TMNT: 30-minute Toy Commercials?

[oldmanwinters]

Some people might think this thread should go in the toy section, but I think it is more general. People constantly complain that Sat. morning cartoons are nothing more than market-driven attempts for Toy companies to sell more action figures. Are they right? Who knows...

But the old TMNT cartoon sure had a lot of random cameos by contraptions and vehicles from the toy line. Here's some samples:
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a56/slimer2erasmus/TMNT%20vehicles%20and%20toys/flushomat.jpg
The FlushOmatic in Mich.'s Birthday. Shredder captures Mikey to use him as bait (but planned to kill him anyway). Shredder already had his mutagen-sprayer, laser-blaster armed goons, etc. So why go to all the trouble to haul this thing all the way up from the technodrome. In fact, why even waste time building it? It's just mutagen poured into a funnel that drips down on a turtle tied to the base. Is a machine like this really necessary if you already have the mutagen AND the captured Turtle?!? Seems like Shredder was giving a sly nod to Playmates on this one. I wonder how much he got paid?

And what's this?
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a56/slimer2erasmus/TMNT%20vehicles%20and%20toys/footski.jpg
The foot-ski from Pizza by the Shred. Can that thing really fit down a manhole? Apparently it can, but not without a lot of sweat from Rocksteady and Bebop! Isn't it odd that the villians JUST HAPPENED to be carrying this thing around? And doesn't it seem like they go through unnecessary trouble to use it? Again, Playmates is likely sending the Benjamins to Krang.

[ZariusTwo]

Some people might think this thread should go in the toy section, but I think it is more general. People constantly complain that Sat. morning cartoons are nothing more than market-driven attempts for Toy companies to sell more action figures. Are they right?

Of course, but that's also the superficial excuse some of these "fans" use to avoid judging series like this on their own merits of quality. Make no mistake, TMNT, Transformers, etc, were toy commercials, but they were also more than that at the same time.

TMNT could get away with that less reallisticlly because it was an adventure/comedy series

[oldmanwinters]

Let me clarify right off the bat, that I like 30 minute toy commericals, especially this one! I wouldn't have bought the DVDs if I didn't:D

The purpose of this thread is to relive the fond memories of our childhood while at the same time being tongue-in-cheek about some of the plot ideas. I am encouraging everyone to post pictures of random Playmates toys cameos. I think it will be fun.

[ZariusTwo]

Let me clarify right off the bat, that I like 30 minute toy commericals, especially this one! I wouldn't have bought the DVDs if I didn't:D

I know, I was just taking a pot shot at other "fans" I've crossed paths with, none of 'em are on this forum, so let's go ahead with this:)

[gobo]

Someone get a Knucklehead quick!

[Ecto Jedi]

But the old TMNT cartoon sure had a lot of random cameos by contraptions and vehicles from the toy line. Here's some samples:

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a56/slimer2erasmus/The%2080s/flushomat.jpg
The FlushOmatic in Mich.'s Birthday. Shredder captures Mikey to use him as bait (but planned to kill him anyway). Shredder already had his mutagen-sprayer, laser-blaster armed goons, etc. So why go to all the trouble to haul this thing all the way up from the technodrome. In fact, why even waste time building it? It's just mutagen poured into a funnel that drips down on a turtle tied to the base. Is a machine like this really necessary if you already have the mutagen AND the captured Turtle?!? Seems like Shredder was giving a sly nod to Playmates on this one. I wonder how much he got paid?

A toilet seat-turned funnel, no less. :lol:

Great thread idea, oldmanwinters. I don't have any pics of the old 'toon, (or the DVDs, unfortunately), but I'd love to see some more toy cameos. Keep it coming!

[Spitfire]

OH NO it's horrible that Playmates and Fred Wolf worked together to actually make the toys and show sync up. Lol but seriously the toy ad is FF not the old toon.

[VaughnMichael]

OH NO it's horrible that Playmates and Fred Wolf worked together to actually make the toys and show sync up. Lol but seriously the toy ad is FF not the old toon.
spit we're friends in all but seriously all of the versions of the tmnt shows have been adds for toys...except when it turned into red sky they didn't make a single thing from those shows sadly.

[Spitfire]

To me the old toon had toys based off the series but at the same time had it's own little story going on with just the toys. Felt like separate things to me. With the '03 show it started off like a toy ad, but then again the toys never matched the characters. So it didn't seem like they were trying to sell toys and they didn't.

