Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987 TV series)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Genre	Action/Adventure Science fiction Comedy-Drama Crime Fantasy Mystery Thriller
Directed by	Bill Wolf (seasons 1-7) Tony Love (seasons 8-10)
Voices of	Cam Clarke Barry Gordon Rob Paulsen Townsend Coleman James Avery Renae Jacobs Pat Fraley Peter Renaday Jim Cummings Michael Gough
Theme music composer	Chuck Lorre Dennis C. Brown
Country of origin	United States Japan (overseas animation)
No. of seasons	10
No. of episodes	364
Production
Executive producers	Fred Wolf Kevin Eastman Peter Laird
Producers	Rudy Zamora (season 1) Walt Kubiak Andy Chuck (seasons 2-7) Bill Wolf Kara Villow (seasons 8-10)
Running time	22 minutes
Production companies	Murakami Wolf Swanson Fred Wolf Films Surge Licensing
Original release
Network	first-run syndication (Seasons 1—3) CBS (Seasons 4—10)
Release	January 12, 1990 (1990-01-12) – November 5, 1999 (1999-11-05)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (known as Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles in Europe due to controversy at the time) was an American animated television series produced by Murakami-Wolf-Swanson. It was animated overseas in Japan by Toei Animation. It ran from January 12, 1990 through November 5, 1999. The series featured the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters created in comic book form by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. The property was changed considerably, from the darker-toned comic, to make it more suitable for the family.

The initial motivation behind the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series was that, upon being approached to create a toy line, Playmates Toys was uneasy with the comic book characters' small cult following. They requested that a television deal be acquired first, and after the initial 5 episodes debut, the California toy company released their first series of Ninja Turtles action figures in the summer of 1990. The 2 media would correspond in marketing style and popularity for many years to come.

David Wise and Patti Howeth co-wrote the script for the first season. When the series continued on for its second season run onwards, comic book artist Jack Mendelson joined in the series as co-executive story editor. Wise went on to write over 70 episodes of the series, and served as executive story editor for the latter 4 seasons as well. Wise left after the seventh season run after objecting to several changes demanded by CBS, and Jeffrey Scott came in and took over as executive story editor and chief writer for the rest of the series' run towards the final season and final episode end.

The show was in Friday primetime syndication from January 12, 1990 through November 5, 1999.

The series also helped launch the characters into mainstream popularity and became one of the most popular and longest-running animated series in television history. Breakfast cereal, plush toys, and all manner of products featuring the characters had also appeared on the market during the early 1990s to help merchandise the show. A successful Archie Comics comic book based on the animated series instead of the original black-and-white comics was also published around the same time. The action figures were among the top-sellers around the world. Since its official debut in 1990, the cartoon series was being aired on more than 125 television stations, and the comic books sold 125,000 copies a month. Due to the large overly success of the series, it also gave rise to several emulators which include Street Sharks, Biker Mice From Mars, Battle Toads, Cheetahmen, Extreme Dinosaurs, Stone Protectors and The Wild West Cowboys of Moo Mesa. Video games based on the cartoon series have also been developed and released on several console platforms of the time to accomodate the success and popularity of the series.

Storyline

The origin story in the TV series differs greatly from that of the original Mirage Studios comics. In this version, Splinter was formerly a human being, an honorable ninja master named Hamato Yoshi. Yoshi was banished from the Foot Clan in Japan after being deceived by the seditious Oroku Saki, who pinned Hamato Yoshi's dogi to the wall with a knife, preventing him from kneeling before their sensei, which was seen as an insult. When Yoshi removed the knife, the sensei was again insulted, believing Yoshi was drawing the blade in opposition to him. Exiled from the ninja clan, the disgraced Yoshi moved to New York, where he was forced to live in the sewers.

While living in the sewers with the rats as his best friends, Yoshi one day discovered 4 infant turtles, recently bought from a pet store by a young boy who accidentally dropped them in the sewer. Yoshi returned one day from his explorations around New York to find the turtles covered with a strange glowing ooze. The substance caused the turtles, most recently exposed to Yoshi, to become humanoid, while Yoshi, most recently exposed to sewer rats, became a humanoid rat, and started going by the pseudonym "Splinter". This, and the following Archie TMNT Adventures Comics, is the only origin story in the TMNT franchise where the Turtles come to Yoshi before being exposed to mutagen. Also, Yoshi becomes a rat, whereas in most other versions, he is Yoshi's pet rat that becomes humanoid. This is also the only version in which the Turtles become fully grown immediately after exposure to the mutagen, whereas Splinter raises them from infancy in other versions.

