What Are The Most Memorable TMNT Episodes To You (From Your Youth)?

[FlogginMcMurryZombiePizza]

Watching the OT Season 3 set, I was amazed at certain episodes that I just remember from childhood that, before reviewing the episode, I had forgotten.
I remember many of the episodes I watching on the Season 3 DVD.
And I'm sure once I watch the other DVDs I'll have a few more "relived" moments.

For me that episode was "Cowabunga Shredhead".
I had that episode on VHS and had to have played it to death. I can not remember what happened to that tape, but watching it on DVD left me amazed. I remember all the little visual moments from this episode. I'm still not even sure what was with the super-stylized, rubbery squash-and-stretch animation choices throughout the episode, especially in comparison to the rest of the season. I didn't even know what episode I was watching until the episode unfolded and the Turtles were upset at Mikey. Once Splinter was putting him under "Kung Pow" (geezus....) I was thinking "Holy ****! My childhood!"

So, what episode is the most memorable to you?

[Guitar_Raph]

The Next Mutation; The Good Dragon (Mikey plays the organ)
2K3; The Unconvincing Turtle Titan
Fast Forward; Invasion of the Body Jackers (TMNT in tuxes)
Nick; The Gauntlet (Smoke bombs)

[FlogginMcMurryZombiePizza]

The Gauntlet is a great episode haha

[Powder]

The bulk of them would be episodes that got a VHS release, but to be even more specific, the Burger King Kids Club ones. The Great Boldini, Sky Turtles, Invasion Of The Turtle Snatchers, etc. The Turtles Awesome Easter & Planet Of The Turtles too, of course. Aside from those, I had this one tape with a bunch of episodes ripped off of USA, so those stick out to me as well for how many times I played it over. The one where Baxter mutates most of New York, when Napoleon Bonafrog gets jacked up, first episode of Red Sky, there's a bunch of 'em.

[Shark_Blade]

TMNT OT Ep.1. and several after that.

I was lucky to have the video tape on rewind constantly (but got lost later on) so it kinda lingers in my mind during childhood.

I remember April's news show, her being chased by gangsters, her first encounter with the turtles and Splinter's introduction of each turtles - complete with background color unique to them, Oroku Saki and Hamato Yoshi's origin, Bebop and Rocksteady's mutation..wow that's a lot. The story is unlike any other, it's unique and interesting!

Since I've basically have a strong grasp of the foundation of it all, that's why it lasts till this day for me. I love this franchise very much. :tlove:

[ToTheNines]

Cowabunga Shredhead for me also (New York's Shiniest was also on that VHS). My cousins and I wore that tape out.

Other than that, A Real Snow Job for some reason. I guess I always liked snow/Christmas episodes. Then the Red Sky 3 parter when Shredder and Krang came back.

For the 2k3 show, pretty much all of it. I was 11 when it debuted and it blew me away. 2 coolest moments were Things Change (particularly how the opening scene paid homage to page 1 of Mirage Vol. 1 #1, which I'd read 100 times on the old official website). And of course Leo chopping Shredder's head off in RtNY... I could not get over that.

[Seeks]

2003:

The Shredder Strikes, Parts 1 & 2
The Shredder Strikes Back, Parts 1 & 2
Tales of Leo
The Monster Hunter
Return to New York, Parts 1, 2 & 3
The Search for Splinter, Parts 1 & 2

Although in my head they all carry on from each other, probably because those particular stories were always shown back to back! Actually, thinking about it, those stories make a nice arc! :lol:

[ObiWanFan4life]

Return to New York, Part II & III
Things Change
I, Monster
The Shredder Strikes
The Big Brawl

[Gwydion]

Michaelangelo's Birthday, Leonardo Lightens Up, and The Big Cufflink Caper must have been replayed a LOT when I was a kid, because I remembered them all quite vividly (even before watching the DVD). Although LLU stood out because I didn't care for it as a kid, so I remember groaning when it would come on but watching it anyway, lol.

Let's see, other than that it was mostly just bits and pieces - the very end of the Mutagen Man episode, Slash and his binky, old Leo playing pool in Once upon a Time Machine, and "Why must I be a teenager with a shell" (...I listened to a lot of oldies as a kid).

[Jester]

I must have watched Super Rocksteady and Mighty Bebop until wore out the tape.

[Coola Yagami]

All of season 1-3 and most of season 4 and onwards. Some eps I haven't seen again since they first aired in CBS. I still don't understand when or where they ever aired red sky. Where I was they cancelled tmnt when we got to the 90s sonic cartoon era.

