Watching through the OT completely for the first time

[Foot Soldier Clang]

I recently finished rewatching the entire OT. I started back in January. It's still perfect in every way

[CyberCubed]

Originally Posted by Foot Soldier Clang

I recently finished rewatching the entire OT. I started back in January. It's still perfect in every way

Now watch through the 4kids series. You're missing out.

[Avatar Yuffie]

Originally Posted by Foot Soldier Clang

I recently finished rewatching the entire OT. I started back in January. It's still perfect in every way

Congrats.

[Leo656]

I never got to watch the Japanese TMNT. Where's a good place to find it?

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by Killer Moth

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.

That's season 3, great mix of dark-action and humor. Sadly, most people only seem to remember the episodes with less cool action from that season.

[Foot Soldier Clang]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

Now watch through the 4kids series. You're missing out.

I'm going to try and watch it over the summer right before the new Nick show airs.

Originally Posted by Avatar Yuffie

Congrats.

Thanks! Somehow it makes me feel young again!

Originally Posted by Leo656

I never got to watch the Japanese TMNT. Where's a good place to find it?

It was never released in the US, but you can find it fansubbed on youtube I think.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by Foot Soldier Clang

I recently finished rewatching the entire OT. I started back in January. It's still perfect in every way

Thoughts? Which season do you like best and that stuff.

[Foot Soldier Clang]

Originally Posted by Swedenfan 1982

Thoughts? Which season do you like best and that stuff.

I really enjoyed the 1993 season. I thought it started and ended on high notes. "Night of the Rogues" and "Shredder Triumphant" are my favorite episodes of that season, but I don't have a least favorite episode really.

The OT is a mixed bag of fun action packed episodes, and ridiculous scifi episodes. Some episodes borderline genius (like "Farewell, Lotus Blossom"), while others are just strange homages (like "What's Michelangelo good for?").

Before the Red Sky seasons, the OT seems to be one big homage to b-movies of the Atomic Age of cinema. There was more than one reference to Ed Wood, Tor Johnson, and the fact the the turtles themselves enjoyed watched strange and obscure movies. There was one episode entitled "Plan 6 from Outer Space" which is a parody of the Ed Wood "classic" Plan 9 from Outer Space". There was an episode where Krang needed parts for his "Calcinator Ray", which is the weapon used in the cult classic "Robot Monster". I personally believe Krang's android body is designed to look like actor/wrestler Tor Johnson. And even the rubber masks the turtles wear to go out in the early episodes are Tor Johnson masks!

The Red Sky seasons had a bit more character developtment for the turtles, and NYC looks like a post-apocalyptic wasteland devoid of all life... and also surrounded by mountains and houses a nuclear power plant... in the midtown area... So it's a weird handful of seasons, but I loved them. There were so many great villains from Lord Dregg's homeworld. Space mercenaries mostly. And even before Dregg shows up, there was the villain Megavolt who I thought was particularly cool, and Titanus and his HAVOC mutants. I wish they didn't do away with the Channel 6 crew like they did, because Burne Thompson was better as a antagonist. And my beloved Irma just disappeared .

In all, I enjoyed the entire series and I have only minor complaints; There should have been more female villains and female mutants, more returning villains rather than one-shot-villains, and larger roles for human allies.

So like I said, the OT was perfect

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by Foot Soldier Clang

I really enjoyed the 1993 season. I thought it started and ended on high notes. "Night of the Rogues" and "Shredder Triumphant" are my favorite episodes of that season, but I don't have a least favorite episode really.

The OT is a mixed bag of fun action packed episodes, and ridiculous scifi episodes. Some episodes borderline genius (like "Farewell, Lotus Blossom"), while others are just strange homages (like "What's Michelangelo good for?").

Before the Red Sky seasons, the OT seems to be one big homage to b-movies of the Atomic Age of cinema. There was more than one reference to Ed Wood, Tor Johnson, and the fact the the turtles themselves enjoyed watched strange and obscure movies. There was one episode entitled "Plan 6 from Outer Space" which is a parody of the Ed Wood "classic" Plan 9 from Outer Space". There was an episode where Krang needed parts for his "Calcinator Ray", which is the weapon used in the cult classic "Robot Monster". I personally believe Krang's android body is designed to look like actor/wrestler Tor Johnson. And even the rubber masks the turtles wear to go out in the early episodes are Tor Johnson masks!

