I have a theory on FF....

[Drtooth]

Unless someone posted this before. While it is obvious, I want to state that the same sinister forces that kept Insane in the Membrain from being on the network, and Nightmares recycled from being made, keep FF as juvenile as possible.

I really feel that the dark storylines from the first few seasons may have turned off that new network head, causing him to pressure 4Kids (or someone in the group) to make the series accessable for younger viewers without checking to see if children wanted to see a lighter show. Unless they didn't want to repeat mistakes and anger this new guy, causing them to make plot lines for younger viewers in mind. This might also affect the series on the whole. Making it for younger viewers, they feel that they don't want a long thought out story line, and kids want to watch little one shot episodes where they don't have to do any real thinking.

[Casual Matt]

Making it for younger viewers, they feel that they don't want a long thought out story line, and kids want to watch little one shot episodes where they don't have to do any real thinking.

It's a pity because they're basically treating kids like they're dumb by doing this. Either way, they had it nailed before. A show with complex ongoing plotlines, while each episode still had it's own little story, and plenty of well animated action. It was something that kids and adults alike could enjoy, although most likely for different reasons.

Either way, my point is that they had a show that just about any fan of Ninja Turtles could enjoy whole heartedly. But this is 4Kids we're talking about here. They had a reputation of messing things up so that only a child could stand it.

Either way, I have to say that Fast Forward in itself isn't a bad concept. It could have been handled better, but the series does need some kind of change at this point to keep it interesting. I mean, considering how most of the ideas from the first few seasons have pretty much been expanded and wrapped up nicely.

[Tinuvielsdreams]

I just wish they would of kept it in the same style and quality of animation :(
I know they were trying to dumb it down for kids and probably spend less money in production but it makes me sad...

[The Shelf]

Kids aren't dumb by any means. Maybe the 4 or 5 year-olds won't notice, but I remember watching Spider-man when I was 8 or 9 and one of the best parts of that was the ongoing storyline and the sometimes 5 or 6 part story arcs. Growing up, I loved it when cartoons had long, thought-provoking storylines -- it made it so much more interesting. It's a shame people in charge don't realize that.

[VaughnMichael]

Kids aren't dumb by any means. Maybe the 4 or 5 year-olds won't notice, but I remember watching Spider-man when I was 8 or 9 and one of the best parts of that was the ongoing storyline and the sometimes 5 or 6 part story arcs. Growing up, I loved it when cartoons had long, thought-provoking storylines -- it made it so much more interesting. It's a shame people in charge don't realize that.
exactly I loved during shows they had to be continued! like take tmnt the final old school season allot of people hate it but I think the reason I loved it so much was because it was to be continued every week and I was sooooo excited every week to see what happens next.
And the heads of corperations think children have the attention span of most adults which I find insutling first of all secondly if they dont want kids to be like that they shouldn't be furthering it by show like Elmo's World man I remember when sesame street actully used to be good.:roll:

[Jo Dawn]

Continued stories, in my opinion, gave you something to look forward to. One shots just don't cut it. There's not as much excitement in waiting if it's not from a cliffhanger or for a continued story or something.

[VaughnMichael]

Continued stories, in my opinion, gave you something to look forward to. One shots just don't cut it. There's not as much excitement in waiting if it's not from a cliffhanger or for a continued story or something.
yeah and they always would end them with something baf happening to the good guys you knew in your heart they'd be ok but damn if you did get exacted as hell all week for it!
People would make fun of me I think because around the time i was 12 and super excited. Hell I still get super excited like during the battle nexus when the dark warriors came up behind leo from behind that shredder or ninja tribunal statue I was like oooooh crap! lol
I was so excited my now x was like whats your problem why are you so excited I'm like dude I soooo can't wait for the next episode next week.
He rolls his eyes and is like ugh your such a baby....Of course I always have to have the last word haha I said oh yeah well your a spoil sport! As he walked away. And thus why he is my x lol:lol:

[Spitfire]

It's a pity because they're basically treating kids like they're dumb by doing this.

Well I don't know what kids you see or talk to but most of the kids I talk to are either dumb or sheltered to the point where their afraid to watch TMNT or anything with violence in it.

All the little kids my cousin goes to school with are sheltered as all hell. They play with power rangers but then never watch the show because their parents all told them violence is "scary".