[TurtleTitan97]

The first OT episodes that I remember watching were Pizza by the Shred and Return of the Fly on a VHS tape I got from my library.

[pingclang]

I had the Burger King VHS of Sky Turtles so it sticks out but now that I've seen the dvds it would be Shredderville. I just thought it was a neat episode and for some reason loved it.

[Leo656]

Yeah, I wore out those Burger King videos. Sky Turtles was the one I watched the most out of those.

I also have strong memories of the original mini-series episodes.

[CyberCubed]

The vast majority of OT episodes I remembered. There were only a handful I completely forgot about before the DVDS came. And those were mostly just mid Season 4 episodes.

The OT was rerun to death on TV, had many VHS releases, etc. the eps aired so much they burned into my brain.

[Icebot]

I would say A Thing About Rats, Shredder & Splintered, It Came From Beneath The Sewers, The Mean Machines, Curse of the Evil Eye, Enter The Fly, Pizza By The Shred and Rondo In New York.

[Donatello19]

the Burger King Kids Club ones.

Oh, I forgot about those! I had them all as a kid :D I wonder if I they're still lying around somewhere...

[Powder]

I had mine until a few weeks ago. I donated them after downsizing. Thankfully, and surprisingly, I wasn't heartbroken. :tlol:

[FlogginMcMurryZombiePizza]

Another big standout, now that I got some sleep and could reflect a 'lil bit more,

Attack of the Killer Pizza

Yup, that episode sticks to me as well. Classic TMNT goodness in my book.

I seen a bunch of the early seasons and I remember the later season(s) have the "darker" intro using live action footage and redesigned Turtle's from the previous iconic FW animation.
And i have been hit with a number of childhood moments, like with Leatherhead's episodes and Rat King. I'm sure once I get my hands on the other seasons also, seeing the Robocop character, Rex-1, and so on.

But from what I remember and what I have seen... the clearest, most nostalgic episodes are Cowabunga Shredhead and Attack of the Killer Pizzas.
Until I remember up another, that is.

Cowabunga Shredhead for me also (New York's Shiniest was also on that VHS). My cousins and I wore that tape out.

Other than that, A Real Snow Job for some reason. I guess I always liked snow/Christmas episodes. Then the Red Sky 3 parter when Shredder and Krang came back.

For the 2k3 show, pretty much all of it. I was 11 when it debuted and it blew me away. 2 coolest moments were Things Change (particularly how the opening scene paid homage to page 1 of Mirage Vol. 1 #1, which I'd read 100 times on the old official website). And of course Leo chopping Shredder's head off in RtNY... I could not get over that.
Do we know what the animation style was so drastically different in Cowabunga Shredhead from the rest of the season?

Ya I wore out the tape. And I know we had a few regular VHS and a few Burger King Kids Club VHS also.
But I wonder where they are.
I still have the first 2 movies on VHS. They look great, but I have no idea how the picture would look. But all the cartoons are gone.

I'm really wondering WTF happened... it's not just TMNT, other toys and movies and stuffed animals are missing too. Same for my mom. She suspects a room mate we had when I was in middle school, kept and stole boxes while we were there or while we were moving.

For the 2k3 show, pretty much all of it. I was 11 when it debuted and it blew me away. 2 coolest moments were Things Change (particularly how the opening scene paid homage to page 1 of Mirage Vol. 1 #1, which I'd read 100 times on the old official website). And of course Leo chopping Shredder's head off in RtNY... I could not get over that.
lol I was graduating high school during this run (class of '03. Just had our 10 year reunion earlier this month). I never saw an episode (because I wasn't watching TV at all. now I'm watching some) but I did buy the Turtles and Shredder figures and a few picture trading cards from the Walgreens near my work.


TMNT OT Ep.1. and several after that.

I was lucky to have the video tape on rewind constantly (but got lost later on) so it kinda lingers in my mind during childhood.

I remember April's news show, her being chased by gangsters, her first encounter with the turtles and Splinter's introduction of each turtles - complete with background color unique to them, Oroku Saki and Hamato Yoshi's origin, Bebop and Rocksteady's mutation..wow that's a lot. The story is unlike any other, it's unique and interesting!

Since I've basically have a strong grasp of the foundation of it all, that's why it lasts till this day for me. I love this franchise very much. :tlove:

I remember the first episode pretty well too... I just need to see it again. I remember that's when they looked the best in animation too.
I remember the first sight of Krang and how they somehow got a bore and rhino into the Technodrome to mutate Bebop and Rocksteady.
It's still hazy though, in my mind. It's been over 20 years without seeing it again!

