TMNT International

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

How well have the TMNT done in the country where you live? Let's think of some questions:

Which year did TMNT hit your native country? Do you think the turtles were popular there?

Did the cartoons air over television? Which cartoons and what channels? If you don't live in an English-speaking country: Were the episodes dubbed, or were subtitles used instead? Do you know if home video releases were common?

What comics were published?

Was getting access to the toys and merchandise easy?

Were the films rated? Which ages?

Did you have to wait a long time between original releases and release in your home country?

How many years did the Turtlemania(s) last there? Were the cartoons and comics cancelled before the final episodes or issues?

[Wesley]

I dunno about some of those questions (I was just 3 or 4 when the OT first aired in Ireland)(I was born in 1986), but I remember the Turtles being very popular here at the time until Power Rangers came out.

All tmnt cartoons have aired on Irish television. The 1987 cartoon was still regularly rerun on RTÉ Two from the mid 90s to the late 00s. ‘03 was aired from 2003 until around 2009 but, like in other countries, it was never as popular as the original toon, but all seasons except Ninja Tribunal were shown. Don’t remember when ‘12 started but all seasons have been shown up to season 4 so far. Rise hasn’t aired yet.

The TMHT comics came out in Ireland at the same time as the UK, but I don’t know about the others. Only read a few issues here and there, so I can’t really comment.

Getting toys and merchandise was easy enough (aside from the video games), even in 1995 when Turtle-Mania had nearly come to an end.

Didn’t pay much attention to the films at the time, so I can’t comment.

I didn’t know if there were going to be new episodes of ‘87 back in 1995, as RTE started repeating the entire series from the beginning in the summer of that year after showing the season 8 episode Enter: Krakus. It was a surprise to be able to watch two more seasons along with Turtle Trek when they were shown a few years later in 1998.

Home video releases were common alright.

I guess Tmnt has done well in Ireland. They’re still remembered as a cultural icon nearly two decades later.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Except some Mirage issues published in 1987, TMNT as a franchise first hit Sweden in August 1990, starting with the Archie comics Fred Wolf series.

Alll three cartoons aired (the first over TV3 Sweden and TV 1000 Sweden, the second over Cartoon Network Sweden and the third over Nickelodeon Sweden). All series have mostly been dubbed into Swedish, except seasons 4-5 of the Fred Wolf series. Not many Fred Wolf episodes were released to home videos, and the Fred Wolf series was even released to home video with a different dub.

Some Archie and Fleetway comics were published in Sweden, but far from all. A few Mirage comics have also been published. Dreamwave and IDW have also been published.

The most basic action figures, vehicles and bases have been released. Some other toys were also released, but many of the later toys in the original line flopped. To air toy advertisements in Sweden, you had to air from abroad (which TV 3 Sweden did, airing from the UK) the there were still many angry parents who believe it is a government responsibility rather than a parents' responsibility.

The 1990 film was rated 15, most of the other were rated 11.

Waiting was originally long, around 2-3 years for the cartoons and circa 6-12 months for Archie comics.

Fred Wolf Turtlemania lasted between 1990 and 1994-1995. I know seasons 1-5 and Vacation in Europe aired.

The 4 Kids wave lasted only a few years. I think only seasons 1-2 have been dubbed into Swedish (which is a scandal, poor children of Sweden, no John Bishop and no Triceraton attack on Earth. No showdown with Shredder and no Leonardo becoming Raphael.).

The Nickelodeon generation began in November 2012, with the Nickelodeon series first airing. Most of the merchandise died around mid-2014, but the series continued running until late-2017 or early 2018 and we didn't have to wait that long. I think it is the first TMNT series to have aired from the first to the final episode in Sweden.

[pferreira]

Which year did TMNT hit your native country? 1990 in the UK I think.

Do you think the turtles were popular there? Extremely popular, just like in the US.

Did the cartoons air over television? Yes and satellite channel Sky One.

Which cartoons and what channels? Not sure about the other cartoon shows but the FW series aired on CBBC (BBC1) as well as Sky One as part of The DJ Kat Show. 8)

What comics were published? Fleetway's 'Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles' comic. The other iterations also had comics.