As for the rest of the kids, and this is just in my area probably, they all act like their gangsters. They smoke weed, drink, have girlfriends, form gangs, and act like they can beat up people 6 times their size because they have no respect for anyone or anything. And yes these are 5 graders in my area. Their little kids acting like high schoolers. It sickens me.

[VaughnMichael]

As for the rest of the kids, and this is just in my area probably, they all act like their gangsters. They smoke weed, drink, have girlfriends, form gangs, and act like they can beat up people 6 times their size because they have no respect for anyone or anything. And yes these are 5 graders in my area. Their little kids acting like high schoolers. It sickens me.
Yes this is becoming a really annoying trend in kids my sister and her friends act like this as well and I'm about sick of the lack of respect they have for anyone or anything. The girls made my mother call me crying on a number of occasions.
Not all Kids are like this but The attitude trend thats going around now is once again anti parent. The Kids aren't alright!

[mumbo230]

While fans generally prefer multi-part story arcs, network heads prefer one-shots because they are better for reruns.

[creativerealms82]

Well at least fast forward has not totally ignored forshadowing and continuty dispite it's lack of multi part episodes.

[The Terror of Death]

As for the rest of the kids, and this is just in my area probably, they all act like their gangsters. They smoke weed, drink, have girlfriends, form gangs, and act like they can beat up people 6 times their size because they have no respect for anyone or anything. And yes these are 5 graders in my area. Their little kids acting like high schoolers. It sickens me.

Aint that the truth! I work with kids all the time and I can't stand their attitudes. There are a few good ones but the rest are exactly like you describe.

[Drtooth]

Kids aren't dumb by any means. Maybe the 4 or 5 year-olds won't notice, but I remember watching Spider-man when I was 8 or 9 and one of the best parts of that was the ongoing storyline and the sometimes 5 or 6 part story arcs. Growing up, I loved it when cartoons had long, thought-provoking storylines -- it made it so much more interesting. It's a shame people in charge don't realize that.

I know that, you know that, but does Phil from marketing know that?

The simple problem is that adults don't give children much credit, especially ones who work in children's entertainment. I mean, these guys are basically middle aged men who think kids like dancing to G-rated rap music from the early 90's! The very same people who think they can curb the obesity "epidemic" by telling kids to get up and play outside every 2 seconds. The same middle aged guys responsible for crap like Bratz. I mean, kids do fall for it, but not in general.

A lot of care goes into producing a great cartoon show for younger audiences. I mean, look at Jimmy Neutron. His dog is named after the scientist who created Rocket fuel. And even I didn't know that until I watched a Jeopardy question. And one episode has a refference to "Death of a Sales man," with a robot named the "Willy Loman 3000." That's sharp stuff. Bullwinkle Ruby Yacht of Omar Kayam stuff.

Anyway, Looking at the differences between 2k3 and FF, there's quite a lot of things that are different... the pacing, the quality of jokes, the writer's perception of each character's personality, the quality and nature of violence, etc. I will give them credit for Biggles. I'm choosing to believe that's a Monty Python refference.

[creativerealms82]

Look at todays episode, they are not totatly ignoring continuty just because there are no multi part arcs. Todays episode used the best possible episode to bring in Shredder without causing a continuty error, as well as having Donny and Splinter witness their "Birth"

Yes Fast Forward is toned down but it's not like they totaly ignored forshadowing and continuty. No Fast forward still has it with Sho'ko, Dunn, the time portal, the Day of Awakening.

Now the show is toned down, the personalities are less complex and the violance more cartoony however it is still the same team for the most part. These are mosting the same writers that gave us four and a half seasons with a couple new people added in. There are still things like Cody's father who most likely died at the hands of Darious Dunn.

Oh I believe it was the forces of good and not the forces of evil that kept Knightmares Recycled from being made. Did we really need another Garbageman episode? God the worst of Fast Forward is better then those epsiodes.

[VaughnMichael]

Oh I believe it was the forces of good and not the forces of evil that kept Knightmares Recycled from being made. Did we really need another Garbageman episode? God the worst of Fast Forward is better then those epsiodes.
Yes because the episode gave the chacter a new light and some depth as well as Hun. It was going to complete another lame character and make him decent by giving him the story behind him that was never told in the first place.