Your honest opinion of the 1987 cartoon - Then and Now - Page 6

Garfield · 08-19-2014, 02:50 PM

I think the 87 theme song is cheesy. I get nostalgic for it, but its cheesy. With the weird way the lyrics are sang and the 80's slang and catch phrases belted out through it. It dates it self in a bad way and it makes me blush when people try to get me sing it with them (not that that happens a lot or anything.)

I get so much more out of the well done animated animation than from the actual song. The animation is so cool. I like that Mike does the funky chicken and then spins on his shell and a lot of other things to.

*THGhost* · 08-19-2014, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cryomancer

The theme song sucks by the way, I'll say it, I don't even care.

I'm sorry, which theme are we talking about here?

Cryomancer · 08-20-2014, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THGhost

I'm sorry, which theme are we talking about here?

The one that sucks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Konchadunga

As much as the show isn't the quintessential TMNT to me, the theme song really is. The lyrics may be an oversimplification of the turtles' personalities, but they're base enough that they could apply to every incarnation. Not so much the bit about Shredder being the Big Bad, but that's pretty subtle. At the time I was into the 2003 show, the old theme song was the one thing I truly missed from 1987. There's more now, but of the things in that show valued by the masses, that song is probably the least detrimental.

The oversimplification complaint I made was more that people will refer to, and write entire movies/comics/series/etc, the theme song as the entire sum of who the turtles are. Like yeah ok the theme summarizes them in broad strokes fine, but that's not their entire self, and it's not very cool to treat that as your entire "did I write them well" yardstick. Lots of people on this forum and elsewhere were saying stuff about the new movie like "well Mikey is a party dude so it's fine by me" or whatever, and that just makes it seem like nobody wants any sort of complexity or thought put into TMNT.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garfield

I get so much more out of the well done animated animation than from the actual song. The animation is so cool. I like that Mike does the funky chicken and then spins on his shell and a lot of other things to.

Yeah, the animation in the intros are usually pretty cool and I won't complain about those. If the show actually lived up to the intro more often it would have been a better show overall.

JamieH · 08-20-2014, 02:22 AM

As a kid, it was the best cartoon ever. As an adult, nostalgia only goes but so far.

Hannurdock · 08-20-2014, 02:27 AM

As a kid, I watched it relentlessly. Loved it and cuddled up next to the television.

Now, it is ... what it is. It's a kids TV show from the 80's, nostalgia aside, no worse or better than others of it's day. The characters are a bit wooden and the title theme tune is very retro.

I only watch it now and again for nostalgia. Mainly put on The Fifth Turtle because that's one episode I can still watch again and again. I know the dialogue too. Kinda sad, I know.

Type 97 Chi-ha · 08-20-2014, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garfield

I think the 87 theme song is cheesy. I get nostalgic for it, but its cheesy. With the weird way the lyrics are sang and the 80's slang and catch phrases belted out through it. It dates it self in a bad way and it makes me blush when people try to get me sing it with them (not that that happens a lot or anything.)

I get so much more out of the well done animated animation than from the actual song. The animation is so cool. I like that Mike does the funky chicken and then spins on his shell and a lot of other things to.

When the show was first produced, I'm sure not too much effort was put into it. Nobody could be sure it was going to be a success. A lot of cartoons or other television shows don't have particularly good theme songs.

As for animation, in the 1960's and 1970's, animation was poor in a lot of cartoons. The TMNT and other shows of that era were from a time when better animation was back in vogue.

*Shark_Blade* · 08-20-2014, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Type 97 Chi-ha

When the show was first produced, I'm sure not too much effort was put into it. Nobody could be sure it was going to be a success. A lot of cartoons or other television shows don't have particularly good theme songs.

As for animation, in the 1960's and 1970's, animation was poor in a lot of cartoons. The TMNT and other shows of that era were from a time when better animation was back in vogue.

Not much effort put into it?

...

I have no time to deal with people who talk with their ass instead of facts.

Go read yourself The Ultimate Visual History instead of embarrassing yourself.

turtle1237 · 08-20-2014, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shark_Blade

Not much effort put into it?

...

I have no time to deal with people who talk with their ass instead of facts.

Go read yourself The Ultimate Visual History instead of embarrassing yourself.

Depends on the cartoon, Scooby Doo was top of its work for its hey day,

But how much movement did Space Ghost and Mighty Mightor do in there own tv shows. It was mostly standing as stiff as a board and speaking. Zorak on what cartoon planet was it? Made a joke of it costing the suits 49$ for him just to move his arm.

*Prowler* · 08-20-2014, 08:47 AM

The theme song is a classic and frequently considered one of the best cartoon theme songs of all time. The funny thing is, it made you feel like you were in for a kickass action show instead of a comedy one with mostly slapstick violence. The turtles look pretty badass in the opening. But then you look at the 4Kids TMNT opening and the lyrics give you a Sesame Street vibe by teaching you to count when in fact it's more of an action show than the FW series has ever been.

