Mutanimals Cartoon?

[sighthound]

Okay so I would like to know, what would everyone's opinion be on a Mutanimals Cartoon?

I remember reading on TMNT Entity that there was going to be a show based off the Mighty Mutanimals from the Archie comics, but it was shot down. I mean they even had an animation bible for the characters, villain's, locations, and what weapons they would have used. I was shocked by that:teek:. I mean during 90's turtle mania, you think that playmates and heck everyone would have jumped on that wacky idea!

But from what read it was some sort of issue between the people at Fred Wolf, and some studio called Ruby Spears or something like that.

The Mutanimals need more love.:(

[oldmanwinters]

I don't think it would have worked without heavy involvement of the TMNT. If it wasn't on CBS, I don't see any other channel promoting it heavily during the early 1990s.

[neatoman]

The Mutanimals is a fairly misguided idea in general to be honest.

First off, they didn't really emerge naturally from the writing, ever in any iteration. In Archie they're just a bunch of characters slapped together into the same book, literally for the purpose of trying to create a spin-off series. The Nickelodeon iteration literally just exists because the writers just wanted to keep a few characters relevant, when they're introduced as the Mutanimals is literally the first time we see them interact, some members are even added off-screen, Mona Lisa just joins because Raph tells her about them. Then there is the IDW iteration, which is the most sensical but still mostly comes down to Hob doing lab experiments and rescueing test subjects, which is better but not great.

Then there is the problem of what they even are. I mean seriously, what are they? In Archie they're a bunch of eco-terrorists, in Nick they're some random assortment of allies and in IDW they're borderline villainous. None of these seem like they work that well as main characters of a series. Also... Unlike mismash teams like the Avengers or Justice League, it's not like they're even the popular or interesting characters. Like it is cool to see Superman, Batman, Flash and Green Lantern team up because people like those characters. Who honestly gives a **** about most of the mutanimals members? Leatherhead and Slash are arguably the A-Listers on the team, with maybe Hob being a close second. But who gives a **** about Mondo Gecko, Mutagen Man, Ray Fillet, Jagwar or any of the other losers that has ever been on the team?

And finally, isn't "Furry Avengers" just kind of a lame concept? Like, no matter how you try to spin it, that's what you're getting. A bunch of random anthro characters, that isn't especially interesting. In short, the Mutanimals aren't really a good idea. A better idea is to look at characters that are either popular already or look into what their potential is, shoving a bunch of characters together because they're animals is dumb.

Like I hate Bebop and Rocksteady, I think they're total garbage characters that need to be demoted to C-list status in the minds of the fans ASAP, but I can still recognise that they are indeed popular. So while I wouldn't want anything to do with a Bebop and Rocksteady spin-off, I can still see why it would make sense to make a series all about Bebop and Rocksteady.

I don't know, make a show about Shredder, Karai, Splinter, Casey Jones or April, they're actaully popular enough for it to make sense. And even though they're not that popular, I can still see the potential in a Fugitoid or Renet show. In fact, a Fugitoid show is an idea I've toyed around with in my head for a while now.

[IMJ]

I would love this, but I'd be more on board for the Archie guys doing it. I loved TMNT '12 for content, but nnnnoootttt a big fan of many of the characters designs from that show to be honest.

[Andrew NDB]

In Archie they're just a bunch of characters slapped together into the same book, literally for the purpose of trying to create a spin-off series.

There was the whole business about needing a team to stop the impending invasion of Maligna's forces, with Cudley Cowlick acting like the Nick Fury getting them together. And "literally for the purpose of trying to create a spin-off series" is true of just about any team-up book that's been spawned by JLA, Avengers, or X-Men.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

But from what read it was some sort of issue between the people at Fred Wolf, and some studio called Ruby Spears or something like that. (

I think it had to do with the decline of the TMNT franchise between 1991–1993. Even the Mutanimals comic only lasted for two years (with a one year break between the 1991 minicomic and the 1992–1993 regular comic).

[Andrew NDB]

I do seem to remember this being a big point of discontent with the "staffers" at Mirage. Like, K&P were getting big monies for TMNT (duh)... and there were ideas that the Mutanimals as a cartoon and cartoon property (that might blossom into the next whatever) would be a way to spread the bounty among everybody else that helped at Mirage, for sure. Though I'm a little fuzzy on the exact how's and why's as to why that didn't happen. I think I remember a deal was close at some point.

Considering the kind of properties getting cartoons around the time this was all "hot" I'm actually surprised it didn't. Or at the very least "tried out" for a season.

[neatoman]

There was the whole business about needing a team to stop the impending invasion of Maligna's forces, with Cudley Cowlick acting like the Nick Fury getting them together. And "literally for the purpose of trying to create a spin-off series" is true of just about any team-up book that's been spawned by JLA, Avengers, or X-Men.

Technically I suppose that is true, but don't those spin-offs usually make use of characters that have been around for a while, seems to be popular and/or already know each other? I know the initial roster of the Avengers comes fairly close to what the Mutanimals, given that they were all fairly new characters at the time, but they still added Cap early on who was a well established character.

[Andrew NDB]

Technically I suppose that is true, but don't those spin-offs usually make use of characters that have been around for a while, seems to be popular and/or already know each other? I know the initial roster of the Avengers comes fairly close to what the Mutanimals, given that they were all fairly new characters at the time, but they still added Cap early on who was a well established character.

And the Mutanimals had Raphael.

[neatoman]

And the Mutanimals had Raphael.

Not as a permanent member obviously.

[Andrew NDB]

Not as a permanent member obviously.

But a founding member. You know. Who could return once in a while and probably would've. You're making a narrow incorrect narrative of something that was always very clear.

Now, the Archie ongoing Mutanimals? Not sure. They probably did the best they could with what was available to them.

