new show would be more faithful to them.

I actually downloaded the first few episodes as I couldn't wait for the UK to start showing them. The opening hooked me. It was just a perfect adaptation of that opening scene from Vol. 1 #1.

I like that the show, four seasons later, has gone in it's own direction whilst still remaining faithful to the spirit of the comics. It's really gone from strength to strength and comparing episode 100 to episode 1 shows how far they've come! I love the way that the comics now feed off the series (Battle Nexus) as it shows a great relationship between the two.

[cowabunga14]

I really had high hopes for the show when the commericals were showed for it. The first episode really met my expectations and really made it so I looked forward to the episodes. It was great to see the Turtles back on air which made it so I didn't forget about 'em after the cancellation of Next Mutation.

[Katie]

I think the first episode I saw was the fugioid. I remembered seeing commercials that the turtles would be on again, but in those days, I was so busy on the weekends with reptile shows and motorcycle racing that i never sat still long enough to watch any TV at all.

then, dark days. I remember having been up all night and sitting like a zombie infront of the television. I was drunk and didn't care where my life went....suddenly, like a miracle...TMNT was there...I sat up and turned the tv up and watched the show..I was hooked! It was the comics from my childhood there on TV. that night I called my best friend and made him drive me to Best Buy to see if i could find any back episodes.

It's cheesy to say, but I bet that show saved my life...

[Shark]

Nice sig syk_skillz.

I HATED the first episode. I hated what they did with Raph (my favorite character from the old show), hell, I liked the movie Raph compared to him.

Then I hated this Casey Jones. Way better and cooler than the old show's Casey, but the movies Casey was still the coolest.

I was also confused as to why Baxter was black now O.o

Eventually, I got so used to the show, I liked it more than old show, I like this Baxter the best, sick of Shredder as usual, and this series actually gave me a reason to like Leo. I used to never like Leo (hated Mike, just didn't care for Leo). Now Leo is competeing with Raph to be my favorite.

Not to found of bad guys in this though. Every time they get a new one, they kill them off. It's like they have the same five bad guys all the time. Shredder, Bishop, Baxter, Hun, or Karai. And they barely have Karai as it is. It's not as bad as the old show where they managed to shove Shredder in every damn episode possible, but at least that show had more variety in villains. They already killed off Draco, Ultimate Ninja, Romero(sp?), and Turtlebot.

[Inner City Blues]

You forgot, they also killed off Garbageman! :D

[iris]

I think the first episode I saw was the fugioid. I remembered seeing commercials that the turtles would be on again, but in those days, I was so busy on the weekends with reptile shows and motorcycle racing that i never sat still long enough to watch any TV at all.

then, dark days. I remember having been up all night and sitting like a zombie infront of the television. I was drunk and didn't care where my life went....suddenly, like a miracle...TMNT was there...I sat up and turned the tv up and watched the show..I was hooked! It was the comics from my childhood there on TV. that night I called my best friend and made him drive me to Best Buy to see if i could find any back episodes.

It's cheesy to say, but I bet that show saved my life...
Not so cheesy, Katie. A ray of light is piercing because its source is small.

I can't really speak for TPTB, but I think it's safe to say that no small amount of dedicated love goes into TMNT creation... some of it's gotta find its way out on the other side, right? ;)

[Ashangelo]

When I first heard there was going to be a new series I was estastic so say the least. I sat down to watch the very first episode and the first thing that bugged the heck outta me was the whole "not having eyes" thing lol. But I've become use to that, I actually like it better that way. But other then that I loved the whole thing from start to finish.

[Jester]

I heard it was coming...but I think I missed the first epidode. I cought "A Better Mouse Trap" and that's when I knew that though these TMNT were different, they were the turtles and I was in for a ride.

[Gary]

I was very excited to see a new animated turtles show. I found out about it sometime in 2002 and had to wait months to finally see it. I taped the first ten episdoes, then they played a repeat. After that, I had to watch the reast of season one, and most of season two and three on DVD. Then I started to wake up every saturday morning to watch the fourth season.

