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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003 TV series)
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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an American animated series, mainly set in New York City. It first aired on February 8, 2003 and marked the revival of the franchise by Fox, with the help of 4Kids Entertainment, as a Saturday morning cartoon in Fox's Fox Box programming block (now known as 4Kids TV). The TMNT 2003 TV series was produced by Mirage Studios, which owns one third of the rights to the show, also coproduced by Dong Woo Animation. As of February 2009, it is the oldest American animated series on 4Kids TV.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was co-produced by Mirage Studios, 4 Kids Entertainment, 4Kids Productions, and Dong Woo Animation and distributed by 4 Kids Entertainment and was aired on Fox's Saturday morning kids' block in the US.
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Encyclopedia
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an American animated series, mainly set in New York City. It first aired on February 8, 2003 and marked the revival of the franchise by Fox, with the help of 4Kids Entertainment, as a Saturday morning cartoon in Fox's Fox Box programming block (now known as 4Kids TV). The TMNT 2003 TV series was produced by Mirage Studios, which owns one third of the rights to the show, also coproduced by Dong Woo Animation. As of February 2009, it is the oldest American animated series on 4Kids TV.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was co-produced by Mirage Studios, 4 Kids Entertainment, 4Kids Productions, and Dong Woo Animation and distributed by 4 Kids Entertainment and was aired on Fox's Saturday morning kids' block in the US. The producers were Gary Richardson, Frederick U. Fierst, and Joellyn Marlow for the American team; Tae Ho Han was the producer for the Korean team.
Overview
The 2003 TV series deviates from the 1987 TV series significantly. While still a Saturday morning cartoon, the show bears more resemblance to the original, "darker and edgier" comics, published by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird's Mirage Studios. Gone are a childish Shredder and his inept mutant/alien associates. Bebop and Rocksteady, Krang, the Technodrome and Dimension X are all absent from this series since they were not in the original comics and were created for the 1987 TV series. Shredder is now much more menacing and threatening than his previous cartoon incarnation. April O'Neil is not a reporter, and her workmates Burne Thompson, Irma Langinstein and Vernon Fenwick are also all absent from the show. Also notable, is nearly the complete lack of pizza as the turtles' main meal, which was a main-stay in the 1987 TV series, including Michelangelo's insatiable appetite for it (although he still has the biggest appetite of all four turtles). Instead they are seen ordering Chinese, making eggs, eating popcorn, and going on ice cream runs. In addition, there is a main plot and several sub-plots running through the series, revealing hints which will develop as the series unfolds. Although many of the episodes are stand-alone, each usually has a key element that relates to the plot as a whole; furthermore, there are frequent two-to-four-episode continuous stories. Nearly every character that is introduced in a "stand alone" will eventually be seen again. (For example, the "green man," Savanti Romero, Nobody, etc.) The Battle Shell in the 2003 TV series is similar to the Turtle Van of the 1987 TV series. It is apparently based on an early Dodge forward-control van, due to its split windshield and engine under the front seats). They also have new vehicles like the sewer sled. Raphael has his own vehicle, the shell cycle.
In the 2003 TV series, the four Turtles personalities are in some ways different from the 1987 TV series, they are an attempt to follow the Mirage comics more closely. All characters are more fleshed-out and more sensitive, and have a stronger family bond. Leonardo is more skillful and meditative than in the 1987 TV series (where he was slightly serious, but occasionally does silly things whenever his brothers do) and much more concerned with honor (as depicted in any episode with Karai) and protecting his family; episodes of the 2003 TV series that focus on The Shredder and ninjutsu also focus on Leonardo. Raphael is much angrier, more emotional (as the only turtle to be shown crying to date and the most likely to cry out in dismay when a brother is hurt or in danger), and sometimes cocky (in the 1987 show, he loves to make jokes and is more friendly), but is shown to deeply care about and be very protective of his family and friends. He always seems to be the one who's got his brothers' backs but seems to have a much less complicated relationship with Leonardo compared to the comic book series, even though on occasions they come at odds. Michelangelo is a bit more outrageous and takes the role of the comic relief. Donatello is still the intelligent turtle but with a more emotional compassion for humans. When the Turtles pair off, the most likely combinations are Leonardo and Raphael as one pair, and Michelangelo and Donatello as the other - often due to their personalities. Despite this, the show explores each relationship more with each season. (For example, in Season 3, Leo & Mikey are the only turtles with significant roles in "Nobody's Fool," Raph and Don team up in "H.A.T.E", and Mikey and Splinter work together in "Touch and Go.") One unique new trait is that major TMNT ally Casey Jones is given a larger supporting role, unlike the original 1987 TV series where he was just a minor recurring character, and the 2003 TV series also shows him having some romantic feelings towards the Turtles' other major ally April O'Neil (who also is a supporting character in this series) - just like in the original comic books and the first movie. The original show's catchphrase, "Cowabunga," has been joked about several times (with Raphael telling Michelangelo not to say "cowabunga" anymore). The "Turtle Power" catchphrase has been almost totally left out of the 2003 TV series. During the "Fast Forward" season however a new catchphrase, "It's Ninja Time", is introduced.
