Some insight from inside the TMNT World

[GodzFire]

Canadian Turtle, here's one big thing I'd like you to ask your connections; why haven't they considered re-running the classic cartoon series on TV? Once it ended, no channel has ever re-ran it.

It's a rich history of turtles, and now would be the perfect time to start. Hell, they could even re-issue more classic action figures in a "throwback" fashion, including some of the characters that were never made. (I'll be creating a new thread about this)

[Lord Nightwalker]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

No cartoon = no way to get a new generation of kids interested in Turtles.

The idea is the cartoons introduce people to the franchise and then they might get into the comics. After all, isn't that how most of us discovered TMNT in the first place via the original cartoon?

How can we be optimistic without a cartoon?

Nope.
I cut my teeth on the Mirage Black and white comics.
Found them at the comic shop and that cinched it for me.
Then I found the Archie TMNTA at or local grocery store and started to nab every one of those I could find to.
Then I watched the 80's toon.
And wished it wasn't so silly. But the pilot episodes kickd ass. I still have those on vhs. *smiles* While I thought it could have been a better cartoon, It did have it's moments and it did help feed my TMNT craze.
Ultimately though, The comics were my "bread and butter".

I'd be cool with it completely if it reverted back to it's comic book roots, and then a new toon or movie down the line.
Don't underestimated the potential of a great book or comic because it's a different visual medium from a televised show.

[Drtooth]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

Raph's been making fun of Mikey since the first season. While its true Mike has had his character played for laughs too much, it doesn't bother me that much.

In the older episodes, I really think they handled both much, much better. Now it seems that that's the only thing those two characters are about. Mikey was originally portrayed as the fun loving, child like brother... now he devolved into the childish goofball. Same thing with Raph. he was the brooding, slightly angry member of the crew... and then in FF he basically became grouchy.

And I doubt we'd see stupid stuff like Music Turtles actually in the cartoon. There's no way to work something like that in there.

They'd find one. No matter how ridiculous they would manage to do it, they would. I have horrible thoughts about TMNT becoming like Jem or the DTV movie Rocking with Judy Jetson. But that's all hypothetical.

As for FF's "filler," that's basically the term used to discribe an episode that doesn't have a bigger purpose. And There were quite a lot of them, only establishing how things have changed, as if not loudly obvious neough to being with.

I think if we're ever going to get another TMNT cartoon, we have to wait and reboot the franchise again. They really need to start anew.

[Canadian Turtle]

Originally Posted by GodzFire

Canadian Turtle, here's one big thing I'd like you to ask your connections; why haven't they considered re-running the classic cartoon series on TV? Once it ended, no channel has ever re-ran it.

It's a rich history of turtles, and now would be the perfect time to start. Hell, they could even re-issue more classic action figures in a "throwback" fashion, including some of the characters that were never made. (I'll be creating a new thread about this)

I think this is a common misconception among TMNT fans. Groups like Mirage or any rights holders don't have direct pull with the television networks to "make them" play anything, besides they don't own the rights to the original cartoon. Even if Lions Gate was approached to air those shows it is purely a networks decision to come forward and ask to air those and as far as I know the only channel here that runs shows like that is TeletoonRetro and they have a stupidly small selection of shows as it is.

[sdp]

I just moved to Mexico City and there is a channel that airs OT around 12:30 on saturdays and sundays.

[Archon_Turtle]

Originally Posted by Canadian Turtle

I think this is a common misconception among TMNT fans. Groups like Mirage or any rights holders don't have direct pull with the television networks to "make them" play anything, besides they don't own the rights to the original cartoon. Even if Lions Gate was approached to air those shows it is purely a networks decision to come forward and ask to air those and as far as I know the only channel here that runs shows like that is TeletoonRetro and they have a stupidly small selection of shows as it is.

A network like Boomerang might run it once it becomes "Classic" status. Kinda like how the shows I grew up with now run on nick-at-nite...*cries*

[CyberCubed]

Originally Posted by Drtooth

I think if we're ever going to get another TMNT cartoon, we have to wait and reboot the franchise again. They really need to start anew.

Of course I expect that to happen eventually, it just would have been nice to see the 2k3 universe get a more epic sendoff.

[joe-eyeball]

I agree with several people on this forum who still lean heavily in the not so optimistic group. This is because I refuse to be optimistic over things which are clearly descending into a black hole. I mean with the show it progressively got worse (2k3= great, then fast forward=so so, then btts= crap). Then the toys (Playmates= complete crap, Neca= who knows?). Then the movie (Who really freakin knows?). Then the comic with a dismal future.

So being optimistic just because the Turtles are barely hanging on in some capacity is kind of rediculous. Its like watching a slow painful death, where in the end the Turtles may become a joke.

People need to understand that we who are negative about the current state of the Turtles are not acting this way because we no longer care (well, most of us anyway) its because we would just rather see them die off for a while than fall in line like a bunch of sheep accepting whatever crap they give us. It just makes no sense to me to say: "I'm just glad we got the Turtles in some form, I don't care, I'll just take what I can get." To be totally honest the only positive thing I think of for the Turtles are the memories of past.

[gobo]

Originally Posted by joe-eyeball

the Turtles may become a joke.

I'm pretty sure most (not all) people already thought that for years.