What I liked the most was that it was more serious. you didn't find out their entire origin in the first episode; it was a season long mystery that ended with a cliffhanger, and left me anxious for season two. That's the kind of writing that made me fall in love with the show.

I really hated the intros at first because they were animation clips from the middle of the episode. I'm glad they started to give other characters some narriation, and now the intro gives you information that you don't learn throughout the episode.

[Raph's Girl]

They already killed off Draco, Ultimate Ninja, Romero(sp?), and Turtlebot.

Ultimate Ninja wasn't killed per say...he was just de-aged. And Savanti Romero....he'll be back. He wasn't killed he was cryogenically frozen in time of sorts and will wake up in feudal Japan. That's what happened in the comic.

As for my first reaction to the show.

Well I found out about it by going to the official site. I was really excited that there was a new TMNT series. When I found out Baxter was gonna be black, well at first I complained....alot....then I found out about the Mirage comics (I had no knowledge of them till then) and that Baxter was black in them.

When I saw the first ep I was happy. One of my fave shows was back. :D I've loved it since the first ep.

[TuRtLeTiTaN]

ok the way i found out is in middle school my teacher sent me to the office for something i did and i found a book cover on the desk it was a tmnt book cover
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d193/turtletitan5/scan0002.jpghttp://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d193/turtletitan5/tmntposter.jpg
(scaned the image so some of the middle is missing but not much)

well when i saw this i had like a 4 week wait and i couldnt take my child hood heros were back i had high hopes for the show and the mean green didnt let me down the thing i liked the most was the animation and the way they moved

[Ashangelo]

That book cover is awesome!

[syk_skillz]

Nice sig syk_skillz.

Thanks :D
One of my simpler gfx works but I like it.

[Emmanuel Cruz]

I remember hearing about the show back in 2001 or 2002, when it was being developed first by Kids WB, then by 4Kids. I was ecstastic, and ran around like a little kid. I ancipitated the first episode back in February of 2003, and I set up my VCR timer to record it. When they started the countdown just before the show premiered, I swear I squealed like a little girl. I was in my freshmen year of HS when the show premiered, and the original show premiered exactly 3 months before I was born. It was great to see the new, better version of TMNT come along. I was hesistant of the voices and the theme song at first, but "Things Change" instantly changed my doubts. The voices and theme grew on me, and I was waiting patiently for The Shredder to premiere on the show. I bought the action figures ASAP, and began telling others in school to watch the show. Ah, memories. :)

[TheGreenMagic]

Heh, honestly I didn't even know there was going to be a new show until the Friday before it premiered, learning about it from a friend on AIM. Oh, how quickly hyped I was for the show. Just to make certain I was awake for it, I didn't bother with sleep that night. Was certainly well worth it. Won me over with the first episode... all the while making me anticipate Shredder eventually making his presence known to the TMNT.

[Stephen]

I didn't initially have much interest in it, other than reading through some of the episode synopsis (http://www.ninjaturtles.com/cartoon/2003/episodeshorts.html) before it started on FoxBox. Then just watched a few episodes out of curiousity when it started in the UK and then downloading Season 2 episodes.

[Cascadia]

That book cover is awesome!


I agree...I will probably see somethings similar while teaching middle school in the upcoming years. I would not have a problem with it in my classroom.

[Lady Venus]

When I first saw the first ep I was hooked all over again. It was different for my big bro he loved the old Raph not the new. New Raph is pretty cool.

[Spitfire]

I wouldn't watch it at first. So I downloaded the episodes instead and watched them on my PC. Then I bought the DVDs. The show had me hooked. I would watch it alot. I loved the new voices and the tone. But as time went on it became harder to go back and watch the older more childish episodes. Their still good just not as watchable. Funny too because I can watch the old toon and still love those. But those are ment to be that way so I guess it's easier to accept.