I saw 3 episodes of FF*and they were probably the worst ones" but they felt like toy ads, like the other 4Kids shows. So yeah if I saw more episodes I possibly wouldn't think that but if you look at what I got to go by it seems possible. And hell hope it does sell toys, keeps the show on longer.

[ThemanthatwouldbeRaphael]

Ill just say this real quick. Sure, the old toon was a 30 min toy commercial...but they were some damn good toys. So no complaints here.

[VaughnMichael]

Ill just say this real quick. Sure, the old toon was a 30 min toy commercial...but they were some damn good toys. So no complaints here.
amen to that man shame I cant say the same for what tye've been doing.
The old toy line to me is more classic than the old toon was.

[Spitfire]

I honestly wish more toy line characters were in the show, like Pizza face and characters that did make it were in the show for more episodes like Casey and Mondo Gecko.

[VaughnMichael]

I honestly wish more toy line characters were in the show, like Pizza face and characters that did make it were in the show for more episodes like Casey and Mondo Gecko.
I think allot of people do..I mean hell I sure did atleast when I was a kid.

[Sewer Bull]

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a56/slimer2erasmus/The%2080s/flushomat.jpg


Damn, how can you even PLAY with such a thing? :|

[Masked Ninja]

I don't mind unless the gizmo cameo makes no sense. Like the getups the Turtles were in after Mikey's rematch (2k3 'toon). A simple explanation of their ceremonial purpose would have been nice... (though they'd have to be retrofitted to the end of the Battle Nexus finale for that purpose to make sense, ergh) I'm sure there was at least one in the old 'toon as well, but I haven't seen most of the eps in years.

Or if the show has very little point besides "look! shiny! poor quality! cool gadgets!" *coughfastforwardcough*

I think that's part of why Donny's always cast as supah-genius instead of a (still smart) fix-it turtle... he's the lifeblood of the line of vehicles/gadgets that must be converted to toys.

[oldmanwinters]

Don and April's aunt need a mundane means of transportation. Turtle Van is the logical choice right?

Not when we can show off this nifty Turtlecycle which apparently comes out of nowhere!
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a56/slimer2erasmus/TMNT%20vehicles%20and%20toys/turtlecycle1.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a56/slimer2erasmus/TMNT%20vehicles%20and%20toys/turtlecycle2.jpg

Now I know the TMNT get criticized as being hypocritical for driving around in a van that has their name all over it, but at least the van enclosed them (I always thought the Party Wagon could have benefited from some tinted windows), but this Turtlecycle business completely throws any notion of ninjitsu-shadow-warriors out the door. Splinter must have completely given up on his teaching at this point.

Still, you have to hand it to the Playmates company... with packaging like this it was nearly impossible not to want to buy this thing and see it in every episode!
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a56/slimer2erasmus/TMNT%20vehicles%20and%20toys/turtlecycle.jpg
Who would have thought Leo and Raph could make a garbage can strapped on a motorbike look so good? Sorry, Don and Aunty just can't compare to the Toy packaging on this one.
(Pic taken from an Ebay seller's collection)

[Drtooth]

Hmmm... excellent question. Was the show made to sell toys, or were the toys meant to sell the show?

I mean, one thing I can agree on is that if a show is an advertisement for a toy line, it doesn't mean it's a bad thing. Transformers, GI Joe, Super Mario... all are toy commercials, but they are all enjoyable and not poorly done.

You can make a show based on toys to be great, or you can make one to be terrible (Bratz nudge nudge, wink wink, say no more). A cartoonist can make their own show to be good or terrible as well.

I do not like the practice of making cartoons 30 minute toy ads, myself... but I won't deny that they had some very good ones that broke free from that. I agree with old school animators they aren't necisarrily great cartoons, but then of course, toons from the 70's, while not toy based, were pretty formulaic, and often based on the assumption they'd sell records.

But, yeah. Playmates did help TMNT get animated, so of course they'd use the run to promote new gadgets and characters to drive up toy sales (or to create both, to make into the toy line). Big Deal. It's still great animated TV.

[BigApple3AM]

This should be in the toy forum, that forum needs more fun threads.

