Playmates and TMNT 2K3
 

Does anyone have an episode list of what toy related stuff appear and didn't appear in the show?

I realize that like the old show, Playmates saw fit to squeeze in their products into the show, though in the new show the products actually fit the show somewhat.

From season 1, I remember the Turtles runnin around in the Sewer Slider and the Battle Shell, as well as using the Shell Cell. Raph had his Shell Cycle, and the Foot used the Razor Jets in the Return to New York story. Though the TMNT didn't use their lame-ass 'Extreme Sports' outfits, I did notice that 'Darkness at the edge of Town' featured Raph with the in-line skates, Mikey with the skateboard, Don with the bike and Leo with the scooter, like the toyline.The episodes with Rennet gave the TMNT a reason to use their 'Paleo Patrol' and 'Ninja Knights' outfits, as did the whole Turtles in Space eps let the turtles use their 'Space Hoppin' gear. And I noticed in 'Insane in the Membrane' ep, it started with the TMNT using their 'Monster Trapper' gear to catch some of Bishop's monsters.

But I gotta wonder. In the new show, did they ever release those jetski-type vehicles that Zog was smashing apart in 'Rogue in the House'? And did they ever make a toy of that 'Tortuga Bros.' Moving Van version of the Battle Shell?


Anyone notice that in the later eps (particularly the CBS eps and beyond) the old cartoon stopped randomly throwing in all the new vehicles (I mean Pizza by the Shred crammed in the Neutrino's Starcruiser, the Retrocatapult, the Double-Barrelled Plunger Gun, the Sewer Tubes, the Cheapskates AND the Footskis all in one episode, and other episodes in season 4 had the TMNT use the Turtlecycle and other machines without ever explaining where or when Don made it)? I mean, they kept crammin in the newer toy characters like Mondo Gecko, Slash, Mona Lisa, Groundchuck and Dirtbag to name a few, but why did they stop adding the new vehciles and only stuck with the Turtle Van? And why did they never release figures of Dregg and other Red Sky episodes? It seemed Playmates fell asleep during Red Sky and didn't make more figures until New Muation hit.

A partial list off the top of my head. This list gets bigger if you count all the characters that were turned into figures retroactively (Bishop, Usagi, Silver Sentry, etc)

SEASON 1:

A Better Mousetrap: First appearance of the Sewer Slider

Meet Casey Jones: First appearances of the original Battle Shell and the Shell Cycle

Darkness on the Edge of Town: The Turtles ride around on their extreme sports gear.

Unconvincing Turtle Titan: Mikey's costume was eventually made into a variant figure (no complaints there)

Return to NY (Part One): Raph rides the Foot Razor Jet.

SEASON 2:

Turtles in Space: The Turtles wear the space hoppin gear, though arguably those toys were based on the existing concept instead of the other way around.
-Also features Zanramon's Space Cruiser, which was later made into a toy.

What a Croc: Baxter creates the Turtlebot that was also featured in the video game.

Junklantis: The Shell sub makes it's debut.

Return to the Underground: First appearance of the Turtle Tunneler

Rogue in the House (Parts 1 and 2): The Foot Mech robots are introduced, which were featured first in the video game before being made into a toy.

Return of the Justice Force: All the Turtles get motorcycles now.

SEASON 3:

Time Travails: The Ninja Knights armor (thanks Coola, I didnt even catch that one)

Across the Universe: The Planet Racers bike is turned into a toy.

SEASON 4:

A Wing and a Prayer: The Turtles wear the jetpacks to get to the Avian city.

Grudge Match: The Turtles wear the ceremonial armor from the Battle Nexus figs at the end.

Outbreak: the Minnetonka Mutant from that promo contest was used as the mutated city worker.

Insane in the Membrane: The Monster trapper suits appear.

Return of Savanti (Part 2): Paleo Patrol shows up at the end.

Good Genes: I would imagine Baxter's converted helicopter ties in with the Mutant Coptor toy.

LOST SEASON:

More Worlds Than One: The Mystic Fury variants first appear here, after already showing up in the 3rd video game. They go on to play a large role in the season arc.

Membership Drive: I forget the name of the vehicle, but Mike and Leo used it to get to the Justice Force HQ.

Hmm I also seem to recall the Turtle Tunneler and Shell Sub being featured. I'm still curious about that Tortuga Bros. moving van....

no they did not make a toy for that.

That kinda provides a reverse question... if Playmates wants all their stuff somehow crammed into the show.... then how come the show also creates its own vehicles and tripped-out gadgets that don't get made into toys?

BTW what DID happen to the original Battle Shell anyway?

I believe it was wrecked crashing into foot hedquarters.
Btw I also believe no red sky toys where made which is a damn shame is because at the time the toy line was winding down and all they were doing was re-releasing old figures. that's why people like myself are making custom figures of those characters like the Titanus I'm making over in the toy section I plan to make allot of Red sky characters though over time.:D

Well, I recall the Cyber Turtles were done... but instead of doing the villains the TMNT were facing in the 'toon, Playmates just went with Bebop and Shredder for that sub-series.
Then, retro-actively, the 'toon had an episode with Chrome Dome, Scumbug and Antrax (after the toys had been out some time).
Otherwise you're right, they pretty-much neglected the Red Sky era.

to bring back a sore point... they originally WERE supposed to be copies of their space suits from that episode, right down to Mikey (or was it raph, I forget) having the tail still on his suit. But they figured if they made it just generic space suits, kids would totally go for it. And they didn't.

I must also add, they made those short cartoons (the Flash ones that replaced Incredible Crash Dummies) to promote various toys, like the Monster Hunter stuff...

And let us not forget the "Paleo Patrol" toys, based loosely off of what the Turtles actually only wore for 30 seconds of footage... and even then, it was totally inconsitant. And they had Splinter there too, for no apparent reason...

(For those wondering why Splinter was in FF, that's the reason. he wasn't in Return of Savanti with the turtles in the Dino age, and they figured the toy would sell better if he actually DID go to the future.)

Kind of silly, but the Taxi from the lost season would be a cool toy I think. Although, like you said Simon, they did have that three part vehicle that they made.

The Cyber Turtles also appeared in the Archie comics, in a much better arc. (and no it's not just because it was set in the future...)

It was, but Don built another one after that. I'm pretty sure they lost it in "Scion of The Shredder".

I forgot about that one...I'm almost positive that's based on a toy too, if I find it in the archives on the official site I'll add it. How big a deal are lost season spoilers around here?

The cyber-turtles figures where made in conjuction with the archie comics..yet like you said they used shredder and bebop instead of other characters. But the red sky episode using the cyber turtles came much later than the toys did.
And Scumbug, Chromedome, & Antrax where on the show before red sky but they where on the show much later than the toys releases...which is odd considering Scumbug acted like he's met the turtles before..

Thanks dude! I was skimming through all of Big Brawl the other day looking for that scene, and getting upset because I couldn't find it.

Ah, okay. I had it the other-way-'round. Thinking the figures were for the 'toon showing of the Cyber Turtles. And the Archie Comic story had come later.
Oh well.

That's right. Raph was driving it when it got blown up by the helicopter.

I'm still upset we didn't get anyone in the old Justice force.