TMNT
- Thread starter joe81
- Start date
I'm going to have to humbly disagree with you, Gallstaff.
I think the new cartoon is really an excellent interpretation of TMNT. It is slightly darker than the 80s cartoon, but then, the 80s cartoon was really very clean. This new cartoon is much more faithful to the storyline of the original comic book, which surprised me, as I didn't think anyone even remembered that TMNT was a comic book.
I admittedly haven't read all of the old TMNT comic books, but from what I have read, it was really quite dark. There's lots of swearing and lots of violence. It was a real shock to me, as I first saw these as an impressionable child growing up in the early 90s. Ultimately, I don't think this dark image of the turtles works. The story is about anthromorphic, teenage turtles, who are ninjas! It's an premise that's inherently fun and funny.
What's my point? I think it's that the new cartoon strikes a pleasant balance between the fun TMNT cartoon series of the 80s, with the classic story of their origins. I admire it for not taking the easy way out, and copying the coolest aspects of the original series (read: Technodrome and Krang), but instead tried to create its own identity. Ironically, its more faithful to the classic Turtles than the original 80s cartoon was.
That said, I still don't think I could say that I like it more than the 80s cartoon. And its theme song can't even begin to compare with the classic theme song. Hot damn, that was a cool song.
I think the new cartoon is really an excellent interpretation of TMNT. It is slightly darker than the 80s cartoon, but then, the 80s cartoon was really very clean. This new cartoon is much more faithful to the storyline of the original comic book, which surprised me, as I didn't think anyone even remembered that TMNT was a comic book.
I admittedly haven't read all of the old TMNT comic books, but from what I have read, it was really quite dark. There's lots of swearing and lots of violence. It was a real shock to me, as I first saw these as an impressionable child growing up in the early 90s. Ultimately, I don't think this dark image of the turtles works. The story is about anthromorphic, teenage turtles, who are ninjas! It's an premise that's inherently fun and funny.
What's my point? I think it's that the new cartoon strikes a pleasant balance between the fun TMNT cartoon series of the 80s, with the classic story of their origins. I admire it for not taking the easy way out, and copying the coolest aspects of the original series (read: Technodrome and Krang), but instead tried to create its own identity. Ironically, its more faithful to the classic Turtles than the original 80s cartoon was.
That said, I still don't think I could say that I like it more than the 80s cartoon. And its theme song can't even begin to compare with the classic theme song. Hot damn, that was a cool song.
The new theme song outright sucks. They need to get rid of the lyrics completely, except for where they sing "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" at the very beginning.
Other than that, I've been loving the show. I've been taping it every week. And I got the first season DVD box set a couple months ago.
Like reX was saying, it is far more true to Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird's original comics. Characters like Bebop, Rocksteady, and Kang were created by the first cartoon's producers, therefore we'll never see them again. Kang was based on the alien race of the Utrom, who are in the new series, in a big way. Shredder died in issue one. Plain and simple, and he never came back. Obviously, they can't have the most recognizable villian die in the first story arc and not return, so they came up with a way to bring him back again and again without resorting to something not inspired by the true comics. And the storylines have kept a focus on mature, adult quality storylines while still clean and safe for the younger audience.
Other than that, I've been loving the show. I've been taping it every week. And I got the first season DVD box set a couple months ago.
Like reX was saying, it is far more true to Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird's original comics. Characters like Bebop, Rocksteady, and Kang were created by the first cartoon's producers, therefore we'll never see them again. Kang was based on the alien race of the Utrom, who are in the new series, in a big way. Shredder died in issue one. Plain and simple, and he never came back. Obviously, they can't have the most recognizable villian die in the first story arc and not return, so they came up with a way to bring him back again and again without resorting to something not inspired by the true comics. And the storylines have kept a focus on mature, adult quality storylines while still clean and safe for the younger audience.
Do peeps remember the horrible animation of the original series? The new series is pretty good. I like the new theme but it does take a while to get used to. Instead of one being better than the other I think its best to say they are the best for their respective series.
