Why Are They Called "Punk" Frogs?

PizzaPower1985 · 11-22-2020, 10:21 AM

In the 87 show, the Frogs are all mutated friends of the TMNT and named after famous power-mad historical figures. Attila the Frog, Genghis Frog, Napoleon Bonafrog, and Rasputin the Mad Frog. They all wear what appears to be Hawaiian style/beach shirts/beach clothing and speak with American Southern accents.

So, me having been heavily involved in punk rock subculture for about 20 years now, I can't really tell, what exactly makes them Punk Frogs?

cammy85 · 11-22-2020, 10:27 AM

Probably to go with the fact that Shredder used to employ a gang of punks to do his dirty work. The name was supposed to be for one episode and it stuck.

*mikey0* · 11-22-2020, 10:33 AM

That was the ‘88 show.

1987: Miniseries
1988: Syndicated show
1990: CBS SATAM series

My guess would be because it was the 80s and punk rock music was popular amongst teenagers who became adults before that time period was over.

*Coola Yagami* · 11-22-2020, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PizzaPower1985

In the 87 show, the Frogs are all mutated friends of the TMNT and named after famous power-mad historical figures. Attila the Frog, Genghis Frog, Napoleon Bonafrog, and Rasputin the Mad Frog. They all wear what appears to be Hawaiian style/beach shirts/beach clothing and speak with American Southern accents.

So, me having been heavily involved in punk rock subculture for about 20 years now, I can't really tell, what exactly makes them Punk Frogs?

I think back then 'punk' was considered evil or bad, which is why you usually see gangsters dressing up in punk clothes and hairstyles and you very rarely if ever see good guys rock out to punk music unless it's a disguise or something. So calling them Punk Frogs was I guess making sure kids knew that they were bad guys for a while anyway

*neatoman* · 11-22-2020, 11:30 AM

I'm guessing they're called Punk Frogs because Playmates had a certain portrayal of them in mind that the Fred Wolf writers just ignored. You look at what most characters were like in either Mirage or Archie and the Fred Wolf incarnation is almost nothing like them.

PizzaPower1985 · 11-22-2020, 11:50 AM

The IDW book recently introduced them and just made them into various rockers... the metalhead frog, the punk frog, the grunge frog, the glam frog... the problem tho is... a metalhead is an identity, a punk rocker is/was an identity, in the 70's being a glam rocker was an identity... all of these types came with a tribe, style of dress and certain lifetsyle... in the 90's grunge was a musical style with a style of dress... flannel... but grunge rockers were not really an identity that was a way of life or anything. the 90's had no real movements... they should have made the grunge frog into a goth! that would have made more sense, me thinks!

*Coola Yagami* · 11-22-2020, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neatoman

I'm guessing they're called Punk Frogs because Playmates had a certain portrayal of them in mind that the Fred Wolf writers just ignored. You look at what most characters were like in either Mirage or Archie and the Fred Wolf incarnation is almost nothing like them.

Not really... you forgot the Genghis Frog action figure already looked dressed in Florida type clothes. Nothing about him said 'punk'.

*CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy* · 11-22-2020, 03:22 PM

Because "Genocidal Warlord" Frogs would terrify the mommies.

*TigerClaw* · 11-22-2020, 03:44 PM

If the Punk Frogs show up in the IDW comics. I hope they make them literal punks turned mutant frogs.

PizzaPower1985 · 11-22-2020, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TigerClaw

If the Punk Frogs show up in the IDW comics. I hope they make them literal punks turned mutant frogs.

read my post! they already did.

*triplexxx* · 11-22-2020, 08:15 PM

The Frogs certainly never had punk-like demeanors, not in the classic toon at least, that's for sure. I really loved their naive and very endearing personalities. Kind of interesting the way they hated pizza at first, then later on didn't, guess since their befriending of the turtles, they decided to try new things and had a change of heart.

*TigerClaw* · 11-22-2020, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by triplexxx

The Frogs certainly never had punk-like demeanors, not in the classic toon at least, that's for sure. I really loved their naive and very endearing personalities. Kind of interesting the way they hated pizza at first, then later on didn't, guess since their befriending of the turtles, they decided to try new things and had a change of heart.

