Project: TMNT Essentials

[Dirty Blond]

I had an idea today for a project on which we could all work together to specify the essential comics, TV episodes, films and games (and maybe some other categories, too, like 'toys' or 'characters', etc.) that one must know in order to fundamentally understand and appreciate the Turtles.

Not sure if I can (or want to) put a number on it, but I think we could easily get up to 100 and beyond.

Since I often defer to the wisdom of many of you on this site, for this project to flourish we need participation from as many 'Dromers as we possibly can.

So, who would be interested?

[Donatello19]

Do you mean like, the basic TMNT knowledge that someone needs to fully understand TMNT?

[Dirty Blond]

No, particular comics like TMNT Vol. X, Num. Y; TV episodes like Season X, Episode Y, Movie 1, and so on.

We are identifying the integral media for anyone to understand the key elements of the Turtles.

[CyberCubed]

So you're basically saying eliminate the filler stories from all the comics and cartoons, and only list the most important storylines of each?

[Dirty Blond]

So you're basically saying eliminate the filler stories from all the comics and cartoons, and only list the most important storylines of each?

Not exactly. What if it turns out a particular piece of filler is actually a crucial piece in the Turtles scheme? That's the discussion I want to have.

I also want to include the films as well as the video games.

[CyberCubed]

Its hard to say then, even a filler tale usually has a piece of development for one of the Turtles, especially if its a character-centric episode.

[Dirty Blond]

I guess what I'm getting at is: What is required TMNT viewing, reading and playing?

[Fugitoid Jones]

I think I know what Dirty Blond is trying to do. Give a comprehensive list of what every TMNT fan should know/own from each medium, like if someone new to the fandom was looking to start somewhere, this is it.

Whatever it is, count me in.

[Dirty Blond]

I think I know what Dirty Blond is trying to do. Give a comprehensive list of what every TMNT fan should know/own from each medium, like if someone knew to the fandom was looking to start somewhere, this is it.

You're right, and as the Official Unofficial TMNT Fan Club, we have a collection of knowledgeable and appreciative folks who can compile such a list.

What I'd like to do is first open a discussion thread in each category (e.g. 'comics') wherein we nominate and debate what we think should be on the list. After a period of such discussion we'll have a vote, and those at the top get put on the list as Essentials.

I haven't figured out how many in total we should have on the complete list. I don't want it so broad as to be daunting for the newbie fan or superfluous for us, nor too narrow as to be piecemeal.

[CyberCubed]

I'd be willing to do the original toon. Funny thing is you could literally chop the original toon in half if you're only looking for the most important stuff. But then again you'd be missing on several great episodes even if they weren't really important.

Considering the OT didn't have any real ongoing story arcs, its really hard to classify filler in that series because every ep was just a new random adventure.

[Jephael]

I think a good title for this project would be "TMNT For Dummies"!

[CyberCubed]

Essential TMNT OT episodes:

1 Turtle Tracks
2 Enter the Shredder
3 A Thing About Rats
4 Hot Rodding Teenagers from Dimension X
5 Shredder & Splintered
6 Return of the Shredder
7 The Incredible Shrinking Turtles
8 It Came from Beneath the Sewers
9 The Mean Machines
10 Curse of the Evil Eye
11 Case of the Killer Pizzas
12 Enter: The Fly
13 Invasion of the Punk Frogs
15 Splinter No More
16 Teenagers from Dimension X
17 The Cat Woman from Channel Six
18 Return of the Technodrome
19 Beneath These Streets
20 Turtles on Trial
22 The Maltese Hamster
23 Sky Turtles
24 The Old Switcheroo
25 Burne's Blues
26 The Fifth Turtle
27 Enter the Rat King
28 Turtles at the Earth's Core
29 April's Fool
30 Attack of Big MACC
31 The Ninja Sword of Nowhere
32 20,000 Leaks Under the City
33 Take Me to Your Leader
36 Cowabunga Shredhead
37 Invasion of the Turtle Snatchers
38 Camera Bugged
39 Green With Jealousy
40 Return of the Fly
41 Casey Jones: Outlaw Hero
43 Corporate Raiders from Dimension X
44 Pizza by the Shred
45 Super Bebop and Mighty Rocksteady
46 Beware the Lotus
48 Leatherhead: Terror of the Swamp
49 Michaelangelo's Birthday
50 Usagi Yojimbo
51 Case of the Hot Kimono
52 Usagi Come Home
53 The Making of Metalhead
54 Leatherhead Meets the Rat King
56 The Great Boldini
57 The Missing Map
59 The Grybyx
61 Shredderville
62 Bye Bye Fly
63 The Big Rip Off
64 The Big Break-In
65 The Big Blow Out
66 Plan 6 from Outer Space
70 Shredder's Mom
71 Four Turtles and a Baby
72 Turtlemaniac
74 Planet of the Turtles
75 Name That Toon
79 Back to the Egg
80 Son of Return of the Fly
81 Raphael Knocks 'em Dead
82 Bebop and Rocksteady Conquer the Universe
83 Raphael Meets His Match
84 Slash - The Evil Turtle from Dimension X
85 Leonardo Lightens Up
86 Were-Rats from Channel 6
88 The Big Zipp Attack
90 Farewell, Lotus Blossom
91 Rebel Without a Fin
92 Rhino-Man
93 Michaelangelo Meets Bugman
95 What's Michaelangelo Good For?
96 The Dimension X Story
97 Donatello's Degree
98 The Big Cufflink Caper!
99 Leonardo VS Tempestra
100 Splinter Vanishes
101 Raphael Drives 'em Wild
103 Big Bug Blunder
104 The Foot Soldiers Are Revolting
107 Once Upon a Time Machine
108 My Brother, the Bad Guy
109 Michaelangelo Meets Mondo Gecko
110 Enter Mutagen Man
112 Michaelangelo Meets Bugman Again
113 Muckman Messes Up
114 Napoleon Bonafrog: Colossus of the Swamps
115 Raphael VS the Volcano
116 Landlord of the Flies
117 Donatello's Duplicate
118 The Ice Creature Cometh
119 Leonardo Cuts Loose
121 Turtle of a Thousand Faces
123 Zach and the Alien Invaders
127 Planet of the Turtleoids (2 Parts)
128 Rock Around the Block
129 Krangenstein Lives!
130 Super Irma
131 Adventures in Turtle-Sitting
132 The Sword of Yurikawa
133 Return of the Turtleoids
134 Shreeka's Revenge
138 Donatello Trashes Slash
139 Leonardo is Missing
140 Snakes Alive!
142 Mr. Nice Guy
157 Night of the Dark Turtle
158 The Starchild
159 The Legend of Koji
160 Convicts from Dimension X
161 White Belt, Black Heart
162 Night of the Rogues
163 Attack of the Neutrinos
164 Escape from the Planet of the Turtleoids
165 Revenge of the Fly
166 Atlantis Awakes
167 Dirk Savage: Mutant Hunter
168 Invasion of the Krangezoids
169 Combat Land
170 Shredder Triumphant
171 Get Shredder!
172 Wrath of the Rat King
173 State of Shock
174 Cry H.A.V.O.C.!
175 H.A.V.O.C. in the Streets
176 Enter: Krakus
177 Cyber-Turtles
178 Turtle Trek
179 The Unknown Ninja
180 Dregg of the Earth
182 The New Mutation
183 The Showdown
184 Split-Second
185 Carter, the Enforcer
186 Doomquest
# Top1996 Season
187 The Return of Dregg
188 The Beginning of the End
189 The Power of Three
190 A Turtle in Time
191 Turtles to the Second Power
193 The Day the Earth Disappeared
194 Divide and Conquer