The Red Sky seasons had a bit more character developtment for the turtles, and NYC looks like a post-apocalyptic wasteland devoid of all life... and also surrounded by mountains and houses a nuclear power plant... in the midtown area... So it's a weird handful of seasons, but I loved them. There were so many great villains from Lord Dregg's homeworld. Space mercenaries mostly. And even before Dregg shows up, there was the villain Megavolt who I thought was particularly cool, and Titanus and his HAVOC mutants. I wish they didn't do away with the Channel 6 crew like they did, because Burne Thompson was better as a antagonist. And my beloved Irma just disappeared .

In all, I enjoyed the entire series and I have only minor complaints; There should have been more female villains and female mutants, more returning villains rather than one-shot-villains, and larger roles for human allies.

So like I said, the OT was perfect

The 1970's, 1980's and early 1990's had other action cartoons like Super Friends, Blackstar He-Man, Transformers, Mask, Fantastic Max, Biker Mice from Mars and Widget, so the science fiction stuff was probably an attempt to ride on that wave.

[Foot Soldier Clang]

Originally Posted by Swedenfan 1982

The 1970's, 1980's and early 1990's had other action cartoons like Super Friends, Blackstar He-Man, Transformers, Mask, Fantastic Max, Biker Mice from Mars and Widget, so the science fiction stuff was probably an attempt to ride on that wave.

But most of the 1980's stuff was done in either a 1960's Jet Age super-science fashion, or Pulp Fantasy. I don't remember Biker Mice too well, and I remember thinking Widget was kinda lame . I'm not basing my opinion on any kind of fact, but if you watch a lot of old Atomic Age stuff, and hold it next to OT TMNT, they feel similar.

I can easily imagine the writers for the OT reading the title and going "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? That title reminds me of something I saw in a drive-in theater!" and just going with that theme.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by Foot Soldier Clang

But most of the 1980's stuff was done in either a 1960's Jet Age super-science fashion, or Pulp Fantasy. I don't remember Biker Mice too well, and I remember thinking Widget was kinda lame . I'm not basing my opinion on any kind of fact, but if you watch a lot of old Atomic Age stuff, and hold it next to OT TMNT, they feel similar.

I can easily imagine the writers for the OT reading the title and going "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? That title reminds me of something I saw in a drive-in theater!" and just going with that theme.

Fantasy was never a big part of the 1987 TMNT show. Almost everything was science fiction.

[Foot Soldier Clang]

Originally Posted by Swedenfan 1982

Fantasy was never a big part of the 1987 TMNT show. Almost everything was science fiction.

Well yes, the OT was all space aliens and Dimension X invaders, but elements of fantasy did exist in small portions through out the series.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by Foot Soldier Clang

Well yes, the OT was all space aliens and Dimension X invaders, but elements of fantasy did exist in small portions through out the series.

You had the Fairy Tale Dimension, some alternate history lines where fairy tales were true (see the ""Turtles and the Hare" episode).

[Killer Moth]

Originally Posted by Foot Soldier Clang

Before the Red Sky seasons, the OT seems to be one big homage to b-movies of the Atomic Age of cinema. There was more than one reference to Ed Wood, Tor Johnson, and the fact the the turtles themselves enjoyed watched strange and obscure movies. There was one episode entitled "Plan 6 from Outer Space" which is a parody of the Ed Wood "classic" Plan 9 from Outer Space". There was an episode where Krang needed parts for his "Calcinator Ray", which is the weapon used in the cult classic "Robot Monster". I personally believe Krang's android body is designed to look like actor/wrestler Tor Johnson. And even the rubber masks the turtles wear to go out in the early episodes are Tor Johnson masks!

The Red Sky seasons had a bit more character developtment for the turtles, and NYC looks like a post-apocalyptic wasteland devoid of all life... and also surrounded by mountains and houses a nuclear power plant... in the midtown area... So it's a weird handful of seasons, but I loved them. There were so many great villains from Lord Dregg's homeworld. Space mercenaries mostly. And even before Dregg shows up, there was the villain Megavolt who I thought was particularly cool, and Titanus and his HAVOC mutants. I wish they didn't do away with the Channel 6 crew like they did, because Burne Thompson was better as a antagonist. And my beloved Irma just disappeared .