The old TMNT cartoon played like a campy cartoon superheroes while the new one has them in a position similar to that in the first movie, a more serious tone. It reminds me a bit like the Batman cartoon when it aired on FOX.
Shredder in the new series is way more badass than he was in the original series. Plus the whole new series basically goes on a continous arc.
Lastly, poor Baxter. He's always getting kicked around, no matter what series incarnation.
The old TMNT cartoon played like a campy cartoon superheroes while the new one has them in a position similar to that in the first movie, a more serious tone. It reminds me a bit like the Batman cartoon when it aired on FOX.
Shredder in the new series is way more badass than he was in the original series. Plus the whole new series basically goes on a continous arc.
Lastly, poor Baxter. He's always getting kicked around, no matter what series incarnation.
Did what to her? She was only a reporter in the other cartoon and the movies, never in the Mirage comics. And if you follow the comics, she and Casey Jones are now Mr. and Mrs.
Baxter Stockman's story is following the comics pretty good too. Donatello has Stockman's brain stashed somewhere.
Gallstaff, are you even old enough to remember the original cartoon?
I am old enough to remember the series cause they ran well into the mid 1990's.
I mean though, the show is for kids. The kids probably have no idea the thing is even a comic book at all. While I do think that the cartoon is more loyal to the comics, I would reallly like to have seen it more loyal to the old cartoons just because I loved them so much.
I mean though, the show is for kids. The kids probably have no idea the thing is even a comic book at all. While I do think that the cartoon is more loyal to the comics, I would reallly like to have seen it more loyal to the old cartoons just because I loved them so much.
read: SHREDDER! [/b][/quote]
Except that:
1. Shredder was not created by the cartoon.
2. Shredder is in the new series.
😛
But yes, Shredder is probably the coolest part of TMNT. :banana
EDIT: WTF am I saying? "Probably"? Please ignore that word. :huh
See, people don't give kids enough credit. There's way too much of this "Poké-trash" on the air now, we need stuff written in a way to be okay for kids, but intelligent enough for the adult audience.
When I was 6, Transformers were all I could think about. Transformers, Go-Bots, Thundercats, and M.A.S.K., but mostly Transformers. A few years later, when I was 10 or so, TMNT came along to finally fill the void left when they took Transformers off the air. I loved it. But by that time, I was already reading Stephen King, John Saul, John Grisham, and Tom Clancy novels. I read my first 1000+ page book when I was 9. Now, while you might think that makes me some sort of prodigy, the fact is I was a C student at the time. I just didn't allow anything to "dumb down" to me. I was capable of understanding plot and story at an adult level, and sought out plot and story with some smarts. Even as dumbed down as I now know the original cartoon to be, it still had a set of rules, a science laid down that it had to follow, plus an interesting character dynamic. Then when the first movie came out, I was blown away. Here was something that entertained my preteen mind without speaking down to me.
When Peter Laird first announced that a new series was in the works, I was worried. My mind flashed back to the short lived live action series and how incredibly lame it was (and I really didn't have a problem with a girl turtle, just with how unprobable her origin was). When the new series finaly debuted, all my fears were put to rest. It was like reading the first issue of "Ultimate Spider-Man" all over again. The story wasn't rushed, time was taken to fully develop the characters, everything I expect from an hour long drama at 10 PM in a half hour "kids" show at 11 AM (then 9 AM and now whatever time slot they're moving it to this week) Sundays (or Saturday, if you have a decent Fox network, around here, our WB network shows Fox's Saturday cartoons on Sunday morning, and their weekday cartoons in the early AM while the sucky Fox channel shows more Jerry Springer and Judge Brown reruns).
But I digress... Back on topic... Kids are smarter than we give them credit for. The show has not done anything too "dark" or complicated to be understood by an 8 year old. Hell, I was praticaly cheering when Leo cut off Shredder's head. Granted, Shredder didn't die, but that wasn't the point. It showed a mortal consequence that haunted Leo, and had continued repercussions when Shredder's adopted daughter came into the picture seeking to avenge her master. And now we're seeing more adult consequences as the daughter comes to learn of the Shredder's true nature.
