What is it that makes the Turtles work?

zbowen · 08-25-2013, 12:13 PM

I was introduced to the Turtles in the early 90s through the Fred Wolf cartoon. Due to ridiculous comic prices, I don't really buy a lot if comics anymore, it's simply too much of an investment. I only pick up a few, and one of those is TMNT. I also find myself watching the new cartoon, something that's target demographic is about 20 years younger than I am, and I watch no other show like it.

Why after over 20 years am I still so invested in this francise? There are plenty of others I'm interested in, but nothing as odd as Ninja Turtles. Everything else has a stronger footing in reality, at least more than talking turtles.

Is it the characters, is it the art, the plots, the fact that the stories in the comics can appeal to me as an adult while the stories the cartoon could appeal to me as a kid, or just this francise is good escapism because it's so off the wall weird? What is it about Ninja Turtles that has kept me interested or so long?

alliance · 08-25-2013, 12:16 PM

fun............

*Powder* · 08-25-2013, 02:34 PM

There's been like 3 versions of this same thread in the last 2 months man.

*snake* · 08-25-2013, 02:35 PM

Becuase it's fun....? I guess.....?

*Donatello19* · 08-25-2013, 02:36 PM

Wise cracking anthropomorphic teenage animals who just happen to be ninjas. Kids love that stuff.

pingclang · 08-26-2013, 10:11 AM

I think it's because there's nothing else like them, except maybe Usagi, that is done so well. They're so different and a lot of fun.

*ObiWanFan4life* · 08-26-2013, 10:18 AM

They work because They take every aspect of their lives seriously and they're oblivious to the Absurdety of their universe. Not to mention the fact that the series was initially a parody of (at the time) comic books.

Captain PunchYouHard · 08-26-2013, 10:52 AM

I don't know about now, but when I was a kid, martial arts were cool (still riding on the Bruce Lee tsunami of publicity). That's what got me into it, and even though it's far from accurate, I still really like analyzing the combat and fighting styles. The fact that it's funny and reasonably intelligent pushes it over the edge for me.

*CyberCubed* · 08-26-2013, 10:52 AM

It's an action cartoon and comic without being superheroes.

InsaneZane · 08-29-2013, 03:15 PM

Anthropomorphic animal mutants, martial arts and weapons, nuff said besides colors colors colors!!!

*NinjaMan* · 08-29-2013, 03:41 PM

I also think the element of family the turtles and Splinter have helped as well.

pingclang · 08-30-2013, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NinjaMan

I also think the element of family the turtles and Splinter have helped as well.

That's probably my favorite thing about the Turtles outside the fighting and action. It's awesome just seeing four brothers and their father living these crazy lives.

Cobrakahn · 09-01-2013, 09:38 PM

A couple of factors. The turtles bottom line is about family and honor and saving April. Its timeless but still not approached by many todays comics.

*Mr._Mutant_Man* · 09-01-2013, 11:32 PM

It's a fun concept. A bunch of turtles mutating and saving New York city. It's a fun, unique concept.

It's got good vs. evil, the main characters coming of age, a damsel in distress. It's got all the story elements people having been eating up since people started telling stories. It's just that it's told with mutant turtles.

*Rooish* · 09-03-2013, 09:20 PM

Really compelling characters, in my opinion. And the strong family bond.

BlisterStockboy · 09-06-2013, 10:00 PM

For me, it's always been the music, the stories, and the way that the 4 characters work together. It's a hard thing to have 4 main characters that everyone cares about, and someone they manage to do it.

*TigerClaw* · 09-06-2013, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rooish

Really compelling characters, in my opinion. And the strong family bond.

Also the really cool fight scenes, And the Scifi elements.

*Shark_Blade* · 09-06-2013, 10:14 PM

Kickass origin story like no other.

*TigerClaw* · 09-06-2013, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shark_Blade

Kickass origin story like no other.

Even though the origin story has been different in many iterations, It always lead up to the same results.

*oldmanwinters* · 09-06-2013, 10:30 PM

Why do the Turtles work?

For Pizza money, that's why. Or at least, it was as simple as that for Mikey in the 2007 movie.

