Classic Episode Talkback Thread: Turtle Tracks

[GK Punk]

Okay, so I wanna try something out here... Alot of us still appreciate the old episodes, so I think it's time we try a talk back thread.

This week, The very first episode: Turtle Tracks!

please, no bashing of the series. :)

Edit:
Thanks Krang :)

[Barkworm]

Well, I'm not a big fan of that series anymore but I can remember how I felt when I watched "Turtle Tracks" the first time. I was sooooo excited about the part when the Turtles fought that street gang but were not fully shown. There are also some good jokes in that ep (my favourite one is Raph's "Yeah, it's a trap!" quote) and the animation is even nowadays quite pretty. It wasn't the first TMNT episode I watched, I read the Archie adaption before I watched the rerun and I loved it! I think it's one of the best old TMNT-eps.

[Karpo_007]

The first season of the old show is very good, even compared to cartoons of today. Turtle Tracks is very good opening episode, has nice action scenes and story. Same goes to whole 5 part miniseries.

[Jephael]

I love watching this episode! My favorite part was when April kept getting the turtles confused (she clearly wasn't yet familair with the color coding)

[Karpo_007]

Yeah and the granny with machine gun is hilarious.

[Jephael]

LOL, my cousin used to think that was supposed to be Shredder in disguise (I think it had something to do with those oddly colored stockings she was wearing)

[Karpo_007]

Heh :lol:

[TheShredder]

Wasn't that the last episode with the Technodrome!?

[Jephael]

Actually, that was the same character in a return cameo at the end of the mini-series.

[Deathknight]

Turtle Tracks was a very good opening episode. The fight in the sewer to introduce the TMNT was fricken awesome along with the battle on the rooftop. The only thing I really didn't like about the episode was the whole scene when they're in the security building where the foot soldiers are. I just found that scene rather long, boring, and annoying for some reason. Ironicly, the first time i saw TMNT was like 1989 and it was Turtle Tracks.

[J Legault]

I found a website one time and got a download of the first episode. It took half a day to download. I watch it since I never seen all the episodes before. Since the series was like the other late 80's-early 90's style of action toons. When kids in the late 80's first see it when TMNT was still aired they would say it's cool since it was suitible for young viewers but today's action pack series are a little more improved over the years. I'm still waiting for a DVD that will have the original series on it. And when it does I'm sure I'll be an exspert on the old series pretty soon.

[Reznorite420]

How can anyone forget the opening that's not in the aneurysm encode with April's news report and the scientist????

Professor: And look at this rope...[blah blah] ninjas! The ancient band of Japanese warriors!

April: And how can you tell that from the rope, Professor?

Professor: Well look for yourself! It's made in Japan!

The hilarious part is he doesn't even bother to untie the cop that's bound and gagged to that chair!

[Nturtle]

I love that episode!!!! The first season was the best of all!!!!!!! :D

The animation was better than it would be for the rest of the series because it was being directed by this Japanesse studio guy who is well known for awesome fight animation, I can't remember the guy's name though...

The granny with the machine gun was hillarious, I also like it when Leo cuts the guy's table in half :lol:

[J Legault]

How can anyone forget the opening that's not in the aneurysm encode with April's news report and the scientist????

Professor: And look at this rope...[blah blah] ninjas! The ancient band of Japanese warriors!

April: And how can you tell that from the rope, Professor?

Professor: Well look for yourself! It's made in Japan!

The hilarious part is he doesn't even bother to untie the cop that's bound and gagged to that chair!

I thought that was quite funny too. And there was the part when they were at the Ninja Pizza place. Pizza ninja/chef: Welcome to Ninja Pizza were the slice is nice.

[Nturtle]

heh, I used to think the Ninja pizza guy with the cloth covering his face was Shredder :P

[J Legault]

Hmmmm :|

[Reznorite420]

Nah...since it was Peter Renaday's voice (Splinter), couldn't have been.

[DrSpengler]

I actually just finished watching the miniseries about 5 minutes ago (it killed about an hour and a half).

THe first episode was very good, IMO. A great intro to all the characters. Splinter's exile from the Foot, though funny, was just plain silly. "Throw the bum out!"

But all the humour hit right on target and the action sequences were surprisingly well-choriographed. Toei was probably the best animations tudio in the 80's. They did practically EVERYTHING. Transformers, GI Joe, Real Ghostbusters, Tranzor Z, Gaiking and the list goes on.

I was also surprised by the violence of the miniseries. Much more violent then the later episodes.

I point to the scene where the TMNT are fighting the Foot Soldiers on the roof of the security building. At the point they were not aware that the soldiers were robots yet Leonardo goes for the kill with his sword. He hacks open his enemy's chest. THEN they find out that they're robots. I dunno, it sort of surprised me.

All in all the episode was a classic, the roof-top battle possibly being the best fight in the entire miniseries for the choreography, the quality animation and the direction overall.

