What year had the best stuff over the course of the franchise?

[pannoni1]

I couldn't include every year since there are obvious ones that didn't have anything at all (2000), very little (1999 and 2010), as well as a few more; these fall under the option "Other". But, I would like to see what you believe is the best year of TMNT stuff in terms of items that were RELEASED that year? We're talking about quality here, not overall popularity with the public. Also, feel free to rank the years from best to worst. I will post my opinions a little later.

[pannoni1]

My rankings:

THE GOOD YEARS

1. 1989

This edges out 1990 just slightly, due to the fact that more new episodes appeared on TV than any other year, the first NES game and Arcade game appeared, along with the second wave of Playmates toys finally giving a good set of figures to play with. Merchandise was also diverting to things like bedsheets, lunchboxes, thermoses, cups, and more, making it a boom time and likely the franchises "peak growth" year. With Archie taking off and Mirage still going strong and Mike still using his Nunchucks, it was a very good year for TMNT. The first Graphic Novel is another bonus.

2. 1990

While the peak of popularity overall, despite having a good first movie, while still lots of great stuff released, just can't quite live to the quality of 1989's stuff. The MGM Studios tour and Coming out of their Shells could have been a bit better. Still, some great new figures that year along with good new versions of the originals, the NES version of the arcade game, and nearly 40 new animated episodes, even if the quality of a few episodes weren't as good as those from the earlier seasons.

3. 1991

While Secret of The Ooze wasn't quite as good as the first, it was still a satisfactory movie, and there were some good episodes. Turtles In Time appearing at Arcades was quite wonderful, and Turtles were still nearly ubiquitous as in 1990 in terms of public exposure

4. 1988

The beginning of the popularity to the mainstream, with support from the cartoon and Playmates launching the sales. Archie comics begins as well. The first 3 VHS tapes also help out, as fans can watch entire episodes over and over again, provided they don't know how to record, of course!

5. 1987

As great as the first season of the OT was along with the mirage issues released that year, there just isn't quite enough support to make this place higher.

6. 2003

A new series somewhat restores the popularity, but the quality of the show really stands out, along with the first big video game since 1993. Volume 4 continues to provide a new storyline for the franchise.

7. 1992

No movies, but the OT improves a bit in quality and the Manhattan Project for the NES and Turtles in Time for the SNES really made this perhaps the best year (maybe only to 1989) in terms of video game releases. The City At War arc begins.

8. 2004

Building on 2003's forumla was more new episodes and a new videogame, and a fairly solid year. The beginning of OT's release on DVD was another high point.

9. 1985

The next several issues of the original comic continue the buildup of the story, but the RPG game that's mostly forgotten was really innovative at the time for those who could recall.

THE AVERAGE YEARS

10. 1984

Sure, the first issue started it all and the second meant that TMNT isn't a one issue wonder, but that's all there was at the time. But bigger things were awaiting.

11. 1993

A mixed bag, with some great stuff (Season 7, City At War), decent stuff (Tournament Fighters, the toys), and some less than great stuff (The Third Movie). Sort of the last year of TMNT's main popularity with Power Rangers taking off that fall.

12. 2007

A pretty average year with TMNT and it's videogame having some reintroduction to the public, winning back a few fans who grew up in the "old school era", along with some new action figures. But the 2K3 series was in deep trouble with Fast Forward. But the OT DVDs were starting to get some bonus features.

13. 2009

Turtles Forever was pretty good along with some 25th anniversary releases, along with the possible shoot of the Turtle Documentary by Ryan, along with seeing some of the original cast recording in person on Youtube. But the Volume 4 of the comics were in trouble this year and Smash-Up was mediocre.

14. 1994

Not a bad year, with the switch to Red Sky, but the action figures line was starting to wane, no more video games were being released, and Turtle Tunes was a stinker. Volume 2 just didn't have the magic as volume 1 did.

15. 1986

Average year with a few issues, but a little before the Fred Wolf/Playmates mania.

16. 2005

With the 4Kids switch from Shredder to Karai, the series was at a critical juncture, with the novelty of being back on having worn off by this time. A very so-so year.

17. 2001

The launch of Volume 4 and a CGI Pilot gave fans some hope that TMNT will continue to be around in the 21st century, for those who were still following at the time. There was promise, but a lot of ground to improve to save the TMNT brand.

18. 1996

Darker and more intense is the theme as Volume 3 is launched, but sadly the OT comes to an end with not Shredder, but Dregg being the villain defeated. The Ninja Turtles launch online however, becoming part of cyberspace.


THE NOT SO GOOD YEARS

19. 2002

Basically a waiting game year, though at Christmas new figures for the 2K3 series came out.

20. 2006

Suddenly, the 4Kids series were showing cracks, with Season 5 delayed and Fast Forward alienating many fans.

21. 2008

With Back to The Sewers and Volume 4 starting to wane, it definitely wasn't the best year for the 2K3 generation.

22. 2010

With a few Tales of the TMNT, quietness once again returned to the TMNT world, though the announcement of a new Nickelodeon series brought some promise.

23. 1995

One of the worst years, with Playmates figures on the wane, the worst season of the Fred Wolf series, and the Christmas Special a big lump of coal.

24. 1997

The Next Mutation, while the opening 5-episode arc had watchable quality, had poor management and the rest of the show became just plain dumb, with Venus forever making the idea of a female turtle poor for the franchise. Playmates was pretty much over and things were looking bleak. Image was just dragging along.

25. 1998

With TMNT off the air for the first time since 1987, things were definitely looking troublesome, and except for a few "Millennium edition figures" being released, it wasn't a good time to be a TMNT fan.

26. 1999

NIGHTMARE! Being a TMNT fan that year with all of the Pokemania around would get you caught dead and being tricked on. At least we still had a few Image issues a few more millenium figures.

27. 2000

HELL! It really seemed like Shredder had won in terms of "the Turtles aren't coming back". The only truly dormant year for the franchise since its launch.

[Fugitoid Jones]

I voted for 1990, mostly because I figure that was the year that really began my obsession with the Turtles, tho I was a fan of them earlier than that. Sure we had the series, the mass amount of merchandising, and especially the action figures before then, but I really think, for me, it was the movie and it's resulting merchandise that sent me over the edge into Turtle-obsession. It's the year where my childhood memories become much more clear.

[Jephael]

I also voted 1990. It was a good year for the franchise with the original movie.