[Andrew NDB]

I think some people here are confusing negativity and "doom and gloom" with plain and simple, pragmatic realism. We all want the best for the franchise... we all believe it has untapped potential (though we may disagree -- strongly -- on what that potential lies in and the means in which to tap into it).

Originally Posted by gobo

I'm pretty sure most (not all) people already thought that for years.

Yep.

[CyberCubed]

I guess the only hope now is if the 5th movie comes out and winds up being darker than the previous ones.

[turkishproverb]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

Yes... but TMNT first needs to have it's own Dark Knight, or even its own Batman Begins. It doesn't. It's never had that.

It had a film of that dark style (TMNT 1) but it was in the smack dab MIDDLE of the old series which hurt the impact it could have had.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by turkishproverb

It had a film of that dark style (TMNT 1)

C'mon. We all love TMNT 1 and you'll get no argument from me that it's the closest we've ever gotten to seeing a proper TMNT production outside of the comic books... but let's not put on beer goggles and pretend it was something it's not.

[turkishproverb]

Please. It was about as dark as the v.1 comics EVER were. Heck, the return of shredder had jokes, even if it would adapt to far less time count. The movie was what I state it was.

If we're talking about beer goggles, I remind you there is a mean drunk as well as a happy one.

[FearlessLeader]

While I am respectful of everyone here and enjoy the fact that the majority of this board lives in a Country built on the foundation of freedom of speech. I feel like a lot of you are missing the point of fandom all together.

It's to have fun.

I don't know any of you personally nor will I hazard to pretend to, but a lot of you come across as very bitter, angry people. I come to this board because it is the BEST for getting information about the fandom right away, but I don't come here to socialize because this board is not fun.

If I were a new fan testing out Turtles fandom and I came here I would run for the hills. Reading the posts here is stressful. Everyone is so unhappy and pessimistic.

I enjoy Turtles fandom. I don't expect anything out of it. I don't have my list of demands that I expect to be met. It's just nice to relax, reading or watching characters that I relate to and that have been with me almost my entire life.

I will be the first to admit if I don't like a part of the fandom (for me Next Mutation and Fast Forward mostly) I don't focus on it. I focus on the parts I do like (pretty much everything else) and I will continue to focus on it and love it while it is there. I don't believe it is my job personally to make Turtles last forever. I am just grateful for what I get. I was and will be sad again when it fades away for another resting period. So I am going to continue to be with these characters as much as I can until then in whatever way I am allowed.

And I am happy.

I am not trying to say my way of thinking is right mind you, but with all the negativity in this one thread alone I just wanted to have a little spark of positive though.

Thank you Canadian Turtle. I am not certain if anyone has said that yet? But it was very kind of you to take the time to come here and share what news you have garnered with us. I really do hope things work out with this new film and that the characterizations in it are as good as they were in the last film.

You can feel free to reply to me and tell me any manner of things about me not understanding anything or what not. But I have read all of your posts, I do. I just honestly don't care. We have gotten so many wonderful things from this property in the last 6-7 years, that I can't complain.

And I have said what I want to say now. Thank you!

[turkishproverb]

I have 3 things to say in response to say that

1. Your right, I forgot to thank Canadian turtle. Thanks!

2. Good points on all the complaining. I do a little, but I also post positives sometimes. I see where your coming from though.

3. Who did your sig pic?

[FearlessLeader]

Originally Posted by turkishproverb

3. Who did your sig pic?

Eric Talbot did that piece for me at Fanexpo in Toronto last year!

It's a beautiful piece I really like his work!

[turkishproverb]

Cool. Nice one.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by turkishproverb

Please. It was about as dark as the v.1 comics EVER were.

Ah. I guess I probably missed the deleted scenes with Oroku Saki blowing up or his head getting chopped off, the TMNT drinking beers, swords getting rammed through stomachs visibly coming out of enemies' backs, Foot committing seppuku gorily, Donatello jamming his staff into opponent's necks bloodily, TMNT dropping S bombs, blood flying left and right across the page, and other bits. I give you the full benefit of the doubt and, one step further, even envy that you got to see the full cut of the movie that includes these deleted scenes.

Heck, the return of shredder had jokes, even if it would adapt to far less time count.

I guess I'm confused here. You believe the presence of jokes in a thing makes a thing less mature? I'm not sure where you're coming from here.

The movie was what I state it was.

Afraid not. I love it, I can watch it over and over (and it's the only TMNT movie I can have on with friends over and not be embarrassed over), but it's still TMNT Lite... some kind of TMNT Mirage-Cartoon hybrid that sells the former short (not Terribly short, but noticeably) and does the latter too much credit.

[TristanHuwJones]

See, I tend to think that as long as a TV show like FF, BttS and, as the first movies proved, the Old toon are on the air, you're never going to get a movie remotely similar to the comics. There might be some nice nods and all that, but the studios and investors are going to expect what's popular.

Until the comics become popular again, the chances (in my mind anyway) of seeing a faithful Mirage movie are zero and none. Spiderman and the X-men movies all came at a point when there were no TV Shows, same with Begins (the Batman started as a response to its production), which was why they were as faithful to the source material as they were. All there really was at the time was the comics and the toylines (there's your proof that a toyline can continue without a cartoon actually, if a company is willing to try).

I'd love to see a Mirage-y movie probably more than anyone (I even started writing one for fun), but until the comics become better sellers and get the recognition amongst both the fanbase in general and comic stores they deserve, I just don't think it'll happen. That said-- buy the comics people!