[Peanut]

Loved the ep. In fact....I think I'll go pop it into my VCR right now!

[Karpo_007]

I actually just finished watching the miniseries about 5 minutes ago (it killed about an hour and a half).

THe first episode was very good, IMO. A great intro to all the characters. Splinter's exile from the Foot, though funny, was just plain silly. "Throw the bum out!"

But all the humour hit right on target and the action sequences were surprisingly well-choriographed. Toei was probably the best animations tudio in the 80's. They did practically EVERYTHING. Transformers, GI Joe, Real Ghostbusters, Tranzor Z, Gaiking and the list goes on.

I was also surprised by the violence of the miniseries. Much more violent then the later episodes.

I point to the scene where the TMNT are fighting the Foot Soldiers on the roof of the security building. At the point they were not aware that the soldiers were robots yet Leonardo goes for the kill with his sword. He hacks open his enemy's chest. THEN they find out that they're robots. I dunno, it sort of surprised me.

All in all the episode was a classic, the roof-top battle possibly being the best fight in the entire miniseries for the choreography, the quality animation and the direction overall.

Yes, this why the first season will always remain the best in the series. Action is better, animation is WAY better and so is the story. It has lot's of comedy in it, but the format is still more adventure and action than comedy. But gradually the show changed more and more to comedy, untill there was nothing left of the first season, except the Voice actors.

[J Legault]

If only I got to see a download of episode 2.

[nWoCHRISnWo]

My favourite part was Shredder's conversation with the main thug who tried to get April.

(This isn't exact quoting for what the thug says)

Thug: We uhh got beat up real bad boss, bu a bunch of toitles!
Shredder: I KNOW that... You IDIOT. Did you get a good look at them, were they reptiles?
Thug: Uhh we didn't get that good of a look, yeah...

Just the way they say all that was hilarious.

Also:

Leonardo: Don't worry sensai (Splinter), if this guy (Shredder) is out there, we'll catch him! We don't know the meaning of the word "defeat"!

Michelangelo: Yeah, we never bothered to look it up in the dictionary.

Also funny:

*pizza ninja throws knife w/paper to the Turtles' table.

Donatello: What is it, a threatening note?
Raphael: Worse... the paycheck!

[Reznorite420]

Thug: We uhh got beat up real bad boss, bu a bunch of toitles!
Shredder: I KNOW that... You IDIOT. Did you get a good look at them, were they reptiles?
Thug: Uhh we didn't get that good of a look, yeah...Audio aide. (http://www.freewebs.com/weedwell/weirdos.wav)Leonardo: Don't worry sensai (Splinter), if this guy (Shredder) is out there, we'll catch him! We don't know the meaning of the word "defeat"!

Michelangelo: Yeah, we never bothered to look it up in the dictionary.More audio aide. (http://www.freewebs.com/weedwell/dictionary.wav)*pizza ninja throws knife w/paper to the Turtles' table.

Donatello: What is it, a threatening note?
Raphael: Worse... the paycheck!Even more audio aide. (http://www.freewebs.com/weedwell/check.wav)

Not trying to be picky or anything, I just want to give you the pleasure of actually hearing them rather than trying to dig them up from your memory :D

BTW, here's another one of my favorite clips... (http://www.freewebs.com/weedwell/clang.wav)

Oh, and that "main thug" which you speak of, that's Rocksteady before he was a mutant :wink:

[Ghidorah2000]

Okay, so I wanna try something out here... Alot of us still appreciate the old episodes, so I think it's time we try a talk back thread.

This week, The very first episode: Turtle Tracks!

please, no bashing of the series. :)

Edit:
Thanks Krang :)

*whining like a 2 year old child* But my fave is The Adventures of Rhinoman and Mighty Hog. Why can't we discuss that one?

[Reznorite420]

*whining like a 2 year old child* But my fave is The Adventures of Rhinoman and Mighty Hog. Why can't we discuss that one?Because there is technically no episode by that name :D

Now, if you wanted to talk about the episode entitled just "Rhino Man", that one DOES exist :D

[nWoCHRISnWo]

Ahh, thanks. It's been a while, but I was close at least. :)

[Ninja Tiptup]

My favourite part was Shredder's conversation with the main thug who tried to get April.

(This isn't exact quoting for what the thug says)

Thug: We uhh got beat up real bad boss, bu a bunch of toitles!
Shredder: I KNOW that... You IDIOT. Did you get a good look at them, were they reptiles?
Thug: Uhh we didn't get that good of a look, yeah...

Just the way they say all that was hilarious.

Also:

Leonardo: Don't worry sensai (Splinter), if this guy (Shredder) is out there, we'll catch him! We don't know the meaning of the word "defeat"!

Michelangelo: Yeah, we never bothered to look it up in the dictionary.

Also funny:

*pizza ninja throws knife w/paper to the Turtles' table.

Donatello: What is it, a threatening note?
Raphael: Worse... the paycheck!

Pretty accurate except...

