How would kids today feel about the 1987 cartoon?

[TurtleFan2012]

If they were to air the 1987 cartoon on Nickelodeon today (or the future), how would most kids today feel about it? How would your kids react to it? It is a great show, but I'm curious as to how the jokes and gags would hold up today.

I can see some kids asking this question...
Kid: Huh? Why does this Raphael sound like the new Donatello?

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Originally Posted by TurtleFan2012

If they were to air the 1987 cartoon on Nickelodeon today (or the future), how would most kids today feel about it? How would your kids react to it? It is a great show, but I'm curious as to how the jokes and gags would hold up today.

I can see some kids asking this question...
Kid: Huh? Why does this Raphael sound like the new Donatello?

I think they'd roll their eyes and say "Whatever." It does not hold up well.

[plastroncafe]

Seemed appropriate.

[neatoman]

I'm not sure.

Cartoons are certainly much better these days, back then it was near damn universal for cartoons to have choppy animation full of errors and writing so formulaic and nonsensical anyone older than ten would find it unbearable. Not to mention the fact that two (much less awkward) TMNT cartoons came in the past decade, there isn't much reason for little kids to watch some old low budget show.

On the other hand, I have heard of people who are showing it to their kids who had a positive response to it (admittedly, that's anecdotal). And while little kids do in fact have shows like Steven Universe, this has not stopped rather terrible shows like Ultimate Spider-Man to get somewhat successful. While it's not as common as it was back then, lazy and rushed shows are still being made and can still stick around for more than a single season.

So there's no telling what the consensus would be. I don't think they would hate it or anything, but I think it wouldn't be as big of a success. If it was made today and was basically the same show but with less animation errors, it would probably not get more than three seasons. It would probably get to episode 52, worst case scenario it would get to episode 13, best case 78, but certainly not the 194 episodes it ended up getting back then.

[CyberCubed]

If you're talking about kids growing up with the Nick show, they'll certainly be surprised how different everything is. They'll wonder why April is an adult instead of a kid, why there is only "one" Krang instead of a bunch of them, why Bebop/Rocksteady are stupid, why Shredder is more comedic and silly, etc.

It would be like how those of us who grew up with the original cartoon in the 80's were surprised by how different the comics were, or the 4kids series, when we got older and started discovering the other series

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

It would be like how those of us who grew up with the original cartoon in the 80's were surprised by how different the comics were, or the 4kids series, when we got older and started discovering the other series

Good point, well said.

[Duke Nukem]

Some of the jokes would definitely be dated, others would be considered way over the line today (of course, a lot of the jokes today would never be allowed in a kids' show back then either). For example, I remember at the end of one episode (if anyone know which one this is, then remind me), where Shredder and Krang's plan to enslave everyone inevitably failed, and Bebop and Rocksteady said something like "At least we don't gotta be slaves anymore!", to which Krang responded "Really? Think again!". Rocksteady looked at the camera and said "Aww...where's that Abe Lincoln guy when you need him?". Something like that would never fly today.

Also, the video that plastroncafe posted is scripted, in case anyone never heard of that series before. I don't think too many actual kids today would like it much at all unless they're already TMNT fans, and even a lot of them probably wouldn't.

[Roitorb]

My 3 year old loves the OT turtles. He also loves the spotty turtles (90's movie) as he calls them.

[Huzzah]

My 5 year old brother likes the old cartoon more than the new.

[Wolfie65]

I think Leo656 (and his niece) are right on it.
I'm not a kid, and I do prefer the 80's hand drawn artwork - the current CGI turtles look oddly 'furry' and blocky - but in terms of storylines, plots, characterizations, dialog (the 'acting', if you will), ideas, originality, etc. etc. etc., the new series is, imho, far superior to the 80's/90's one, which was basically just Shredder comes up with a crazy plan which the turtles defeat quite easily, Krang whines in the background, rinse, repeat. And most of the jokes might have been funny to the troops Bob Hope and Jimmy Durante were entertaining in the Pacific in 1944, but should have been sent to a rest home after that.

[Jephael]

My nephew's a real chip off the old block. He enjoys anything TMNT. Doesn't matter which incarnation it is, he'll love the hell out of it!!!

[pferreira]

I don't think kids would like the show as they've been brought up on hyperactive boring anime!