How much longer do you think the current TMNT cartoon will last?

[CyberCubed]

I've just been thinking of the timeframe of the new show, and with the next season not starting until Fall of '08, that puts us at least 2 years from now with TMNT still on the air:

Fall '07: Last 6 eps of Fast Forward will air on 4kidsTV
Spring '08: All the Ninja Tribunal eps will presumedly air

Fall '08: New season will begin, presumedly it will be 26 episodes like the other seasons and thus carry on through Spring '09

...

Do you think that may be the end, or what?

I realize its waaaaaaay too early to be thinking about what's going to happen in Fall of 2009, but do you think the Turtles still have a future past the following season? Murphy said in his blog that if a movie sequal is greenlit it probably won't make it to theaters until 2010 since Imagi already has another film scheduled for '09, which pretty much means that 4kids would probably want to ride the royalties of the movie sequal by having the cartoon still on the air with new episodes.

The end of Fast Forward brings the episode count up to #143 (technically only 142 since "Nightmares Recylced" was never completed), and if the new season in Fall of '08 is 26 episodes, then we'll be up to 169 total episodes for the current cartoon altogether, which is pretty damn impressive since most American produced cartoons do not last this long in today's day and age. I would have never believed the 2k3 series would be able to last as long as the original cartoons 10 season and 194 episode run, but at this rate and with a movie sequal it may come pretty damn close.

We also know Mirage is planning to celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2009 of the comic, and it would be nice if the cartoon was sort of tied in with that celebration and got something special as well, perhaps a DTV animated movie like the WB cartoons get. However there's also the possibility of 4kids not renewing its 4kidsTV block on Fox at some point, which would make TMNT pretty sunk.

So generally, what are your thoughts? I know this is just a guessing game and nobody really knows what the future of TMNT is, but does the outlook look positive, gloomy, or somewhere inbetween? We discuss the future of the Mirage comics all the time, but the future of the cartoon hasn't been discussed much since we found out we're getting another season once FF ends. Do you think TMNT will still be produced throughout 2009-2010?

[Roseangelo]

I would say at least through the release of a movie sequel, which would happen no sooner than 2010.

[Scandia]

I hope it lasts longer. There is imagination. There is material in Tales Volume 2. So they sure can make a few more seasons to say the least. I do not think that TMNT 2k3 has jumped the shark.

[The Terror of Death]

Whenever 4kids ends.

[ToTheNines]

'Till I'm dead.

[CyberCubed]

Whenever 4kids ends.

Funny, I think 4kids is releasing a new earnings report on Monday. Before the movie came out they were blaming TMNT for low ratings/profits (among their other shows), but they said that since the movie things have looked better from all the royalties they get out of it.

I wonder if they'll leave TMNT out of it this time.

[sdp]

The end of Fast Forward brings the episode count up to #143 (technically only 142 since "Nightmares Recylced" was never completed), and if the new season in Fall of '08 is 26 episodes, then we'll be up to 169 total episodes for the current cartoon altogether, which is pretty damn impressive since most American produced cartoons do not last this long in today's day and age. I would have never believed the 2k3 series would be able to last as long as the original cartoons 10 season and 194 episode run, but at this rate and with a movie sequal it may come pretty damn close.


Its even more impressive counting how unnoticed the 2K3 revival has gone. I didn't even know about it until 2004. It failed to be the hit it was in the 90s, a lot of people don't even know it exists. At a Pokemon league I run I work with kdis and I ask them about Ninja Turtles and I don't think anyone has every told me they watch it. And none of them are turtle fans some of them say "yeah they're cool" but i have a feeling they do it more to agree with me than anything else. So yeah its amazing how many episodes this show has, though its also to thank that it has 26 episode seasons instead of the awful 13 episodes per season.

I have a feeling the new 08 season is going to be only 13 episodes for some reason. However if they go through a re-design I would expect it to last more than one season...and while it would make sense to have to have a show running for a second movie if it happens studios often do retarded moves so I wouldn't be surprised if they cancel it right before the movie comes out.