Mike says "That's right we never bothered to look it up in the dictionary" and Raph say "Worse... it's the check"

Back to the episode...

I love this episode! It never seems to get old. It's high quality stuff. Other great lines...

Donatello: "Ninja dentist? Ouch!!!"

Raphael - "Who ever heard of a bunch of ninja's hanging out at a pizzaria?"
April - "You're a bunch of ninja's hanging out at a pizzaria"

Not completely accurate...

Donatello - "Is it the crucial clue that will lead us to the evil ninja empire?"
Michaelangelo - "Even better, it's a place where we can get some pizza!"
Raphael - "RIGHT ON!"

Then April says that shes gonna check it out and one of the Leonardo says that they should go with her and Raphael says "and besides... we're hungry!" and pulls out one of his sais.

Great stuff... I think I need to go watch it again now.

[Jephael]

The best line had to be when they fought the Foot Soldiers.

RAPHAEL: "Clang?! Did you say Clang?!"
LEONARDO: *slices Foot Soldier*
MICHAELANGELO: "Scope those dudes out!"
DONATELLO: "Dudes? Nuts! They're robots!"
MICHAELANGELO: "Robots? Lets rock!!!"

[Reznorite420]

Leonardo: Hey, it's April's wallet.
Raphael: And over there! (pointing ahead)
Donatello: April's press pass!
Raphael: Yeah, I'd know that wad of used chewing gum anywhere!

[XERO]

How can anyone forget the first time the Turtles actually spoke:

Donatello: "Chill out, homeboy!"

Now, THAT's a classic! 8)

[GK Punk]

How can anyone forget the first time the Turtles actually spoke:

Donatello: "Chill out, homeboy!"

Now, THAT's a classic! 8)
:lol:
Donatello saying homeboy.. that really is classic!!!

[Nturtle]

Yeah, Donny gets the first line of any of the TMNT!!! :D

[GK Punk]

Yeah, Donny gets the first line of any of the TMNT!!! :D

That's 'cause Don rules.. almost as much as Fil!!!!! :o :o

[Nturtle]

Yeah Donny does rule! But nothing rules as much as FIL!!!!! MWAH HA HA HA!!!!!! :evilgrin:


Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil!

[GK Punk]

Yeah Donny does rule! But nothing rules as much as FIL!!!!! MWAH HA HA HA!!!!!! :evilgrin:


Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil! Fil!

:lol: :lol:

[Nturtle]

All your fil are belong to us!

[GK Punk]

All your fil are belong to us!

LOL DUDE THAT IS SO GOING IN MY SIG!!!!!!

'cause the Fil demands it!

[Cascadia]

:lol: :lol:

[Reznorite420]

If only I got to see a download of episode 2.Eh? Non-IRC user, are we? :lol:

[Nturtle]

:lol:

[Mars-Chan]

AGH!! Enough Fil already!!!
I'll deal with one Phil, thankyou.

[Nturtle]

NYAH! Fine, Fil will return to his fildom in General discussion to make his plans for world domination :P

[Mars-Chan]

Thank you.
BTW, you do know who I'm referring to, don't'cha Nturtle? :D

[Nturtle]

No, can't say I do, who?

[J Legault]

If only I got to see a download of episode 2.Eh? Non-IRC user, are we? :lol:
I don't have good computer, and it won't take something like that. It's a Windows '95, :sick: . Atleast I'll be getting a new version soon.

[Mars-Chan]

The manager of the Mighty Ducks...Phil Palmfeather.
Fan am I? Yes. :trazz: :tlol:

[Nturtle]

Ah!

I'm not much of a hockey person, so nevermind :P

[Reznorite420]

I don't have good computer, and it won't take something like that. It's a Windows '95, :sick: . Atleast I'll be getting a new version soon.:lol: :lol: :lol:

It'll work on Win95, dude. IRC's been around forever, so it really doesn't matter how good a computer you have to use it. Now, if you had a small hard drive, that's a different story.

[Karpo_007]

Well old cartoon encoder are around 50 megs each so that shouldn't be a problem either.

[jeff the cheff]

i thought the first episode was called heroes in a halfshell.... maybe that was just the name of the tape. That was an awesome episode... but i like every single episode of the ninja turtles. It was such a good show! :)

[Reznorite420]

That "Heroes In A Half-Shell" you speak of was indeed just the name of the tape. What it did was combine the first two epsodes (named "Turtle Tracks" and "Enter The Shredder", respectively) into one long episode with no break between them.

[Cascadia]

That "Heroes In A Half-Shell" you speak of was indeed just the name of the tape. What it did was combine the first two epsodes (named "Turtle Tracks" and "Enter The Shredder", respectively) into one long episode with no break between them.

Yep. I have all of the episodes on computer discs. I still love watching them. :P :) :D

[GK Punk]

So was the expirement failed, or did it work?
'cause Im sure the mods and Krang and Shredder wouldn't mind doing another talk back for another episode

[Cascadia]

I think that it worked. It gave the people a chance to talk about what they remembered about a specific classic TMNT episode.

