Best TMNT Show/Adaptation

[M.A.C.O.]

TMNT joins the ranks of other IPs, with it's constant reboots and reimaginings. Marvel, DC, Scooby-Doo, Voltron, Thundercats, She-Ra, Transformers, etc.

Several shows have come and left their mark on the brand. Which do you feel is/are the best?

[IndigoErth]

That's a tough question. I love 1987 and 2003 about equally for their own reasons, with 2012 a really close second, almost tied with the other two. (Hoping 2018 improves, but not holding my breath.) Though show quality is tied with 2003 and 2012. Will try to decide which to choose for poll and vote later.

[newfan]

I voted my favourite which is 2012 but I'll mention 2k3 here too as I watched that recently and found it an enjoyable show.
They all offer something different though. Edit: Also remembering that we have the others shows thanks to the OT, so as far as leaving it's mark that was a pretty big one.

[FredWolfLeonardo]

I believe that 1987 is the best because of its:

1. Colourful characters
2. Voice acting performances
3. Comedy
4. Lore
5. Character Designs and great animation at times.
6. Very well-done background music as well as an amazing theme song.
7. Many of the flaws like substitute voice actors and animation errors which made the show all the more entertaining to watch.

My second vote goes to 2012, which I love for many of the same reasons, as well as due to how it feels like a love letter to the 1987 cartoon at times while still being its own universe. I love 2003 as well, but not as much as the other two.

I can't say exactly for Rise of the Tmnt. I like what its going for so far, but I feel like I would have to watch the complete show before giving a definitive ranking.

[Candy Kappa]

2012 as the best adaptation. 2003 May be closest in following the Comics in story, but I don't feel 2k3 does a good job translating the stories and only the Kirby episode is good.

2012 does mostly its own thing while keeping the spirit.

[Wesley]

2003 is my favourite. I never read the comics, so all of the series was new to me. It has good characterization and story arcs, getting the right balance between being lighthearted and serious. Furthermore, I don’t have any interest in reading the comics (I’m not a big comic book fan), so it’s the closest I’ll get to experiencing what they’re like without having to read them.

I like 1987 but not as much as ‘03. Couldn’t get into 2012 and haven’t seen enough of Rise to able to judge it yet.

[M.A.C.O.]

I would have to say the 2003 series was the most faithful to the comics and is the best adaptation. Back to the Sewers, Fast Forward and Ninja Tribunal excluded. I quite like it all though. Even though Season 4-7 started to go off the rails. Honestly, I think they should've stopped with season 5. Where the TMNT got elemental (Avatar The Last Airbender) powers and transforming into dragons was way over the top. Demon Shredder from the Feudal era was cool though.

Shameful thing about the 2003 series is most people don't know it exists. People i've talked to about the 2018 and 2012 series, told me they never knew there was a 2003 series. They remember the 1987 series, but the 4Kids series went unnoticed.

I'd say the 1987 series did help define the TMNT going forward. The color coded headbands, personalities and traits of the turtles come from the 87 show.

[Andrew NDB]

2012 is the only one I can watch and not cringe at. Beyond some parts of 2K3.

[IndigoErth]

Shameful thing about the 2003 series is most people don't know it exists. People i've talked to about the 2018 and 2012 series, told me they never knew there was a 2003 series. They remember the 1987 series, but the 4Kids series went unnoticed.
Very unfortunate. I very much want a DVD (blu-ray?) complete set of that series like '87 has (and requested it as a Christmas gift). :tsad: I'd buy (or gift suggestion) a 2003 complete set in a heartbeat.

[Wesley]

I'd say the 1987 series did help define the TMNT going forward. The color coded headbands, personalities and traits of the turtles come from the 87 show.

Agreed. Also, the 2003 series would probably have never have made if it wasn’t for ‘87.

Very unfortunate. I very much want a DVD (blu-ray?) complete set of that series like '87 has (and requested it as a Christmas gift). :tsad: I'd buy (or gift suggestion) a 2003 complete set in a heartbeat.

I would love a complete set of ‘03. Probably the best Christmas present I could get.