And anyways with a new movie and a new re-design we have another chance for the show to become a hit and "turtlemania" to start again. Which would mean the show could get brand new life. eh who knows.

[ZariusTwo]

Thirteen is a good number,you get LESS filler that way

[cowabunga14]

I'd say for about three more years.

[ToTheNines]

Thirteen is a good number,you get LESS filler that way

Good point, I've never looked at it that way before.

[Chris]

At least another 2 years (after the final FF and TLS episodes) though whether or not they'll be 26 episode seasons or 13 episodes is up for debate. In fact if we get another movie around 2010 then I'd say 3 seasons as they'd want something for the 2010-2011 season to cash in on the movie.

After 6 seasons we're on 143 episodes (142 if you don't count Nightmares Recycled). Even if the next 3 seasons are only 13 episodes that will be 182 (181), if they're 26 each then that's 221 (220) which is an amazing number and puts it well ahead of the original series.

If they are only doing 13 episode seasons from here on in then I hope for at least 10 which would get it to 195 (194) and put it equal with the old toon in terms of years and episodes.

Thinking about it, if they do 13 episode season arcs (maybe not as intense or as well linked as season 5 but similar) then I could see it reaching ten seasons easily. I think that would be a good time to end it, go out in a blaze of glory rather than overstay it's welcome. Heck if they did that I'd actually like Shredder back for the final arc (provided he's left untouched between now and then).

That would give us a lot to look forward to:

07-08 - Final 6 FF episodes and TLS (sure most of us have already seen all of this but at least it means TLS DVDs that hopefully will include the Ninja Tribunal episode)

08-09 - New direction (I'm guessing a blend of pre-FF and the new movie), 13 episodes (maybe something big here due to 25th anniversary in May)

09-10 - Another 13 episodes

Summer 2010 - Probable release date for TMNT sequel if they do one

10-11 - Possible slightly new direction due to new movie or at least a potential popularity surge due to movie, 13 episodes

11-12 - Final season, 13 episodes

[Scandia]

Gosh I hope you're right!!!

I want more Turtles! Give me more Turtles! As long as they keep things as good as they have been so far, I will be jumping for joy to get even more Turtles!

And release the DVDs quickly. I don't have cable.

[sdp]

And release the DVDs quickly. I don't have cable.

Well the way they've been releasing them this year we got four volumes/2 seasons with Season 1 part1 and 2 and Fast Forward V.1 and V.2. A complete season of the current series and a complete season of the first one.

Next year we can expect Season 2 in 2 parts and then we'll either get Season 3 in two parts or maybe instead of Season 3 the "Lost"(5th) Season since it would be the "current" series airing on tv.

So yeah two seasons per year doesn't seem to bad especially since they are divided in two parts it makes the release wait between them not that bad.

[CyberCubed]

I actually think we will still get 26 episode seasons, since 4kids blows through seasons rather quickly and they don't seem to have a good grasp as to how to stretch 13 eps over an entire season. That's why they had to air some more FF eps after the original 13, (they could have just stopped after "The Journal" yet they went ahead and aired more new eps), and why next year is going to be 6 FF eps + 12 Lost season eps = 18 eps altogether for 4kids to air as "new."

I think Season 5 was only a 13 ep arc because they planned it to be a more connected story arc with little filler, but a regular season set back in NYC would really have no reason to be that short.

[odupianist]

4Kids blows lol, bring back the Fox Box

[Buslady]

ever since it turned into 4Kids everything seems to have dropped down a few notches in intelligent kids entertainment. The worst was screwing up TMNT.

[CyberCubed]

The FoxBox was always owned by 4kids. Every show on their has always been produced by them.

Pretty much another reason I see 4kids keeping TMNT, if they cancel that, what else do they have? Viva Pinata and Chaotic are the only two big shows they have after TMNT, and neither of them are bringing in the kids. No wonder why 4kids is airing Yu-gi-oh reruns to try to boost their block.