08-25-2013, 12:13 PM	#1
zbowen Random Punk Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 36	What is it that makes the Turtles work? I was introduced to the Turtles in the early 90s through the Fred Wolf cartoon. Due to ridiculous comic prices, I don't really buy a lot if comics anymore, it's simply too much of an investment. I only pick up a few, and one of those is TMNT. I also find myself watching the new cartoon, something that's target demographic is about 20 years younger than I am, and I watch no other show like it. Why after over 20 years am I still so invested in this francise? There are plenty of others I'm interested in, but nothing as odd as Ninja Turtles. Everything else has a stronger footing in reality, at least more than talking turtles. Is it the characters, is it the art, the plots, the fact that the stories in the comics can appeal to me as an adult while the stories the cartoon could appeal to me as a kid, or just this francise is good escapism because it's so off the wall weird? What is it about Ninja Turtles that has kept me interested or so long? __________________ Check out my TMNT reviews at: http://tmnt101.blogspot.com/

08-25-2013, 12:16 PM	#2
alliance Hench Mutant Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 328	fun............ __________________ 80's TURTLES MUCH COOLER THAN FORGOTTEN 4KIDS

08-26-2013, 10:18 AM	#7
ObiWanFan4life Mad Scientist Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,724	They work because They take every aspect of their lives seriously and they're oblivious to the Absurdety of their universe. Not to mention the fact that the series was initially a parody of (at the time) comic books. __________________ "The force will be with you, always" - Obi-Wan Kenobi

08-26-2013, 10:52 AM	#8
Captain PunchYouHard Hench Mutant Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Texas Posts: 334	I don't know about now, but when I was a kid, martial arts were cool (still riding on the Bruce Lee tsunami of publicity). That's what got me into it, and even though it's far from accurate, I still really like analyzing the combat and fighting styles. The fact that it's funny and reasonably intelligent pushes it over the edge for me. __________________ (GIF by Martinf)

08-29-2013, 03:15 PM	#10
InsaneZane Mad Scientist Join Date: May 2003 Location: Silent Hill Posts: 1,198	Anthropomorphic animal mutants, martial arts and weapons, nuff said besides colors colors colors!!! __________________

08-25-2013, 02:34 PM	#3
Powder 40 Years of TMNT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Shell-Ri-La Posts: 26,954	There's been like 3 versions of this same thread in the last 2 months man.

08-25-2013, 02:35 PM	#4
snake Disgusting Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Outer Heaven Posts: 12,231	Becuase it's fun....? I guess.....?

08-25-2013, 02:36 PM	#5
Donatello19 Merchandise Maniac Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: New York Posts: 5,919	Wise cracking anthropomorphic teenage animals who just happen to be ninjas. Kids love that stuff.

08-26-2013, 10:11 AM	#6
pingclang Stone Warrior Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Tennessee Posts: 552	I think it's because there's nothing else like them, except maybe Usagi, that is done so well. They're so different and a lot of fun.

08-26-2013, 10:52 AM	#9
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,871	It's an action cartoon and comic without being superheroes.

08-29-2013, 03:41 PM	#11
NinjaMan Mad Scientist Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 1,579	I also think the element of family the turtles and Splinter have helped as well.

09-01-2013, 09:38 PM	#13
Cobrakahn Random Punk Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Washington DC Posts: 48	A couple of factors. The turtles bottom line is about family and honor and saving April. Its timeless but still not approached by many todays comics.

09-01-2013, 11:32 PM	#14
Mr._Mutant_Man Mad Scientist Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,340	It's a fun concept. A bunch of turtles mutating and saving New York city. It's a fun, unique concept. It's got good vs. evil, the main characters coming of age, a damsel in distress. It's got all the story elements people having been eating up since people started telling stories. It's just that it's told with mutant turtles.

09-03-2013, 09:20 PM	#15
Rooish Devil's Advocate Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 2,130	Really compelling characters, in my opinion. And the strong family bond.

09-06-2013, 10:00 PM	#16
BlisterStockboy Foot Soldier Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 200	For me, it's always been the music, the stories, and the way that the 4 characters work together. It's a hard thing to have 4 main characters that everyone cares about, and someone they manage to do it. __________________

09-06-2013, 10:14 PM	#18
Shark_Blade Emperor Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 7,909	Kickass origin story like no other.

09-06-2013, 10:30 PM	#20
oldmanwinters Overlord Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Between yesterday and tomorrow! Posts: 15,498	Why do the Turtles work? For Pizza money, that's why. Or at least, it was as simple as that for Mikey in the 2007 movie. __________________ Experience the TMNT Fan Commentaries! Check out my TMNT fan comic, "Nothing to Fear"! View my sketch work! I'm selling some of my hard-to-find TMNT items!