[GK Punk]

Yeah, maybe we should all decide on the next talk back thread. or should we just go to the next ep?

[Reznorite420]

The latter will do just fine. In fact, I may start that thread.

[majesty329]

Turtle Tracks was indeed one of the best episodes of the original TMNT great action, good comedy and animation. All of the first five episodes of TMNT were good though.

[Akiko-hime]

Jeebus, it's been so long since I watched that show! ^_^(_) I almost feel old! But I do remember that 'Turtle Tracks' was my favorite episode. I can't remember why. Just that I watched the show religiously every day, when all the other girls watched 'My Little Pony' and played with their Barbies. Heh, I watched action shows and colored my Barbies with green marker. -_-(_) I was a screwed up kid.

[sdp]

Watching season 1 again in preparation for the 25th anniversary crossover, I was going to make a talkback thread for this episode but one already existed so I just bumped it.



So yeah re-watching this episode and this is a very entertaining episode and a great way for the series to start. All the characters are introduced very well, the episode is kind of dark (well as dark as you can expect it). And the humor is handled very well, I laughed at a lot of the jokes or really found them amusing. The turtles are just great here, April is awesome, the origin of Splinter/Shredder is great (I still prefer it slightly over the Mirage origin), the human gang was a good threat for april, the foot soldiers actually seem scary and we get to see them get slaughter just because they are robots which is great. Its weird how they have human hands, it makes it look odd since they are supposed to be robots.

The building being flooded and then exploding is indeed very strange, I have no idea were they got that idea from.


The goof were they have Donatello speaking with Raphs voice makes me wonder how it happened. The line is clearly raphaels, however this isn't an error of putting the wrong dialog on the wrong turtle. You see donatello leaping to stop April, he says raphs line and then he says his line. So were exactly did they mess up? It seems really hard for them to miss this. I know other episodes also have turtles speaking other turtles dialog however a lot of those are just color bandanna errors. While this one makes no sense at all, theres a few others like this one too which make no sense, its not the animators that messed up or the story boarder and the script clearly had raph talking. Maybe it is the story boarder that messed up and since the episode was already animated they had no choice but to go ahead and have raph speak?

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Its weird how they have human hands, it makes it look odd since they are supposed to be robots.



It's called an "android", a robot designed to look and act like a human, and is very common in other science fiction stories too.

[Mr._Mutant_Man]

Turtle Tracks was a great way to start the show. I like how the first five episodes form an overall story arc. We don't see everything introduced in episode one. Things like Krang and the thugs becoming mutants are held off until later episodes.

One thing that always sticks out to me is how easily April manages to fit through the storm drain in the beginning. She seems to get through without much trouble. I know it's just a cartoon, but those drains are usually really narrow, and as people like to point out, in the cartoon April was always portrayed as being pretty buxom. I'd expect her to get stuck, at least momentarily, like a suspense thing as the thugs are chasing her. Like she manages to finally squeeze herself through just in time as they approach her.

I think that's why the added dialogue in the comic adaptation always sticks out to me too.

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/4623/aprildrain.jpg

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Turtle Tracks was a great way to start the show. I like how the first five episodes form an overall story arc. We don't see everything introduced in episode one. Things like Krang and the thugs becoming mutants are held off until later episodes.

One thing that always sticks out to me is how easily April manages to fit through the storm drain in the beginning. She seems to get through without much trouble. I know it's just a cartoon, but those drains are usually really narrow, and as people like to point out, in the cartoon April was always portrayed as being pretty buxom. I'd expect her to get stuck, at least momentarily, like a suspense thing as the thugs are chasing her. Like she manages to finally squeeze herself through just in time as they approach her.

I think that's why the added dialogue in the comic adaptation always sticks out to me too.

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/4623/aprildrain.jpg

Maybe April won the Anorexia world championship. :)

[Sage Ninja]

wow, April wears make-up in the archies! This episode was awsome, and I loved how threatening Rocksteady was in this one. Rocksteady could have been a real badass if he kept up his attitude in the first couple episodes of the series. Looking back I'm shocked by just how willing Rocksteady and his gang where to kill April.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

wow, April wears make-up in the archies! This episode was awsome, and I loved how threatening Rocksteady was in this one. Rocksteady could have been a real badass if he kept up his attitude in the first couple episodes of the series. Looking back I'm shocked by just how willing Rocksteady and his gang where to kill April.

Bebop and Rocksteady rocked much more in the early seasons.

[Mr._Mutant_Man]

Maybe April won the Anorexia world championship. :)

I think it's more likely she is part octopus. They can squeeze themselves through really small spaces I think.

Turns out April was a mutant all along!

[Brianardo]

"Welcome to Ninja Pizza; home of the NICE...SLICE!"