[odupianist]

Whether 4kids owned it or not, the FoxBox had some good cartoons

[ZariusTwo]

No it did'nt. TMNT was it's sole draw.

[Spitfire]

Ugh yeah I know WinX Club and Gi Joe...and Yu Gi O and One Piece. I used to try and skip as much of it as I could cause honestly everything but turtles was horrid.

[VaughnMichael]

I have to agree with you guys on that statement.
But I just don't care for anime to start with let alone cheap knock off's and bad dubs.

[Scandia]

I think Fast Forward has had its time and place. I hope they send the Turtles back to regular time pronto. And that the next season is as good as season 5- if not better. Don't get me wrong- FF was all right. But I very much prefer the regular time seasons.

[VaughnMichael]

I think Fast Forward has had its time and place. I hope they send the Turtles back to regular time pronto. And that the next season is as good as season 5- if not better. Don't get me wrong- FF was all right. But I very much prefer the regular time seasons.
I really don't see whats so good about the lost season if I wanted to watch things from an anime I'd watch an Anime I mean the lost season is cool at moments but even Mirage folk agree it lays on the 4kids anime crap a little to thick. I was fine with all the zombie and team up stuff going on though.
I hope the show when it comes back is a nice mix of things from the start through FF.
What the show is missing in my opinion that the old to had is characters with personality and interesting looks. To me that's what really made the turtles how witty and creative it was.
Not Super dragon powers, flashy FF weapons, or anything like that the turtles don't need any of that to be kick @ss.

[ToTheNines]

Ditto to like everything you said. I'd also like to add that the turtle VA's didn't even really like the lost season.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

In my opinion, Season 4 was the last great season of TMNT. I don't want 2008 to be like the Lost Season, I want it to be like Season 4.

Although, I do want to see more of Joy, Adam, Feragi, and Tora.

[ZariusTwo]

It's slowly going to become the "thing" to hate superior seasons like TLS, either out of bitterness for FF being a f*cking failiure, or because it's getting too much praise as the mainstream becomes more aware of it and "overrates" it to the point of abandon.

[CyberCubed]

I just think they need to go back to basics. Have the Turtles in NYC, have a story arc that stretches across the season, and just adapt more comics.

The best thing about the 2008 season is we're bound to get new villains because a good chunk of the old ones have resolved storylines. The only exception I can think of is Hun and the Purple Dragons, but he doesn't have the stamina to be the most important villain by himself.

One of my problems with Season 4 is the writers didn't seem to know which direction to take the series without Shredder. We had Karai, Hun, and Baxter/Bishop, but it was also retreading a lot of old ground, and I'm happy to see we're not going to be in for a repeat of that considering the events of the Lost Season and Fast Forward.

I also have a feeling that we haven't seen the last of some of the villains from FF, I think some loose ends there may continue on to the next season.

[ZariusTwo]

Season four has a very clear direction actuallly. Karai slowly built up her preparations to take the Shredder's identity, had the mystics torture the Turtles psychologically, Leonardo took weeks to deal with his injuries and anger, and the Tribunal was built up.

The fourth season is regarded as the best because it handled the show without Shredder by keeping the aftermath of Ch'rell's actions very clear and present, until we moved on to Karai and then to the Tengu Shredder

[VaughnMichael]

It's slowly going to become the "thing" to hate superior seasons like TLS, either out of bitterness for FF being a f*cking failiure, or because it's getting too much praise as the mainstream becomes more aware of it and "overrates" it to the point of abandon.
mmhmm thanks so glad you know what every one else thinks in their own minds.
I didn't say I don't like the lost season but why should I watch elements from an Anime on a knock off when I could just go watch an Anime if I actully liked them which I don't.
I like American cartoons and thats how I like my turtles.
And I wasn't even talking about Fast Forward I was talking about the old toon which you yourself stand up for all the time.

[Drtooth]

Funny, I think 4kids is releasing a new earnings report on Monday. Before the movie came out they were blaming TMNT for low ratings/profits (among their other shows), but they said that since the movie things have looked better from all the royalties they get out of it.