Yoshi adopts the 4 turtles as his students and trains them in the art of ninjitsu. He then names them after 4 of his favorite Italian renaissance artists: Leonardo da Vinci (Leonardo), Donatello di Niccolò di Betto Bardi (Donatello), Raphael de Santi (Raphael), and Michaelangelo (Michaelangelo). In other versions, the Turtles are often addressed by their nicknames Leo, Donnie, Raph, and Mikey, whereas in this series they are often addressed by their full names and seldom hardly by their nicknames. Each Turtle wears a bandana over their eyes, wrist arms and legs with a distinctive color-code, and is trained in the art of a distinct weapon. This is also indeed a way of telling each one apart from another.

Meanwhile, Oroku Saki has left Japan and tracked Yoshi to New York City, where he intends to destroy him once and for all. He has become associated with Krang, a disembodied alien brain who has been banished from his home, Dimension X, where he was a great warlord. Saki has taken on a new persona, donning a suit covered with razor spikes, complimented by a long cape, and a metal mask over his mouth. He has also taken on the pseudonym "The Shredder".

It becomes clear in the first season that the mutagen that transformed the Turtles and Splinter into their new forms was dumped into the sewer by Shredder in an effort to destroy Yoshi. Shredder thought it was a deadly poison. The Turtles vow to take revenge on the Shredder for dishonoring their master, as well as turning him into a rat. The Turtles want to force him to turn Splinter back into a human again, though this quickly evolves into stopping Shredder's ongoing criminal career with the aid of Channel 6 reporter April O'Neil. The Turtles begin to take on the role of vigilante crime-fighters operating outside of the jurisdiction of law enforcement against any criminals, much like Casey Jones in the third season. For the first couple of seasons, it seems as if the Turtles are constantly preoccupied with hiding their existence. This seems to be slowly relaxed and, by the last few seasons, most citizens seem to be well aware of them. They also frequently have to deal with citizens misunderstanding them, thanks to the efforts of Wilbert Thompson, April's news manager, and Vernon, a Channel 6 news cameraman, who often distrust the Turtles and frequently blame them for the troubles and chaos that Shredder and Krang along with Bebop and Rocksteady cause.

Shredder, Krang, Bebop and Rocksteady (2 street thugs morphed into animal form by exposure to the Shredder's mutagen), and a small army of robotic Foot Soldiers try to destroy the Turtles and take over the world. Much of their quest for world domination hinges on bringing the Technodrome (Krang's mobile fortress, and his and The Shredder's base of operation) to the surface as it was either stuck in the earth's core, Dimension X, the arctic, or Arctic Ocean.

In the last 4 seasons, the series, which had already lasted well past the average lifespan of most Friday primetime cartoon series, had went through dramatic changes. The animation became darker and closer to the movies style, the color of the sky in each episode was changed from the traditional blue to a continuous and ominous dark-red sky (which was a commonplace with most action-oriented shows at that time). The theme song was also changed and the opening sequence instead featured segments from the season's episodes which were intercut with clips from the first live-action film. Towards the final season and final episode, the show took on a darker and more action-oriented atmosphere.

The Turtles finally banish The Shredder and Krang to Dimension X at the end of the eighth season. They destroy the engines and the "trans-dimensional portal" of the Technodrome preventing them from ever returning to Earth, though they make cameo appearancs in a 3-part season 10 episode "The Power Of Three". A new villain, Lord Dregg, a sinister alien warlord, then debutted as their new main chief nemesis for the remaining 3 seasons. Lord Dregg begins a propaganda campaign against the Turtles, turning the general population against them and in favor of him and his forces. However, Dregg is eventually housted as a villain and the Turtles are finally hailed as heroes within the city. The Turtles had also suffered from severe mutations that would turn them into big hulks and lose their intelligence temporarily. Also the TMNT acquired a new ally, Carter, a black male with an incurable mutation disease before he left to look for a cure in the future. In the final episode of the series, the Turtles finally trap Lord Dregg into Dimension X for good.

In 2013, the Turtles, Shredder, Krang, and various other characters from the 1990 series returned for the 23th anniversary crossover movie Turtles Forever, in which they meet up with their counterparts from the 2003 series.