In the 2003 TV series, as in the original comic and live movies, Splinter, the Turtles' sensei and foster-father, is depicted as a rat who has been mutated to a humanoid form, instead of a man who has been mutated to rat form as in the 1987 TV series. Splinter is also less calm and more prone to wry humor and direct fighting than in any previous series. Baxter Stockman is African American (as is his comic incarnation) instead of European American, whereas April O'Neil is initially his lab assistant and later the owner of an antique shop, instead of an anchorwoman. She has also been studying Ninjutsu under Splinter, and is now capable of holding her own in a fight. The character Leatherhead, who in the 1987 TV series was an evil, Cajun-sounding mutant alligator with limited intelligence, in the 2003 TV series is a highly intelligent, mutated crocodile whose origin involves the Utroms, who prefers peace but becomes violent when provoked, and is considered by the Turtles and Splinter to be family.
The 2003 TV series, aside from showcasing new twists on familiar characters, introduces several secondary characters from the comics; such as Renet, a time traveler in training with the personality of a valley girl; The Fugitoid, a robot whose mind is that of the scientist Professor Honeycutt; The Triceratons, a race of Triceratops humanoids who desire galactic conquest; and Karai, who is leader of the Foot Clan in Japan as well as the adopted daughter and heir to the Shredder.
As the relationships and dynamics of the Turtles grow and mature over the 5.5 year run of the series, so does the legacy and the identity of the Shredder. His origins differ considerably, from his original comic incarnation and the version of the character from the 1987 TV series. Clues and revelations throughout the series tie facets of the Shredder persona into the origins of both the Turtles and their heritage. This is seen in the first two seasons and the fifth season, which centers around the threat of the "one true Shredder"'s being reborn.
The science fiction elements that were in the old cartoon are still present, though not quite as heavily. In addition, the 2003 TV series has supernatural elements to it. This includes things such as travel to other dimensions via magic, and the presence of supernatural creatures, include the "original" Shredder who is a demon.
A considerable change to this show is the number of deaths that occur over the series. People have been killed on screen while others have died off screen or else have been implied to have died. Examples include, Hamato Yoshi, Casey Jones' father, Yukio Mashimi, and Tang Shen. Another example is in Season 2 where Zog the Triceriton apparently kills himself in an attempt to kill the Shredder by jumping into a fire with the Shredder. The fifth season shows the apparent deaths of the Shredder and his heralds. The show has been changed so an older audience is drawn in easily with things such as when a group of vigilantes try and blow up New York City as well as when the Earth launches a nuclear attack on the Triceritons plus the more violent scenes and darker themes. There were a few cases where characters who were thought to have died are revealed in later episodes to have survived such as the Fugitoid, Leatherhead, and the other hearlds of the Ninja Tribunal. The show's tone is similar to Batman: the Animated Series and that has allowed older audiences to enjoy it too.
Character design
The character coloring in the new cartoon series is somewhat different from that in the 1987 TV series. Each of the Turtles has a unique skin coloring in the new show, unlike the 1987 TV series wherein they were all the same tint of green. In the new animated series, Leonardo is a basic green (much like the 1987 TV series), Raphael is dark green, Michelangelo is dark green-blue, and Donatello is a yellowish olive-green. These color schemes are very different from the color schemes within both the 1987 and 2003 toylines, which have remained similar. In the toys, Leonardo is olive green, Michelangelo is sea green, Donatello is brownish with a hint of green, and Raphael is basic green.
The Turtles bear their favorite colors on their weapon-handles. Also, the bands on their wrists, elbows, and knee-caps are brown, similar to the original comic book series and films. In the 1987 TV series, the bands had the personal favorite colors of the turtles, as with their bandannas. On their belts in the 1987 TV series, the Turtles bear their initials. In the 2003 TV series, they only bear a knot.