[Leo656]

Oof. This is tough. I often take the piss out of the original cartoon, but I can't deny it's what caught my attention originally, and it's how most people in general see the TMNT in their head.

The 2K3 show is much more aligned with my personal tastes, but I didn't see the last couple seasons so I can't comment fully.

It would have to be between those two, because 2012 and Rise take too many liberties with the characters and situations for me to call either one the "best" of anything.

I guess I can say 2003 because I cringe less at the awful "jokes" than I do with the original series.

[80gmrp]

I like some bits of 2012, and also like a bit of the music for 1987. Otherwise, 2003 for me.

[neatoman]

Odd that you just picked the shows.

Anyway, if we're just going to judge them as adaptations (rather than general quality or personal preference), then the 4Kids cartoon would win by default. Regardless how you felt they captured the stories, there are still roughly 60 episodes that were clearly based on something out of comics. The Nick show has like 20 (a generous estimate) and the Fred Wolf show has about... 7, I think and that includes such extremely loosely adapted episode the first Casey jones episodes, it would have been 3 if I didn't feel charitable. And Rise has no connection as far as I can tell.

Keep in mind, none the shows are ideal, they're toy advertisement first and entertainment second (in the case of the Fred Wolf cartoon it feels like entertainment somehow the third or fourth priority).

With that in mind, based on my personal opinion, I'd also have to say the 4Kids show is the best. It has a functional overarching storyline, works with it's budget in the second most reasonable way and seeing the Mirage stories animated is fun (I don't really care if they're toned down or made more lighthearted, it's expected for a kids' show). the Nick show can be fun but it's extremely awkward, Rise is probably the best looking but not really what I want and the Fred Wolf cartoon can join Super Friends on the compost pile of boring comic book cartoons.

Here are the rankings for brevity:

4Kids
Nick
Rise
[placeholder for the next show]
Fred Wolf

[M.A.C.O.]

Odd that you just picked the shows.


I thought about adding the movies (and the Next Mutation), but the I decided the shows give more exposure of TMNT material.


Just for fun though, how do the movies and NM stack up for you all?

TMNT (1990)
TMNT II Secret of the Ooze (1991)
TMNT III (1993)
The Next Mutation [1998]
TMNT (2007)
TMNT (2014)
TMNT Out of the Shadows (2016)


I’d be surprised if anything but the 1990 movie tops the list.

[newfan]

I don't find it odd to just have a poll for the shows, the same could be done with just the movies or comics if people wanted to get an idea of preference from members in those areas.

Edit: Agreed with the comment above, 1990 would likely lead :)

[Wesley]

I thought about adding the movies (and the Next Mutation), but the I decided the shows give more exposure of TMNT material.


Just for fun though, how do the movies and NM stack up for you all?

TMNT (1990)
TMNT II Secret of the Ooze (1991)
TMNT III (1993)
The Next Mutation [1998]
TMNT (2007)
TMNT (2014)
TMNT Out of the Shadows (2016)


I’d be surprised if anything but the 1990 movie tops the list.

I haven’t watched Out of the Shadows and don’t remember much of Next Mutation, but not counting those, I’ll put them in the following order:

1. 1990
2. 2007
3. Tmnt 3
4. 2014
5. Secret of the Ooze

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

I think the films (including Turtles Forever) should have their own thread, so we can vote for them separetely.

[Voltron]

I'd go with the 2012 series. I can definitely understand the 2003 series being so loved, though.

The 2012 series just spoke to me. I really liked the whole package.

[Autbot_Benz]

2012 no question. That is the show that got me back in to turtles after I had taken a bit of hiatus. Come Nick release 2012 on blu ray already.

[M.A.C.O.]

The full 1987 and 2012 series are available on iTunes. SD for the 1987 series and SD+ HD for the 2012 series. For the 2003 series, iTunes only has the first three seasons and Turtles Forever in SD but nothing else. It's odd, because Nickelodeon is listed as the owner of the 2003 but seasons 4-7 aren't available.

What gives?

[Sumac]

2003 series.
I don't care how close it was to the original comic books, because, I haven't read them, but the characters and their development, pacing and story arcs have been some of the best I've seen in any animated shows I've ever watched.