Think of it this way, Sesame Street's African version introduced a Muppet infected with HIV, to help educate the young about the disease, its dangers, and how it spreads. They are refusing to speak down to their audience, and are helping prepare them for the reality they face. Not since the death of Optimus Prime have we seen "kids" programming here in the US attempt to do that. The new TMNT is first show over here to do that on a consistant basis. For that, I must applaud them.
(One last note: Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker did play on a more mature note, but failed when they edited it before release. As much as I'll grant points to WB for later releasing the "directors cut" DVD, the edits should not have happened in the first place.)
When I was 6, Transformers were all I could think about. Transformers, Go-Bots, Thundercats, and M.A.S.K., but mostly Transformers. A few years later, when I was 10 or so, TMNT came along to finally fill the void left when they took Transformers off the air. I loved it. But by that time, I was already reading Stephen King, John Saul, John Grisham, and Tom Clancy novels. I read my first 1000+ page book when I was 9. Now, while you might think that makes me some sort of prodigy, the fact is I was a C student at the time. I just didn't allow anything to "dumb down" to me. I was capable of understanding plot and story at an adult level, and sought out plot and story with some smarts. Even as dumbed down as I now know the original cartoon to be, it still had a set of rules, a science laid down that it had to follow, plus an interesting character dynamic. Then when the first movie came out, I was blown away. Here was something that entertained my preteen mind without speaking down to me.
When Peter Laird first announced that a new series was in the works, I was worried. My mind flashed back to the short lived live action series and how incredibly lame it was (and I really didn't have a problem with a girl turtle, just with how unprobable her origin was). When the new series finaly debuted, all my fears were put to rest. It was like reading the first issue of "Ultimate Spider-Man" all over again. The story wasn't rushed, time was taken to fully develop the characters, everything I expect from an hour long drama at 10 PM in a half hour "kids" show at 11 AM (then 9 AM and now whatever time slot they're moving it to this week) Sundays (or Saturday, if you have a decent Fox network, around here, our WB network shows Fox's Saturday cartoons on Sunday morning, and their weekday cartoons in the early AM while the sucky Fox channel shows more Jerry Springer and Judge Brown reruns).
But I digress... Back on topic... Kids are smarter than we give them credit for. The show has not done anything too "dark" or complicated to be understood by an 8 year old. Hell, I was praticaly cheering when Leo cut off Shredder's head. Granted, Shredder didn't die, but that wasn't the point. It showed a mortal consequence that haunted Leo, and had continued repercussions when Shredder's adopted daughter came into the picture seeking to avenge her master. And now we're seeing more adult consequences as the daughter comes to learn of the Shredder's true nature.
Think of it this way, Sesame Street's African version introduced a Muppet infected with HIV, to help educate the young about the disease, its dangers, and how it spreads. They are refusing to speak down to their audience, and are helping prepare them for the reality they face. Not since the death of Optimus Prime have we seen "kids" programming here in the US attempt to do that. The new TMNT is first show over here to do that on a consistant basis. For that, I must applaud them.
(One last note: Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker did play on a more mature note, but failed when they edited it before release. As much as I'll grant points to WB for later releasing the "directors cut" DVD, the edits should not have happened in the first place.)
Except that:
1. Shredder was not created by the cartoon.
2. Shredder is in the new series.
😛
But yes, Shredder is probably the coolest part of TMNT. :banana
EDIT: WTF am I saying? "Probably"? Please ignore that word. :huh [/b][/quote]
Krang was created for the first cartoon, but was based on the Utrom. In the new series, we learn that Shredder is, in fact, an Utrom warlord. If you want to get technical about it, they combined the Shredder and Krang from the first series into one character for the new series.
Again, they don't have much to base Shredder on from the comic, as he died in the very first issue and never came back. They can take as much liberty with him as they wish without having to worry about messing up a clean slate character.
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