I have a question to ask...and it does involve TMNT

[TMNTFanCrys]

Hi everyone. I know I haven't really been a vivid member of these forums, I've just been going through some serious family issues. But anyways, here is my question. I am 18 years old, and a Senior in high school. Am I really stupid, or childish, for trying to recollect any old TMNT items or any of the new TMNT items? Why I ask that?

Well, like I said, I've been going through some family issues, mainly, my folks are getting a divorce. And ever since I was a little girl, I used to buy almost anything that was TMNT. I had books, and videos, and almost anything TMNT. And I started collecting and saving all that stuff when I was about 8, to give to my kids. So that one day, they can have something they can look back on, about what was popular in the 90s, and when I was a kid. I thought that was a very wise and thoughtful idea to do, to give back to my kids, when I have them. Well, my father, in spite of everything that has been going on with my folks' divorce, even when I told him not to do this, he got rid of EVERYTHING I have ever kept for my kids.

I have been, so far, trying to slowly get some of the new TMNT stuff that has been out. And I was wondering, if any of you thought it was stupid of me to be collecting TMNT stuff at my age and all. This is not a fake sob story so you guys can feel bad and try and give me stuff. This is just simply a confusion kind of thing. If it's not stupid, then HOPEFULLY, I don't know how, but maybe hopefully I can get some of the older things I had back.

Thank you everyone for listening to my, probably, pitiful post.

Love you guys

Erin

[Karpo_007]

No, it's not stupid. Many people here collect the toys.

[Reznorite420]

Take a look around you on these forums, you'll see that the youngest people on here are around the 13-14 year old range. That's right, the YOUNGEST.

This place is for people who know that buying and collecting TMNT stuff isn't just for kids, but for anybody, that's right, ANYBODY interested in collecting TMNT stuff.

In case you haven't noticed on here yet, there are people in their mid 20s and early 30s that are collecting the toys for themselves more than I am, and I'm a crazed fan...at 19 years old too!

So, in other words, no, it's not at all childish or stupid; it's a way of telling the mainstream, "Look, I know what I like and I don't care what other people say about it. If you can't get the fact that TMNT didn't start out as that goofy kids show but rather something dark and moody (the original comic), then it's not my fault. Buying the figures and collecting them for myself is a sign that maybe I have more of a brain than you do!"

Just look at me: while my collection tails in comparison to many of the people on this board, I've still collected TMNT figures none the less, and I'm not ashamed of it.

I say go ahead and buy TMNT stuff to your heart's content (maybe if you're lucky someone on Ebay will be selling MOC figures of the original line too).

Just one thing: I'm being perfect honest and not trying to put you down, but, I thought you registered here already knowing it wasn't "childish" or "stupid" to buy TMNT stuff for yourself (most people that register here do, myself included).

If I still havent' convinced you that it's in no way, shape, or form "stupid" or "childish" to buy TMNT stuff for yourself, Leo656 will; he shops at Toys 'R Us on a regular basis (though he's looking for more than just TMNT stuff), and he's 21 years old and looks like he could beat the sh*t out of Triple H (the wrestler) too ;)

[Jarrah White]

I don't think your post is pitiful, it always helps to talk about it. I have troubles with my father too, as far as I'm concerned, he doesn't exist.

[raphael90]

I see nothing wrong with buying back Turtle stuff. I'm 20 and I've gotten alot of my stuff back, i.e. tapes and action figures. A little childish pleasure is good to keep us young at heart...in fact, I prefer to be a kid at heart rather than grow up like the rest of my generation seeingly has.

[TMNTFanCrys]

I did register on here knowing that the Turtles were for everyone, no matter what, but when you've been dealing with your father, who doesn't understand, for a while, it grows on you. Like, my folks feel that I should "act my age," but there is no sign or anything that says that the Turtles can't be for everyone. I guess just from their talks and all, that I forgot that. I now have this motto "If you don't like the things I collect, or the things I like, then you're not forced to like it. However, don't tell me what I should and should not like."

