What are the turtles to you?

[blueoakleyz]

I was always into Ninja Turtles because of the cartoon and movies. I never got into the comic books. They're also sort of their own thing as a toy line.

So the Ninja Turtles to me ARE the cartoon/movie versions..

I am almost positive I got into the cartoon before the movie, I was seriously excited for the movie and how mature it was going to be.

I think I remember first seeing a Ninja Turtle figure at karate class and that's how it bagan, I think. Wouldn't it be nice if we all had perfect memories?

I think Don is my favorite because of Storage Shell Don

[Jian Zi]

To me, it would be the movie versions. I watched the cartoon when I was about four years old, but it was so long ago that I didn't remember much of it. But when I was about six or seven years old, my mom bought the first Ninja Turtles movie for me, and I became obsessed with it.

Later, she got the other two movies for me and also some episodes of the cartoon, but I liked the movies a lot more.

[triplexxx]

My Ninja Turtles would be the cartoons and the movies.

[LeoNerdo]

they were definitely the original cartoon to me. when i was a kid all i knew was the old toon and the few action figures i had. i never read any of the comics until last year and i guess i knew about the movies but i had never seen any of them until a few years ago. so i definitely think about the old toon first when im thinking about the turtles.

[SpiderHulkThing]

The turtles for me, were all about the action figures. yeah, I loved the cartoon and the movies (at least 1 and 2) were great. However, I always enjoyed making my own TMNT adventures. Plus, I never robbed mikey of his nunchucks either.

[Jian Zi]

I guess it would be the action figures as well for me, too. I remember when I was four years old, I woke up one morning and found a Raphael action figure at the foot of my bed. My mom must have bought it for me and put it in my room when I was asleep.

I also remember having a huge basket full of action figures when I was seven. I would carry them around everywhere.

[Sariele]

For me it's all about the OT and NT. I adored the OT as a nine year old and watched it with my older brother religiously after school every day. I'm pretty sure he went to see the first movie (and perhaps the second) at the cinema, but at that time they were just too different from the OT for me to get into. I now own them but have only watched them a couple of times each and will never hold them in the same regard as both of the animated series.

These days it's all about the NT for me after I took a gamble late last year and purchased the entire season 1 set and sat down that night and watched it in one sitting. Hehe. I got hooked pretty quickly (like, the first scene with the turtles doing the training exercise), and I think initially it was because I was impressed with how different it was to the OT.

I wasn't even properly aware of the comics until I joined the fandom relatively recently. I'd be interested in reading some, but I probably never will because I've never really read comics in my entire life... just not my thing I guess.

[weredog]

The old toon, toys and movies for me. I like the New toon, at least the few episodes I've seen, but the original stuff is why I'm a fan.

[discordiatookie]

Back in the day it was all about the toys and the toon. Nowadays its the comics, collecting original art and collecting MOC figures, from all lines!

Oh yeah, and the movie's pretty awesome too!!!

[Bad Guys Lover]

The Old toon brings me back to my childhood...:anime: :thyper:

[MAESTAS]

I have always loved the Ninja Turtles ever sense I was in diapers. I would always and still watch them when they were on TV and I would always buy toys and stuffed animals of them. I watched all the movies and wake up every saturday morning to watch them, I also have all the video games. But I never got my hands on any comic books cause I cant find any.

[Raph86]

I'd say the OT and the action figures were what the turtles were to me. Of course when I got the first movie for christmas, I think I must've watched it for 2 days straight.

[themaxonline]

Pretty much only the cartoon for me. I sometimes feel that I'm left out of the loop on here though since other people love the movies and the new series. lol

[Nightwatcher]

No doubt about it, they are the toys.

I watched the cartoon and movies, but some of my fondest childhood memories are of the epic wars I had with my turtles. Raphael was the only one who made it out alive because he is my fav.

I remember one birthday where all I got from everyone in my family was Turtles stuff. GREATEST.BIRTHDAY.EVER. I got the technodrome that year....I wish I knew where it was.

[invictus1002]

tmnt is cartoons and movies and action figures to me....i want them to be comics to so i try to collect and familiarize with the original stuff.

[Time Mistress]

Movies and new toon would be my favorites. But I also dig Mirage, Archie, and the old toon.

[Ra]

Out of sheer honesty, I would have to say either the movies or new cartoon. There is that sense of realism with the old live action movies (well, the first two, anyway...) that you just could not shake. They were there. Not hand puppets, not animated into the movie, but just...THERE! You have to love it.

As for the new cartoon, it was what brought me back into the world of green. Without viewing it, I probably wouldn't be here typing away today. I love my 2k3 series dearly and I sleep with my bed facing my slowly growing collection of 2k3 DVDs. I just love it to death! :D

[Ninjinister]

The TMNT in every form. To quote my fanart "Brothers In Arms":

The TMNT and their master, Splinter, are just as responsible for raising me as my own parents. Thus, although they are fictional characters, I feel a kinship with them. They are, and always will be, my brothers.