Splinter is a Grey, not brown, rat, with brown robes instead of magenta. April O'Neil has long red hair instead of short auburn hair.
In addition, the Turtles' eyes are drawn without irises in the 2003 TV series version when they are shown wearing masks, similar to most drawings of Batman.
In the new season Back to the Sewers, the turtles are drawn with irises as they are to resemble their 2007 movie counter-parts. Characters that were in the TMNT movie such as Casey, April and Karai have been given new designs so they resemble their movie counter-parts. Characters such as Bishop, Hun and Stockman have been given new designs as well though they are quite similar to the 2003 cartoons original style of them.
The Ninja Tribunal Season
Dan Berger, TMNT comic writer, and correspondent to the fan base, confirmed that Peter Laird and his staff had been working hard on a fifth Season for the show that would have resolved the "Ninja Tribunal" storyline introduced in the Season 4 finale, producing thirteen episodes in total, but it was shelved in favor of the "Fast Forward" concept for the following season. This "Lost Season" began airing selected episodes on 4Kids' on demand channels, beginning on August 9, 2006, but the episodes have since vanished. Dan Berger later confirmed in November that the Ninja Tribunal Season has been pulled from the Comcast services, and that the DVD release has also been postponed, with at least one episode ("Nightmares Recycled") pulled from production due to sensitive issues (it dealt with the theme of conjoined twins). The Season had a Region 4 release on March 8, 2007. This release lacks the first episode of the arc, "The Ninja Tribunal", which was not included with the Region 1 fourth Season releases, having been delayed so as to release the entire storyline in a discrete set. However, "The Ninja Tribunal" was later included in the region 4 DVD of Season 4 when it was released on July 4. The Season was released on DVD in region 1 May 20 2008.
As seen in Fast Forward and Back to the Sewers, the events portrayed in the Ninja Tribunal Season are still canonical, despite the episodes not being aired. The plot of the season revolves around the Turtles (and four other ninjas) being trained by the Ninja Tribunal as "Acolytes" to prevent the return of the original Shredder, who was an ancient demon. However, the Turtles weren't able to stop his revival and end up following him to New York where the rest of the plot revolves around the Turtles and later allies and some enemies from previous seasons coming together to stop the Shredder and his demonic army. But when they transform into their dragon avatars and at the same time Karai drains the Shredder of his energy they beat him. Then they sacrifice their amulets around their neck to bring back Master Yoshi to deliver the final blow.
On January 25, 2008, 4Kids announced that they will be airing the Lost Season episodes (excluding "Nightmares Recycled)"), beginning February 9, 2008. The season was given the title Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Lost Episodes. The final episode aired on May 3.
The Fast Forward Season
Fast Forward is the name given to the latest series produced by 4Kids as a continuation to the TMNT 2003 TV series. Taking place after the fifth, unaired Season, it follows the adventures of the Ninja Turtles and Splinter as they are accidentally transported one hundred years into the future by Cody Jones, the great-grandson of Casey Jones and April O’Neil and heir to the O’Neil Tech business empire.
Despite following and acknowledging the previous series, Fast Forward abandons most of its characters and storylines in favor of completely original ones, which include Darius Dunn, Cody’s manipulative uncle and guardian; Sh’Okanabo, a shape-shifting would-be world conqueror; the Dark Turtles, evil clones of the Turtles made by Sh’Okanabo that are working for Dun; intergalactic mercenary Torbin Zixx; and Jammerhead, the cyborg leader of the Street Phantoms gang. Aside from the Turtles and Splinter, the only characters from the previous returning in 2105 are Agent Bishop, who has since become president of the Pan-Galactic Alliance (a galaxy-spanning version of the United Nations), and Baxter Stockman, who survived one of Bishop's labs' destruction in 2055 and secretly spent the last 50 years underground, trying to recreate some of his technology and take revenge on Bishop.
Taking place mostly in 2105 New York City, the series deals mainly with plots such as Sh’Okanabo’s attempts to unleash the "Day of Awakening"; the Turtles’ attempts to expose Darius Dun’s criminal activities, acclimate to their new home, and to return to their own time; and Cody Jones’ growth. Due to the multispecies population of the future, the Turtles are now free to move about openly and interact with everyday people. The season is lighter in tone and less violent than previous ones, with a greater emphasis on jokes.
