Should I go back and re-watch the original series or...

[gobo]

We Wish You A Turtle Christmas is for REAL men. Badge of honor, that one...

[Donnie]

I think the 2k3 is far superior to the OT, because of the overall darker tone, continuity, everything everyone else said. Not that the OT is bad, I like it, but I only like it because it makes me laugh and reminds me of my youth.

[Samhain]

It really just depends on what you prefer. While the 80s show is classic, it's also classic cheese and I can't really ''sit down'' and watch it.

If you are a fan of the comic books I say go 2k3. Better stories, continuity, and the art style and animation is great. Also, I love the fight scenes. It's up to you.

[Candy Kappa]

Next Mutation, Next Mutation... Then We Wish You A Turtle Christmas

[Redeemer]

Truthfully I actually enjoyed the 2K3 series more than the OT. I jst liked it better. I think I like it more jst bc it has a central plot

[Herald7]

Originally Posted by TonySiegel

...give the 4kids version a second chance? I went back and tried to re-watch the OG series on dvd and it was cheesetastic (nostalgia was still there). Does the 2k3 to 2009 series do the turtles justice? I've only seen a couple of those episodes and turtles forever was awesome!

When I rewatch the OT I find it's even better than I remember (and I loved it at the time). There's so many layers there that I wasn't aware of as a child. Humor is much more difficult to write and act for than either action or drama.

I did try watching the 2k3 version when it came out. I don't know, I just wasn't motivated to make it a habit. It just felt like every other action cartoon series. That said, I'd be willing to give it a chance again.

Originally Posted by ZariusTwo

The 87 TMNT series is so much more fun, upbeat, and unlike the source material and 2003 cartoon, doesnt take it's ridiculous premise too serious

Exactly. There is a point where you can take this premise way too seriously and I think the 2k3 cartoon definitely crossed that point, lol. And I don't mean that in a disrespectful way for the franchise. Some brooding every once and awhile is fine. But constantly being brooding and dark does not equal being deep!

The 1st turtles movie was the perfect balance of humor and dark. Period.

Turtles Forever, well...great idea but I can't get passed how they so incorrectly portrayed the OT turtles. And consequently the 2k3 turtles ended up looking like scolding parents. Um, fun? The writing was just too broad.

[ABrown]

What I don't agree with is when people say that the original cartoon is just as good as the 2003 version. I don't think that the more recent cartoon was a better cartoon because it was darker and not as cheesy. I think that it's better than the original because I consider it to have been a superior product. I think that the newer cartoon had better animation, music, and better stories. Do I happen to prefer that it was also darker and had a more serious tone than the original cartoon? Yes. But I consider myself able to be objective and look past that when determining which was the better cartoon.

[CyberCubed]

The 4kids series has better consistent writing but he original cartoon is just plain fun. I have a blast with it and you can introduce it to your kids.

[Herald7]

Originally Posted by ABrown

I think that the newer cartoon had better animation, music, and better stories.

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

The 4kids series has better consistent writing but he original cartoon is just plain fun. I have a blast with it and you can introduce it to your kids.

Well for me better animation or music doesn't equal better cartoon necessarily. It comes down to the writing. And while the 2k3 series had a consistent plot that also doesn't automatically mean superior product. Many of the most successful and well written TV shows in history lacked consistent plots.

The OT is a lot of fun. But that doesn't mean it can't be taken seriously. Comedy is not all about being bright and happy. A lot of the humor in the OT came from the characters having a very snarky and cynical attitude towards society which we can all identify with and speaks a lot more volumes than a cartoon going out of its way to be "dark."

[CyberCubed]

Originally Posted by Herald7

Well for me better animation or music doesn't equal better cartoon necessarily. It comes down to the writing. And while the 2k3 series had a consistent plot that also doesn't automatically mean superior product. Many of the most successful and well written TV shows in history lacked consistent plots.

The OT is a lot of fun. But that doesn't mean it can't be taken seriously. Comedy is not all about being bright and happy. A lot of the humor in the OT came from the characters having a very snarky and cynical attitude towards society which we can all identify with and speaks a lot more volumes than a cartoon going out of its way to be "dark."

Oh I agree. A lot of these people haven't actually sat down and watched the original cartoon in years, so they don't truly remember what the show is actually like.

However the 4kids series was indeed very good. And not just for TMNT, it was one of the better made cartoons in the 2000's in general.

[Herald7]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

Oh I agree. A lot of these people haven't actually sat down and watched the original cartoon in years, so they don't truly remember what the show is actually like.