Soundtrack

This version is also renowned for its critically acclaimed soundtrack. Through most of the series, the episodes featured a background music which reflected the mood of the situation (e.g. danger, action, exploration, confusion, mystery, winning), as well as ID music for settings such as the Technodrome, the sewers, Channel 6, etc. which contributes to the show's dynamic uniqueness. The soundtrack was composed by Dennis Challen Brown (credited as "D.C. Brown" and later as "Dennis C. Brown") and Chuck Lorre. Lorre penned the famous theme song (and did the spoken parts) and became a successful television producer. To date the soundtrack has never been released for retail, much to the dismay of fans. Chuck Lorre said he has never received any royalties in recent times.

Characters

These are the core characters of the series and appear in nearly every episode for the first 7 seasons. After the end of season 7, only the Turtles, April, Splinter, along with the new characters Carter, Lord Dregg, Hi-tech in season 9, and Mung in season 10 were retained as main characters although Shredder and Krang made cameo appearances in a couple episodes in season 10.

• Leonardo (voiced by Cam Clarke in the US, Bill Wise in Europe and Canada), the blue-masked turtle, wields two katanas. He is the leader of the team and is the most gifted student of Splinter.
• Donatello, (voiced by Barry Gordon), the purple-masked turtle, wields a Bō staff. He is the scientist of the team and is constantly tinkering with various inventions.
• Raphael (voiced by Rob Paulsen until the end of season 9, and Michael Gough in season 10), the red-masked turtle, wields two sai. In a radical depature from the angry and brooding incarnations, he is the jokester of the team and often comes out with sarcastic and witty remarks.
• Michaelangelo (voiced by Townsend Coleman), the orange-masked turtle, wields the whirling nunchakus and later a grappling hook (and often whirling pizzas). He is the most relaxed member of the team and is the source for many of the catch phrases of the series such as "Cowabunga!".
• Splinter (voiced by Peter Renaday), a strict and wizened sensei, is the mutant rat who trained the Turtles in ninjitsu.
• April O'Neil (voiced by Renae Jacobs), a redheaded TV reporter, discovers the Turtles' home in the sewers and befriends the TMNT.
• Shredder (voiced by James Avery until early in Season 7, Townsend Coleman for the rest of Season 7, and William E. Martin thereafter), the arch-villain of the Turtles, is usually the main villain in other media, but in this TV series Shredder always, against his will, has to take orders from Krang.
• Krang (voiced by Pat Fraley in the US version and Roy Skelton in the UK version), an extremely intelligent, disembodied brain from Dimension X, who commands the Technodrome. He funds and helps plan most of Shredder's schemes.
• Bebop and Rocksteady (voiced by Barry Gordon and Cam Clarke, respectively), Shredder's clumsy, oafish henchmen. A mutant warthog and a rhinoceros, respectively.

Censorship

File:TMNTCensoredTitle.jpg

The logo in the edited UK opening sequence, which was also used in a few other countries.

In the UK, TMNT was released under the name Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles (TMHT). This was due to the controversy surrounding ninjas and related weapons such as nunchuks at the time. The intro sequence was heavily edited because of this, replacing the word ninja with hero or fighting, using a digitally faded logo instead of the animated blob, and removing any scenes in which Michaelangelo wields his nunchuks, replacing them with random clips from the show.

The TMHT version was aired in other European countries, including the Republic of Ireland, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Poland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland, in local dubs (the Finnish version was in English with subtitles, while Polish was in English with a lector). In Denmark the English censored version was aired on the national broadcaster TV2. It had subtitles as well, however, only season 2 and 3 were aired in this fashion. Season 1 was aired as one spliced movie, instead of the original 5-part miniseries. The movie was titled "how it all began", and included heavy edits from each of the 5 episodes.

After the 2 seasons had aired on Danish TV, the show was canceled, however it later returned with local dubs of episodes from season 5, and Denmark was also one of the first countries to get to see the episodes in which the turtles travel to Europe. These were also aired with subtitles.

The original series is currently airing in the early morning hours on TV2. All 364 episodes have been re-dubbed, and this time they are aired in their original US unedited format.

In Spain, the name of the cartoon was translated to Las Tortugas Ninja (with the word ninja in the title), but at first the TMHT version was still used for dubbing, although the original TMNT version was also alternatively aired. Other European countries (including Bulgaria, France, Italy, and Russia) dubbed the original TMNT version.

In Ireland, the series was initially known as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the intro sequence was unedited when it debuted with the airing of the second season. After the first two episodes were broadcast, the name was changed to Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles and the intro was edited.