Hm, there's a lot more essential OT episodes than I realized. I left in all the episodes that introduced a major recurring character or villain, or an episode where the Turtles go through some character development.

[cammy85]

Gah!! I'm trying to go through the best episodes according to lists here and I now I see this!! What are you trying to do to me?? :)

[Vivi]

Marathon the first 4 seasons of the 4kids toon, for sure. There are a lot of mirage adaptions in there (in fact, Spitfire compiled a list of them (http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/showthread.php?t=25918) on this forum).

[pannoni1]

Marathon the first 4 seasons of the 4kids toon, for sure. There are a lot of mirage adaptions in there (in fact, Spitfire compiled a list of them (http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/showthread.php?t=25918) on this forum).

I'd also include Turtles Forever since that provides a good rough sketch of the basics of each of the Turtle universes. The Ninja Tribunal season is for more hardcore fans, though the finale in which the Tengu Shredder is defeated is worthwhile. But there are definite skippers in the first four Seasons: The Garbageman episodes; Turtle Titan for Season 1; Reflections, Sons of the Silent Age, April's Artifact, and Return of the Justice Force for Season 2; The Lesson and Reality Check for Season 3; and Bad Day, Still Nobody, and The Trouble with Augie for Season 4.

Cybercubed, I'm afraid you thought a bit too deep with your OT list. I'd trim it to Season 1, each of the Technodrome movement episodes, Splinter No More, Cowabunga Shredhead, The Old Switcheroo, Pizza By The Shred, Super Bebop and Mighty Rocksteady, all episodes with Baxter (except Landlord of the Flies), Casey Jones, Usagi Yojimbo, Leatherhead/Rat King, Slash, Mutagen Man, Metalhead, Lotus Blossom, The Legend of Koji, Atlantis Awakes, Invasion of the Krangazoids, Season 8, Doomquest, the three Shredder/Krang episodes of Season 10, and Divide and Conquer.

For the original Mirage Comics, #1-#11, #19-#21 (Return to New York) and #48-62 (the two-issue lead-in to City at War plus the arc itself) plus Tales Vol. 1 #6 (Leatherhead's debut) are essential reading for beginning/aspiring TMNTphiles.

For the Nickelodeon series so far, Rise of the Turtles, Never Say Xever, Mousers Attack, The Gauntlet, TCRI, It Came From the Depths, and New Girl in Town are must see episodes.

[chrisdude]

I would contribute "Take Me to Your Leader" - Season 3, episode 15 of OT

Leonardo doubts his ability to lead, and quits, leaving the other turtles to try their hand at leading the team. Plus, it's just one of my favorites. But I think any story that highlights the contributions of one of the turtles would be pertinent.

And, TMNT 2007. I think it's a great story for Raphael.

[CyberCubed]

Cybercubed, I'm afraid you thought a bit too deep with your OT list. I'd trim it to Season 1, each of the Technodrome movement episodes, Splinter No More, Cowabunga Shredhead, The Old Switcheroo, Pizza By The Shred, Super Bebop and Mighty Rocksteady, all episodes with Baxter (except Landlord of the Flies), Casey Jones, Usagi Yojimbo, Leatherhead/Rat King, Slash, Mutagen Man, Metalhead, Lotus Blossom, The Legend of Koji, Atlantis Awakes, Invasion of the Krangazoids, Season 8, Doomquest, the three Shredder/Krang episodes of Season 10, and Divide and Conquer.

If we're looking toward character building episodes, or eps that introduce a recurring character or a one-shot major villain, there's a lot more to keep. If you really want to condense it you could just watch the 5-episode first season and leave it at that, since that's the overview of the whole show in a nutshell.