Exactly. And even when they do see it, it's easy to dismiss it as childish at first glance, without noticing that there's so much more to it.

However the 4kids series was indeed very good. And not just for TMNT, it was one of the better made cartoons in the 2000's in general.

Yeah I mean I never felt like it was bad; I just didn't fall in love with it the way I have with other shows. But like I said I'd be willing to give it another chance. More ninja turtles is always a good thing...unless it's Ninja Turtles 3, lol.

[CyberCubed]

The other thing is the 4kids series mostly has to be watched in order to really appreciate it, since its so continuity heavy.

The original toon was designed where you can jump in at any time, watch any random episode, and you won't be lost. Sure, there's the introduction episodes for all the major characters and recurring characters, as well as the location of the Technodrome every season, but other than that you can jump in at any time.

Although after the Season 10 DVD comes out, I plan on doing a complete rewatch in chronological order for the old series.

[Avatar Yuffie]

Watch both.

There are times 2K3 made me cringe (Hun's "we have a plan to replace the US President and the UK Prime Minister with mechanical bodies" for example), I feel April's character completely unused when Casey became the Turtles' Go To human and the Shredder is just... blah. But it does have very solid arcs. Worth looking in to.

The fun thing about the OT is that they took all the ridiculousness of the plot and run with it. A crazy AI takes over the Channel 6 building, Don tells them not to destroy other people's property and Raph tells him to shut it? Fun times.

I'm kinda sad for a bit with the OT Turtles' characterization in Turtles Forever. OT!Leo would have looked up at the 2K3 guys, and the others would be more aware that 2K3 Raph treats them like a joke and will comment on it. Oh well...

[Herald7]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

The other thing is the 4kids series mostly has to be watched in order to really appreciate it, since its so continuity heavy.

Good point, thanks.

Although after the Season 10 DVD comes out, I plan on doing a complete rewatch in chronological order for the old series.

That sounds like fun actually, lol.

Originally Posted by Avatar Yuffie

The fun thing about the OT is that they took all the ridiculousness of the plot and run with it. A crazy AI takes over the Channel 6 building, Don tells them not to destroy other people's property and Raph tells him to shut it? Fun times.

Lol, very true, I love how they were basically satirizing the absurdity of your standard action plot line.

Watch both.

Well put. Watch both.

[CyberCubed]

My only gripes with the OT were the underused characters. Casey Jones should have appeared a lot more, Leatherhead deserved more episodes, I would have liked to see Baxter show up at least twice a season.

If only they did the character appearances more properly.

[Herald7]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

I would have liked to see Baxter show up at least twice a season.

Yeah OT Baxter was hilarious in how pathetic he was, lol.

[rufus]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

My only gripes with the OT were the underused characters. Casey Jones should have appeared a lot more, Leatherhead deserved more episodes, I would have liked to see Baxter show up at least twice a season.

If only they did the character appearances more properly.

Casey Jones should really have had more episodes. Shame stupid parent groups ruined his chances of appearing with thier uproar over him.

[Foot Soldier Clang]

The OT was perfect. Odds are I'll only watch the 2k3 series when my younger cousin comes by and forces me to.

[Herald7]

Originally Posted by Foot Soldier Clang

The OT was perfect.

Indeed.

Odds are I'll only watch the 2k3 series when my younger cousin comes by and forces me to.

Hehe, that reminds me of when I watched the new He-Man with my younger cousin and he was asking me questions about the original cartoon, lol.

[ZariusTwo]

Originally Posted by Donnie

I think the 2k3 is far superior to the OT, because of the overall darker tone, continuity

The OT had continuity

And "darker tone" doesnt always mean "good". Frankly, I think the 2003 series taking itself seriously is what makes it inferior. The old 'toon knew how ridiculous the premise was and had fun with it.

Originally Posted by Herald7

Turtles Forever, well...great idea but I can't get passed how they so incorrectly portrayed the OT turtles. And consequently the 2k3 turtles ended up looking like scolding parents. Um, fun? The writing was just too broad.

Erm...they DIDNT portray the 80s Turtles incorrectly. I agree with you however that the writing did not help the 2003 Turtles to be accepted by fans loyal to the old show, and, far worse, they proved to be really incompetant in a film that was supposed to be their finale.

Originally Posted by Redeemer

I think I like it more jst bc it has a central plot

The plot was about fifty different things per week. Honestly, the only time the plot was centralized was in the first and fifth seasons. Gargoyles and The 90s Spider-Man series has more focus than the 2003 series.