Yeah! It has absolutely nothing to do with their terrible dugbs, or the fact Nintendo got greedy and dubbed Pokemon themselves... or that Yugioh is pretty much a dead property....

TMNT is the only thing they ever got going for them. I liked Ultimate Muscle and Kirby, and hell... Funky Cops was pretty funny when they aired both episodes they dubbed... but they have NOTHING now. A cartoon based on a game that came out a half a year after the show debuted, TMNT FF, and Chaotic, which is just total crap.

I feel that we have at least one 2 good years at least. Maybe more if a sequal is made (and indeed it should). We have the rest of FF and Ninja Tribunal to air, and then we have that "new series" if they ever decide on a plot.

[ZariusTwo]

mmhmm thanks so glad you know what every one else thinks in their own minds.

I owe it all to their girls whom I rape in their minds whilst sleeping.

[VaughnMichael]

I owe it all to their girls whom I rape in their minds whilst sleeping.
You sir are a god among men.:lol:

[Chris]

I loved TLS, the only things I really felt could be improved was they could have shortened the beginning episodes and/or removed filler episodes to give another episode or two to the finale to allow it a more epic feel and greater sense of closure (eg: they knew Cody and FF was coming, would a scene of Casey and April getting engaged been too much to ask for?) I would also have had less dragons and more ninja fighting between the TMNT and Shredder. But it was a great season.

[ZariusTwo]

[QUOTE=Chris;545137](eg: they knew Cody and FF was coming, would a scene of Casey and April getting engaged been too much to ask for?) /QUOTE]

Who cares? Really, their relationship was the least interesting development in the series. There was almost never any drama put into it the way the comics kept Casey busy with his other, more tragic love life. The two just met, had spats, fell in love, you don't need anything else to cement it.

I always wonder whenever or not Laird stating April loved Donatello on a platonic level, was for 'shippers to have some additional fun knowing how stragith forward April/Casey was going to be. As it stands, I think the writers had much more fun with those two and Karai/Leo/Chaplin than the only true-to-comic relationship

[The Terror of Death]

The more anime like the series becomes the better.

[ToTheNines]

Why would you say that? Looking at your sig and avatar, I can see you like anime, but why should TMNT regress into anime? The only way I could see TMNT working as an anime would be for it to be done like Samurai Champloo, even then... :ohwell:

[Jo Dawn]

I always wonder whenever or not Laird stating April loved Donatello on a platonic level, was for 'shippers to have some additional fun knowing how stragith forward April/Casey was going to be. As it stands, I think the writers had much more fun with those two and Karai/Leo/Chaplin than the only true-to-comic relationship

I'd be interested to read where he said that, though I don't doubt you! I think what I best about Don/April is the fact that it will never happen. The whole angsty angle is so chock full of meaning and story... too bad it'll never be properly explored.

And yeah, the writers definitely had fun with those two (as it was said that they indeed wrote every Don/April moment to be blatently obvious...) and I'm sure they did the same with Leo/Karai.

If I were a writer, I'd go with some more in depth stuff, too. Possibly angsty stuff (even though watered down for the inevitable children) makes the best storylines.

[Lil G]

i think that the umnt shows gonna be on til duh tenth season. i think that cuz the tmnt show somehow got around fast forward (which honestly sucked) and considering duh fact dat duh classic series got 10 seasons and even wit duh movies out... so duh tmnt show has been hangin on tightly 4 a while. but even if it gets cut off before or after duh tenth season no doubt about it, we'll all be pissed.





p.s. when i get bigger i wanna make a new tmnt series drawn and based on and only on all duh tmnt comics...

[VaughnMichael]

Why would you say that? Looking at your sig and avatar, I can see you like anime, but why should TMNT regress into anime? The only way I could see TMNT working as an anime would be for it to be done like Samurai Champloo, even then... :ohwell:
Oh it would work to become trendy and make all the huge massive amount of anime nuts happy.
duh duh duh duh duh duh duh
Couldn't have said it better myself.:lol:

[ZariusTwo]

The more anime like the series becomes the better.

