Watching through the OT completely for the first time

[Valtus3200]

Yeah, man, this is almost exactly how I remembered OT. I had three cassette tapes, one of which was damaged (didn't stop me from watching it though). But, despite my nostalgia, it wasn't the same watching it again.

I've been considering going back and re-watching it, through all those seasons... but, I'm ify if I'd be able to get through them as an adult. It's hard to separate TMNT for children, and TMNT for adults, if you know what I mean. I guess it's the same thing for Batman fans (of which I am), we all have our definitive version of Batman, the one that's "our" Batman, and I guess the same goes for my TMNT tastes.

[oldmanwinters]

Originally Posted by Swedenfan 1982

Channel 6 was phased out from season 8. Shredder blowing up the building rocks. I wish Irma was fired too for hanging out with the TMNT, so she could be some camera assistant for April when April was a freelance reporter during later seasons.

I do wish we could have seen more Irma in the final two seasons.

We sure as heck got enough of Carter!

[sdp]

So watching the Japanese OVAs should they be considered canon in the OT, they do explain how they got and lost their powers shown there and it's obviously based in OT continuity, besides Shredders different character design, I don't know, I'm really conflicted, I feel it's not part of it but yet it fits in continuity.

[oldmanwinters]

Originally Posted by sdp

So watching the Japanese OVAs should they be considered canon in the OT, they do explain how they got and lost their powers shown there and it's obviously based in OT continuity, besides Shredders different character design, I don't know, I'm really conflicted, I feel it's not part of it but yet it fits in continuity.

As an avid aficionado of the vintage TMNT manga-verse, I'd say a cautious "no." But as crazy as the Fred Wolf series was, it wouldn't be a stretch to just assume it happened at some point.

The Super Turtles #1 manga asserts that Shredder's original armor was destroyed, hence he got that new outfit for the Japanese adventures.

It's just another corner of the weird and wacky TMNT multi-verse!

TMNT Multiverse Collage by ~Demon-Alukard on deviantART

[gobo]

Originally Posted by oldmanwinters

We sure as heck got [too much] of Carter!

Fixed that for you! ^_^

Originally Posted by sdp

So watching the Japanese OVAs should they be considered canon in the OT

No, it's another spin-off continuity, like Archie's TMNTA.

[Agent 86]

I've only just started my first run-through of the original series after being inspired by the upcoming release of the new "Classics" figures from Playmates.

So far, I'm about half-way through season 3 and I'm really loving it. My prior exposure to the original series was watching them after school for quite a few years (but only once I was old enough to be "home alone" - prior to that I had to go to after-school care where we weren't allowed to watch television). I also had the original movie and around four episodes on VHS. I had also taped the cut-down "movie" version of season 1 when it first screened, but it was taped-over at some point during my childhood.

I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of seasons 1 and 2 and particularly surprised by Shredder's characterisation in season 2. My memories were always of Shredder being Krang's bumbling assistant (with Bebop and Rocksteady being Shredder's even more bumbling assistants), but in season 2 it seemed that Shredder was much more of a "stand-alone" villain. Also, Shredder was capable of defeating the turtles (but not Splinter). Splinter was also a pleasant surprise - especially how active he was. Again, I have vague memories of him doing little other than sitting around and going cross at the turtles. But he's active, wise and comedic at times.

I also liked April's character, particularly her determination, driving skills and how little she seemed to get kidnapped in the first two seasons. I think I'm only just starting to get to the point in season 3 where she is frequently kidnapped or endangered by Shredder which is the single most prominent character trait that I previously recalled about April. And I'm liking April's co-workers more as well. I recall being irritated by the presence of Irma, Vernon and Burne when I was a child (since they "stole" screen-time from the turtles), but I don't find them that irritating as an adult.

As for the turtles ... well, none of them have really "wowed" me yet. Michaelangelo was my favourite as a child, but I have no idea why. As an adult, none of them really have a distinctive personality as yet. They're all jusy pizza-loving, slang-using, crime-fighting turtles. I like that Raphael seems to break the fourth wall quite frequently and Donatello is the only turtle with a unique interest (being science/inventions). Still, none of them really jump out at me as individuals and the few times that their bandanas are coloured incorrectly, it's only their weapons (not their dialogue/actions) which make the mistake obvious.