Also, where can I find some of the old tapes and figures and all? Would my best bet be Ebay? Maybe I should get an account on Ebay. But keep in touch guys, I wanna become a more frequent member on here.

[raphael90]

Ebay would probably be your best bet yeah...I've gotten a few figures there. If there's ever a sci-fi convention near you, I'd suggest you check it out...I got a couple of MOC figures and some loose ones at one. Some people have tupperware things full of loose action figures, I had to dig but I found a few good ones.

[Jarrah White]

www.amazon.com is pretty good too, I think they sell old turtle videos.

[Kid Icarus]

My mom did that a few years back. It sucks... stupid parents. :oops: .

I say go for it. I've been scrambling to get the new figs and comics when ever I hear there are new ones out. And, if I had a job, I'd rebuild my old collection.

[azure turtle]

TMNTFanCrys, I'm sorry to hear about the hard times you're going through. :( Everyone goes through rough times, but I hope you hang in there and keep your chin up. Things will get better.

As for collecting TMNT stuff... I don't think that's childish at all. There are grown men, and I repeat, grown men who collect Barbies. You think they care what others think of them? TMNT is your hobby, and it's a part of you. Don't let anyone else tell you otherwise. It's your busines. It's your life.

As for finding old TMNT stuff... Ebay is definitely a great way to get toys and other things (watches, pins, bed sheets, video games, etc). If you want any of the old comics, I highly recommend going to www.mycomicshop.com or www.milehighcomics.com since they can be cheaper and more reliable than ebay. Best of luck to you, and take care of yourself. :)

[Misfit]

It sucks that people get grief for their hobbies. I collect TMNT, Jem, My Little Pony, She-Ra, and other things and luckily my Mum doesn't really care but from time to time she will tell me I should spend my money on "better" things. What's it to her? It's my money, my life, my hobbies aren't hurnting anyone so what's the problem? As long as everything can fit in my room and I don't sacrfice things like food or clothes for collecting then I don't see one. Eh, she's not so bad, 95% of the time she doesn't say anything but there are those other times...

Anyway as everyone else has said, try Ebay. For the most part they are good. I've found a few gems recently but watch out for increase in prices, since it's gettng near Christmas and people tend to go a bit nuts (like me!). Good luck. :)

[Deathknight]

My Grandma threw out everything from when my mom was a kid. She had a Barbie Boardgame or something and she found out that it was worth $5000 in the condition it was in and my Grandma had threw it out naturally.

[MW8979]

Money permitting, you should try to recollect the old toys and buy the new ones. As I'm sure you know, they appreciate with time - both financially and sentimentally/emotionally.

[Jarrah White]

I collect lego alot, used to collect Del Pardo die-cast model cars. My mother keeps suggesting I save up for a car. :lol: With the amount of lego I've collect I could build my own motorcar! :lol:

[Kali]

Agreeing with everyone else, it's not childish at all to collect TMNT. Or anything else for that matter. As long as it makes you happy, and is NOT interfering with the rest of your life, there's nothing at all wrong with it.

And if your parents still give your grief, just tell them what I told mine: All those TMNT things could have been drugs. Think about it...

[Meira-Bates]

That's one thing I've really gotta give props to my mom on. While she doesn't particularly like helping my collection along, she DOES understand and doesn't try to force me out of collecting what I do. She even used that that Kali said against my friend's mom when she (the friend's mom) was complaining about my friend's and my anime collecting. The friend's mom shut up after that.

[Leo656]

Me and my dad don't agree on much, but I am thankful that he lets me spend my money how I choose. I have my whole life to invest and buy a car and deal with creditors and scrape for rent money, but I'll only be able to devote a great deal of my time to entertaining myself for a few years longer, and in that time, I'm going to do whatever the heck I want. He kind of snickers when I come home with a ton of new He-Man/TMNT/WWE stuff, but he knows he'd do the same thing. His mom threw out all HIS toys, too...

