Do you think the villains were as important to the original cartoons success?

*CyberCubed* · 08-31-2011, 05:15 PM

While the original series was a success because people fell in love with the Turtles, do you think it would have been as popular if it weren't for the villains?

Shredder, Krang, Bebop and Rocksteady essentially made the show as much as the Turtles themselves. They had a family dynamic of their own, David Wise said they treated Shredder and Krang as a married couple and Bebop/Rocksteady as their children. The humor of the villains playing off one another helped carry the show as much as the Turtles banter with each other was. They all had memorable distinct personalities and balanced each other out well.

There's a reason that to this day, Krang is the second most recognizable TMNT villain after Shredder. Rocksteady and Bebop have also never really declined in popularity either, despite not being in the cartoons/comics for decades.

What do you think?

*TheCanadiandrome* · 09-01-2011, 12:53 AM

Dude u pretty much said what I wanted to say

*Luzmagica* · 09-01-2011, 12:57 AM

I choosed : Yes, the popularity of the villains certainly helped...

Of course, nice and fun enemies helped our OT TMNT ....

Fugitoid Jones · 09-01-2011, 01:28 AM

A hero is only as good as his/her villain. And the Turtles had a couple of great villains.

Cryomancer · 09-01-2011, 02:40 AM

Watching it nowadays, I think the villains are just straight up better and more entertaining characters than the turtles nearly all of the time.

*TheCanadiandrome* · 09-01-2011, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fugitoid Jones

A hero is only as good as his/her villain. And the Turtles had a couple of great villains.

Qft buddy!

Fugitoid Jones · 09-01-2011, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMNT_Canadian

Qft buddy!

"Qft"? "Queens For Tuesday"?

*pannoni1* · 09-01-2011, 12:17 PM

Really when you look back, the villains are the primary plot-driving devices; they make their plans to attack the heroes using specific items/supporting villains, kidnapp/destroy things in a particular way, and get destroyed/flee from various acts that the Turtles/Splinter do to them (or in some cases, Rocksteady & Bebop screwing up, which gives bonus points toward the importance of villiams). While there are litearly 10+ variants of the Turtles, Splinter, and April released as action figures, except for Shredder and perhaps Krang, there are many more numerous villians to be found. Then there are some episodes where multiple villains are used to build up the tension. This is why all episodes with Shredder/Krang are the best, with some of those CBS episodes without them a bit lame, focusing more on the heroes (though there were some good ones). The villians also are driving forces to defeat in video games, too.

*CyberCubed* · 09-01-2011, 02:06 PM

Well I am happy they didn't put Shredder/Krang in every single episode. It would have gotten much more tiring if they didn't give us a break from them from time to time.

*Powder* · 09-01-2011, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fugitoid Jones

"Qft"? "Queens For Tuesday"?

"Quoted for truth" thilly gooth!

*Donnie* · 09-01-2011, 09:40 PM

I voted yes...Shredder was hilarious.

LeoNerdo · 09-01-2011, 10:25 PM

It's a no-brainer, of course they were vital to the show's success. Didn't all successful action toons have at least one great and memorable villain? Megatron, Cobra Commander, Skeletor etc...

*CyberCubed* · 09-05-2011, 11:06 PM

Wow, all the votes so far say yes. I am curious if anyone will vote otherwise.

Sword Slicin' Leo · 09-06-2011, 01:25 PM

Absolutely...

Godzilla · 09-06-2011, 10:46 PM

Sure.

Shredder, krang, Bebop, and Rocksteady had a certain charm to them in the OT that made them instantly likeable and I agree that their popularity certainly played a factor in TMNT being so popular with kids during that generation. I distinctly remember characters like the Rat King, Baxter Stockman, and Leatherhead being favorites as well.

A pretty good and entertaining rogues gallery for sure.