I have gotten to the stage where the "same same" nature of the plots fails to hold my attention for 20+ minutes. I've started to leave the room while the episode is playing to attend to random chores now since the old "the Technodrome needs [X] to rise, Shredder tries and fails to obtain [X]" plot is getting tiresome. However, I think I'm about to come into the episodes introducing Leatherhead, Casey Jones and other memorable secondary characters so that should improve the overall quality of the third season.

[pannoni1]

Originally Posted by oldmanwinters

As an avid aficionado of the vintage TMNT manga-verse, I'd say a cautious "no." But as crazy as the Fred Wolf series was, it wouldn't be a stretch to just assume it happened at some point.

The Super Turtles #1 manga asserts that Shredder's original armor was destroyed, hence he got that new outfit for the Japanese adventures.

It's just another corner of the weird and wacky TMNT multi-verse!

TMNT Multiverse Collage by ~Demon-Alukard on deviantART

This really shows what a big world we live in. You might as well add the IDW and Nick bubbles in addition, and connect the video games associated with the 1987 series along with the video games associated with the 2003 series. However, it shows that what is accepted as "canon" is more tolerant here, with only stuff like Operation Blue Line, Turtle Tunes, and Coming Out of their shells the exceptions.

[ToTheNines]

Originally Posted by oldmanwinters

We sure as heck got enough of Carter!

No joke, I hate that.

It's a shame too, because Carter's actually a pretty good character, but for some reason they felt the need to throw him in there like he was the 5th turtle every single episode.

[sdp]

Well I don't want to de-rail the thread too much with mutliverses so it should go on another thread or even this old one I made back in 2006 about Multiverses, it wasn't very popular then but after turtles forever it got more people interested in the Turtles multiverse.

Anyways I'd say that almost all classic games can be in one timeline and all 2k3 games in another, they clearly don't take place in the shows continuity. As for the coming out of the shells tour I actually wouldn't mind another forking timeline from the third movie in which COOTST/BIYT/Turtle Tunes/WWYATC all happen, I mean there are plenty of similarities from the movies in terms of character evolution, I can see those turtles from Turtles III eventually doing a concert tour...

Oh and if you find S3 repetitive you won't be able to stand S4, I find S3 not that repetitive but S4 is indeed quite a bit, more eventful things happen in S4. I'm almost finished with S4, maybe I'll finish this week and I'm off to S5 which I thought was more well liked but apparently it's on par with S4? I hope not.

[Killer Moth]

Originally Posted by Agent 86

I've only just started my first run-through of the original series after being inspired by the upcoming release of the new "Classics" figures from Playmates.

So far, I'm about half-way through season 3 and I'm really loving it. My prior exposure to the original series was watching them after school for quite a few years (but only once I was old enough to be "home alone" - prior to that I had to go to after-school care where we weren't allowed to watch television). I also had the original movie and around four episodes on VHS. I had also taped the cut-down "movie" version of season 1 when it first screened, but it was taped-over at some point during my childhood.

I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of seasons 1 and 2 and particularly surprised by Shredder's characterisation in season 2. My memories were always of Shredder being Krang's bumbling assistant (with Bebop and Rocksteady being Shredder's even more bumbling assistants), but in season 2 it seemed that Shredder was much more of a "stand-alone" villain. Also, Shredder was capable of defeating the turtles (but not Splinter). Splinter was also a pleasant surprise - especially how active he was. Again, I have vague memories of him doing little other than sitting around and going cross at the turtles. But he's active, wise and comedic at times.

I also liked April's character, particularly her determination, driving skills and how little she seemed to get kidnapped in the first two seasons. I think I'm only just starting to get to the point in season 3 where she is frequently kidnapped or endangered by Shredder which is the single most prominent character trait that I previously recalled about April. And I'm liking April's co-workers more as well. I recall being irritated by the presence of Irma, Vernon and Burne when I was a child (since they "stole" screen-time from the turtles), but I don't find them that irritating as an adult.

As for the turtles ... well, none of them have really "wowed" me yet. Michaelangelo was my favourite as a child, but I have no idea why. As an adult, none of them really have a distinctive personality as yet. They're all jusy pizza-loving, slang-using, crime-fighting turtles. I like that Raphael seems to break the fourth wall quite frequently and Donatello is the only turtle with a unique interest (being science/inventions). Still, none of them really jump out at me as individuals and the few times that their bandanas are coloured incorrectly, it's only their weapons (not their dialogue/actions) which make the mistake obvious.