The way I see it, as long as it's not putting you in debt to collect this stuff, then go for it. Like Kali said, there's worse ways for you to spend your time.

[TMNTFanCrys]

My mom really isn't the one who ever had the problem with all the stuff I saved and/or collected. In fact, she thought it was like the noblest thing in the world. Because she's come to the point where she wants grand babies, badly, but of course, she respects the fact that I'm only 18. Sorry, I'm not gonna have any kids until I'm financially stable, have a good home, and a good job. Just kind of makes me mad, that my dad could of allowed me, like 30 minutes at the most, to collect all my old things from our old place, before he kicked mom and I out. But no, he wouldn't let us back into the house, to get our old stuff, so he just threw everything away. And I had some really good old TMNT stuff also. I never was able to keep up with any of my old TMNT action figures, but I did keep some reading books. I never was into comics as a kid, so I never even HAD a TMNT comic before, in my entire life. And as for movies or tapes, I had all the TMNT movies on tape, but I now have those on DVD. I also had like, a ton of the old VHS tapes from the cartoon series that ran for so long. I also had the "Coming Out of Their Shells" Tour tape, making of tape, and the cassette tape that went with it. I also had some VHS tapes that came from Burger King, that one time when they were giving them out. So I had a pretty good collection going on, not to mention a Donatello plush that I had for YEARS, (he was a big one too), and also, mom also had saved the Donatello signature that I had gotten when I went to the Coming Out of Their Shells tour. But all that is gone now, gonna be hard to get some of it back.

But as far as the new collection goes...I have burned all three soundtracks on CDs, all the offical movies on DVD, I have their new board game and their Jr. Yatzee game, their PS2 game (I can't pass stage 3), I got the 4 DVDs that are out at the moment for their new series, I bought one puzzle and one coloring book (which fell apart on me), 3 action figures (A Don, a Mikey, and an extreme Leo), a T-shirt from Spencers, a Donatello keychain, and one Giant Donatello action figure.

So I guess I'm starting on the right track. I also have been taking like, trips down memory lane. Been renting all the old series VHSs from my local video store. Maybe I'll get lucky, and they'll order some copies for me to buy, since they say I am the only one who has been recently renting them at the moment.

Phew! LOL. No, my mom supports me. She thinks, nowadays, that Don in the 3rd movie is funny as hell, and she also told me, when I was younger, I used to go up to her and complain about Shredder. (This was like when the old cartoon series first started on TV). She said I used to tell her what Shredder would do to the Turtles' and always ask "If they'd be okay." She thought I was the cutest thing. My mom is a pretty round, awesome mother. She even told me that I should work for Peter and all. She thinks I have these amazing coloring skills. Like, I go online, and collect fanart from different websites (I specifically take a favoring to your artwork Kali), and what I do is that I print the fanart out sometimes, and re-color the original drawing. (I, of course, put the artist's name on the picture, and I never claim it's my original work, I just like to color). I am like the crappiest drawer in the world, I could never draw the Turtles like some of the drawings I have seen, but I do know my colors. Like, all Turtles' aren't just a specific green, they each have a different shade or hue of green. Maybe I'm just going on and on, but I feel that there is not just one primary color.

As a career goes, I'm not sure what you would call someone like me with the coloring skills I have. An inker maybe? But I'm not sure. I think it would be awesome if I worked for Peter and the brillant people behind the Turtles'. It would sure make my mom proud, because it would help us so much. Right now, because of our current situation, the more income we have, the better we can pay our bills.

I'll end this now, sorry for going on and on. Keep in touch everyone, and I'll be back tomorrow to answer any replies.

Erin

[Kid Icarus]

Crys, glad to hear you and your mom are still cool :). I can kinda understand about your dad... my dad's a creep, but I won't go in to that here.