Yes, by the end of its run it had suffered due to "kiddification", but first 4 seasons were one of the best stuff I've ever seen.

1987 show is good for what it was intended to be - kiddy show with great and fun characters marketing toys, but I can't put it higher than 2003, since its story was rather...mediocre.

Even though I love 87 show and it was my childhood I still like it and 03 equally, but I give my due where it's due. When it comes to characters and story 2003 show blows competition away. Oh, and it gave us Turtles Forever!!



I haven't watched 2012 show to the end, since its' drop in quality in the beginning of the season 3. I can stomach only so many parodies of good movies at once. After this, show have lost me and I've stopped caring about it altogether. Not that I cared about very much after somewhat disappointing second season.

I haven't watched anything from Rise of TMNT. I watched its trailer and I can say, it's not "my" thing at all.


P.S.
I think the last option in the poll should be fixed - it displays smiley face instead of a number.

[Wesley]

@Sumac I agree with you about ‘03 and ‘87.

Unpopular opinion: ‘03 is way better than Batman: TAS which doesn’t hold up well for me. Or maybe I’m just not a big Batman fan.

[M.A.C.O.]

P.S.
I think the last option in the poll should be fixed - it displays smiley face instead of a number.
Yes, I noticed after I made the poll. A number "8" next to a right parentheses ")" makes a "cool emoji" face. Once polls are made, you can't edit them. So, that's a bummer. But everyone knows when Rise of TMNT came out.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

As much as I loved both 87 and 03, the Nick 2012 one just seems to have something for everyone, and the fact they used so many former VAs from other series or movies cements it. It tops the list for creativiy, nostalgia, call-back characters and plots, and humor. As well as being darker and more daring in many ways.

[Leo656]

Canceled out by "April and Casey are kids now Just Because" and "Vast acres of real estate given to April/Don shipping". :trazz:

All of that was extremely pointless and why I gave up on 2012 relatively early. I HAVE given random episodes a chance several times since then and it just really ain't for me. I groan and roll my eyes even more than at the FW cartoon, which I never even thought was possible. Could I just be catching random "bad" episodes? Maybe, but I doubt it. I never even made it to the movie parody stuff, which is where it seems most people lost interest.

I sat down for the pilot with great enthusiasm, and thought it was pretty good, but a few episodes in and I was already getting annoyed with it. Too many choices I didn't agree with, and no patience to sit around waiting for it to get better (and given the discussions I've read and the episodes I have seen, it doesn't seem like the things I didn't like were ever improved at all, rather given increasingly more focus).

So it definitely didn't have "something for everyone" because it had absolutely zero for me. :lol: I guess I can say, the art style was alright. Given that I'm no fan of CG animation, that's actually a pretty big compliment. I don't think it's a bad show, but it never impressed me and I have very little desire to ever see it again.

Was it poorly-done? No (although there's definitely things I think they shouldn't have done). Did it entertain me? No.

[CyberCubed]

It's hard for me to say, I like the first 3 almost equally for completely different reasons. But as an actual series obviously the 2003 is the best written in terms of action/storytelling, etc. 2012 was also very strong through most of it, with very few complaints aside from a few fillers and such.

I love the original cartoon for the nostalgia/cheesy/sci-fi 80's plots of it all, but if you didn't grow up with it I can understand why some wouldn't care for it. The original cartoon was basically a "you had to be there" kind of thing. Although I'd still argue the very best episodes of the original cartoon are great even for people who never saw it before.

[Leo656]

I think if the entire 80s cartoon was the same as the first five episodes, this would be a much different conversation.

[pferreira]

Yeah obviously I go with the 1987 series. It grabbed my imagination and no other TMNT so far has managed to bring a style and imagination in an animation aesthetic I like. The other shows are either derivative attempts at aping some parts of the FW series or just don't hold the same appeal as the 1987 cartoon series which is fun and enjoyable. The FW series along with The Real Ghostbusters is my favourite cartoon of all time so of course I'd go with the original series.

[Prowler]

I think if the entire 80s cartoon was the same as the first five episodes, this would be a much different conversation.