That and the many other quotables from this story are burned in my mind forever.

i thought the first episode was called heroes in a halfshell.... maybe that was just the name of the tape. That was an awesome episode... but i like every single episode of the ninja turtles. It was such a good show! :)

Still got most of those tapes with their slip covers (except Hot Rodding Teenagers, which mysteriously vanished). They've entertained me many times over the years, and continue to do so w/my younger cousins and godkids since they are TMNT fans as well.

[DonatelloDomeHead31]

This was the episode that started it all for me because once i saw the turtles eat pizza (and i like eating pizza as well), my obsession for the turtles started here.

i also like the scene where the turtles see the different buildings before spotting "Ninja Pizza" (one of them that donatello notices is "Ninja Dentist"--Ouch)

another favorite scene of mine is when Donatello stops April from leaving the sewers, the mistake is its Raphael's voice.

[RAPHAEL#1fan]

Ahh the episode that started my obbsession with TMNT. I was 7 years old when I first saw this episode it was just awsome. It was like nothing I've ever seen before fresh new cool funny heart ponding I just loved it. And when I saw that this show had toys the rest was history.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

I like when the TMNT fight the Foot soldiers on the rooftop. Leonardo and Raphael used their weapons against the Foot soldiers without knowing it was just robots.

[turtle1237]

the first 5 was amazing, by season 2, the series took a turn for more comic vaule than action.

Here, we get it all, limps flying, action, the Shredder being scary sort of, he was more of a bad ass here, than what he would be later in the series. I relly like how Shredder started in the first season.

He only started whining like a baby in season 2 about if I recall.

This Shredder right here, may have giving the new series Shredder a run for being evil.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

the first 5 was amazing, by season 2, the series took a turn for more comic vaule than action.

Here, we get it all, limps flying, action, the Shredder being scary sort of, he was more of a bad ass here, than what he would be later in the series. I relly like how Shredder started in the first season.

He only started whining like a baby in season 2 about if I recall.

This Shredder right here, may have giving the new series Shredder a run for being evil.

Season 2 had some good action too. Season 3 had both good action and ocmic, before season 4 made the show more comic.

[Roland]

Man i love turtle tracks episode. I still have the vhs! My favourite quotes :
Raphael : "Does the phase go suck a lemon mean anything to you"
Mike: "Robots?"

One error i spotted or because i had stickers of the show was that there are two leo's entering the building that got flooded in the end.

[Lynn]

I love that episode. A great beginning to a wonderful series.

[oldmanwinters]

Man i love turtle tracks episode. I still have the vhs! My favourite quotes :
Raphael : "Does the phase go suck a lemon mean anything to you"
Mike: "Robots?"

Actually that's from ep.2, Enter the Shredder. Another classic which I think I like better than the 1st one!

[Roland]

Actually that's from ep.2, Enter the Shredder. Another classic which I think I like better than the 1st one!

O it is defintely time to watch turtle tracks again im confusing the episodes! Aaaa!?

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Man i love turtle tracks episode. I still have the vhs! My favourite quotes :
Raphael : "Does the phase go suck a lemon mean anything to you"
Mike: "Robots?"

One error i spotted or because i had stickers of the show was that there are two leo's entering the building that got flooded in the end.

And Leonardo and Raphael use their weapons against the Foot soldiers even before they know it's just robots.

[Roland]

And Leonardo and Raphael use their weapons against the Foot soldiers even before they know it's just robots.

Wasn't Mikey that discovered their robot first?

[Cowabunga Kiefer]

Wasn't Mikey that discovered their robot first?
Nope, after Raph hits a robot he states," Clang!? Did you say Clang?!?!?" But Donny really points out they're robots.

I'd say this was a very good pilot episode. It covered a but, but left you asking questions so you'd want to tune in next week...and then get freaked knowing there's a talking brain involved in the next episode, so it gets more 'interesting' might I say...

[Roland]

Nope, after Raph hits a robot he states," Clang!? Did you say Clang?!?!?" But Donny really points out they're robots.

I'd say this was a very good pilot episode. It covered a but, but left you asking questions so you'd want to tune in next week...and then get freaked knowing there's a talking brain involved in the next episode, so it gets more 'interesting' might I say...

O yeah i remember something like that, but i really must watch it again i think i last watched it at the end of primary school.

But i have one problem. Please confirm to me what of the following was in turtle tracks so i can refresh my memory.
Robot that lasso a ryno and a warthog in the zoo.
Total chaos gizmo.
Neutrino,s.
Krang that grows as big as godzilla.
Water flooding a foot soldier hideout.
The antimutagen ray gun.

[themaxonline]

O yeah i remember something like that, but i really must watch it again i think i last watched it at the end of primary school.

But i have one problem. Please confirm to me what of the following was in turtle tracks so i can refresh my memory.
Robot that lasso a ryno and a warthog in the zoo.
Total chaos gizmo.
Neutrino,s.
Krang that grows as big as godzilla.
Water flooding a foot soldier hideout.
The antimutagen ray gun.