And if your parents still give your grief, just tell them what I told mine: All those TMNT things could have been drugs. Think about it... Finally, a way to get my grandparents off my back! :D

[azure turtle]

Hey Crys, I'm glad to hear things are going much better for you. Your mom sounds like an awesome person, and it's good that the two of you are supporting each other through this hard time.

Have you ever thought about applying for a coloring job at local publishers? Or, if there are any indy comic companies around your area, you can try applying for a job there. It's worth a shot.

Stay strong. You'll be all right. :)

[Kali]

My mom is a pretty round, awesome mother. She even told me that I should work for Peter and all. She thinks I have these amazing coloring skills. Like, I go online, and collect fanart from different websites (I specifically take a favoring to your artwork Kali), and what I do is that I print the fanart out sometimes, and re-color the original drawing. (I, of course, put the artist's name on the picture, and I never claim it's my original work, I just like to color). I am like the crappiest drawer in the world, I could never draw the Turtles like some of the drawings I have seen, but I do know my colors. Like, all Turtles' aren't just a specific green, they each have a different shade or hue of green. Maybe I'm just going on and on, but I feel that there is not just one primary color.
Wow, I don't know how I missed that reference the first time I read that post. :goofygri:

And I agree with Azure that if coloring's your thing, try and apply as a colorist. Remember to show both the original and recolored work when trying to apply. :wink: There are usually a couple different levels of coloring, color layout and choice, and actual application.

[TMNTFanCrys]

I might try and do that, but unfortunately, in the state of Louisiana (where I was born, raised, and still residing), there isn't much that goes on down here. Not much talent stuff and all. Louisiana is basically good for Mardi Gras, Cajun food, Jazz, and Britney Spears. Maybe I'm just not looking in the right place, not sure.

[DarthRaphael]

I'm 26 and I still collect toys. Don't worry about it.

[JameO]

Yeah I am 16 but parents still think I should "grow up" but I don't see how collecting toys can make you any less of a person. And welcome back Darth! Where you been?

[TMNTFanCrys]

Get an avatar for these forums. You know, the pic you guys all have on the side, I would love to have like a Don avatar, or me and a Don like cartoon doll avatar, or whatever. Maybe a banner or signature also, but I don't know how you make those. Also, I've been seeing some people have Turtle emotion icons (or smileys and all) where do you get those?

[Kali]

Get an avatar for these forums. You know, the pic you guys all have on the side, I would love to have like a Don avatar, or me and a Don like cartoon doll avatar, or whatever. Maybe a banner or signature also, but I don't know how you make those. Also, I've been seeing some people have Turtle emotion icons (or smileys and all) where do you get those?
Well, if you want an avatar, you could always go through the gallery that's in your profile (we have that here, right?) It's at the bottom of your profile page. You can also do a custom one and store it someplace online.

For Turtle smilies, just click "View More Emoticons" link under the emoticons you see when you type a message.

[Cascadia]

I am almost 25 years old and I do collect my TMNT things.

[Travis]

Get an avatar for these forums. You know, the pic you guys all have on the side, I would love to have like a Don avatar, or me and a Don like cartoon doll avatar, or whatever. Maybe a banner or signature also, but I don't know how you make those. Also, I've been seeing some people have Turtle emotion icons (or smileys and all) where do you get those?

A friend made my sig for me. I like it a lot. They're all sad...it has that "Awww" factor. LoL. For some Turtle emoticons I know have seen a site that has them, but when you go to post a reply or make a new thread, next to the text box are a bunch of emoticons...under them is a link that says "view more emoticons" click that. They're in there.

[Reznorite420]

I'm 26 and I still collect toys. Don't worry about it.OH MY GOD!!!!! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN??????????

[DarthRaphael]

I'm 26 and I still collect toys. Don't worry about it.OH MY GOD!!!!! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN??????????

Check out my thread for answers. :)

http://www.thetechnodrome.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=214239#214239

[raphael_is_cool]

Like, I go online, and collect fanart from different websites (I specifically take a favoring to your artwork Kali), and what I do is that I print the fanart out sometimes, and re-color the original drawing. (I, of course, put the artist's name on the picture, and I never claim it's my original work, I just like to color).