[Revan]

The turtles are different to everyone and that is why opinions are clashing so severely. Fans loyal to the original turtles may feel differently than fans of the old toon.

To me the turtles are the mirage comic and 2k3 series (and now the 2007 film). I started out an old toon fan when I was younger. I collected the action figures and watched every saturday. I didn't even know of the mirage comic until I grew older. However now I see what Eastman and Laird originally created and it just sucked me in. 5 of the greatest characters in fictional history.

To me the turtles are the mirage/2k3 boys.

[Starkiller]

There is that sense of realism with the old live action movies (well, the first two, anyway...) that you just could not shake. They were there. Not hand puppets, not animated into the movie, but just...THERE! You have to love it.

Amen to that! It's something you can never fully achieve with CGI.

I've got a pretty good memory. I remember first watching the TMNT cartoon when I was 3 and onwards. Every kid in my playgroup/kindergarten was crazy about them: the boys argued over which turtle they'd get to be and the girls argued which one they'd get to marry :roll: It was usually Raphael on both counts. Naturally Shredder was the villain in every game (& often teamed up with Captain Hook :ohwell: ). So the old cartoon makes the core of my love for TMNT, then the movies, then the toys, then the music (Vanilla Ice and Turtles: Coming out of their Shells). Sadly I didn't read the comics, but comics weren't really my thing when I was a kid. I'll have to start catching up now, however (though I don't have a scoobie where to start!).

[Ramboraph4life aka Matt]

I guess if i had to choose it would be the movies...they were the biggest influence for my love for the turtles. The first film especially showed the turtles could have drama, heart, comedy, and action.

But a part of me goes for my own personal fanfiction world with the turtles i've written on paper about...as i'm sure it is for a lot of people. Taking and mixing elements from all sources to create our own turtle universe.

[ThemanthatwouldbeRaphael]

To me, the TMNT are the Mirage Comics. I believe them to be the definative version.

In that incarnation, they weren't superheroes, they were just teenagers trying to live regular lives, so **** would go down that affects them, they would deal with it and try to move on. Plus, out of any other comic character, I'd consider the TMNT to be the most real. Despite they're odd orfin, they weren't blesed with flight or super speed, they had to work they're asses off to get as good as they are. They're like 4 little green Batmans, except not as pissed off.

I also like the fact that the Mirage comic turtles were tough, they knew how to throw down, and they weren't afraid to kill if they had to, but at the same time they knew how to have fun.

Idk, I just see the comic version as the one true version.

[BigApple3AM]

To me it's everything. If I had to just stick to one I think I'd get pretty bored. The old cartoon, the movies (especially the first), the comics, the toys (lots of toys), the video games (Nes/Snes/Arcade/Gameboy), heck even the weird things like the stickers and the sleeping bags are integral to my love for the turtles. It used to encompass my life, not so much anymore, but I still love just about anything/everything. Even the worst of the turtles is better than the best of almost everything else (to me).

[Juniorx]

87 cartoon series got me when i was 6.thats when i got attach to them but when the 1st movie came out little bit latter it kinda confused from seeing that and the cartoon was nothing the same till i found out there was a comic started the whole thing so i started liking the comic,movie and 2k3 series since base from the comic book more then 87 series.because i like their style in 2k3 series more specially Ninja Tribunal series love the mystical turtles.i still like 87 series got the dvds,vhs,150 somthing toys of em,games,etc.then even the 2k3 series have the games,toys,dvds.hate the fact what 4kids tv did to them ff crap.oh i kinda watch next mutation cause they where back and all at the time only thin was good is dragonlord.but i felt regret for watchin that one.i know some dont like the 2k3 or 87 or the new movie but atleast they are back instead being left in the dark gotted admit that.

[jestergoblin]

I don't remember life without ninja turtles. Literally. Kevin Eastman grew up down the street from me and the turtles were epic growing up. I remember watching the cartoon every Saturday religiously (it is the reason I stopped playing soccer when I was younger). I always and only asked for ninja turtles for my birthday and Christmas. I have now collected close to 500 action figures. I watched the first movie regularly.

I read the archie comics. I once found the Archie Trade Volume Two at the library for sale for a quarter. I carried that with me everywhere until it literally fell apart at the seams. Last month, I managed to find all four collected Archie books for my collection.

It wasn't until the last seven years or so I began looking into the Mirage Series, I knew it existed but really, it's wasn't for kids.

Even now, as a 21 year old, when I think about if what I'm going to do is worth doing, I think of my heroes growing up: Spider-Man, Captain America, Batman, Optimus Prime and the Ninja Turtles. They are the only thing I've been passionate about my entire life and I intend to keep it that way.

In the end, the Ninja Turtles are the reason I read comics. The reason I collect toys. The reason I want to work in the toy industry after graduating college.

Basically, the Ninja Turtles are the reason I am who I am today.