Lassoing a rhino and warthog was in the second episode.
Total chaos was fourth.
Neutrinos were fourth.
Krang growing huge was the fifth (and last episode of season 1)
Water flooding WAS the first episode.
Antimutagen ray run was the fifth.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Nope, after Raph hits a robot he states," Clang!? Did you say Clang?!?!?" But Donny really points out they're robots.

I'd say this was a very good pilot episode. It covered a but, but left you asking questions so you'd want to tune in next week...and then get freaked knowing there's a talking brain involved in the next episode, so it gets more 'interesting' might I say...

I like how the first season episodes follow each other. I think every day is considered to be a week from Monday to Friday (since they talk about last day, yesterday and so).

[Cowabunga Kiefer]

I like how the first season episodes follow each other. I think every day is considered to be a week from Monday to Friday (since they talk about last day, yesterday and so).
Yeah, and then after that it was all," Well, that show worked fine, any ideas for this Friday? draw a storyboard by 2pm!

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Yeah, and then after that it was all," Well, that show worked fine, any ideas for this Friday? draw a storyboard by 2pm!

Yoy mean Saturday and Sunday? Isn't "Shredder & Splintered" Friday?

[Roland]

Lassoing a rhino and warthog was in the second episode.
Total chaos was fourth.
Neutrinos were fourth.
Krang growing huge was the fifth (and last episode of season 1)
Water flooding WAS the first episode.
Antimutagen ray run was the fifth.

Thanx themaxonline, now i know why i'm so confused. I own episode 1,2,3 and i guess 4,5. But does episodes 4,5 have something to do with the eye of sharnoth?

[themaxonline]

Thanx themaxonline, now i know why i'm so confused. I own episode 1,2,3 and i guess 4,5. But does episodes 4,5 have something to do with the eye of sharnoth?

No, that happened in the next season, a few episodes later. There was a 4-parter after Return of the Shredder.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

No, that happened in the next season, a few episodes later. There was a 4-parter after Return of the Shredder.

And season 3 ends with that fantastic "Big Trilogy".

[Lisardo]

Yeah and the granny with machine gun is hilarious.

Yeah that part is the best!

[donniefan2009]

yeah i loved season 1 my self i remember when i first saw the cartoons and i asked mom and dad what was it lol and from there i was hooked

[Phelan]

How about the fact that April likes Bananas and Sausage:tlol:. Or the fact that the robot foot groped her when they kidnapped her, and when Mikey untied her he was canstantly staring and reaching at her rack:teek:.

[MikeandRaph87]

How about the fact that April likes Bananas and Sausage:tlol:. Or the fact that the robot foot groped her when they kidnapped her, and when Mikey untied her he was canstantly staring and reaching at her rack:teek:.

your reading too much into things,dude!:lol:

Its a great start to a great show that made reason for most of us to be on this very site.

It was funny about April was mixing up thier names and my the second episode there were no mix ups.

[SherlockJr]

Or the fact that the robot foot groped her when they kidnapped her

OMG, I thought I was the only one that saw that! :lol: It was probably unintentional on the part of the animtors, but jeez!

[oldmanwinters]

It was funny about April was mixing up thier names and my the second episode there were no mix ups.

I figured after four guys save your life three times in one day, you better remember their names.

[JakeSully]

Ah yes i still remembered when i was 6 when this first aired on one of my local TV city stations and was thrilled by it, it rocked my world and i got hooked into the turtles.

Quite a nice intro episode.

[HotJuicyBurgers]

Ah yes i still remembered when i was 6 when this first aired on one of my local TV city stations and was thrilled by it, it rocked my world and i got hooked into the turtles.

Quite a nice intro episode.

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[pannoni1]

What else can I say? The best premiere of any TV series. Great animation, music, action, humor, and flow make this one of the greatest animated TV episodes of all time. Unlike the other series, the Turtles appear out of nowhere right as the human punks are about to abduct April, and the "Chill out homeboy" by Donatello is very unforgettable as it is the first line in TMNT history ever spoken by a Turtle. We then have the memorable Splinter origin story, the Turtles' introductions, and of course the Turtles going topside after nearly having April leave them and then her telling the dangers of being above ground. Plus, the streets are buzzing with activity. Let's not forget the first Foot battle on the rooftop. The Turtles do see Shredder in this premiere unlike the other two series, and he does give the Turtles and April a serious threat when they fail to reach the Technodrome. One thing is how did the Turtles get down from that rope after escaping the Security Services building? I hope a helicopter was in the area. I first watched this on VHS and figured it was the first episode right away because of such consequences, even though I watched "Case of the Killer Pizzas" first.

[shreddinghead]

Does anybody else notice that the kid, dropping the jar containing the premutated turtles in the sewers, kinda look like Zach? Maybe it's just me, but he appears to be the same age, and he also has the same hairdo as our fifth turtle.