Wow, have you ever coloured my pic (ok, it's a bit crap) of Raph fighting the two foot soldiers? I can't colour things coz I fear I'll ruin them...kinda like the opposite of you

About the childish thing, I don't think it is, my parents'll tease me about watching the new series (coz in the UK it's on half 8 on a sunday morning) and I'm 19 :) I even think they bought me these 3 packs of the figures for xmas (leo, don and shredder and raph, mikey and foot soldier)

[TMNTFanCrys]

Wow, have you ever coloured my pic (ok, it's a bit crap) of Raph fighting the two foot soldiers? I can't colour things coz I fear I'll ruin them...kinda like the opposite of you

No, I never even viewed your website, might have to after school. But I wish I had a scanner, so people could view my coloring skills, only people around me have seen my colorings. But I might have to give your pic a whirl.

Now, Kali, I see that your avatar is like a cartoon doll and all, how did you make that? I'd like one for myself hehe :tsmile: And I found out the smileys! Thanks.


And I love your sig Travis, I would love to have one like that, and yes, it does have an “awwww” feel to it.

Well talk to you guys later!

[Kali]

Now, Kali, I see that your avatar is like a cartoon doll and all, how did you make that? I'd like one for myself hehe :tsmile: And I found out the smileys! Thanks.
Well, I made my avatar (and Azure's, and most of Machias') by editing "naked" dolls I found online. I like the selection here:
http://ver.rubberhouse.net/base.shtml
And here:
http://www.btinternet.com/~andrew.e.roberts/bases.htm
Save them, then just open them in an editing program like MSpaint or Photoshop (or some knockoff called PhotoSuite. :dead: ) and draw the features, hair, clothes, etc. It's kinda addicting, though. :lol:

[raphael_is_cool]

Well I don't have a website but it's on caspiantiger's website in the fan art section (my name's Gregg Cox, so mine's the middle pic), you should definitely do that bottom pic too coz it's awesome (way better than mine)

Anyway the site is http://www.ninjaturtlehideout.0catch.com/ just have to click the fan art bit and voila!

I've noticed my pic isn't too great quality on that site but if you're interested (probably not if you compare my pic to the one beneath) I can send you the full-size, nice quality original scan

[Leo_Ninjitsu]

There is a guy who collects toilet seats.
And he's like 60years old.
Well that's kinda the point?????
I have a huge collection of original TMNT toys.Luckily no one threw them out.I am buying some of the new stuff.^^

[Cascadia]

my art skills are not as fantastic as everyone else's

[Leo_Ninjitsu]

I can actually draw pretty well.
Kinda working on muscles.I'll try to post some of my work!^^

[Kali]

my art skills are not as fantastic as everyone else's
Oh, don't let that stop you. You can't really trust an artists opinion of their own work. I mean I think my stuff's just barely better than decent. :goofygri:

[Leo_Ninjitsu]

Yeah.I've seen work WAY better than mine.
But I still draw.cause I have confidence.*people start crying*
XD!

[TMNTFanCrys]

Save them, then just open them in an editing program like MSpaint or Photoshop (or some knockoff called PhotoSuite. ) and draw the features, hair, clothes, etc. It's kinda addicting, though.


I never edited stuff like dolls before. But one question, how in the world do you draw a Turtle doll....or is that included in those websites you gave? :tanime: I haven't checked them out yet...I'll go do that now!

[TMNTFanCrys]

I tried following the directions as to making dolls and all and failed HORRIBLY!!! Someone wanna just make one for me?! :?:

[rayfillet101]

Check out flea markets. They are the inexpensive key to the past :). You could also make scrapbooks for the kids. I know alot of popculture history and stuff can be found on the internet. Well I hope you get through the termoil soon. Good luck rekindling the stuff. and Im fourteen and not affraid to wear Gumby shirts in public and play with my ation figures. Its a matter of perspective and what you like.