In all, I enjoyed the entire series and I have only minor complaints; There should have been more female villains and female mutants, more returning villains rather than one-shot-villains, and larger roles for human allies.

The 50's vibe definitely rang true in Season 2, with Cat! April and the various monsters throughout. (I suppose I could cite Fly! Baxter for this, yet the 86 remake of "The Fly" probably inspired that plotpoint more than anything.) Of course, we can't forget the Neutrinos, and the animators going for a bizzare "Rebel Without a Cause" theme.

Your theory about Tor being used to inspire Krang's android body and the later TMNT masks intrigue me, and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

And speaking of Megavolt, his suit of armor definitely reminded me of a Solurite (or however you spell that name) from "Phantom Planet":

http://youtu.be/QFlPEG8IL-Q

You MST3K fans should be amused, as the video starts on the escaping Solurite. And second what you said about Season 8.

[Avatar Yuffie]

It's interesting you point out the Turtles' love for old style movies. It never occurred to me. I guess in an era w/o the internet and tv cable and with just video rentals for their more preferred evening past time it adds the charm when they made reference of it.

[CyberCubed]

I love how when I watch the OT, I feel like I'm instantly transported back in time to the late 80's and early 90's.

Its so nostalgic since I was a kid back then, and I assume most here were too. Just that old "80's" feel to everything brings tears to my eyes.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

I love how when I watch the OT, I feel like I'm instantly transported back in time to the late 80's and early 90's.

Its so nostalgic since I was a kid back then, and I assume most here were too. Just that old "80's" feel to everything brings tears to my eyes.

Yeah, and I can't get enough with that. So I search the Internet for fanfiction based on that show. Sadly, not many such stories are around there (I don't count the stuipdity stories I've seen out there, with Donatello and Irma having sex and other stuff). This is not how I want the show to represent.

[Foot Soldier Clang]

Originally Posted by Killer Moth

The 50's vibe definitely rang true in Season 2, with Cat! April and the various monsters throughout. (I suppose I could cite Fly! Baxter for this, yet the 86 remake of "The Fly" probably inspired that plotpoint more than anything.) Of course, we can't forget the Neutrinos, and the animators going for a bizzare "Rebel Without a Cause" theme.

Your theory about Tor being used to inspire Krang's android body and the later TMNT masks intrigue me, and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

And speaking of Megavolt, his suit of armor definitely reminded me of a Solurite (or however you spell that name) from "Phantom Planet":

http://youtu.be/QFlPEG8IL-Q

You MST3K fans should be amused, as the video starts on the escaping Solurite. And second what you said about Season 8.

You're right, Megavolts full power form does resemble a Solurite! He also resembled Zorak from Space Ghost to some degree as well.

Originally Posted by Avatar Yuffie

It's interesting you point out the Turtles' love for old style movies. It never occurred to me. I guess in an era w/o the internet and tv cable and with just video rentals for their more preferred evening past time it adds the charm when they made reference of it.

Ah, to return to those days when renting movies was the ultimate treat. There were so many episodes of the OT that started off with the turtles watching some sort of terrible film, and so many that had them talking about terrible movies, or going to the rental shop.

[Magneto]

Originally Posted by Avatar Yuffie

It's interesting you point out the Turtles' love for old style movies. It never occurred to me. I guess in an era w/o the internet and tv cable and with just video rentals for their more preferred evening past time it adds the charm when they made reference of it.

Indeed. Another thing to take note of, is their apparent affinity for Kaiju films as well. Something I think alot of kids could relate to. Perhaps more so then, than now.

[Foot Soldier Clang]

Originally Posted by Magneto

Indeed. Another thing to take note of, is their apparent affinity for Kaiju films as well. Something I think alot of kids could relate to. Perhaps more so then, than now.

Yeah they loved their "Gorgonzola" movies . You're probably right about kids liking kaiju flicks more back then, again maybe because of being able to rent them from video stores.