Also about 30 minute commercials. Everything in our country is based on making money, to the point that it's probably going to far, but I won't get into politics here. I will say that the only thing wrong I see with toy companies promoting toys in cartoons is that they target young children. Young children tend to latch onto things which is probably why we're all still here. You could always argue that it's done no harm, except that they've gotten a lot of our money through toys. But everything takes money so whether it's a problem is a personal issue really. If turtles bring you happiness then don't worry about it.

I'd also like to add that every company, TV show, hell even politicians, is doing this commercial thing lately. Sesame Street = Tickle Me Elmo... X-TREME. Many psychologists are getting on Sesame Street's ass for targeting children. It may be an educational show, but they're making money off toys and stuff too. Kinda sad for a show that's supposed to be public broadcasting and something for everyone, only to sell products that most kids won't get for Christmas because it's the "hot" item.

At least Turtles isn't being hippocritical in that sense.

And for the most part, the old Turtle toon wasn't all that bad in promoting toys. Most of the toys never made it to the show and a lot of characters in the show barely made it into toys. It always seemed like the show had its own agenda and the toys really just sold naturally because they were well done.

[Mr._Mutant_Man]

Well, a big part of the cartoon was selling the toys, hence all the cameo appearences by certain gadgets (I thought the Flush-O-Matic was cool and wanted to see it in more episodes when I was six). However, the show still managed to be entertaining regardless so I don't think it should be disregarded as just an ad.

This reminds me of when I was five and got the sewer playset. In the commercials they would show the ooze coming down through the holes in the manhole cover onto a turtle. So I decided to give it a shot. However, being only five I wasn't a good judge on how much to pour down and it started to overflow onto the rug. I tried so hard to keep it pushed back into the sewer and not on the rug and I was flipping out. My mom laughed so hard at it that I didn't get in any trouble.

[oldmanwinters]

Hmmm... excellent question. Was the show made to sell toys, or were the toys meant to sell the show?

But, yeah. Playmates did help TMNT get animated, so of course they'd use the run to promote new gadgets and characters to drive up toy sales (or to create both, to make into the toy line). Big Deal. It's still great animated TV.

Another pair of questions would be: can a toy line succeed without a TV show or vice versa?

The success of one may have a direct impact on the longevity of the other.

[Sage Ninja]

I think there have been plenty of cartoon shows that where based off of toys (or vice versa) that had great plots and great characters.

Like the Mighty Max series was based off a Britsh toy line and it was (in my humble oppionion) an awsome show. It was dark and gritty and had a great plot and characters that incorporated the toy monsters into the story pretty well. Love mighty Max!! They need to put this series out on DVD.

Another show based soley off a toy line was Jem you know that animated show about a girl that can change her self into a rock singer with pink hair with a hologram during the eightes? This was a well written series and even dealt with some serious issues on occasion, like drugs and run-aways and such. Just to name a few. These where well written series.

[Ratking]

The FlushOmatic in Mich.'s Birthday. Shredder captures Mikey to use him as bait (but planned to kill him anyway). Shredder already had his mutagen-sprayer, laser-blaster armed goons, etc. So why go to all the trouble to haul this thing all the way up from the technodrome. In fact, why even waste time building it? It's just mutagen poured into a funnel that drips down on a turtle tied to the base. Is a machine like this really necessary if you already have the mutagen AND the captured Turtle?!? Seems like Shredder was giving a sly nod to Playmates on this one. I wonder how much he got paid?


I hope shredder got paid lots, cause bringing new things to the show makes the show more exciting and fresh. Should we say no new characters on the show because there advertising too ?
It would be alot more entertaining to use this contraption than to just splash some mutagen on him. Shredder being evil and all, would surely rather torture him to death or slowly watch him terminate, The Japanese in WWll used something like this when they had POW strapped down like Michaelangelo. They then had a small water drip that would constantly drip on the victims head. While water dripping on somebodys head isnt torture, it is a little annoying to have it running 24/7 and theres nothing you can do about it.


The foot-ski from Pizza by the Shred. Can that thing really fit down a manhole? Apparently it can, but not without a lot of sweat from Rocksteady and Bebop! Isn't it odd that the villians JUST HAPPENED to be carrying this thing around? And doesn't it seem like they go through unnecessary trouble to use it? Again, Playmates is likely sending the Benjamins to Krang.


maybe its not a man hole. They carry it around due to shredders neat prepartion :) (you have got to have a game plan, maybe he thinks ahead)
It sounds to me like your not a big fan of playmates and/or you dont like anything new to be on the show (whether it be vehicles/machines). I was wrapped to see new items appear on the show, to me it made the show more interesting and being a collector of this legendary show, i was another item to add to it.