[sighthound]

Yeah, that's what I thought. When the franchise began to dry up around the late nineties.

This is just me, but I think the IDW version of the Mutanimals are better. You really don't know whether they're the villain's or heroes.

[80gmrp]

This is just me, but I think the IDW version of the Mutanimals are better. You really don't know whether they're the villain's or heroes.

Where I’m concerned, it is just you, but then again, I’m a huge fan of Leatherhead, who wasn’t even let in in IDW no thanks to Hob. :P

As for the main subject, I’d be on board for the idea, though at the same time, I realize it has the drawback of being a spin-off.

[Coola Yagami]

As a big fan of all-things TMNT, I would have loved a Mutanimals cartoon back in the day, though I wonder how it would have worked. Back then those sketches and designs clashed horribly with how the characters were drawn in the TMNT cartoon and then you'd also have to explain why or how Leatherhead and Wingnut were good guys now. And would Leatherhead and Wingnut be good guys now if they appeared in later TMNT episodes?

Like even as a kid, I cared about consistency and canon and whatnot, even though I probably didn't know the words back then.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

As a big fan of all-things TMNT, I would have loved a Mutanimals cartoon back in the day, though I wonder how it would have worked. Back then those sketches and designs clashed horribly with how the characters were drawn in the TMNT cartoon and then you'd also have to explain why or how Leatherhead and Wingnut were good guys now. And would Leatherhead and Wingnut be good guys now if they appeared in later TMNT episodes?

Like even as a kid, I cared about consistency and canon and whatnot, even though I probably didn't know the words back then.

I could easily see Leatherhead joining the Turtles' side, if the producers just gave him a good reason. After all, he fought the Rat King during Season 3 ("Leatherhead Meets the Rat King") but during Season 4 they had become allies ("Splinter Vanishes").

[sighthound]

Yeah Hob missed a big opportunity. I really do want leatherhead to be a part of the team, I mean he was in the original mirage comics, and when slash left the team I thought he would replace him.:ohwell:

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Is Leatherhead even still around in IDW? I'm a bit behind on the comics, but I haven't seen him since he ate Krang.

[Coola Yagami]

Is Leatherhead even still around in IDW? I'm a bit behind on the comics, but I haven't seen him since he ate Krang.

He... ATE.... Krang? Damn, I've been out of the loop.

[Jephael]

Personally I feel it was all a matter of timing. Perhaps if the Archie comics Mutanimals spin-off had been concocted earlier on, the cartoon adaptation might have had a better chance. That being said though, I think it would've made better sense to have Bebop and Rocksteady become members of the Mutanimals rather than remain Shredder's henchmen. I always felt the reason they always failed was deep down they knew that they were on the wrong side.

[TigerClaw]

I wish they made that Mighty Mutanimals series back then. We could've had Ninjara's animated debut on it.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O9k3gisSAlc/Tf_Wo3d3zTI/AAAAAAAAGGY/cZZWosqIxk0/s1600/NinjaraMutanimal01.jpg

The concept art of her animated design was also pretty cool in my opinion.

[Jephael]

I wish they made that Mighty Mutanimals series back then. We could've had Ninjara's animated debut on it.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O9k3gisSAlc/Tf_Wo3d3zTI/AAAAAAAAGGY/cZZWosqIxk0/s1600/NinjaraMutanimal01.jpg

The concept art of her animated design was also pretty cool in my opinion.

Gotta be honest, I never really liked Ninjara that much. I always prefered Mona Lisa.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

A Mutanimals cartoon, with Ninjara as a member, would also require the Turtles to visit at least:

Brazil (I don't think both the Turtles and the Mutanimals need to hang out in New York City)

(modern-day) Japan

[Jephael]

A Mutanimals cartoon, with Ninjara as a member, would also require the Turtles to visit at least:

Brazil (I don't think both the Turtles and the Mutanimals need to hang out in New York City)

(modern-day) Japan

Not necessarily. I mean in the original 1987 series Lotus Blossom is from Japan; both the 4Kids (2003) and Nickelodeon CGI (2012) shows Karai hails from Japan where Shredder basically raised her; but the Turtles always meet them in New York.

As much as I'd love to have seen an animated version of the Mutanimals, I suspect their backstories would be greatly altered, especially Jagwar's! It'd be funny to see them living in Florida with the Punk Frogs as neighbors.

[TigerClaw]

Gotta be honest, I never really liked Ninjara that much. I always prefered Mona Lisa.
I was a Mona Lisa fan when she debut, But when I started reading the Archie comics, Ninjara was a part of it, and became a fan of that character.

And with the current iteration of the comics. I'm a fan of Sally Pride, Alopex and Mona Lisa.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

I suspect their backstories would be greatly altered

Should Krang attack Flagernon? (making Wingnut and Screwloose realize it's time to become good guys)

[TigerClaw]

The inclusion of Ninjara for that series would have changed her origin completely, She's not a mutant at all. Most of the mutanimals cast aren't mutants, But turned into anthrophomorphic animals via some magical means.

[Torterra]

Honestly I feel like they could have worked as a spin off series. Like look at the 2012 series as an example you could had a series especially during the time the turtles, april and casey were gone to New Hampshire. They could work as sort of the "defenders" of tmnt universe like while the turtles are dealing with big threats like the foot or Kraang. They're dealing with the threats the turtles don't see or don't have the time to stop like the purple dragons or mafia etc.

[Jephael]

Should Krang attack Flagernon? (making Wingnut and Screwloose realize it's time to become good guys)

You know I remember as a kid wondering if they were going to have those two come back and have it be a lose adaptation to how they were introduced in the Archie comics, having gone from fellow world conquerors to victims of Krang's evildoing.