[oldmanwinters]

Does anybody else notice that the kid, dropping the jar containing the premutated turtles in the sewers, kinda look like Zach? Maybe it's just me, but he appears to be the same age, and he also has the same hairdo as our fifth turtle.

I was tempted to contest this idea on account of the fact that Zach appears to be much younger than the Turtles when he meets them in "The Fifth Turtle" episode, but that argument would probably be contradicted by the fact that the turtles seem to mutate from baby turtles into their teenage bodies immediately. So I guess it's at least possible.

Although... how ironic would it be if that kid carrying the glass bowl was actually Walt, Zach's older brother who was made fun of him for being such a big Turtles fanboy?

[ToTheNines]

T'was Chet!

[Neutrino]

I really love this episode, growing up I was a huge TMNT fan. I love just the backstory it gives you for the entire series. I have watched this episode a million times!:tgrin:

[Bill]

Great Episode, The Beginning of an Era. It also introduced us to a sort of "Ninja neighbourhood", with a Ninja Pizzeria, Ninja Dry clean, etc. All seemed to be own or ruled by Shredder. What happened with all them? We never saw them again.

It would be awesome to have follow the plot where The Shredder controls a part of the city with human ninjas, offering "secutity services" as well as his continuing his alliance with Krang.

[cammy85]

I'm guessing he abandoned those operations once he realized his archenemy was alive and he had four new enemies trained in the Foot fighting style to deal with so he pooled all his resources into revenge and new mutants for the remainder of the season. Then Krang pretty much called the shots from then on.

This IS a great opener!! I've been trying to watch these with the fan commentaries but it's hard to pause both when I have to go do something so I haven't tried in awhile.

[JohnnyAngel77]

I just started rewatching the OT. The first episode was really fun as a kid. And I like the nods the first movie gave to it in mimicking some of the scenes.

[DVD]

I am currently on disc 11 from the Van set.
I watched a few of the episodes last night, but have now totally given up on expecting the order to follow the episodes listed in the booklet.
So I press play all. Then get random episodes. The bluray player recalls where the disc last played from, so when reinserted will just pick up from there.
Splinter Vanishes, and Tempestra's Revenge were the highlights from last night.

During the day, I watched the final battle from 2K3s season 5 finale. That was excellent.

[Pterobat]

I realize everyone considers the first season / five-part pilot of the old cartoon to be the ideal for the series: more focused, serious, and earnest. I'm torn--I enjoy it, but I don't think it's as hardcore or as strong as it's made out to be. There are still errors and issues, and sometimes the goofiness of the old cartoon's later seasons became a benefit.

"Turtle Tracks" is one of those episodes that I can't remember if I actually watched, or just knew through exposure to stickers, trading cards, and colouring books.

There's a silly spirit to this episode, though: the weird outfits of the punks, the rope that's "Made in Japan", the bag lady with the machine gun. I suppose the difference is a matter of degree.

And at the same time, "Turtle Tracks" does slowy build up a setting and a plot, which seems positively Shakespearian in comparison to the worst of the later episodes. But by a larger standard, it's not that mind-blowingly great, just fun and good.

It's always interesting to me how April starts off as the protagonist and viewpoint character in the series. By starting this way, it creates an air of
mystery, and it's unconventional because the primary goal of most children's cartoons would be to introduce and focus on the main heroes.

Vernon is pretty ordinary here, with a different voice, acting more like a normal person. But he's still a coward concerned with money.

And April runs right into the wall.

I like the slighlty more abrasive sense of humour the Turtles have in this episode, the more pragmatic way they look at their situation, and the way they treat humans as alien. These are scenes in favour of the first season being better than the rest, but it's still not a simple division.

I realize this comes to an extent from the very idea of having Ninja still exist in the modern day, but the modern cartoon takes this notion a little too far, and treats modern Japan as if it were exactly like Feudal Japan, showing almost nothing modern except some possibly-modern buildings in the opening to Splinter's flashback

I'm not a Mirage purist, but at least the original comics had the characters wearing modern clothing outside of the dojo, and suggested the whole Ninja thing was an ancient secret rather than a regular part of life.

Still, it's not as heavy on the Unfortunate Implications as the way some of these Japanese extras are drawn.

I have no personal preference for what species Splinter began life as. Both origins have their pros and cons, and I was familiar with the rat origin as far
back as when the first movie came out.

It bothers me a bit that the real rats seen in the series don't look a thing like Splinter or any other mutated rats.

Yoshi looks adorable with the Turtles on his head.

Yeah, okay, the explanation of who mutated based on what makes no sense. It's also hilarious the way Yoshi's clothes morph directly to fit his new body,
including Magic Pants that retract into nothingness.

I think what bothers me more, though, is the depiction of the baby turtles growing right into their teenage forms. Not only does it also make no sense, but it kills the chance of telling stories of Splinter raising the little turtles, which are keystones of their father / son relationship.