You can advertise all you want, yet at the end of the day only you can say yes you are going to purchase something. And out of all the toys playmates has manufactured over the years i would have to say only about what 30% (if that) has appeared on the show

[Drtooth]

I'd also like to add that every company, TV show, hell even politicians, is doing this commercial thing lately. Sesame Street = Tickle Me Elmo... X-TREME. Many psychologists are getting on Sesame Street's ass for targeting children. It may be an educational show, but they're making money off toys and stuff too. Kinda sad for a show that's supposed to be public broadcasting and something for everyone, only to sell products that most kids won't get for Christmas because it's the "hot" item.

Actually, Sesame Workshop's profits in those toys (and indeed everything they market) goes back into producing other Sesame Workshop products. Not sure how it's used, or what shows the cash goes to, but they aren't just making money off the toys left and right for profit.

Not like, say, Barney or something else on that network.

Another pair of questions would be: can a toy line succeed without a TV show or vice versa?

The success of one may have a direct impact on the longevity of the other.

Actually, you have a point there. But I do know that certain shows have toy lines that flop, but the series goes on for a little while longer. I don't have any specific examples (Best I can think of is Darkwing Duck, whose show had 3 or 4 seasons, while they toy line bombed). But sometimes a show designed from a toy line will bomb, while the toys still sell.

[oldmanwinters]

Behold...

The RETRO-CATAPULT

This cutting edge technological marvel debuted in the classic 3rd season episode, "Corporate Raiders from Dimension X." What exactly made it retro wasn't stated explicitly, but Donatello was confident in his invention to get his brothers out of a tight spot. The results, however, were not ideal at first:
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a56/slimer2erasmus/gifs/retrocatapult.gif

So frustrated was Rapheal with this trial run that he went on record as saying, "A gizmo that throws garbage? The Forces of Evil everywhere are quaking in terror."

Yet, Donatello was not discouraged and decided to try again, this time using water instead of garbage:
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a56/slimer2erasmus/gifs/retrocatapult2.gif
But again, the Retro-Catapult failed to save the day. Raph continued to belittle his brother's vision with the blunt statement that he considered the Retro-Catapult a "rolling booby trap."

The history of American engineering is littered with stories of brilliant inventors whose work changed the world simply because they refused to give in to failure. Rather, they labored on, wiser from their mistakes, and finally succeeded. It was said that man would never fly, let alone land on the moon. But tireless ingenuity prevailed for Americans in the past, and Donatello proved himself worthy of elite company and finally succeeded by arming the catapult with a garbage can.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a56/slimer2erasmus/gifs/retrocatapult3.gif
Simple, but effective. In spite of all Rapheal's doubts, Donatello proved himself a true role-model for the next generation of imagineers.

[Sage Ninja]

one thing the old toon had going for them was that I feel it incoperated its concepts for the toys very well in to its storylines. Most of the time when i was watching the series I hardly ever noticed the "new Gadget" of the episode to much because I was too engrossed in the storyline.

Like Pizza by the Shred for example was an episode that introduced a lot of gadgets that the turtles used during the course of the episode, but it had a pretty engrossing storyline (Michelangelo's deception, and antics on being a delvery boy behind the other turtles backs) that it wasn't to obvious that they where indrocing new toys to tempt us to go out and buy. And this episode i thought the whole segment where the turtles where useing the calterpalts and plunger shooters was very well done, and made for intersting moments toward the end of the episode.

And is it just me, or does it seem like Donatello was dilberetly tring to trash Rapahel with his RETRO-CATAPULT. If you notice in this episode Rapahel is the only one that makes fun of it and he is the only one who falls victim to its screw-ups?

[Ninja Tiptup]

80's and 90's boy targeted syndicated and Saturday morning shows were VERY MUCH 30-minute toy commericals. TMNT especially, given that toyline wasn't going to happen without a show on the air according to interviews from varying sources. The toyline eventually became inflated with more characters than the cartoon would ever touch on but many of them were used in the cartoon and most likely the cartoon used their cameo's to build interest in the characters so kids would want to buy those shall we say... "obscure" toys besides the regualars from the series. However, part of Donny's personality and part of Krang and Shredder's usual routine brought forth any number of gadgets so while they were toys and might have just been cameos they never really felt like they were meant to sell anything per say. Those gadget toys were pretty cool on their own most of the time so they'd get off the shelf on their own. I'd say its more likely Laird and Eastman designed a lot if not all of those and decided to tell the folks at Fred Wolf to include them while telling Playmates they'd make good toys.