Fast Forward spans one 26-episode-long Season. Although work had begun on producing a ten episode long follow-up Season, (which would have included, among other things, more Baxter Stockman and a Triceraton version of The Shredder), the series has since been discontinued. The character designs and the general animation became more stream-lined which fans did not generally like. The season was considered to be a large drop in quality compared to the previous five seasons and is generally considered the worst season.
Back to the Sewer Season
Following their intentions to return the characters to the present day and adapt a tone similar to the recent TMNT movie, 4Kids pitched a revamp of the series to Peter Laird codenamed "Superworld". The initial proposal was given the 'thumbs down' by Laird. Following this was a second proposal called TMNT Overload, which was approved by Mirage, but rejected by Playmates, who then proposed their own idea, only for that to get rejected by 4Kids and Mirage.
On October 24, Steve Murphy confirmed on his blog that Playmates, Mirage, and 4Kids had firmly agreed on the new direction, which will take place in the continuity of the 2003 TV series and use the "more realistic aspects" of the aborted "Overload" pitch, with character designs similar to that of the 2007 TMNT movie.
Its description is as follows:
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are back in New York, ready to race across the rooftops and take on all challengers!
Not only are Casey and April back and ready to bust some bad guy butt, but a brand new, super advanced Turtle Lair is under construction (thanks to some hi-tech know-how Donatello garnered from the future), and of course there are all sorts of new heavy duty Turtle vehicles gearing up to roar down the streets of NYC and give the Foot a taste of some serious Turtle.
The stakes have never been higher, their enemies have never been stronger... and if the Turtles are going to be triumphant they’ll need to work together in ways they never have before.
Further info was revealed in December 2007, details follow:
When the Turtles return from the future to their present time, Viral interferes causing Master Splinter to get trapped in cyberspace, bits of his data code scattered all throughout the digital domain. The Turtles must find a way to access the virtual realm so they can gather Splinter’s code and save their beloved father before he is lost to them forever...And what good is a digital realm without a super bad guy! That's right; the Shredder is back in new form. In order to save their master, the Turtles must now face... The Cyber Shredder! Now the Turtles must fight on two fronts - cyberspace and the real world. And twice the locations, means twice the bad guys. That's right; the TMNT will be facing off against Hun, the Foot, Baxter Stockman, and some dangerous digital monsters! Get ready, because the Turtles are back from the future, back in action, and back to the sewers!
Toy solicitations for 2008 also hint that Ch'rell, the Utrom Shredder, will resurface.
Three samples of a new opening theme song were announced by 4Kids to be under consideration on February 22, with the option for fans to vote on each of the samples and determine an official opening theme song. Six pitches for the theme song were released on February 29 most confirming that the Shredder will return in some form; one of the themes identify him as "Cyber-Shredder". The voting for the songs ended March 19 with song #5, "RVTheme2008," winning. 4Kids TV now runs two blogs on their website, with the first revealing a component for the Back to the Sewer season every week, while the second blog takes a look into the designs that are showcased in the new episodes, the second blog is updated after every new episode airs. The new series with be titled "TMNT: Back to the Sewer" and will begin September 13 2008. Serling from TMNT: Fast Forward, returns in TMNT: Back to the Sewer. The new 4Kids preview shows the opening of Back to the Sewer as well as a few minutes of the first episode. It shows the Turtles, Master Splinter and Serling falling out of a time portal and arriving in what appears to be a similar time to the present except the regular foot ninjas and the Utrom Shredder are fighting the new foot ninjas from Back to the Sewer and the Tengu Shredder from the Ninja Tribunal Season. The new Cyber-Shredder also appears and attacks Serling and Viral appears saying the turtles are witnessing the near future.
Episodes
| Season | Ep # | First Airdate | Last Airdate |
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| Season 1 | 26 | February 8, 2003 | November 1, 2003 | | Season 2 | 26 | November 8, 2003 | October 2, 2004 | | Season 3 | 26 | October 9, 2004 | April 23, 2005 | | Season 4 | 26 | September 10, 2005 | April 15, 2006 | | Season 5 (Ninja Tribunal) | 12 | February 9, 2008 | May 3, 2008 | | Season 6 (Fast Forward) | 26 | July 29, 2006 | October 27, 2007 | | Season 7 (Back to the Sewer) | 13 | September 13, 2008 | February 28, 2009 | |
International versions
There is a Japanese dub by Shogakukan Productions which airs on TV Tokyo. Like the X-Men animated series, it remakes the opening animation with new animation (mixed in with the regular animation and footage from the original version) of the characters and changes the theme song. Also, like a typical Japanese series, it has also added ending animation at the end of each episode, which also contains original Japanese animation as well as random footage from some episodes. The series has ended with episode 52, with the last part being replaced with "goodbyes" by the TMNT cast, thus, serving as the series finale. The series was then replaced with the anime Soul Eater in its time slot.