~~Leo656~~ · 09-07-2011, 12:39 AM

I don't see how anyone could claim that the show would have been as good or as memorable without the cast of villains. To this day, whenever a new version of TMNT comes out, a comic, a movie, whatever, one of the very first things people want to know is if Shredder, Krang, Bebop and Rocksteady are in it. Identifiable villains with memorable personalities are one of many reasons the old show will always be remembered far more fondly than any other TMNT medium.

*Sage Ninja* · 09-13-2011, 10:56 PM

every show needs a good rogues gallery.

*Zany Orange Dude* · 10-28-2011, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonnyTMNT

I voted yes...Shredder was hilarious.

I couldn't have said that better myself! Shredder is part of what makes the show for me

Type 97 Chi-ha · 10-29-2011, 03:18 PM

Cybercubed, you're absolutely on target.

Protoman · 10-29-2011, 04:39 PM

Look at it this way.

When it comes to even the most casual of TMNT fans, they all remember the original 4, Splinter, April..... and it kinda trails from there.

But the same can be said on the otherside of the coin.

They all remember Shredder, Krang, Bebop, Rocksteady and Baxter. But while most "out of the sewer" TMNT heroes were more left to the toys and the one shot episode apperance (with the exception of Usagi), people really seem to remember the likes of Slash, Rat King, Leatherhead, General Traag even the Foot Soldiers themselves

View Poll Results: Did the memorable villains contribute to the old toons success?
Yes, the popularity of the villains certainly helped	45	91.84%
Maybe, but I think the show would have been as popular without as memorable villains	4	8.16%
No, I think the villains did nothing for the show	0	0%
Voters: 49. You may not vote on this poll

08-31-2011, 05:15 PM	#1
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,877	Do you think the villains were as important to the original cartoons success? While the original series was a success because people fell in love with the Turtles, do you think it would have been as popular if it weren't for the villains? Shredder, Krang, Bebop and Rocksteady essentially made the show as much as the Turtles themselves. They had a family dynamic of their own, David Wise said they treated Shredder and Krang as a married couple and Bebop/Rocksteady as their children. The humor of the villains playing off one another helped carry the show as much as the Turtles banter with each other was. They all had memorable distinct personalities and balanced each other out well. There's a reason that to this day, Krang is the second most recognizable TMNT villain after Shredder. Rocksteady and Bebop have also never really declined in popularity either, despite not being in the cartoons/comics for decades. What do you think?

09-01-2011, 12:53 AM	#2
TheCanadiandrome Big, Bad & Bold Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Inside the Technodrome; Shredderville; Saskatchewan Posts: 19,719	Dude u pretty much said what I wanted to say __________________ Add me: PSN/XBL; Nintendo Network ID: BDS-3.1.6; Switch FC: SW-3378-5206-8020 TMNT Fan Club: http://sot.ag/4jZR0 Visit My Wish List: http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/showthread.php?t=30904 My Collection: http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/showthread.php?t=40276

09-01-2011, 12:57 AM	#3
Luzmagica A Magic Light Dudette! Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Spain. Posts: 3,878	I choosed : Yes, the popularity of the villains certainly helped... Of course, nice and fun enemies helped our OT TMNT .... __________________

09-01-2011, 01:28 AM	#4
Fugitoid Jones Stone Warrior Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: D'hoonib, VT Posts: 886	A hero is only as good as his/her villain. And the Turtles had a couple of great villains. __________________ "You are right, I have always known about man. From the evidence, I believe his wisdom must walk hand and hand with his idiocy. His emotions must rule his brain. He must be a warlike creature who gives battle to everything around him, even himself." -Dr. Zaius

09-01-2011, 02:40 AM	#5
Cryomancer Mad Scientist Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 1,090	Watching it nowadays, I think the villains are just straight up better and more entertaining characters than the turtles nearly all of the time. __________________ Final Boss of translation group Opentrain. We do videogame comics and TMNT stuff. http://opentrain.theyear199x.org/