The bulk of them would be episodes that got a VHS release, but to be even more specific, the Burger King Kids Club ones. The Great Boldini, Sky Turtles, Invasion Of The Turtle Snatchers, etc. The Turtles Awesome Easter & Planet Of The Turtles too, of course. Aside from those, I had this one tape with a bunch of episodes ripped off of USA, so those stick out to me as well for how many times I played it over. The one where Baxter mutates most of New York, when Napoleon Bonafrog gets jacked up, first episode of Red Sky, there's a bunch of 'em.
Ya I think that's where I remember Killer Pizza and Cowabunga Shredhead the most, repeated VHS viewings. TV then wasn't what it is now, and we probably only had 1 TV in the house so if mom was watching it already, or didn't feel like watching Turtles, they weren't on.
I remember CBS and USA Cartoon Express having Turtles on the air.

Hell, she threatened to tape over Star Wars (A New Hope) because I watched it too many times.
I think her point was to get me to watch something else... in her frustration or annoyance lol.

All of season 1-3 and most of season 4 and onwards. Some eps I haven't seen again since they first aired in CBS. I still don't understand when or where they ever aired red sky. Where I was they cancelled tmnt when we got to the 90s sonic cartoon era.
I haven't seen any of these episodes since they were airing on TV.
Buying the Season 3 set, and since then re-watching the episodes (which led up to creating this topic) opened a guilty-pleasure flood gate to watch more OT.
Dust off those old memories and bask in what made me happy in my youth.

'cus they are still good!


I had the Burger King VHS of Sky Turtles so it sticks out but now that I've seen the dvds it would be Shredderville. I just thought it was a neat episode and for some reason loved it.
Shredderville is a good "what if" episode. I remembered it vaguely when it was playing off the DVD. I was like "Oh ya!" in hazy moments when I recognized the episode. It was a pretty dark episode but funny too after President Shredder is revealed.

Another one was Mikey turning human. I remembered that one too.
But those goofy ones are hard to sit though.
Another almost unbearable episode was with the space tourist whose camera literally captured it's subjects.

[FlogginMcMurryZombiePizza]

I had mine until a few weeks ago. I donated them after downsizing. Thankfully, and surprisingly, I wasn't heartbroken. :tlol:

Its hard for me to say if I would keep them or not.
I want to know what happened to them but I still have the movies and I have no plans to donate either of them. Would the cartoons be the same for me? Hmmm.... I guess if I had it this long, "until a few weeks ago" it might be harder to let them go. Maybe.

[snake]

I remember Nano a lot for some reason......

[pingclang]

Shredderville is a good "what if" episode. I remembered it vaguely when it was playing off the DVD. I was like "Oh ya!" in hazy moments when I recognized the episode. It was a pretty dark episode but funny too after President Shredder is revealed.

Maybe that's why it sticks out to me, something about it felt Mirage to me.

[Powder]

I remember Nano a lot for some reason......

Aside from the fact it was an early episode, it was pretty disturbing when you think about it... :ohwell:

[DarkLightDragon]

Hmm. That's an interesting albeit hard question for me. I think I'll go with:

-Watching the 2007 film in theaters on opening day in the late evening with my folks. Despite my problems with it, it's still something I'll always remember.

-Renting and watching the original film with my Dad after he learned I was showing interest in the franchise.

For 2k3:

-Shredder Strikes Back. Not only did it showcase Leo's badassery but it in general served as a 'HOLY SH*T, CRAP HITS THE FAN!' moment. Leo's down, Foot invades the apartment in swarms, Hun and Shredder, Casey shows up, and the whole thing just goes up in flames. Sure it's not anything original since it happens in Mirage #11, but it no doubt left the same impression as the comic it was inspired from.

-Scion of the Shredder. Same thing with SSB, only condensed into one episode and not just two. The lair has been found, Turtles are pinned to a corner and forced to retreat and split up while their is blown to bits. And it all ends with me wondering, "Man, how is Leo going to take this?"

As sh***y as Karai's reason for destroying the Turtles's lair was, I'll give her props for doing something like that as one of her first duties after taking up the Shredder mantle. It also made Leo's eventual confrontation with her all the more satisfying to watch as his calm, but stern approach countered her rage and hate with each blow.

-Watching Turtles Forever for the first time. Nuff' said.

[Blossombrooks]

'Invasion of the punk frogs', it's not my favourite episode but its def the one that was most memorable. Maybe it was the "Pizza? We hate pizza!" bit, made me laugh as a kid.

[darthsmozers]

Whichever episode had the Technodrome rising to the surface and the Turtles actually had to go into it to stop it. It rarely happened that we got a good Technodrome vs Turtles episode. Epic!

