So is TMNT 2k3 up there with Batman: TAS?

[Leonardo_Warrior_Turtle]

It's really sad that 2k3 is pretty much said and done. Throughout my college years, it was a ritual to get up on Saturday mornings to tape a new episode of TMNT. On Fridays, I was so pumped up I sometimes could not contain myself. I would rewatch the tape over and over until sometimes I had no choice but to quit. 2k3 pretty much was the one show that I constantly watched in college. I really miss those days. Of course, when I got a capture card for my computer, I was able to just save the episodes directly to my PC. I did that pretty much with all of Season 4 episodes.

Now I look back on 5 seasons of TMNT 2k3 with both a sadness in my heart and a huge smile. First off, I was a fan of TMNT in the 80s with the original cartoon and the first movie. But it wasn't until TMNT 2k3 that I was reawakened as a TRUE fan. In 2003, I had no idea that the property was first a very serious and dark comic. I was use to the old cartoon's one shot and done storylines of goofiness. I was fond of those cartoons but when I compare it to the glory that is 2k3, they look like utter crap.

2k3 brought the Turtles into a more serious world. Although 2k3 wasn't nearly as dark as the original comics were, it certainly was much more dark than the old toon from the 80s. At the time, there really was no American cartoon that had what TMNT 2k3 had. Engrossing characters, superb animation, lots of multi-parters, great voice acting, and of course story arcs. Lots and lots of story arcs. Not many cartoons these days can say all of that. Especially about the various elements of story arcs that are puzzled together right up to the very end.

The only other cartoon in my eye that TMNT 2k3 can be compared to is the 1990s Batman: The Animated Series. Similarily, BTAS was dark and compelling. Many storylines were stretched over long periods of time. Dynamic characters. And amazing animation. Although many people would refute 2k3's Shredder since he was an Ultrom and not a man, I still think that character is one of the finest cartoon villians to come along. Up there with BTAS's Joker.

As much as I love 2k3, it wasn't perfect. There are some quite forgettable episodes that I pretty much ignore but still can watch because of the zanyness that Mikey brings. Another element of the show that I wish they would of expanded on was the music. Yes, I liked the Foot's theme, Shredder's theme, Karai's theme, and especially the Elite Guard's Theme. But I wish they had more music to go with when the Turtles were fighting. It really isn't that big of a complaint but a deeper musical score would of been nice.

The one thing about 2k3 had above a lot of modern American cartoons was the shock value. Who could forget there reaction when you saw Leonardo slice off Shredder's head in 'Return to New York Part III'? Or the unaired 'Insane in the Membranes' gore? Or especially the episode 'Same As It Never Was', probably one of the darkest Saturday Morning Cartoon episodes ever produced. Even a lot of episodes in the Lost Season were dark and edgy when compared to other American cartoons these days. While 4kids is notorious for screwing up properties, TMNT was one of those that didn't get screwed up. Well, at least not in the first 5 seasons. (I won't even go into Fast Forward.)

While many people will remember 2k3 for the Turtles, you can't forget about the other characters. Splinter, to me, in the 2k3 is like Yoda. A wise old Master that can kick some serious shell. He was beautifully protrayed in this medium. Also, can't forget about Usagi. I think every episode with Usagi was a masterpiece. He deserves his own cartoon. I wish 4kids would do one but I don't see it happening. It's a shame he didn't appear in more episodes. He flowed so well with Leonardo.

The most notable of characters that really come to mind to me will always be Karai, Usagi, and Agent Bishop. To me, those were the top three characters in the show that were not the Turtles. Karai had a arc to her and I was both frustrated and thrilled to watch her character. I have already touched on Usagi. He was great. Agent Bishop was a wonder new villian, even though in FF they made him such a weenie. In 2k3, he was a great foe...yet he was also a good guy really. Kinda an anti-villian, really. So interesting.

Point is, TMNT 2k3 was a milestone in my eyes of American animation. It was a cartoon with characters that are lovable and also relateable. Stories that were both engrossing but easy to watch. It really was a fun cartoon to watch every Saturday. I truly hope and pray that Peter Laird is able to bring something that is truly comparable and exciting to the new direction coming our way in 2008. I would love for 4kids to just return to 2k3 after it's failed experiment with FF but I know it won't happen. So I just want to say think you Peter and thank you TMNT 2k3 staff for providing a fan with a wonder memory of Ninja Turtle awesomeness that I will cherish for years to come.