You can have a 30-min toy commericial while still having a great show. That's something I think "toyetic" shows of today can't seem to grasp. They just end up mediocre because they focus too much on trying to make the toyetic things look cool rather than using them more practically and helping them mesh with the general image of the series. The 2003 series didn't feel like a toy commerical to me in the least even though it relied heavily on toy sales. Fast Forward is just a gimick so far and any fool will tell you that a gimick means they're definently trying to sell you something. They can manage a quality show out of that even but typically you just end up with mediocrety.

[Drtooth]

Like Pizza by the Shred for example was an episode that introduced a lot of gadgets that the turtles used during the course of the episode, but it had a pretty engrossing storyline (Michelangelo's deception, and antics on being a delvery boy behind the other turtles backs) that it wasn't to obvious that they where indrocing new toys to tempt us to go out and buy. And this episode i thought the whole segment where the turtles where useing the calterpalts and plunger shooters was very well done, and made for intersting moments toward the end of the episode.

What were they again? The Foot Skis? I watched this episode multiple times over the last few years, and now I forgot.

Personally, if it's one thing that disturbed me in that episode, it's that Giant Bathtub plug that Donny pulls out of the Sewers. I know that show can be cartoony at times, but they REALLY should have had a little more restraint.

[Mr._Mutant_Man]

I remember the pizza thrower toy. I don't recall that ever being in the cartoon, but how effective would pizzas be as projectiles? Unless they were really stale.

[Drtooth]

I seem to have a vauge memory about them using it in the series... but I cannot confirm this.

You are reffereing to this one, right?
http://www.ninjaturtles.com/toys/1989/thrower.jpg
As opposed to, say:
http://www.ninjaturtles.com/toys/1994/tossmike.htm

Come to think of it, I never seen the Turtles look like a Big Daddy Roth cartoon in the series.

BTW, given the censorship rules at the time, I doubt they would have ever used this on the show
http://www.ninjaturtles.com/toys/1990/toilet_taxi.html

[CyberCubed]

I wish Needlenose appeared in the show.

[Coola Yagami]

Behold...

The RETRO-CATAPULT

This cutting edge technological marvel debuted in the classic 3rd season episode, "Corporate Raiders from Dimension X." What exactly made it retro wasn't stated explicitly, but Donatello was confident in his invention to get his brothers out of a tight spot. The results, however, were not ideal at first:
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a56/slimer2erasmus/gifs/retrocatapult.gif

So frustrated was Rapheal with this trial run that he went on record as saying, "A gizmo that throws garbage? The Forces of Evil everywhere are quaking in terror."

Yet, Donatello was not discouraged and decided to try again, this time using water instead of garbage:
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a56/slimer2erasmus/gifs/retrocatapult2.gif
But again, the Retro-Catapult failed to save the day. Raph continued to belittle his brother's vision with the blunt statement that he considered the Retro-Catapult a "rolling booby trap."

The history of American engineering is littered with stories of brilliant inventors whose work changed the world simply because they refused to give in to failure. Rather, they labored on, wiser from their mistakes, and finally succeeded. It was said that man would never fly, let alone land on the moon. But tireless ingenuity prevailed for Americans in the past, and Donatello proved himself worthy of elite company and finally succeeded by arming the catapult with a garbage can.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a56/slimer2erasmus/gifs/retrocatapult3.gif
Simple, but effective. In spite of all Rapheal's doubts, Donatello proved himself a true role-model for the next generation of imagineers.

"Oh no, not that rolling booby trap again!!!"

[sdp]

Did any of those toy into cartoon adaptations even air when those particular vehicles were still sold in stores? It seems to me that by the time some things appeared on the TV they were no longer on the shelf. Just speculation, since I was too young to know if they were or not.

[CyberCubed]

The Foot Knucklehead spider robot came out early on and was in a Season 2 episode. I do think some vehicles didn't appear in the show till like a season after the toy came out.

[oldmanwinters]

hihEhsdwiIk