Errr...no. TMNT has proven it has become better WITHOUT resorting to Jap crap that is already served to degrade and strip the western animation medium of it's own integrity, strength, and identity. TMNT began as a tribute to several things, and has firm Japanese infleucnes, but it's a Jack Kirby valentine as well. TMNT was distinctly more western as a movie, and all the better for it.

I am sick of Otaku s*it thinking that a tired genre that has been sagging in both the Amercian AND Japanese mediums should continue to mold and shape western series and strip them of their own strives for identity.

[Spitfire]

It's slowly going to become the "thing" to hate superior seasons like TLS, either out of bitterness for FF being a f*cking failiure, or because it's getting too much praise as the mainstream becomes more aware of it and "overrates" it to the point of abandon.

Maybe people don't like TLS because when they first watched it they were just stoked to see something that was still 2K3 when FF was around. It was a story that got skipped and seeing it made you feel like you were seeing some totally lost story that might never be aired on TV. Made you feel exclusive and special.

When you reflect on it and the cool factor wears off you could begin to dislike something. You know when you watch a movie and you like it the first time and then you don't the second time? It's like that.

And for me Fast Forward was like a movie I watched and the first time I hated it and the second time it started to grow on me and I began to like it. Just how the TMNT movie was for me.

I hope the show lasts for years to come, if they want to do more FF their welcome to it I enjoy it, but the way it ended was good and they tied up the loose ends mostly.

By the end of the season
Jammerhead was in prison
Shoko was dead
Viral was deleted
Baxter and Bishop made up, plus Baxter got a body
The Gunjin found a place to live where they could be at peace
The turtles finally burned Zixx
Triple Threat was finally captured and put in jail

The only thing I see left open is Darius and the Dark Turtles. But that would easily be wrapped up in the beginning of the next season. The turtles could finish that off before they leave maybe.

[DrSpengler]

If I recall correctly, didn't the TMNT get the time window operational in Timing is Everything and were simply hanging around until they got all the loose ends in 2105 tied up? And as you pointed out, the only loose end remaining by the end of the series was Darius and the Dark Turtles (admittedly, a pretty big freakin loose end). I'd just like to see that tied up now that I've watched through the Vol. 2 DVD and seen the whole series.

As for the Lost Season, I'm still waiting on the DVD. I get the feeling I'm going to be disappointed by all the hype surrounding it. Likewise, when I first sat downto watch FF I was expecting absolute puke based on the reviews on this board but found it to be much better than people described. So I dunno.

[CyberCubed]

If I recall correctly, didn't the TMNT get the time window operational in Timing is Everything and were simply hanging around until they got all the loose ends in 2105 tied up? And as you pointed out, the only loose end remaining by the end of the series was Darius and the Dark Turtles (admittedly, a pretty big freakin loose end). I'd just like to see that tied up now that I've watched through the Vol. 2 DVD and seen the whole series.

I don't think the time window was fully operational, just that "they know it works" since they got sent back in time in the Shredder ep.

And I have a strong feeling that the Dark Turtles are going to go back in time with the TMNT in the first episode of the next season. It seems to me that the writers still want to explore the Dark Turtles but obviously ran out of time, and it wouldn't surprise me if the writers want to continue using them next season.

Technically, they're the only FF villains really worth bringing back at this point, since most of the others are either arrested or resolved, and the Dark Turtles could be explored further. Of course I'm thinking Darius may find his way back into the past too, but I dunno.

I really don't think the writers are going to ignore all of FF's elements when next season begins like some people do, and the Dark Turtles have marketing potential in the toyline as well. I don't think we've seen the last of them.

[ZariusTwo]

When you reflect on it and the cool factor wears off you could begin to dislike something. You know when you watch a movie and you like it the first time and then you don't the second time? It's like that.

I would'nt know. That's never happened with me. If I really like a movie, it's usually one that sticks and does'nt get old.