Good point, indeed...

It'd have been remembered as an underrated gem from the 80s and would have a cult following nowadays... and thus there'd probably be no other TMNT cartoons.

[Wesley]

I think if the entire 80s cartoon was the same as the first five episodes, this would be a much different conversation.

Yep. Season 1 was great, even though it had its own flaws. It has the most rewatch value. If the whole series was like that, it would be better remembered.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

only the Kirby episode is good.

So, the Kirby episode is the only episode you like?

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Canceled out by "April and Casey are kids now Just Because" and "Vast acres of real estate given to April/Don shipping". :trazz:

All of that was extremely pointless and why I gave up on 2012 relatively early. I HAVE given random episodes a chance several times since then and it just really ain't for me. I groan and roll my eyes even more than at the FW cartoon, which I never even thought was possible. Could I just be catching random "bad" episodes? Maybe, but I doubt it. I never even made it to the movie parody stuff, which is where it seems most people lost interest.

I sat down for the pilot with great enthusiasm, and thought it was pretty good, but a few episodes in and I was already getting annoyed with it. Too many choices I didn't agree with, and no patience to sit around waiting for it to get better (and given the discussions I've read and the episodes I have seen, it doesn't seem like the things I didn't like were ever improved at all, rather given increasingly more focus).

So it definitely didn't have "something for everyone" because it had absolutely zero for me. :lol: I guess I can say, the art style was alright. Given that I'm no fan of CG animation, that's actually a pretty big compliment. I don't think it's a bad show, but it never impressed me and I have very little desire to ever see it again.

Was it poorly-done? No (although there's definitely things I think they shouldn't have done). Did it entertain me? No.


I think you got caught up in the hype on the shipping- there really wasn't much of it after the first 1 1/2 seasons. In fact, after Casey was introduced, the focus seemed really to switch more toward their friendly rivalry, which ended up feeling more like the original movie, especially once they get to Northhampton. Those were some of the most fun episodes, especially the Speed Demon one when they built the roadster- reminded me of the scene when they were fixing the old truck in the movie. Others that stick out as great were the Big Trouble parody, and the final Shredderbattle arc, the future episodes (with no Casey or April in sight), and the Usagi and monster arcs. (And this is just me, but I found the Ice Cream Kitty music video hilarious!)

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Yep. Season 1 was great, even though it had its own flaws. It has the most rewatch value. If the whole series was like that, it would be better remembered.

Why not at least make season 2 like that? Turtlemania didn't truly begin until 1989. By 1988, parents hadn't began to complain that much over too much violence in TMNT.

[mikey0]

Why not at least make season 2 like that? Turtlemania didn't truly begin until 1989. By 1988, parents hadn't began to complain that much over too much violence in TMNT.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were a fad in 1989. The first ever live-action movie pushed the fad into a phenomenon in 1990. Turtlemania was a 1990 event.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were a fad in 1989. The first ever live-action movie pushed the fad into a phenomenon in 1990. Turtlemania was a 1990 event.

Bu season 3 (1989) had the most seasons.

[mikey0]

Bu season 3 (1989) had the most seasons.

Season 3 (1989) had the most episodes of the syndicated series, but the Fred Wolf show was moved to the CBS Saturday morning lineup in the fall of 1990. Moviegoers who saw the 1990 flick made it a point to watch the weekday series shortly before and after the movie was in theaters.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Very well-done background music as well as an amazing theme song.

Here's how I tank theme songs

1. Next Mutation (even if I don't like hiphop and rap otherwise)

2. 4 Kids (seasons 1-5)

3. Fred Wolf (seasons 8-10)

4. Fred Wolf (seasons 1-7)

4. Rise of the TMNT

5. Nickelodeon

6. Back to the Sewer and Fast Forward (I haven't heard them many times, would skip when watching it over the Youtube)

[newfan]

I've not heard Mutation's theme song.
Of the other show theme songs, Nick again as fav for me. (Actually I wouldn't mind the end credits as a ring tone).
Of the others, only one I didn't like and would fast forward, was fast forward. Preferred 4kids main seasons theme (and series)

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

I've not heard Mutation's theme song.
Of the other show theme songs, Nick again as fav for me. (Actually I wouldn't mind the end credits as a ring tone).
Of the others, only one I didn't like and would fast forward, was fast forward. Preferred 4kids main seasons theme (and series)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4F-nlT8IwI

[FredWolfLeonardo]

Here's how I tank theme songs

1. Next Mutation

2. 4 Kids

3. Fred Wolf

4. Rise of the TMNT

5. Nickelodeon

Have you heard the Next Mutation Netflix theme? Also, how would you rank the Red Sky, Fast Forward, Back to the sewers and tales of the tmnt?

