I'm loving this more and more.

[MogwaiNinja89]

As of a week ago, I hadn't really watched this new series all the way through. I would catch an episode here and there and although I would enjoy them a good deal, I wouldn't have said it was better than or equal to the 2K3 series or the original.

I finally decided to sit down and watch it all the way through and I shocked when I felt that it was edging the original series into third place. That's not to say I still don't love the original, I always will but this new series is just more rewarding on a story and character level.

Right off the bat you can tell there is confidence behind this show. It feels like everyone involved knew absolutely, 100% what they wanted and went for it. It's such a sure footed and confident show from episode one, where as I feel 2k3 had to wait a handful of episodes before it found it's voice. There are so many things this new series gets right. For one, the characterizations are great. These are as distinct as the turtles have been from one another on screen so far. Although I'm still struggling with how dumb they are making Mikey, but just when I get annoyed at how OTT he is, he says something that makes me laugh. I'm having a love/hate relationship with this Mikey so far. Each turtle has more quirks and character traits that make them feel more like real characters, even more so than the 2K3 series.

The ninja training and teachings of Splinter are also more emphasized and important to the growth of the Turtles than they ever have been before. Which ties into them feeling like actual teenagers for the first time as well.

And while the story arc this first season had a few hick-ups it was still a very well told arc and much more detailed than I would have assumed from a new TMNT cartoon.

The animation is also glorious. It is vibrant and energetic. The action is well choreographed and genuinely engaging and it's all around a well produced show.

And last but not least, it strikes that balance between seriousness and humor that fits the franchise JUST right.

If the second season is as good as the first, this may make it's way up to number one which is scary because I never thought I would love a TMNT toon as much as the 2k3 series.

The only things I can really whine about are Mikey being too idiotic and the use of chibi animation. It's not a total hindrance, but the show doesn't need it and just feels like they are trying to appeal to a crowd that may not watch the show to begin with.