When shown on the BBC, phrases like "Let's kick some shell!" and "Bummer!" were removed from the episodes. The 2003 television series, however, remained intact when shown in the UK and Ireland. This led the UK and Ireland to have a disambiguation between the 2 animated series, using Hero Turtles to separate the 1990 television series from the latter series incarnation of the franchise. In 2009, a DVD of the first 2 seasons was released under the Ninja Turtles branding, thus bringing this version of the franchise into line with the latter versions.

Status of the TMNT 1990 television series

Except from Super Écran in the Canadian province of Quebec who rebroadcast the entire series recently (2006 to 2008), there are currently no TV reruns of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series in North America. Since the final episode which aired originally on CBS on November 5, 1999, no reruns have aired. The show has not aired anywhere else since. Although, reruns had aired on the USA Network's USA Cartoon Express from September 2000 through September 2002 prior to the 2003 cartoon series' debut. Lionsgate Home Entertainment and Fred Wolf Films own the rights to the show, and they have been responsible for the DVD releases. Mirage Studios does not own any rights to this animated television series, so Lionsgate and Fred Wolf Films were under no obligation to inform them of the DVD releases. Many episodes at the time were also released on VHS tapes from 1994 through 1996 by Family Home Entertainment. Some reruns were also shown for UK audiences on CBBC weekday mornings. In the Republic of Ireland, the series ended its original run on January 7, 2000, though the show was still regularly rebroadcast on RTÉ Two.

Reception

IGN named TMNT as the 55th best show in the Top 100 Best Animated TV Shows.

While the story diverged heavily from the original conception of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and has never been considered canon with the universe of the original Mirage comics, the 1987 television series is largely the most notable and popular incarnation and drove the franchise to the phenomenal status it would achieve in pop culture.

The show was criticised for its commercialism and violent content.

Voice cast

Character	Voice actor
Leonardo	Cam Clarke Bill Wise (UK)
Raphael	Rob Paulsen Thom Pinto (1992 alternate) Hal Rayle ("Vacation in Europe" episodes) Michael Gough (1999)
Michaelangelo	Townsend Coleman Richard Sandwell
Donatello	Barry Gordon Greg Berg (1993 alternate)
Master Splinter	Peter Renaday Townsend Coleman (1994 alternate)
April O'Neil	Renae Jacobs
Krang	Pat Fraley Townsend Coleman (1992 alternate)
Shredder	James Avery Dorian Harewood (1992 alternate) Jim Cummings (1993-1996 alternate) Townsend Coleman (1993) William E. Martin (1996–1999)
Rocksteady	Cam Clarke
Bebop	Barry Gordon Greg Berg (1992 alternate)
Baxter Stockman	Pat Fraley
The Rat King	Townsend Coleman
Leather Head	Jim Cummings Peter Renaday (1992)
Casey Jones	Pat Fraley
Irma	Jennifer Darling
Vernon	Pat Fraley (1990) Peter Renaday
Wilbert Thompson	Pat Fraley Townsend Coleman (1992 Alternate)
Zach	Rob Paulsen
General Traag	Peter Renaday
Baxter Stockman	Pat Fraley
Kala "The Neutrino"	Tress MacNeille
Zak "The Neutrino"	Pat Fraley
Dask "The Neutrino"	Thom Pinto
Carter	Bumper Robinson
Lord Dregg	Tony Jay

DVD releases

Region 1

Lionsgate Home Entertainment has released the series on DVD in Region 1, currently up to seasons 1–7. Initially it was released in volumes, with each volume containing 9-13 episodes in production order, with the exception of the first volume, which included bonus episodes from the last season. After the first 6 volumes, it was announced that the series would then be released in season sets, starting with season 4. However, the latter sets are not complete seasons. The episodes "Once Upon a Time Machine" and the 1994 prime-time special "Planet of the Turtleoids" continue to not be a part of any season set to date. As of now, Seasons 8, 9 and 10 have not seen a release date. This is apparently due to Lionsgate having problems with locating the missing master tapes of the series in order to release the remaining few seasons.