*plastroncafe* · 08-20-2014, 10:26 AM

I loved the cartoon then.

Now...I think it's best to remember it fondly, and never rewatch all but a selection of episodes.
The rest have had varying visits with The Suck Fairy.

*CyberCubed* · 08-20-2014, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plastroncafe

I loved the cartoon then.

Now...I think it's best to remember it fondly, and never rewatch all but a selection of episodes.
The rest have had varying visits with The Suck Fairy.

Most of the show has very good episodes for its writing style.

~~Davetello~~ · 08-20-2014, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamieH

As a kid, it was the best cartoon ever. As an adult, nostalgia only goes but so far.

Sums it up well.

*plastroncafe* · 08-20-2014, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

Most of the show has very good episodes for its writing style.

In your opinion, sure.

*CyberCubed* · 08-20-2014, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plastroncafe

In your opinion, sure.

In many opinions. The OT is highly underrated by people who brush it off without truly sitting down to watch it. Especially the hidden gem episodes in the middle seasons people overlook.

*plastroncafe* · 08-20-2014, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

In many opinions. The OT is highly underrated by people who brush it off without truly sitting down to watch it. Especially the hidden gem episodes in the middle seasons people overlook.

It's nice that you think that.
I don't agree.
But it's no less nice that you do.

*THGhost* · 08-20-2014, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cryomancer

The one that sucks!

Fast Forward then.

*CyberCubed* · 08-20-2014, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THGhost

Fast Forward then.

Fast Forward didn't suck at all, many of its episodes were just as good as the other seasons.

Lou 500 · 08-20-2014, 01:14 PM

I remember enjoying it as a child. I bought season 1 and 2 on DVD as an adult and while initially liking the first few episodes, it got boring pretty quickly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

Fast Forward didn't suck at all, many of its episodes were just as good as the other seasons.

The only episode in that series I liked was when Dark Leo was under house arrest with the turtles after being captured. Character development, yo.

*CyberCubed* · 08-20-2014, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lou 500

I remember enjoying it as a child. I bought season 1 and 2 on DVD as an adult and while initially liking the first few episodes, it got boring pretty quickly.

I don't see how it got boring, the best episodes come in the following seasons when the show finds its formula.

turtle1237 · 08-20-2014, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

In many opinions. The OT is highly underrated by people who brush it off without truly sitting down to watch it. Especially the hidden gem episodes in the middle seasons people overlook.

Not sure if it is underrated or overrated. At the time, the show cause Turtle mania, that has not been seen since, Not even the 2003 series or 2012 series was able to duplicate what the 87 series did, and today its still makes most list of top cartoons ever, and perhaps most times number 3 in 80's toons, always falling short to things like Robot Cars, and US soldiers fighting a snake or something

.

Not to mention the 3 movies it spawn. Food items, Toys, and I mean Toys, we had Star Trek turtles, cave turtles, April O'Neil herself had like what? 10 action figures herself. The Turtles had endless toys base on them self's. I still got space suit Mickey and Samurai Leo on my self right now. April with the press sign, of course the press sign is faded.

08-19-2014, 02:50 PM	#101
Garfield Hench Mutant Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: New England Posts: 432	I think the 87 theme song is cheesy. I get nostalgic for it, but its cheesy. With the weird way the lyrics are sang and the 80's slang and catch phrases belted out through it. It dates it self in a bad way and it makes me blush when people try to get me sing it with them (not that that happens a lot or anything.) I get so much more out of the well done animated animation than from the actual song. The animation is so cool. I like that Mike does the funky chicken and then spins on his shell and a lot of other things to. Last edited by Garfield; 08-19-2014 at 02:56 PM.

08-20-2014, 02:22 AM	#104
JamieH Thug Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Kinston, NC Posts: 94	As a kid, it was the best cartoon ever. As an adult, nostalgia only goes but so far. __________________

08-20-2014, 02:27 AM	#105
Hannurdock Foot Soldier Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Birmingham, England Posts: 236	As a kid, I watched it relentlessly. Loved it and cuddled up next to the television. Now, it is ... what it is. It's a kids TV show from the 80's, nostalgia aside, no worse or better than others of it's day. The characters are a bit wooden and the title theme tune is very retro. I only watch it now and again for nostalgia. Mainly put on The Fifth Turtle because that's one episode I can still watch again and again. I know the dialogue too. Kinda sad, I know. __________________ *Try to be like the turtle ... at ease in your own shell.*

08-20-2014, 08:47 AM	#109
Prowler Emperor Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,998	The theme song is a classic and frequently considered one of the best cartoon theme songs of all time. The funny thing is, it made you feel like you were in for a kickass action show instead of a comedy one with mostly slapstick violence. The turtles look pretty badass in the opening. But then you look at the 4Kids TMNT opening and the lyrics give you a Sesame Street vibe by teaching you to count when in fact it's more of an action show than the FW series has ever been.