[Scandia]

The Lost Season ROCKED. You will NOT be disappointed. Sure sure, some episodes were better than others- just like in the first four seasons. But overall it is a very strong season.

And you are right in that almost everything except for Darius Dunn and the Dark Turtles was wrapped up. They don't even need to be sent back. If they just stay out of the way and give Cody and company no more trouble, it could be a resolution. Plus Dunn is obese and the Dark Turtles are not the healthiest in the bunch either- so who knows if nature will simply take care of them?

If they put Darius Dunn and the Dark Turtles in the past, do it just as a two or three episode arc. Do not make them the main villains of a season. On the other hand, with Bishop turned good in the future and Baxter Stockman kinda redeemed as well, this leaves few other options. Karai is one of them.

"sings to the theme song" I just want more Turtles...

[Drtooth]

Errr...no. TMNT has proven it has become better WITHOUT resorting to Jap crap that is already served to degrade and strip the western animation medium of it's own integrity, strength, and identity. TMNT began as a tribute to several things, and has firm Japanese infleucnes, but it's a Jack Kirby valentine as well. TMNT was distinctly more western as a movie, and all the better for it.

I am sick of Otaku s*it thinking that a tired genre that has been sagging in both the Amercian AND Japanese mediums should continue to mold and shape western series and strip them of their own strives for identity.

I'd love to talk that last subject. I really can't stand their choices in anime. Fan girls love their effeminant looking guys and will watch any horrendous show if there is one small chance they'll make out. look at Prince of Tennis. The men like hyperviolent Akira type knock offs. But on both counts, try to get them into something old or obscure, and they won't listen. I want to see Dr. Slump become popular over here as a cartoon. Mainly because we have been succling off the Dragonball Z teet for years.

But getting back to the original subject....

That's why I love Zim and TMNT. They borrow the key elements of anime, and not try to make it look totally like it (Xiaolin Showdown, Teen Titans, etc) The wide angles, the cinematic shots. little hints towards the style, but not borrowing fluently.

I'm afraid my work is becoming more of the former. I started out priding myself I was the only one in art school who didn't have an anime style... But now I'm drawing Sweat Drops and cross hatch veins of anger on things that aren't even Japanese. Plus my style looks more and more like Early Akira Toryama.

[Lil G]

duh tmnt show has been around for a while 4 a 4kids tv show... so i think its gonna be around for a while. and by the way, duh lost season was probably the second best season, considering duh fact dat duh foruth season is still in mention. fast forward sucked, and the movie TMNT was alright. so whatever happens, i want the tmnt show instead of the cgi movies cuz everybody knows dat any kind of movie series inn't expected to last that long, but some lucky shows that last over 5 seasons & 100 episodes you know is lucky and is gonna stick around for a while. i mean, look at the simpsons, they've been around for like twenty years, and they JUST made a movie. now look at tmnt. in duh classic show the show was only on for the first 3 seasons and then they made a movie. compare DAT. alright so if a twenty year running show just came out wit a movie and a 10 season show last for 3 years came out wit a show, then which is better??? tmnt, of course. so how would tmnt last for another 2 or 3 years??? think about it...

[ToTheNines]

Errr...no. TMNT has proven it has become better WITHOUT resorting to Jap crap that is already served to degrade and strip the western animation medium of it's own integrity, strength, and identity.

Do you suffer from multiple personality disorder? I remember you chewing me out a few weeks ago because I was bitching about how animation has been lame ever since everyone wants to make a DBZ rip off, and now you've flip flopped... mabey you just like to argue :ohwell:

[VaughnMichael]

Do you suffer from multiple personality disorder? I remember you chewing me out a few weeks ago because I was bitching about how animation has been lame ever since everyone wants to make a DBZ rip off, and now you've flip flopped... mabey you just like to argue :ohwell:
or he's a politician :lol:

[Revan]

mabey you just like to argue :ohwell:
Well, it is Zarius. It's kinda his thing. :)