[Mr._Mutant_Man]

Turtles At the Earth's Core

Ninja Turtles and dinosaurs! Two of the things 80's kids loved most in one cartoon! I was glued to the screen whenever that episode was replayed.

Turtles, Turtles, Everywhere

Lots of turtles! That's why I remember that one really well.

Michaelangelo's Birthday

It focused on my favorite turtle as a kid. It also featured the Flush O Matic toy which looked neat in the ads.

Then there's the weird ending with the turtles blowing up like balloons. I don't know how the writers came up with that being the effect of "anti-mutagen".

[Protoman]

Oh man don't make me pick! While as a kid I watched almost the whole run of the Fred Wolf 1987 series (while I did phase out around the Red Sky episodes as 1995-1996 was High School and my focus shifted for a bit, I still played the 2 SNES TMNT games to death, gotta stay loyal)

But for me, it was the initial run of F.H.S. VHSs and it's episodes that will always stick with me as those got watched over..... and over....... and over.

Volume 1 Heroes in Half Shell ("Turtle Tracks" & "Enter the Shredder")
Volume 2 Hot Rodding Teenagers ("Hot Rodding Teenagers from Dimension X" & "The Thing about Rats")
Volume 3 The Shredder is Splintered ("Shredder & Splintered" & "Return of the Shredder")
Volume 5 The Case of the Killer Pizzas ("The Case of the Killer Pizzas" & "Enter The Fly")
Volume 6 Super Rocksteady and Mighty Bebop ("Super Rocksteady and Mighty Bebop" & "Mutagen Monster")

Needs to say these VHSs got watched a million times over and 2 survived all those trips to the country house (which we relied on a lone Nintendo and VHS player to keep entertained that whole summer)

If I had to pick I would say Turtle Tracks is easily first place. With Shredder & Splintered along with Season 3's episode Four Musketurtles (Cause April looked so hot in that episode!)

[MrTMNT2012]

From 1987 Series: "Shredder & Splintered"
From 2003 Series: "Same As It Never Was"
From 2012 Series: "Enter Shredder"

I'm sure there will be a lot more memorable episodes to come from the 2012 Series. :)

[Technogeek29]

Shreddered & Splintered, Raphael Knocks em' Dead, Leonardo Cuts loose, Things Change, Shredder Strikes, Tales of Leonardo. Even today those episodes randomly pop in my head and I find myself quoting lines from them. Strange neither one are about Don who is my favorite.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Most memorable for me? That's easy- Michelangelo's Birthday, The Gang's All Here, Cowabunga Shred-head, Attack of the 50ft Irma, April Fool, Green With Jealousy, and Raphael Meets His Match are all among my most well-remembered ones from the OT. Not sure why, but most of those deal with Mikey, or with April and/or Irma extensively. I guess that's why I liked them- I was partial to all three, and still am. Mona Lisa's single appearance also stands out for me for having a female mutant at last, and for being so cute. I loved her flirty personality.

[pannoni1]

Watching the OT Season 3 set, I was amazed at certain episodes that I just remember from childhood that, before reviewing the episode, I had forgotten.
I remember many of the episodes I watching on the Season 3 DVD.
And I'm sure once I watch the other DVDs I'll have a few more "relived" moments.

For me that episode was "Cowabunga Shredhead".
I had that episode on VHS and had to have played it to death. I can not remember what happened to that tape, but watching it on DVD left me amazed. I remember all the little visual moments from this episode. I'm still not even sure what was with the super-stylized, rubbery squash-and-stretch animation choices throughout the episode, especially in comparison to the rest of the season. I didn't even know what episode I was watching until the episode unfolded and the Turtles were upset at Mikey. Once Splinter was putting him under "Kung Pow" (geezus....) I was thinking "Holy ****! My childhood!"

So, what episode is the most memorable to you?

"Cowabunga Shredhead" is probably second place for me, receiving it as a gift for my 5th birthday right when the VHS was first released. Like many, the majority of the most memorable episodes to me are from the relatively few (about half a dozen) VHS tapes I had as a child. "Case of the Killer Pizzas/Enter the Fly" is the most memorable episode since it was the first VHS I got (Christmas of 1989 I believe?), and literally played it every week for many months after I received it. The other ones via VHS (in order of purchase) are "Super Bebop and Mighty Rocksteady", "Heroes in a Halfshell" (contains Turtle Tracks and Enter the Shredder which I never knew the name of those episodes until just a few years ago!), "Attack of the BIG MACC", and The Turtles Awesome Easter (contains "Turtles and the Hare" and "Once Upon a Time Machine"). In terms of episodes which I never saw on VHS, it would be the other Season 1 episodes, simply because of the clips of them on VHS promos, Welcome Back, Polarisoids (I remember the malfunctioning alarms, stoplights, and ATMs vividly), and Too Hot to Handle (the 110 degree thermometer haunted me a bit). In terms of the Next Mutation, only "East versus West" since that was the only arc with Shredder in that series. I never watched much 4kids when it aired, and by then I was in college.