I've not heard Mutation's theme song.
Of the other show theme songs, Nick again as fav for me. (Actually I
wouldn't mind the end credits as a ring tone).
Of the others, only one I didn't like and would fast forward, was fast forward. Preferred 4kids main seasons theme (and series)

I'm not the biggest fan of the Fast Forward theme, but I like it better than the Back to the Sewers theme. I admittedly like the part of the theme where the turtles themselves speak.

"Get outta my way!"

"It's so not yesterday!"

"It's the only way to play!"

"I guess we're here to stay!"

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Is this the Next Mutation Netflix intro

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5X_pl7PRcU

[FredWolfLeonardo]

Is this the Next Mutation Netflix intro

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5X_pl7PRcU

Yup, that's the one.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Yup, that's the one.

Hard to count that as official, when it came almost 15 years after the series ended.

[sdp]

I voted for all since it's all ONE continuity thanks to Turtles Forever and 2012 doubles down on this. It's one big show guys, the OT was never cancelled, we're just taking a look at the other realities, this is no different than how Power Rangers is still in continuity with all the other shows.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

I voted for all since it's all ONE continuity thanks to Turtles Forever and 2012 doubles down on this. It's one big show guys, the OT was never cancelled, we're just taking a look at the other realities, this is no different than how Power Rangers is still in continuity with all the other shows.

The Mirage turtles are also in Turtles Forever, so maybe it's just the Mirage comics continuing forever, taking looks into other realities and using other mediums? One big comic.

[M.A.C.O.]

Where do the "red sky" seasons of the 1987 show fit? Lol

Both Turtles Forever and the 2012 interpreted the 1987 as a bunch of goof balls who don't use their weapons or take things seriously.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

1987 as a bunch of goof balls who don't use their weapons.

I guess that was most common during season 4, when parents complained all the time over violence.

[FredWolfLeonardo]

Where do the "red sky" seasons of the 1987 show fit? Lol

Both Turtles Forever and the 2012 interpreted the 1987 as a bunch of goof balls who don't use their weapons or take things seriously.

In turtles forever, they used their weapons just fine (although they did use trash cans in one scene and there was a fire hydrant in another, i recall) but didn't take anything seriously at all.

In Nick, they took things seriously but didn't use their weapons on living beings until they were trained by their Nick counterparts. (although the pay off was oddly shown against robotic foot soldiers).

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

fire hydrant in another, i recall) but didn't take anything seriously at all..

I think the fire hydrant was in the 2017 Nickelodeon crossover episodes.

[FredWolfLeonardo]

I think the fire hydrant was in the 2017 Nickelodeon crossover episodes.

Yes, there were two instances of fire hydrants in the Nick epsiodes (80s Raphael using it first on Krang in the 80s Dimension, then trying it against Bebop in the Nick dimension but failing).

I haven't seen Turtles Forever in a while, but I do recall Michelangelo surfing on the water coming out of a fire hydrant and his 2003 counterpart laughing along, after it was used to escape from or defeat an enemy I think.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Leonardo wasn't afraid of cutting his sword into the extraterrestrial plant monster in It Came from Beneath the Sewers.

[FredWolfLeonardo]

Leonardo wasn't afraid of cutting his sword into the extraterrestrial plant monster in It Came from Beneath the Sewers.

That was definetly one of the few exceptions of the turtles using their weapons on living beings.

Albeit, the plant monster wasn't as intelligent as say Shredder and Krang, whom it would obviously be much more shocking to see stabbed.

