Turtle shells are actually turtle shells in this movie!
 

Has there been any other show, movie, or comic that treated the turtle shells are actual shells like the 2014 one? What I mean is, turtle shells are there for protection. Real turtles are pretty sturdy and can save them from lots of predators, yet throughout the history of the franchise, that aspect was never explored. Yeah, Mikey took a chop to the shell in TMNT 3 and it did nothing to him. Which makes sense because it's a shell. They're bullet proof in this movie and it doesn't bother me either. The turtles don't need super powers, but I think being naturally tougher because they're turtles really should be explored more.

They also used their shells for protection in the Archie series

http://i.imgur.com/wUwIrPM.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/esH9e4M.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/M89EzxF.jpg

I can't really remember if there's an instance where one of them had been shot in the shell before. Maybe their shells were bulletproof all along.:lol:

Mikey's shell protected him in the third Turtle movie. A bad guy swung a basuto at his shell and hit it. He wasn't hurt, but he was pissed.:lol:

They did, in one of the original Mirage comics, one of the Tales of TMNT I believe, one of them is shot in the back and saved by the shell, from an handgun though. Also on one of the Archie comics they survive an explosion inside a building by hiding inside their shells.

tmnt 3 mikey: oh, he who dings the shell must pay!

And there was that scene in the OT, when the Neutrinos was ramming Donny up against the wall. If this happened to a human, they would have been crushed, but Donny just shouted out "Hey you're scatching my finish!"

Now, I wonder, if this is why they made the 2014 boys naked in the sides, so that is going to be their weak spots?

The expression 'saved by the shell' was used a few times in the OT.... so yeah, no big surprise there.

Just that line alone makes me like TMNT 3 over TMNT 2014. Good lord.

Leo gets an opponent's sword lodged in the back of his shell in Mirage Volume 4 and is fine. They've been used that way before.

Boney material... should be strong and protective, but not entirely impenetrable or indestructible. Bullets break bones after all... If we're going for realism, I really doubt a shell would save a real turtle against a bullet if someone was that cruel. Would think even a 6' tall one with a thick shell would still have the bullet lodged deep in there if the shell stopped it before reaching the fleshy parts or anything vital.

Yeah, bouncing them back is too much, but being harder to kill isn't so far-fetched for the TMNT.

i think theyve always used the shells to explain how they take so much damge (kicks, falling etc.)

im all for bulletproof shells, especially with gun wielding foot. just not a fan of bulletproof plastrons, but then again, the plastrons dont wrap around, so theyre still vulnerable

They did turn their backs towards the guns when the foot started firing. It wasn't like they charged head first into a firing squad or anything.

I seriously think bullet proof shells were overdoing it a bit. I'm all for stronger shells, but that's too far in my opinion. Did Raphs shell get marked up when he deflected the bullets? I can't remember.

My favorite part of the bay turtles is the shells. They look beautiful.

Mmm off the top of my head, in the 2012 series I know that Leo accidentally stabs Raph in the Shell with his swords and it doesn't seem to phase him or hurt him.

Donnie retracts into his shell during a fall so he doesn't get hurt or killed.

I agree. It was a bit much, it makes the world less dangerous for them, which takes away from the thrill and excitement.

Seeing the PD Turtles designs and the way they constructed the shell on the turtles. I couldn't disagree more, they look more like an mandatory after-thought with the way the plastron part of the shell is shaped, lack of bridges is nonsensical, especially in a live-action version, and the carapace is weirdly shaped on them.

The textures on the carapace is nice looking though.