Just felt this needed to be known......

[katielgk]

OK, this is new to me...I'm new to this site! ah! But I just thought that this is something that if anyone thought about they would know it for sure but no one ever really says it....

I have had people ask me before, "Why do you like TMNT?" they say it is a kids show, or that it is an old show that our grandparents would have watched...I have never been able to give a good answer to this question really, at least none that they would accept. I got to thinking about it the other day and I asked myself, "Why DO I like the TMNT?" It took me a while to come up with a good answer for it but here it is:

I don't know for sure why I like it, all I know is that I do like it. Why does anyone like anything? I like TMNT because I just do....(Ok I guess I'm not making any sense yet...) I suppose originally, it was directed toward children but, as it grew more popular, it kinda became directed to all ages. It's like Charlie Brown almost, (OK probably not the best example but it's all I could come up with!) Charlie Brown was supposed to be for kids but parents started to get interested, and now it is for the whole family. TMNT, started out for kids and I suppose one reason why adults like it now is because /They watched it as a kid and they don't like to let go of those childhood fun times. And now TMNT is more for older age groups. Because now it is a bit more gory and detailed. and the characters, (i.e. The villains) are not just funny people in the show who always fail in their plans to stop the turtles and take over the world. Now they are winning a battle every now and again, and they are defintly not as amusing. The turtles are just as much fun but now they have bigger problems to face and bigger, badder "bad guys."

Man! I just wanted to get that out in the open.....I had a better "speech" in mind but when I strted to type I completely forgot everything I meant to say! If I hadn't, then I would have had a stronger point to this whole post!!! grrrrr!!!! Curse my inability to remember everything I felt had a meaning to what I had to say!!!!
If anyone else has point in this matter that they would like to put out in the open for others to know...thats what this is for! Have a good one!!!

***katielgk***

[sdp]

why do i like it?

because its fun, the tmnt universe is full of rich characters and stories,
people think 'cartoons are for kids' its a sad stereotype since it is not always the case, but oh well, if they enjoy their badly written live action sitcoms with the same sex jokes and think that is acceptable then who cares what they think.

[Gary]

Sorry, I just want to help clear a few things up.. It started as a comic, and I'm not entirely sure that it was a comic directed towards kids. Teens maybe, but not kids. The show also only debuted in '87. No grand parents would have watched it, and many kids that grew up with it are barely adults now. And the direction the series is going is a lot lighter. It might be the end of the villains winning.

[katielgk]

I figured someone would say something like that Gary...I knew I sould've looked that up before I posted that huh? Well thank you for clearing that up! Thanx!

[KROW]

Originally Posted by katielgk

I don't know for sure why I like it, all I know is that I do like it. Why does anyone like anything? I like TMNT because I just do....(Ok I guess I'm not making any sense yet...) I suppose originally, it was directed toward children but, as it grew more popular, it kinda became directed to all ages. It's like Charlie Brown almost, (OK probably not the best example but it's all I could come up with!) Charlie Brown was supposed to be for kids but parents started to get interested, and now it is for the whole family. TMNT, started out for kids and I suppose one reason why adults like it now is because /They watched it as a kid and they don't like to let go of those childhood fun times. And now TMNT is more for older age groups. Because now it is a bit more gory and detailed. and the characters, (i.e. The villains) are not just funny people in the show who always fail in their plans to stop the turtles and take over the world. Now they are winning a battle every now and again, and they are defintly not as amusing. The turtles are just as much fun but now they have bigger problems to face and bigger, badder "bad guys."

Well, if I may, Charlie Brown -- or "Peanuts" as its truly called -- was part of the comic strips published in newspapers. Its intention to be a kids-only medium is the same as that of Garfield. Kids and adults alike grew to love them in their own way at the same time. Family Circus on the other hand...

But anyway, back in the good ol' '80s, cartoons were meant to be targeted towards the children, so anything with logical forms of violence (situations that weren't categorized as "slapstick") were simply not done. The only cartoon I can think of that pushed the envelope back in those years ('70s and '80s) is Tom and Jerry. Watching that now (the original cartoons), I see how truly violent it was. But, if you happen to catch a newly created T & J toon, it's been watered down by comparison.

So, with that in mind, it comes as no surprise that the producers of the old series went with the idea to make the Foot Soldiers robots so that Raphael and Leonardo could slice into them without a riotous backlash from parents.

Back then, to catch the eye of a child, you needed color, loud and obnoxious noises, and catchy music and dialogue. The old series certainly delivered on that front.