DVD Name	Ep #	Release Date	Additional Information
Volume 1	9	April 20, 2004	Contains the first 5 episodes from season 1 and 4 bonus episodes from season 10
Volume 2	13	April 26, 2005	Contains the remaining 13 episodes from season 1
Volume 3	12	December 6, 2005	Contains the first 12 episodes from season 2
Volume 4		April 4, 2006	Contains the remaining 12 episodes from season 2
Volume 5		August 29, 2006	Contains the first 12 episodes from season 3
Volume 6		December 5, 2006	Contains the remaining 12 episodes from season 3
Season 4	40	March 13, 2007	Contains all 40 syndicated episodes from Season 4 (including the first episode, which already is a redundancy from Volume 6), All new interviews with James Avery (the voice of Shredder) and Pat Fraley (the voice of Krang/Slash) Fresh from the Oven: A Recipe for a Cowabunga Cheese Pizza, Fit for a Ninja Turtle
Season 5	18	August 7, 2007	Contains all episodes from Season 5, except "Once Upon a Time Machine" and "Planet of the Turtleoids". Part 1 and 2 "The Turtles: A Ninjatastic Look Back" featuring all new-interviews with Barry Gordon (Donatello), Rob Paulsen (Raphael), Cam Clarke (Leonardo), and Townsend Coleman (Michelangelo). "Under The Shell" with Usagi Yojimbo (interview with Townsend Coleman) and Baxter Stockman.
Season 6	16	April 8, 2008	Contains the first 16 episodes from Season 6.
Season 6 Volume 2	28	May 12, 2009	Contains the remaining 28 episodes from Season 6. Re-released on November 3, 2009 as a complete season set minus the action figures.
Season 7	16	September 1, 2009	Contains all 16 episodes from Season 7.
Season 8	32	TBA	Contains all 32 episodes from Season 8.
Season 9	32	TBA	Contains all 32 episodes from Season 9.
Season 10	18	TBA	Contains all 26 episodes from Season 10.

Region 2

The first volume of the 19th Anniversary Edition, containing all episodes from the first 2 seasons in a PAL format, has recently been released on Region 2 DVDs by Lions Gate Home Entertainment.

DVD Name	Ep #	DVD #	Release Date	Additional Information
Season 1-2	22	3	May 25, 2009	Contains all episodes from seasons 1 and 2, plus 4 bonus episodes from season 10.

The series has also been released by German distributor KSM GmbH.

DVD Name	Ep #	DVD #	Release Date	Additional Information
DVD Collection	24	5	May 17, 2007 (Disk 1 & 2) July 26, 2007 (DVD Collection) August 17, 2007 (Disk 3 to 5)	Contains all episodes from season 8, 9, and 10. First released in 5 Single DVDs entitled "Disks". Later released as a DVD Collection containing this 5 Disks. Both, the Single Release and the Collection only includes the German Audio Track.
Box 1	25	5	March 12, 2009	Contains all episodes from seasons 1 and 2, plus first 7 episodes from Season 3. Contains the German Hero Turtles TV Version and the Uncut US Version as well.
Box 2	25	5	May 3, 2010	Contains 25 more episodes from Season 3. Contains the German Hero Turtles TV Version and the Uncut US Version as well. The 25 included episodes are announced to be in chronological Order.
Box 3	30	6	July 12, 2010	Contains the remaining 15 episodes from Season 3, the first two episodes from Season 4 and the complete "European Vacation" Side-Season. Contains the German Hero Turtles TV Version and the Uncut US Version as well. The 30 included episodes are announced to be in chronological Order.

Region 6

The Series is being released in Australia by Sony Pictures.

DVD Name	Ep #	DVD #	Release Date	Additional Information
Volume 1	9	1	2009	Includes the complete first Season and the first 4 episodes from Season 2.
Volume 2	13	2	2009	Includes the 9 remaining episodes from Season 2 and the first 4 episodes from Season 3.
Volume 3	12	2	2009	Includes the episodes 5-16 from Season 3.
Volume 4	12	2	2009	Includes the episodes 17-28 from Season 3.
Volume 5	12	2	2009	Includes the episodes 29-40 from Season 3.
Volume 6	12	2	2009	Includes the episodes 41-47 from Season 3, the first episode from Season 4, and the first 4 episodes from the European Vacation Sideseason.
Volume 7	13	2	2009	Includes the episodes 5-13 from the European Vacation Sideseason and the episodes 2-5 from Season 4.
Volume 8	13	2	2009	Includes the episodes 6-18 from Season 4.
Volume 9	13	2	2009	Includes the episodes 19-31 from Season 4.

Magazine

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Magazine was a children's magazine published quarterly by Welsh Publishing Group, Inc during the height of the TMNT popularity in the early 1990s. It was officially licensed by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird and is available by subscription.

The $1.95, 32-page magazine featured articles about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and a variety of other subjects, including an article on the last page of each issue spotlighting a real life turtle species. Mirage Studios staff artists such as Dan Berger and Jim Lawson provided a majority of the covers and spot illustrations. A pullout poster was available in every issue and was painted by Mirage Studios artist Michael Dooney.