30th anniversary of the 1987–1996 series debut

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

It's December 2017, and almost 30 years have passed since the 1987–1996 TMNT series debuted in the USA in December 1987. It would air for 10 seasons until ending in November 1996.

This is a general 30th anniversary thread for this series, to discuss memories, favourite moments and everything we liked with the series.

[Sumac]

First episode, I have watched of TMNT was back in 1991, I think?

The first episode, that was aired on our TV, was Epic Begins. They actually had a gall to interrupt the movie with news broadcast and they have resumed it. The worst part they have interrupted it right in the middle of the final battle (roughly at the end of episode 4). Later they have started to show series, but from Season 4, skipping Seasons 2 and 3 entirely.

[FredWolfLeonardo]

Its been a great 30 years, with 193 episodes, one tv special, and 2 crossovers with the Nick show.

I couldn't be more grateful knowing that the Original Cast would return in 2017, to give one last hurrah. Its truly a delight to hear them again and remind me why i love the Originwl cartoon.

[CyberCubed]

30 years already? Where does the time go? I was literally barely a year old when this series started.

I actually almost missed the age range for the series, but I got into it fully as a 3-4 year old (yes I know that sounds odd, but what the hell), and continued to watch until it ended.

[Prowler]

I was only born in 1990, but this series reran several times in my country on a cable TV channel between 1997 and 2005. And now(or at least a few years ago), the 2k3 series seems to be going through reruns as well.

I watched the first 3 seasons up until the Turtles, Turtles Everywhere episode or something in the late 90s. Then got back into the series and watched the rest of it around 2003-2004. That was when I became a huge fan of it. And then the 2k3 series started as well, meaning I could finally have TMNT action figures.

I've re-watched the FW series countless times. Some of those episodes I basically know the lines by heart.

[biganimefan]

I have plans to start a rewatch on the 30th Anniversary(December 28th). Hopefully I'll be done with Mirage by then.

[FredWolfLeonardo]

I have plans to start a rewatch on the 30th Anniversary(December 28th). Hopefully I'll be done with Mirage by then.

Me too! This time, I wanna watch it with the Nick crossovers as well, with them being after season 7 but before the Red Sky era in my headcanon.

[Sumac]

I would like to rewatch it too, but last time watching all episodes from Season 1 to Season 10 took me about 6-7 months (1 episode per workday, no episodes on weekends).
It's kind of a titanic task to do.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

First episode, I have watched of TMNT was back in 1991, I think?

The first episode, that was aired on our TV, was Epic Begins. They actually had a gall to interrupt the movie with news broadcast and they have resumed it. The worst part they have interrupted it right in the middle of the final battle (roughly at the end of episode 4). Later they have started to show series, but from Season 4, skipping Seasons 2 and 3 entirely.

What the heck was so important it needed a newsbreak in a children's programme? The August 1991 coup d'état attempt against Mikhail Gorbachev in the USSR or something?

[Sumac]

What the heck was so important it needed a newsbreak in a children's programme? The August 1991 coup d'état attempt against Mikhail Gorbachev in the USSR or something?
No, it was just a normal news broadcast.
Not sure why it was necessary to interrupt cartoon or at least not to resume it. I think, it was because it was first commercial channel in Russia and people were not experienced there.

[Prowler]

Re-watching this series all the way through was at one point my yearly Summer tradition. I pretty much started this show on my first day of Summer break. I did this from 2003 to 2008. I recorded every episode on VHS pretty much. Ofc then my VHS finally died and I never fully re-watched it every Summer again. But truth be told, I wouldn't want to do that these days. Whenever I feel like watching a few episodes... I can find them.

[Vegita-San]

once i learned how to transfer audio to cassette tapes, I listened to the entire series (once it finished!) each year during high school. it finished and i graduated at the same time. and after that, each september when school would have started, I listen to it again. only this time it's usually driving to and from work stuck in traffic than on a school bus.

It usually takes me till february or march to get through the series. sometimes I'll add on the 4kids series too.

[Wesley]

Happy 30th anniversary, 1987 tmnt!

I was 3 or 4 when I started watching it (I was born in 1986). First episode I remember watching was Enter the Shredder. Though I was born in ‘86, I was able to watch and rewatch the entire series a lot, as it was regularly rerun on RTÉ Two up until the late 00s.

[dragonside]

Happy 3Oth!

Man, I started watching Volume 5 of the DVDs, guess I should start from the very beginning and maybe take some notes, I wanna see all those easter eggs and also rewatch the crossovers.

Cheers all

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

I have plans to start a rewatch on the 30th Anniversary(December 28th). Hopefully I'll be done with Mirage by then.

Some sources say season 1 aired between 14-17 December 1987, others say 28 December 1987-1 January 1988.

[Shellington]

Happy 30 years to the 87 TMNT cartoon.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

I first bought a videotape with the "Epic Begins". Caught the other some months later.

[wpugh2424]

Since they took the original series off YouTubeehete is the best place to watch the complete series and in order ?
Most places have a few missing and out of order

[pferreira]

Since they took the original series off YouTubeehete is the best place to watch the complete series and in order ?
Most places have a few missing and out of orderYeah they really seem to have cracked down on TMNT episodes online for the 80s cartoon. There used to be like three YT channels dedicated to hosting FW episodes of TMNT.

[wpugh2424]

Yea I'm very upset by this
I can't seem to find anything with an accurate list to watch

[FredWolfLeonardo]

I really hope we get a Blu-Ray special edition with all 193 episodes.

I want a convenient way to watch the show. Youtube has taken down practically almost every episode of the 1987 series that isn't zoomed in and high pitched.

[neatoman]

I really hope we get a Blu-Ray special edition with all 193 episodes.

I want a convenient way to watch the show. Youtube has taken down practically almost every episode of the 1987 series that isn't zoomed in and high pitched.

I can easily PM you a convenient way to watch the show, one that does not need to justify giving an HD remaster to a show that won't look good in HD. Or cost you money for that matter.

[FredWolfLeonardo]

I'm not very fond of the HD format for classic stuff, I'd be happy if a Blu-Ray release was still in the standard 480p/i format that the show was aired in. The real appeal is having all 193 episodes available in 1 or 2 discs depending on how much each episode takes up and whether the Blu-Ray disc is single or double layered.

[wpugh2424]

I can easily PM you a convenient way to watch the show, one that does not need to justify giving an HD remaster to a show that won't look good in HD. Or cost you money for that matter.

How's this

[pferreira]

one that does not need to justify giving an HD remaster to a show that won't look good in HD.Such little faith young Padawan. ;)