Was getting access to the toys and merchandise easy? Not always but at least something from TMNT was available.

Were the films rated? Which ages? Yep. The first four movies got a PG rating. The two PD movies got a 12 certificate. The first two movies were heavily edited to remove Mike's weapons. In 2003 all cuts were waived by the BBFC.

Did you have to wait a long time between original releases and release in your home country? When the first TMNT movie arrived on VHS the sequel was just released into cinemas in the US.

How many years did the Turtlemania(s) last there? Were the cartoons and comics cancelled before the final episodes or issues? Not sure about Fleetway's comic but the BBC only showed Season 2 and 3 of the FW series which is what most kids in the UK remember. Those lucky enough to have Sky One got to see the whole ten seasons eventually. At one point The DJ Kat Show would air an episode in the morning before school and one after school. Great memories! :)

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

I had access to Sky 1 but then came a message: Sky 1 is going to be scrambled from 1 September 1993 and from that day I couldn't watch it from Sweden anymore.

[pferreira]

I had access to Sky 1 but then came a message: Sky 1 is going to be scrambled from 1 September 1993 and from that day I couldn't watch it from Sweden anymore.Yeah same with me. I moved house Feb 1993 but we put the house on lease so I was still able to visit to watch TV but then it all went. :cry:

Only channel in the UK to show every episode of TMNT even if they were edited for the 'Hero Turtles' version.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Which year did TMNT hit your native country? 1990 in the UK I think.

I think it's strange, when there is no need for dubbing. Especially reading that the series hit France by 1989 https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tortues_Ninja_:_Les_Chevaliers_d%27%C3%A9caille so it would make more sense if it hit the UK by 1988 or something.

Anyway, British Sky Channel almost got cult status among children in Sweden during the late-1980's and early-1990's. It was there you could watch MASK, Masters of the Universe, Transformers and other cool action-adventure cartoons of the time.

[newfan]

Ah so this might be why I managed to miss the OT, all but a vague memory of catching some on regular TV.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Swedish public service SVT would probably never air TMNT, like British BBC did.

[neatoman]

Swedish public service SVT would probably never air TMNT, like British BBC did.

No, it wouldn't. The show is probably classified as advertisement towards children, which is illegal to air from within the country. That's why a lot of cartoons only air from the UK.

[The Turtle Terminator]

TMNT 2003 was shown in the UK from around 2003-2008 on Jetix and on CITV from 2003-2009. It has recently rearrived on Sky TV on Demand

All was shown aside from the Ninja Tribunal season (but the season 4 episode was shown), Mayhem from Mutant Island and Turtles Forever

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

No, it wouldn't. The show is probably classified as advertisement towards children, which is illegal to air from within the country. That's why a lot of cartoons only air from the UK.

I don't think it's just because of that law, as it wasn't adopted by the Swedish parliament until 1991.

https://theculturetrip.com/europe/sweden/articles/sweden-bans-advertising-targeted-children/

SVT didn't air other similair action-adventure cartoons during the 1980's (like GI Joe, Masters of the Universe and Transformers). SVT in general are extremely anti-commercial.

Also, parents would complain over the series being "too violent".

[sdp]

Mexico has made the latin-american dubs which at least the OT has iconic voices and is remembered fondly. It aired on national TV for a few years at least and apparently all if not most of the seasons were dubbed. The toys were available but not all of them for a few years, anime, Saint Seiya specifically cut Turtlemania short as Knights of the Zodiac/Saint Seiya was huge, DBZ huge, similarly Power Rangers mania was cut short there because of Dragon Ball. There was a TMNT comic that translated archie but eventually did its own stories and plenty of bootleg toys of the OT back in the day.