They were from the Florida Everglades and had those southern accents too.

*Original TMNT Cartoon Fan* · 11-23-2020, 01:29 AM

The home videotape even calls them the Punk Rock Frogs

http://www.thetechnodrome.com/images/vhs/iotprf.jpg

garsh · 11-23-2020, 09:25 PM

It's a good question. My hunch is they just wanted them to have a sort of title, to present them as anti-ninja turtles. They might have thrown around a few ideas like Kung Fu Frogs, Karate Frogs, Surf Frogs doesn't roll off the tongue, might have ruled out Battle Toads early on. I feel like the punk rock scene wasn't the primary thing. More likely they were leaning for the degenerate thug connotation.

11-22-2020, 10:21 AM	#1
PizzaPower1985 Stone Warrior Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: United States Posts: 947	Why Are They Called "Punk" Frogs? In the 87 show, the Frogs are all mutated friends of the TMNT and named after famous power-mad historical figures. Attila the Frog, Genghis Frog, Napoleon Bonafrog, and Rasputin the Mad Frog. They all wear what appears to be Hawaiian style/beach shirts/beach clothing and speak with American Southern accents. So, me having been heavily involved in punk rock subculture for about 20 years now, I can't really tell, what exactly makes them Punk Frogs?

11-22-2020, 03:22 PM	#8
CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy Annalist Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 16,435	Because "Genocidal Warlord" Frogs would terrify the mommies. __________________ *ALL THEIR DAYS ARE NUMBERED*

11-22-2020, 03:44 PM	#9
TigerClaw Mutant Tiger Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Hialeah, Florida, USA Posts: 13,818	If the Punk Frogs show up in the IDW comics. I hope they make them literal punks turned mutant frogs. __________________

11-23-2020, 01:29 AM	#13
Original TMNT Cartoon Fan Overlord Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Sweden Posts: 10,155	Punk Rock Frogs The home videotape even calls them the Punk Rock Frogs http://www.thetechnodrome.com/images/vhs/iotprf.jpg

11-22-2020, 10:27 AM	#2
cammy85 Stone Warrior Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Minnedosa, MB Canada Posts: 703	Probably to go with the fact that Shredder used to employ a gang of punks to do his dirty work. The name was supposed to be for one episode and it stuck.

11-22-2020, 10:33 AM	#3
mikey0 Foot Elite Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 4,100	That was the ‘88 show. 1987: Miniseries 1988: Syndicated show 1990: CBS SATAM series My guess would be because it was the 80s and punk rock music was popular amongst teenagers who became adults before that time period was over.

11-22-2020, 11:50 AM	#6
PizzaPower1985 Stone Warrior Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: United States Posts: 947	The IDW book recently introduced them and just made them into various rockers... the metalhead frog, the punk frog, the grunge frog, the glam frog... the problem tho is... a metalhead is an identity, a punk rocker is/was an identity, in the 70's being a glam rocker was an identity... all of these types came with a tribe, style of dress and certain lifetsyle... in the 90's grunge was a musical style with a style of dress... flannel... but grunge rockers were not really an identity that was a way of life or anything. the 90's had no real movements... they should have made the grunge frog into a goth! that would have made more sense, me thinks!

11-22-2020, 08:15 PM	#11
triplexxx Mad Scientist Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,596	The Frogs certainly never had punk-like demeanors, not in the classic toon at least, that's for sure. I really loved their naive and very endearing personalities. Kind of interesting the way they hated pizza at first, then later on didn't, guess since their befriending of the turtles, they decided to try new things and had a change of heart.

11-23-2020, 09:25 PM	#14
garsh Foot Soldier Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 155	It's a good question. My hunch is they just wanted them to have a sort of title, to present them as anti-ninja turtles. They might have thrown around a few ideas like Kung Fu Frogs, Karate Frogs, Surf Frogs doesn't roll off the tongue, might have ruled out Battle Toads early on. I feel like the punk rock scene wasn't the primary thing. More likely they were leaning for the degenerate thug connotation.