[Kali]

I never edited stuff like dolls before. But one question, how in the world do you draw a Turtle doll....or is that included in those websites you gave? :tanime: I haven't checked them out yet...I'll go do that now!
To make the turtles I simply colored over the skin tone of the base bodies in shades of green. And buffed them out a little. The heads are very difficult. :embarass: Then drew the plastron, shell, pads, and bandannas.

If you PM a description, I could try and make a doll for you. :)

[azure turtle]

Oh! Take that offer, Crys! Kali makes great TMNT 'toon dolls. She made my avatar ages ago, and I've kept it ever since. :D

[TMNTFanCrys]

taken care of it. My request is in her inbox as we speak.

[Buslady]

NO NO NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I AM 32! I COLLECT TMNT STUFF AGAIN!!!!!!!!!
I am a married mom, I love TMNT (among other cartoon/comic stuff!) YOU ARE NEVER TOO YOUNG OR TOO OLD!

I loved TMNT back in high school, '87-'90, I watched cartoon every stinkin day, i drew them(im a little better at that now), shoot man im writing fan ficts now too. so no you are NOT weird or whatever for re-living your childhood, it's VERY important you never loose that connection!

[tOkKa]

Buslady


NO NO NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I AM 32! I COLLECT TMNT STUFF AGAIN!!!!!!!!!
I am a married mom, I love TMNT (among other cartoon/comic stuff!) YOU ARE NEVER TOO YOUNG OR TOO OLD!

I loved TMNT back in high school, '87-'90, I watched cartoon every stinkin day, i drew them(im a little better at that now), shoot man im writing fan ficts now too. so no you are NOT weird or whatever for re-living your childhood..

-->> .. i've seen TMNTs fans spread out from 2- 60 .. dude it ain't a big deal.. many of 'em ARE moms.. yeah.. be proud,Bus lady!! :D

[Hyper Metal Sonic]

I hope you enjoyed the 4 figures I gave to you!

:)

[Meeko]

Im 14 and i collect tmnt toys its not childish ( even though i may be a child)
ive been made fun of in school for it ive asked myself if im too old for it a couple times But i dont think so i mean whats wrong with displaying figures on a shelf? wether your 2 or 100

[Aaron]

I see nothing wrong with buying back Turtle stuff. I'm 20 and I've gotten alot of my stuff back, i.e. tapes and action figures. A little childish pleasure is good to keep us young at heart...in fact, I prefer to be a kid at heart rather than grow up like the rest of my generation seeingly has.

I agree with you. And no it is not stupid. I am 15 and I have 500-1500 action figures or more. I plan to collect figures until the day I die. Oh, and to get some of the older figures your best bet will be E-Bay.

[PizzaPower]

No it is not stupid. I am 15 and I have at 500-1500 or more action figures. I plan to collect figures until the day I die. Oh, and to get some of the older figures your best bet will be E-Bay.
same here, I plan to buy tmnt till I die.

[THE-X-FLO]

Well I don't buy action figures anymore but lasy year I took my Technodrome toy from an old box and played for a moment with it ^^,it has always been my favorite. (I'm 19)

[Jester]

TMNTfancrys,
U want the 4 turtles...from a re launch of the original 4...about 97....i have the 4....the 89 tmnt in 97 boxes...to attempt a re-build....i mean i'm just holding them as a kinda here's hopin they get big an d mean $$ but if u want to get back some of the old stuff i'd be happy tohelp...i'm very nestalgic my self and would love to help out a fellow TMNT fan get intouch with her "inner child" which i hope i can stay intouch with as long as posible
thery're still in boxes...look great...pm me if ur interested

[Jarrah White]

Oh! Take that offer, Crys! Kali makes great TMNT 'toon dolls. She made my avatar ages ago, and I've kept it ever since. :D

She made toon doll too :D