09-01-2011, 12:17 PM	#8
pannoni1 Foot Elite Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: USA Posts: 3,447	Really when you look back, the villains are the primary plot-driving devices; they make their plans to attack the heroes using specific items/supporting villains, kidnapp/destroy things in a particular way, and get destroyed/flee from various acts that the Turtles/Splinter do to them (or in some cases, Rocksteady & Bebop screwing up, which gives bonus points toward the importance of villiams). While there are litearly 10+ variants of the Turtles, Splinter, and April released as action figures, except for Shredder and perhaps Krang, there are many more numerous villians to be found. Then there are some episodes where multiple villains are used to build up the tension. This is why all episodes with Shredder/Krang are the best, with some of those CBS episodes without them a bit lame, focusing more on the heroes (though there were some good ones). The villians also are driving forces to defeat in video games, too. __________________ http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/sho...d.php?t=37065- MY WANT LIST TMNT FAN CLUB LINK: http://sot.ag/gCjK/ 30 years of Turtle Power!

09-01-2011, 02:06 PM	#9
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,877	Well I am happy they didn't put Shredder/Krang in every single episode. It would have gotten much more tiring if they didn't give us a break from them from time to time.

09-01-2011, 09:40 PM	#11
Donnie Something from the Past Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New York Posts: 3,256	I voted yes...Shredder was hilarious.

09-01-2011, 10:25 PM	#12
LeoNerdo Stone Warrior Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 872	It's a no-brainer, of course they were vital to the show's success. Didn't all successful action toons have at least one great and memorable villain? Megatron, Cobra Commander, Skeletor etc...

09-05-2011, 11:06 PM	#13
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,877	Wow, all the votes so far say yes. I am curious if anyone will vote otherwise.

09-06-2011, 01:25 PM	#14
Sword Slicin' Leo Stone Warrior Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: 11th & Bleeker Posts: 763	Absolutely... __________________ https://www.facebook.com/NinjaTurtle...rs?ref=tn_tnmn

09-06-2011, 10:46 PM	#15
Godzilla Foot Soldier Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 235	Sure. Shredder, krang, Bebop, and Rocksteady had a certain charm to them in the OT that made them instantly likeable and I agree that their popularity certainly played a factor in TMNT being so popular with kids during that generation. I distinctly remember characters like the Rat King, Baxter Stockman, and Leatherhead being favorites as well. A pretty good and entertaining rogues gallery for sure.

09-07-2011, 12:39 AM	#16
~~Leo656~~ Banned Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nWo Country Posts: 27,703	I don't see how anyone could claim that the show would have been as good or as memorable without the cast of villains. To this day, whenever a new version of TMNT comes out, a comic, a movie, whatever, one of the very first things people want to know is if Shredder, Krang, Bebop and Rocksteady are in it. Identifiable villains with memorable personalities are one of many reasons the old show will always be remembered far more fondly than any other TMNT medium.

09-13-2011, 10:56 PM	#17
Sage Ninja Band of the Hawk Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: USA Posts: 3,926	every show needs a good rogues gallery. __________________ Cassandra: You won't fight me, but will you fight--for him! Cassandra's Revenge ~Tangled the Series ________________________________ http://frankviola.org/2012/01/30/godsviewofawoman/ _______________________________ http://nox-artemis.tumblr.com/post/4...k-and-feminism

10-29-2011, 03:18 PM	#19
Type 97 Chi-ha Mad Scientist Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Brookfield, IL Posts: 1,333	Cybercubed, you're absolutely on target.

10-29-2011, 04:39 PM	#20
Protoman Thug Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Sewers of Montreal, Canada Posts: 79	Look at it this way. When it comes to even the most casual of TMNT fans, they all remember the original 4, Splinter, April..... and it kinda trails from there. But the same can be said on the otherside of the coin. They all remember Shredder, Krang, Bebop, Rocksteady and Baxter. But while most "out of the sewer" TMNT heroes were more left to the toys and the one shot episode apperance (with the exception of Usagi), people really seem to remember the likes of Slash, Rat King, Leatherhead, General Traag even the Foot Soldiers themselves __________________ A new challenger has arrived... TheProtoman.com Protoman on Twitter