What is it that makes the Turtles work?

[zbowen]

I was introduced to the Turtles in the early 90s through the Fred Wolf cartoon. Due to ridiculous comic prices, I don't really buy a lot if comics anymore, it's simply too much of an investment. I only pick up a few, and one of those is TMNT. I also find myself watching the new cartoon, something that's target demographic is about 20 years younger than I am, and I watch no other show like it.

Why after over 20 years am I still so invested in this francise? There are plenty of others I'm interested in, but nothing as odd as Ninja Turtles. Everything else has a stronger footing in reality, at least more than talking turtles.

Is it the characters, is it the art, the plots, the fact that the stories in the comics can appeal to me as an adult while the stories the cartoon could appeal to me as a kid, or just this francise is good escapism because it's so off the wall weird? What is it about Ninja Turtles that has kept me interested or so long?

[alliance]

fun............

[Powder]

There's been like 3 versions of this same thread in the last 2 months man.

[snake]

Becuase it's fun....? I guess.....?

[Donatello19]

Wise cracking anthropomorphic teenage animals who just happen to be ninjas. Kids love that stuff.

[pingclang]

I think it's because there's nothing else like them, except maybe Usagi, that is done so well. They're so different and a lot of fun.

[ObiWanFan4life]

They work because They take every aspect of their lives seriously and they're oblivious to the Absurdety of their universe. Not to mention the fact that the series was initially a parody of (at the time) comic books.

[Captain PunchYouHard]

I don't know about now, but when I was a kid, martial arts were cool (still riding on the Bruce Lee tsunami of publicity). That's what got me into it, and even though it's far from accurate, I still really like analyzing the combat and fighting styles. The fact that it's funny and reasonably intelligent pushes it over the edge for me.

[CyberCubed]

It's an action cartoon and comic without being superheroes.

[InsaneZane]

Anthropomorphic animal mutants, martial arts and weapons, nuff said besides colors colors colors!!!

[NinjaMan]

I also think the element of family the turtles and Splinter have helped as well.

[pingclang]

I also think the element of family the turtles and Splinter have helped as well.

That's probably my favorite thing about the Turtles outside the fighting and action. It's awesome just seeing four brothers and their father living these crazy lives.

[Cobrakahn]

A couple of factors. The turtles bottom line is about family and honor and saving April. Its timeless but still not approached by many todays comics.

[Mr._Mutant_Man]

It's a fun concept. A bunch of turtles mutating and saving New York city. It's a fun, unique concept.

It's got good vs. evil, the main characters coming of age, a damsel in distress. It's got all the story elements people having been eating up since people started telling stories. It's just that it's told with mutant turtles.

[Rooish]

Really compelling characters, in my opinion. And the strong family bond.

[BlisterStockboy]

For me, it's always been the music, the stories, and the way that the 4 characters work together. It's a hard thing to have 4 main characters that everyone cares about, and someone they manage to do it.

[TigerClaw]

Really compelling characters, in my opinion. And the strong family bond.
Also the really cool fight scenes, And the Scifi elements.

[Shark_Blade]

Kickass origin story like no other.

[TigerClaw]

Kickass origin story like no other.
Even though the origin story has been different in many iterations, It always lead up to the same results.

[oldmanwinters]

Why do the Turtles work?

For Pizza money, that's why. Or at least, it was as simple as that for Mikey in the 2007 movie.

[Pterobat]

My theory is always that the Turtles multiverse is just completely insane, and that's why it's popular.

The premise is crazy, the main characters are weird, and the stories can draw on just about anything from fantasy and science fiction. That means huge possibilities for the types of things you can do with it, and an almost inexhaustible supply of scenarios.

You can also present the Turtles with radically different tones and have it always work, as history has proven.

And yes, that it has four main characters with distinct personalities means that a lot of different people can get into the franchise, because each Turtle offers something different.

[BigMike322]

I was introduced to the 1987 cartoon first, but then got into the comics. It was always my favorite but for me it's the values Splinter teaches and the personality traits of the turtles. I can relate to Mike and Ralph a lot. I'm easy going, but I can be a hot head. Growing up in a martial arts environment I was taught a lot of the same values. The same ones that I instill in my kids. My youngest started calling me Splinter when he was three. Because of that I have Splinter tatted on my leg just under my kid's names.