I'm not saying you can't be a parent to a kid of any age, just that it's easier for the audience to become involved in parenting stories if you start with
younger kids and show them being raised by their parental figure. If the Turtles sprout up into teens right away, there's no chance to tell stories with

Splinter rasing them, and it's probably a major reason why some insist there is no parental overtones to the relationship between Splinter and the Turtles in the old cartoon.

Splinter biting the board in half is awesome, though.

Convenient: "All Night Men's Clothing".

Shredder hanging out in his lair as an evil overlord giving orders is a little boring, actually. He doesn't have much of a sense of class or gravitas, and
the only thing that makes him distinct is his goofy side. However, it is an issue that his criminal empire disappears from the series, because that's a bit
of lost storytelling / joke telling potential. I mean, "Ninja District", come on. That's comedy gold right there.

I'm very certain that's Tress MacNeille doing the voicework for the female extras.

Despite beginning as a protagonist, April is kidnapped and such and so on and so on. Oh well.

It's a cute intro to the series regardless of its faults, and a fun episode in its own right.

[oldmanwinters]

It's always interesting to me how April starts off as the protagonist and viewpoint character in the series. By starting this way, it creates an air of
mystery, and it's unconventional because the primary goal of most children's cartoons would be to introduce and focus on the main heroes.

I've always appreciated that about the first episode. It's seems so atypical not to introduce the protagonists of the series in the first minute.


Despite beginning as a protagonist, April is kidnapped and such and so on and so on. Oh well.


Yeah, it's pretty much all down hill for poor April after she leaves the Ninja Pizza parlor to investigate the Foot Clan angle.

[BlindFaith]

Great Episode, The Beginning of an Era. It also introduced us to a sort of "Ninja neighbourhood", with a Ninja Pizzeria, Ninja Dry clean, etc. All seemed to be own or ruled by Shredder. What happened with all them? We never saw them again.

It would be awesome to have follow the plot where The Shredder controls a part of the city with human ninjas, offering "securityti services" as well as his continuing his alliance with Krang.

I think the ninja neighborhood is just businesses set-up to hide his shady operations and maybe for money laundering and what not. All of the workers are just Shredder's thugs and he has cameras everywhere to spy on people who come and go. One of the Turtles also calls the neighborhood "suspicious" and April calls it "Strange"

I think why we don't see the neighborhood again is because it gets blown up/washed away when the Security Services building explodes because they are in the same vicinity. One of the Turtles also says, while all 4 of them and April are hanging on the rope, overlooking the explosion that "I think this crime wave is a wash out!"

I love this opening episode. Great back story of Hamato Yoshi and Oroku Saki and a really epic fight on the rooftop vs the Foot soldiers makes this a really memorable episode.

It also leaves open a lot of interesting unanswered questions that makes viewers want to find out what happens next. Who or what is the Technodrome? Who is the guy with the metal mask and what does he want? Who or what are those robots? Will April ever finish her news report? :tgrin:

[Hero]

Just introduced my kids to this series. They love it! Nice to see later generations enjoying this 30 years on.

I started with this episode (and the following 4) as a taster to introduce what TMNT was like "when I were a nipper". Turtle Tracks still succeeds 3 decades later as a captivating introduction.

[Wesley]

Great opening episode. I hadn't watched it in ages, but I rewatched it a few years ago and thought it was awesome. This episode along with the other four in season one hold up well and I actually enjoyed this season more as an adult, as a lot of the humour went over my head as a kid.

[ranger_scout]

This is my 1,500th post here, so I thought I should write it in a thread about a classic episode. When I rewatched this after buying the re-release of the full series, Splinter said that he made the turtles his wards after they mutated. I wonder if the people behind this series decided to make that choice after an extremely popular 1960's TV series, Batman, had the titular character make a teenager his ward instead of his son.

[Prowler]

For those who watch more action and superhero cartoons, how would you guys compare Turtle Tracks to other debut episodes of other action cartoons? Because Turtle Tracks sure was a great episode. I have a lot of nostalgia for the FW series, but when your first episode out of 194 episodes in total is arguably the best episode or at least top 5 in the series then it really shows you how the show has lost quality as it went on. Season 1 is one of the best seasons of the show and it was only 5 episodes long!

Turtle Tracks is an episode that will never get old. I'll always love this episode and will never forget the sense of excitement I felt the first time I watched this episode and then Enter: The Shredder. Really great introduction to the Turtles and the cartoon itself.

[ToTheNines]

Does anybody else think the way April delivers the line “Who the heck are YOU guys?” is so awkward?

It should have been “Who the heck ARE you guys?” right?

[CyberCubed]

Maybe that's how dialect was in the 80's, these eps are nearly 40 years old now.

[Heyowakka]

The line never sounded off to me, just previously the Turtles were asking April about the men chasing her, so the inflection made sense.

[ToTheNines]

The line never sounded off to me, just previously the Turtles were asking April about the men chasing her, so the inflection made sense.

Aha... I must be touched lol. I listened to that scene with this in mind it made much more sense.

Carry on.