2k3 was also aired on national over the air apparently and has plenty of fans as well, unsure about toys. 2012 I'm guessing aired on Nickelodeon, not all waves were released and when waves were released it was weird batches where the stores would get tons of the same figures, didn't matter if they were common or hard to get in the US, not a lot of variety and they usually shelfwarmed, Rise toyline still hasn't arrived and i"d blame 2012, and the two PD movies shelfwarming. Turtles are generally liked by most people here and tons of memories from the OT, movies even 2k3 but i'd say people aren't as nostalgic for the turtles, as they are for other anime but turtlemania deifnitely existed. Anime has just been bigger in latin america for decades which means some american shows weren't as popular as they were in America where anime only hit big until the late 90s.

[pferreira]

I think it's strange, when there is no need for dubbing. Especially reading that the series hit France by 1989 https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tortues_Ninja_:_Les_Chevaliers_d%27%C3%A9caille so it would make more sense if it hit the UK by 1988 or something.Did a bit of research into BBC airings as part of after school as well as Going Live! and I can confirm it was definitely the beginning of 1990 when it first aired and as previously stated Season 2:

https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/0/20?adv=1&order=asc&q=Teenage+Mutant+Hero+Turtles&yf=1989&yt=1993#search

Judging by the air dates of Going Live! it seems then my first exposure to TMNT was repeats through this show:

https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/0/20?adv=1&q=Going+Live&media=all&yf=1987&yt=1991&mf=1&mt=12&tf=00%3A00&tt=00%3A00#search

Ah so this might be why I managed to miss the OT, all but a vague memory of catching some on regular TV.The FW series was shown through the BBC throughout the 90s perhaps up until 1996?

[newfan]

The FW series was shown through the BBC throughout the 90s perhaps up until 1996?

I caught a little on the BBC but couldn't remember when, if it didn't air until 1990 then it would have been around then/91 maybe, that may have been around the last of my toon years so that's why I wouldn't have watched much further on.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

I caught a little on the BBC but couldn't remember when, if it didn't air until 1990 then it would have been around then/91 maybe, that may have been around the last of my toon years so that's why I wouldn't have watched much further on.

I wouldn't be surprised if it hit Sky Channel already by 1988 and 1989.

[newfan]

I wouldn't be surprised if it hit Sky Channel already by 1988 and 1989.

Possibly, I don't know, I didn't have sky/cable until like 95.... 4 channels compared to show/movie access now :)

I know Wikipedia isn't always correct but I just reading up on all the editing, not only the word Ninja from the title but also whenever it was used in the show, then the issues with Mikey's weapon internationally causing a change in his signature weapon from season 3. When you think of what you see now.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Mikey's weapon internationally causing a change in his signature weapon from season 3..

It wasn't until season 5 (starting with "My Brother, the Bad Guy").

[pferreira]

I caught a little on the BBC but couldn't remember when, if it didn't air until 1990 then it would have been around then/91 maybe, that may have been around the last of my toon years so that's why I wouldn't have watched much further on.BBC only ever showed Season 2 and 3 so it's unlikely you would have had a chance to see new episodes anyway.

I wouldn't be surprised if it hit Sky Channel already by 1988 and 1989.I don't think so. I believe they started being shown after the BBC started and they definitely started from Season 1 onwards because that's how I was able to see the first season.

It wasn't until season 5 (starting with "My Brother, the Bad Guy").He didn't have them in the CBS episodes of Season 4 from what I remember. Even in the new intro he doesn't have them, only the grappling hook.

not only the word Ninja from the title but also whenever it was used in the show, then the issues with Mikey's weapon internationally causing a change in his signature weapon from season 3. When you think of what you see now.The word ninja was rarely used in the cartoon, the biggest amount of editing done for the UK was reframing or replacing scenes so Mikey's weapons weren't seen in shot. Having said that Sky I remember was fairly lenient about showing it mostly uncut apart from the show title. The VHS releases depending on which you got were edited differently which is just plain weird. There really wasn't much consistency between edited versions shown on the BBC, Sky and what was on VHS.

I do always wonder however why other European countries censored the show like Germany. Did they have the 'ninja' ban as well?

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

He didn't have them in the CBS episodes of Season 4 from what I remember.

He uses them in the Technodrome laundry in "The Dimension X Story".