[zbowen]

Sky Turtles was the most memorable for me. We had gray boots in my house that reminded me of the gravity boots from that episode. I used to jump around the house in them pretending it was that episode.

[DonatelloNinja82]

Oh man...so many eps of OT stand out to me...Cowabunga Shredhead, Michelangelo's Birthday, Back to the Egg, Green with Jealousy, Raphael Meets His Match, Donatello's Degree, Attack of the Killer Pizzas, Michelangelo Meets Bugman, Leonardo Lightens Up (can you tell I had those VHS tapes...), Adventures in Turtle Sitting, any episode with the Neutrinos (yah yah, I like the Neutrinos), to name a few. And I always loved episodes where something affected the turtles mentally or physically, putting them in troublesome spots. Muckman Messes Up is one, Splinter No More with Shredder's device that made the turtles want to fight each other, etc.

[ryukenden]

Return of the Shredder being the very first episode that I ever watched and got me instantly hooked. The Shredder is Splintered and Cowabunga Shredhead VHS tapes I remembered playing those to death. I did remember some of my classmates talking very fondly of A Thing About Rats.

[FlogginMcMurryZombiePizza]

Upon watching the Season 3 set (keep in mind, it's currently all I own for TMNT OT), I couldn't really sit through the overly silly episodes as well as I did when I was younger.

Things like the wear tickling-fetish mobsters, goofy aliens like the tourist, etc.


ALSO: I love how often the 4th wall is broke in Super Rocksteady and Mighty Bebop
The first OT episodes that I remember watching were Pizza by the Shred and Return of the Fly on a VHS tape I got from my library.

I would say A Thing About Rats, Shredder & Splintered, It Came From Beneath The Sewers, The Mean Machines, Curse of the Evil Eye, Enter The Fly, Pizza By The Shred and Rondo In New York.

the most memorable part of Pizza By The Shred to me was where Don pulled a drain plunger on the Foot in the sewer. I couldn't remember the whole episode but once I saw that part again I was all "OH YEA!"

Whichever episode had the Technodrome rising to the surface and the Turtles actually had to go into it to stop it. It rarely happened that we got a good Technodrome vs Turtles episode. Epic!

Is that the 3-4 part "Season 3" finale?

[Pterobat]

I have a poor memory and was pretty young when the show aired, so I just remember episodes in pieces.

Because Splinter was my favourite character, I have pretty strong memories of "Shredder and Splintered", and "Splinter No More".

I remember parts of "Case of the Killer Pizzas", "Enter the Fly", "The Catwoman from Channel 6", "Leonardo Lightens Up", "Michelangelo Meets Mondo Gecko", "Turtle Terminator", "The Big Blow-Out", "Shredder's Mom", one of the Bugman episodes; blah blah..a few others here and there.

Sometimes I'm also not sure if I actually saw an episode, or just an adaptation in sticker books and children's books. My "Rat Trap" colouring book was one of my prized possessions, but I can't remember if I actually saw "A Thing About Rats" on TV. Same for reading the children's book adaptation of "The Incredible Shrinking Turtles" but probably never seeing the TV episode.

[gobo]

Season 1 & Usagi Yojimbo.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Watching season 3 of the 1987 show and hoping the Technodrome would soon move along again. It did in the "5th Turtle" episode but fell back at the end, not reappering until the Big Trilogy.

[raph27]

Watching Rise of the Turtles, my first TMNT exposure.:toops:

[FlogginMcMurryZombiePizza]

your first was this years Nick show?

[raph27]

Yep.:toops::toops::toops::toops:

[CyberCubed]

Most of Season 3 was very memorable, probably helped matters it was rerun the most on TV and when the show was at its height of its popularity.

[Shreddhead]

I have always remembered The Case of the Killer Pizzas, no matter what age I was. It probably had something to do with the fact that I watched Alien and Aliens at a VERY young age, at it had scared the crap out of me!

[Tuxedo Moroboshi]

"Sky Turtles", "April Foolish", and "The Great Boldini", and probably only because I had them on those Burger King VHS tapes that I watched pretty consistently throughout my youth.