Now, characters need to look cool, dark, and seem to possess the charisma of someone who can kick anyone's ass at any time of day (you won't see a Ninja Turtle smiling on a poster anymore). Thankfully, the powers-that-be of the new series based the programming loosely on the original comic book, where the look fit the atmosphere. Also, of course, fans of the old show could relive their childhood, yet discover that world that Eastman & Laird created back in '84 (if they haven't already).

There are those that do indeed hold on to that childhood memory, and trash the new series in its defense, which is supremely ridiculous (unless you're talking about The Next Mutation ). Yet there are those, like most of us on this board, who love both versions simply because "it's the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, dammit."

It is a revelation, of sorts, to notice how the turtles have "evolved" from quipping, happy, jaunty reptiles that frolic in NYC and bop the occasional bad guy into dark, brooding, outcasted warriors who take it upon themselves to fight crime in the name of honor and justice. That ideal could make one love them even more, or lose a little faith.

Now, if you'd like to know why I like the TMNT, it's because the concept of turtles being ninjas appealed to me, and the theme song was friggin' awesome.

*steps down from soapbox*

[ZariusTwo]

Originally Posted by KROW

[COLOR="Yellow"]Well, if I may, Charlie Brown -- or "Peanuts" as its truly called -- was part of the comic strips published in newspapers. Its intention to be a kids-only medium is the same as that of Garfield. Kids and adults alike grew to love them in their own way at the same time. Family Circus on the other hand...

But anyway, back in the good ol' '80s, cartoons were meant to be targeted towards the children, so anything with logical forms of violence (situations that weren't categorized as "slapstick") were simply not done.

About a dozen or so shows like He-Man, Jayce, and Transformers totally prove you wrong there, but nevermind...

[KROW]

Yeah, I was thinking about that. What I meant by "logical forms of violence" were weapons that hit the mark. He-Man never gutted nor impaled an opponent, not that I can remember. Also, the Transformers kind of go with my Foot Soldier comment; they're robots, so any violence towards them pretty much distanced itself from most children.

As far as Jayce goes... I... never watched it -- never even heard of it. What was it about?

[iris]

Katielgk, when I read the title to this thread I thought you were going to say something like, "I am Pete Laird's love-child! BOW BEFORE ME, MORTALS!"

Well maybe not that, exactly.

Originally Posted by KROW

So, with that in mind, it comes as no surprise that the producers of the old series went with the idea to make the Foot Soldiers robots so that Raphael and Leonardo could slice into them without a riotous backlash from parents.

It was a good idea. "But they only beat up robots!" sure worked on my parents. Plus you can't beat that scene where the turtles realize they're fighting robots and gleefully go gonzo with dangerous objects.

For some reason, I always knew that TMNT was supposed to be darker than portrayed on the original show. Maybe my older brothers and their friends talked about it.

In the original show, I liked that the turtles appreciated what little they had... I mean... it's kind of amazing, being that they live in the sewer and yet make something of themselves. I liked the whole "turtle warrior" concept and the fun dialogue. And I liked Krang and Shredder's "Odd Couple" vibe.

[Buslady]

Actually, you can tell those who bug you about it, that it originally wasn't kiddie. The first story was bloody, gritty and the first movie was toned after the first original comics that was out in 1984..it was target more towards upper teen maybe.

Then you can tell them a 30-something schoolbus driver who has a life, is a mom and married, LOVES TMNT without shame. I get teased by other drivers, who cares. Most of them a hosers anyways. HAHAHAHAH So you aren't the only one out there who loves TMNT.

[Mandi-chan]

Originally Posted by iris

Plus you can't beat that scene where the turtles realize they're fighting robots and gleefully go gonzo with dangerous objects.

LOL, I never noticed that before!

[bloodbath666]

Originally Posted by sdp

why do i like it?

because its fun, the tmnt universe is full of rich characters and stories,
people think 'cartoons are for kids' its a sad stereotype since it is not always the case, but oh well, if they enjoy their badly written live action sitcoms with the same sex jokes and think that is acceptable then who cares what they think.

+1. I'm not a kid anymore, and I still love cartoons. I think it's important to stay in touch with what you grew up with and what you had as a kid. I love TmnT because it's just so wacky and off the wall, I love the comic books and the show. I love all the different elements, I've always loved turtles, I've always loved martial arts, and I love sci-fi as well, and tmnt really brings it together for me. It was my favorite show as a kid and it still is my favorite show now. I too have been put down or made fun of for liking stuff like this, but hell I wouldn't want the alternative, of being the typical boring adult type that alot of people seem to be. It's a great thing to still be in touch with your childhood, and it's important to stay young at heart. I know everytime I think of tmnt, I especially think of the old show, and it brings back great memories of when I was a really young kid, when things weren't so complicated and when I was actually really happy.