I have gotten to the stage where the "same same" nature of the plots fails to hold my attention for 20+ minutes. I've started to leave the room while the episode is playing to attend to random chores now since the old "the Technodrome needs [X] to rise, Shredder tries and fails to obtain [X]" plot is getting tiresome. However, I think I'm about to come into the episodes introducing Leatherhead, Casey Jones and other memorable secondary characters so that should improve the overall quality of the third season.

I swear you're like reading my mind, or something. heh.

While the "Technodrome needs X or Y amount of energy" as a good standby plotpoint, the repetition of it with Season 3 can be a bit much. Funny how in Season 1 no one complained about the Technodrome's energy requirements. Of course, it wasn't dunked in lava before then, either, so there is that as an excuse.

By Season 3, yes, their personalities emerge more clearly, but they were budding well in Season 2. As an adult, I was particularly surprised by Don's cynicism and his issues with humans in Season 3 (re: "The Gang's All Here" as he says humans are the worst thing the Turtles could become after eating Shredder's cookies.) I'll be sure to have my fun whenever I get around to analyzing Season 3 Don in depth, once I get the DVDs. Speaking of poison cookies, Saki must really loved the poisoning course when training under the Foot (poisoned April with a flower in Season 2, ended up poisoning Mike with the aforementioned cookies of death).

That's a point I never considered -- we end up losing Irma for Carter. I didn't mind Carter when I was younger, but his Gary Stu characterization does become more clear whenever I thought about it, as an adult. And yet, I keep changing my mind on characters, so I'll probably re-like him again, soon, anyway. And I did feel sorry for him, as he was still in the FUTURA by the time the senes ended. Wonder if he ever got cured.

As for the OVA, which I finally watched recently, well... if I didn't watch Pokemon so much, I swear I was going insane with seeing the anime Turtles. Not that it was bad, as, among other things, I really liked Saki's insult for Krang, "octopus." Which counts a major cultural insult, as you really don't want to be called that in Japan. (For those who don't know, it's like the equivalent for "cur.")

Lastly, since we're on Season 2, and this is a weird observation, but I've noticed the animators sure can draw cats. Between Mortimer and the stray that Don picked up in Catwoman, I have to admire teh cuteness. (I also own cats, so I may be more suspectable than I care to admit.)

[CyberCubed]

The repetitive plots in the series never bothered me. Sure, most episodes were about Shredder/Krang either trying to repower the Technodrome or coming up with a new scheme to take over the world....but each episode was still different and entertaining.

Every episode has different things happening, different interactions among the main cast, different bits of humor.

[Killer Moth]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

The repetitive plots in the series never bothered me. Sure, most episodes were about Shredder/Krang either trying to repower the Technodrome or coming up with a new scheme to take over the world....but each episode was still different and entertaining.

Every episode has different things happening, different interactions among the main cast, different bits of humor.

Fair enough. As long as there was a great dialogue exchange or several cute moments, it can be enough for me. Season 3, despite its flaws, had this going for it. It may be the OT's greatest strength -- I never knew what to expect from them. Certain episodes I can predict the ending, yet sometimes, like "Michelangelo's Birthday," I'd go, "Huh, didn't see that coming." Maybe not the best example, but it was an ending I don't think anyone could have foreseen. I like the unpredictability, which compensated for the stock plots.

Besides, there are so many ways to write a story and when you crank out many episodes, like Seasons 3-4, you have to write what you got under deadline and move on.

[CyberCubed]

Agreed. Even some of my least favorite episodes of the series still have at least one nice scene I enjoyed, or one funny moment, or some funny dialogue or banter.

Its really weird for me. If this was any other series that did this I'd probably get bored fast, but the original cartoon had this sort of "magic" or "atmosphere" about it.

It was the characters, their voices/personalities, the banter between the Turtles, the villains, the Channel 6 news screw, the music...everything really.

[Killer Moth]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

Agreed. Even some of my least favorite episodes of the series still have at least one nice scene I enjoyed, or one funny moment, or some funny dialogue or banter.

Its really weird for me. If this was any other series that did this I'd probably get bored fast, but the original cartoon had this sort of "magic" or "atmosphere" about it.

It was the characters, their voices/personalities, the banter between the Turtles, the villains, the Channel 6 news screw, the music...everything really.

Right. For example, it was the Shredder/Krang banter in "Adventures in Turtle-Sitting" that kept me from doing a full nerd-rage. (I recently discovered it on tape, done during the end of USA's Cartoon Express days.) Okay, the utter absurdity of Krang eliminating the gangsters, via an artificial floating island didn't bother me as much as I thought. Again, it's the bizarre unpredictability. (Which is why I want to see "Pirate Radio.")