[Wesley]

In Ireland, the OT was called Ninja Turtles and unedited until the name was changed to Hero Turtles starting with season 2. Maybe the Irish censors just started following the UK censors? Oddly enough, season 1 was placed between three and four, so I’d guess 2 was the first season to be aired on RTÉ Two.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

I do always wonder however why other European countries censored the show like Germany. Did they have the 'ninja' ban as well?

In Sweden, the cartoon aired over TV 3 Sweden who had to air from London to avoid stupid Swedish government politicians. TV 3 Sweden was launched in December 1987 and from 1924–1925 until 1991, the public services of SR and SVT had monopoly on all radio and television in Sweden.

When the monopoly had been broken, Sweden instead banned advertising to children under 10 and Sweden in general had stricter television advertising laws. So TV 3 Sweden still aired from London to avoid it.

[pferreira]

He uses them in the Technodrome laundry in "The Dimension X Story".I had no idea. Thanks for correcting me. :)

In Sweden, the cartoon aired over TV 3 Sweden who had to air from London to avoid stupid Swedish government politicians.From London? Do you mean through a dedicated TV station or from Sky One's DJ Kat Show?

In Ireland, the OT was called Ninja Turtles and unedited until the name was changed to Hero Turtles starting with season 2. Maybe the Irish censors just started following the UK censors?That's interesting. I tend to think the change in Mikey's weapons was probably partly due to Fred Wolf realising the show was being produced around this time in Dublin where it was as you say already being censored.

[Wesley]

In 2007-2008, episodes were aired on RTÉ Two in their unedited US form, interestingly enough.

In addition to the usual edited stuff (Mikey’s nuchucks and the word ‘ninja’), Shredder saying in Get Shredder “Or your friends at Channel Six will be no more” and the closeup scene of one of Earth’s major cities burning in Turtles to the Second Power was cut. Don’t know about the other edited versions.

Just wanted to make a correction also. The OT was partially edited in Ireland until the second episode of season 2 (Mikey’s nuchucks were edited out, though the word ‘ninja’ was used). The show was fully edited after that.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

From London? Do you mean through a dedicated TV station or from Sky One's DJ Kat Show?

For many years, TV 3 Sweden had its headquarters and studios in London, while broadcasting towards Sweden, too avoid Swedish laws.

[pferreira]

For many years, TV 3 Sweden had its headquarters and studios in London, while broadcasting towards Sweden, too avoid Swedish laws.Ah, that's interesting.

Just wanted to make a correction also. The OT was partially edited in Ireland until the second episode of season 2 (Mikey’s nuchucks were edited out, though the word ‘ninja’ was used). The show was fully edited after that.I can't remember if Season 1 edited out Mikey's weapons in the UK. Like I previously said I believe the episodes were shown on Sky One unedited at least for a while otherwise I wouldn't have known Mikey used nunchucks so obviously I would have to have seen them in the cartoon.

[Sumac]

I think the first TMNT stuff have appeared here in Russia in about 1990. It were small books and toys, but without any packaging. 3rd channel have started to broadcast OT in 1991.
Turtles were extremely popular in Russia. Along with Disney afternoon cartoons, TMNT WERE the childhood for kids here.

OT was broadcasted by 3rd channel, the first commercial channel in USSR / Russia. The episodes were dubbed, though quality of the dub was not the best. I don't think there were any official home releases were available in 90s.

Only Archie's TMNT were published. But I am not sure how many of them. I know that they have been published up until Future Shark Trilogy.

I don't think getting official toys and merch was easy. There was only one official shop in Moscow and it was closed in the middle of the 90s. Other toy shops had plenty of bootlegs.

TMNT movies haven't been in cinemas at all.

Turtlemania went down somewhere in the middle of the 90s and was replaced with Pokemon and anime craze. OT series was broadcasted until season 7 on 3rd channel. In 2000 it was reborodcasted by another channel until season 9. Season 10 was never dubbed or translated into Russian and broadcasted on TV.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Don’t remember when ‘12 started

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teenage_Mutant_Ninja_Turtles_(2012_TV_series)#Broa dcast

1 October 2012