Opening themes
- by the The Inazuma Sentai (eps. 1-13)
- "Permanent Vacation" by Under the Counter (eps. 14-26)
- "EVERYBODY" by Turtles4 (eps. 27-52)
Ending themes
- By Kamogawa (eps. 1-13)
- by The Local Art (eps. 14-26)
- "Fighting Spirit" by Mirai Drive (eps. 27-39)
- by Kimeru (eps. 40-52)
A Polish dub is being aired on Jetix in Poland, in a slightly censored version made by Jetix UK. The opening and ending sequences are exactly the same as in American version, but the theme song is sang in Polish; since Season 2, the end of opening sequence contains Polish title "Wojownicze Zólwie Ninja", just like 1987 animated series (which was also based on UK version. Interestingly, its name was "Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles", so Polish title "restored" the word "ninja"). Currently, TMNT is not airing on any Polish channel, and there is no information about any new series airing. So far, 3 Seasons had been aired; Season 1 is available as 6 separate DVDs, while Season 2 was released on a two boxed sets (3 DVDs each) and 13 VCDs released with local newspapers. All these releases contain only Polish dub as seen on TV.
Opening theme
- "[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles] - Zólwie odliczaja (Turtles Count it Of)" by Mariusz Totoszko, Piotr Gogol and Michal Rudas
A Bulgarian dub of the first 2 Seasons started airing on Nova Television on January 8, 2005 every Saturday and Sunday at 09:30. They were repeated two times (on the same television) and later repeats were broadcast on BBT. The first 4 Seasons were released on DVD in 33 volumes, with both Bulgarian and English dub, but no dub on the bonus features (vol. 1-12). Fast Forward also came out on 9 DVDs, although the numbering was continued from 34 (since the last DVD of season 4 was 33). The theme wasn't dubbed, unlike the previous Seasons.
Besides the 33 DVDs (which had regular release and newspaper release in paper packages and slightly changed cover art on some volumes) 8 Special Edition DVDs were released. Each SE contained 13 episodes on a single disc and a sticker. After collecting all 8 stickers the customer could participate in a contest.
Opening theme (Seasons 1-4)
- "[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles] - ?? ?? ?????????? ?????? (They're Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
In Croatia the cartoon has also been dubbed, but the opening theme has remained the same. It is aired on Nova TV, and since then the first four Seasons have been aired completely, and the Season 6 (Fast Forward) is on air currently. The first four Seasons have also been released on DVD(dubbed) and the Season 6 (Fast Forward) is also been released currently. The Ninja Tribunal Season has not been aired or released on DVD.
In Germany the first two seasons were dubbed and broadcast. Even though the 52 episodes were a success RTL2, the Network that broadcasted TMNT in Germany cancelled the series without explanation. Re-runs of the 52 episodes are still to be seen on Jetix Germany.
There are currently no plans to dub more episodes or release the show on DVD in Germany.
In Italy, the series airs on Italia 1. A different opening was used than other European countries did; Sung by Gabry Ponte. Here's the link: http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=DV0uSxsALFA. For the Fast Forward season will be used a Song by Giorgio Vanni. Here's the link for it: http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=lWSRzp0qdFk. Sadly the video that had the opening was deleted so this is the full version.
TMNT airs on SBS in Korean under the name: ??? ??? Z (Romanized: Geobugi Teukggongdae Z). In English, it means, Turtle Commandos Z.
Unlike the original series, which was renamed "Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles" due to violence issues, the 2003 series kept the "Ninja" part in its name. Thus, in the UK, Hero Turtles is used to refer to the original series, and Ninja Turtles is used to refer to the current series.
In other media
Video games
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a video game of the beat 'em up genre released in 2003 by Konami. The game is based on the 2003 TV series. The main gameplay loosely adapts the following Season 1 episodes: Things Change, A Better Mouse Trap, Attack of the Mousers, Meet Casey Jones, Nano, Darkness on the Edge of Town, The Way of Invisibility, Notes From the Underground (Parts 1-3), and Return to New York (Parts 1-3).
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Fast Forward is a mobile game based on the Season 6 (Fast Forward) of the 2003 TV series.
See also
External links
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