As I said previously, I want to nerd-rage on "Killer Pizzas," yet I shouldn't. You need something light right before viewing "Enter: The Fly." As I recall, "Beneath These Streets" and "Turtles on Trial" had a real darkness to them, which might explain the lightness afterwards. Besides, there is enough semi-serious fare with the rise of the Rat King, the return of Baxter and the three-part season finale. Weren't for Shredder's outrageous outrage in "Blow Out," he would have won.

[Jester]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

Agreed. Even some of my least favorite episodes of the series still have at least one nice scene I enjoyed, or one funny moment, or some funny dialogue or banter.

Its really weird for me. If this was any other series that did this I'd probably get bored fast, but the original cartoon had this sort of "magic" or "atmosphere" about it.

It was the characters, their voices/personalities, the banter between the Turtles, the villains, the Channel 6 news screw, the music...everything really.

Couldn't agree more, good sir.

[CyberCubed]

I think the bizarre plotlines helped. Its true that you really didn't know what to expect.

You knew the Turtles would always win in the end and Shredder/Krang's plans would be foiled, but it was HOW it happened that made each episode worth watching.

The interesting chemistry between the entire main cast, villains, and recurring characters was also well done.

[Killer Moth]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

I think the bizarre plotlines helped. Its true that you really didn't know what to expect.

You knew the Turtles would always win in the end and Shredder/Krang's plans would be foiled, but it was HOW it happened that made each episode worth watching.

The interesting chemistry between the entire main cast, villains, and recurring characters was also well done.

Exactly. In some ways, censoring isn't always a bad thing, because it can force the writers to be more creative. Which is probably why I like OT Raph as my favorite Raph, because the berserker type can be a tad tedious. Same with the OT Shredder in some ways, helped by Avery, as he can pull off the rarest villain exception: the comedic villain that can be taken seriously if need be. (The exception would be Batman's Joker, yet he is in a class by himself.)

Over time, you mellow over certain characterizions, as well. I hated OT Slash when I was younger, but that was a style choice (badass action figure vs. what we got). Nevertheless, he was allowed to be violent and insane, only a more weird and lighthearted way. Decent enough compromise, and I finally learned to accept.

And then, you double down on others, like with Baxter. I loved the nerd then; love him even more now.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by pannoni1

This really shows what a big world we live in. You might as well add the IDW and Nick bubbles in addition, and connect the video games associated with the 1987 series along with the video games associated with the 2003 series. However, it shows that what is accepted as "canon" is more tolerant here, with only stuff like Operation Blue Line, Turtle Tunes, and Coming Out of their shells the exceptions.

Sorry, but it's difficult to read some of the text. But great work.

[oldmanwinters]

Originally Posted by Killer Moth

Between Mortimer and the stray that Don picked up in Catwoman, I have to admire the cuteness. (I also own cats, so I may be more susceptible than I care to admit.)

You know, when I was drawing up my TMNT fan comic, "Nothing to Fear," I realized how similar that orange stray cat looked to Klunk as we would later see him in the 4Kids series. It would have been cool to see the Old Toon turtles adopt the little critter into their lair, although Splinter's innate fear of cats probably would have nixed that idea!

[Killer Moth]

Originally Posted by oldmanwinters

You know, when I was drawing up my TMNT fan comic, "Nothing to Fear," I realized how similar that orange stray cat looked to Klunk as we would later see him in the 4Kids series. It would have been cool to see the Old Toon turtles adopt the little critter into their lair, although Splinter's innate fear of cats probably would have nixed that idea!

Klunk popped my head, as well, when I saw the stray interacting with Don (which was quite adorable). I also definitely noticed that Don still held the cat when they took off after Splinter contacted them. Plothole or the Turtles secretly deciding to adopt the cat behind Splinter's back -- you make the call.

Splinter did mellow as the series progressed (as I recall, he did change his mind about the European Vacation after being somewhat opposed to it), so all hope springs eternal.

I had noticed how the Season 2 animators apparently liked orange cats, per the stray we've been discussing, Mortimer and the cat that got mixed with April. I'd love to think the animators had Klunk in mind, yet it is highly doubtful. I see it as an unexpected and pleasant bonus, however.

Come to think of it, the mouse used in Baxter's Mouser experiment also had a cute design. And then, it got caught by the Mouser, and you can figure out the rest. Poor mouse.