Michealngelo and Donatello were definetly much more free to use their weapons on sentient characters though, like the time Michelangelo hit a thug with his nunchucks in "Return of the Shredder" or Donatello hit Shredder in the face using his Bo Staff in "Name that Toon".

To be more accurate, the 2017 Nickelodeon crossover should've shown the 80s turtles training paying off when Leonardo or Raphael manages to stab Bebop or Rocksteady (but not mortally). It was cool to see them go all out on the Foot Soldiers (who were much more competent than usual), but its nothing new.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

That was definetly one of the few exceptions of the turtles using their weapons on living beings.

I would have liked to see the turtles and Shredder throwing shuriken into the eyes of the extraterrestrial monster in Splinter No More, instead of tricking the monster to killing itself.

[pferreira]

Here's how I tank theme songs

1. Next Mutation (even if I don't like hiphop and rap otherwise)The original one of course, not that awful Netflix theme song) :D

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

I think the Netflix song has something with rights to do.

[pferreira]

I think the Netflix song has something with rights to do.Yeah they couldn't use the original song so they created a new one for Netflix which is shall we say...not very good. :-?

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

That was definetly one of the few exceptions of the turtles using their weapons on living beings.

I also notice Leonardo could have killed April O'Neil in the Catwoman from Channel 6 by cutting his sword near her throat to get rid of Shredder's mind control device (instead of the turtles just grabbing her and ripping the device of).

[TMNTdude87]

Season 3 (1989) had the most episodes of the syndicated series, but the Fred Wolf show was moved to the CBS Saturday morning lineup in the fall of 1990. Moviegoers who saw the 1990 flick made it a point to watch the weekday series shortly before and after the movie was in theaters.

Not to mention but Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was the top selling toy brand of that year. Couldn't say that with 1989, or 1988. The movie added to the growing momentum of the brand, not to mention all the 80's hold outs were disappearing from shelves, giving TMNT a very unfair advantage over anything coming out (except maybe Kenner's relaunch of the Batman line) at that time. I believe the brand made a billion dollars by the end of the year. 1990 was "Turtlemania".

[Whatswiththeheadbands?]

The only versions of the TMNT that I can rewatch/reread are:

Mirage comics, which i'm going through for the second time, and they are awesome

2003 series, which is my second favorite animated show, next to BTAS

The 1990 Movie, which is still the only TMNT movie that is better than decent

For theme tunes, I would say the only 2 that I really like are the 'Red Sky' seasons of the OT and first season of 2003 (and even then, that's just borderline tolerable)

I'm pretty hard to impress when it comes to TMNT lol

[M.A.C.O.]

Now that Rise is presumably over. Have people's opinions on the show changed or remained the same.

I really need to rewatch the 2012 series soon, myself.

[ssjup81]

My vote goes to all of them, because there's something for everyone for every incarnation. It's tough to choose "the best" when everyone have different tastes.

I haven't seen all of these incarnations either. I've seen the OT and 2012 all the way through. I saw some of 2003 and...Rise just didn't draw me in and haven't seen any of it. It'd be unfair of me to vote on the OT and 2012 only. I still haven't seen all of 2003. At the time I did catch the couple of eps (which isn't enough to judge it, mind you), I couldn't fully get into it because it felt like it was taking itself too seriously. I felt 2012 had a good balance of serious moments and the not serious ones...still had its issues, though.

So, um, yeah, all four get a vote since this is too subjective to vote on objectively and wouldn't be fair since I haven't seen every series in its entirety anyway.

[TMNTmousers]

2003 series easily

[DVSleeSmooth]

Between 2k3 and 2012 for me. I wasnt alive in the 80s and I feel the show is kinda product of its timey for me So I dont care too much about it. And Rise has good animation I just havent really had the time or intrest to like binge watch it. But Im gonna pick 2012 since I grew up with that one. I like 2k3 but not really Seasons 5-7

[neatoman]

OK, this bugs me about the poll every time I check in on this thread. Can a mod please remove the "8)" from one of the poll options? Maybe like change it to "(2018.)" or remove it entirely, because Rise's reletively unique title means we don't need the year to make it clear which one it is?