Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003 TV series)

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
TMNT03TVLOGO.png
Also known as
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Ninja Tribunal (season 5)
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Fast Forward (season 6)
  • TMNT: Back to the Sewer (season 7)
Genre
Based on Characters created
by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird
Developed byLloyd Goldfine
Directed by
  • Chuck Patton (Season 1 and 2)
  • Roy Burdine (Season 3-7)
  • Susan Blu (Voice Director) (Seasons 1-5)
Voices of
Theme music composerNorman J. Grossfeld
Russell Velazquez
Composers
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons7
No. of episodes155 (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Gary Richardson
  • Frederick U. Fierst
  • Alfred R. Khan
  • Norman J. Grossfeld
  • Tom Kenney
ProducerJoEllyn Marlow
Running time21–23 minutes
Production companies Mirage Studios
4Kids Entertainment
Animation
services
Dong Woo Animation
Original release
Network Fox (season 1–6)
The CW (season 7)
ReleaseFebruary 8, 2003 (2003-02-08) 
May 23, 2009 (2009-05-23)
Related
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987–1996)
Turtles Forever (2009)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012-2017)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (also known as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Ninja Tribunal, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Fast Forward, and TMNT: Back to the Sewer for the fifth, sixth, and seventh and final seasons of the series) is an American animated television series developed by Lloyd Goldfine. It is the second animated series and third television series in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise. The series premiered on February 8, 2003, as part of Fox's FoxBox programming block (later known as 4Kids TV) and ended on February 28, 2009. A sequel film, Turtles Forever , serving as both the series finale of the series and a crossover with the 1987–1996 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series (via the plot element of the multiverse), was released on November 21, 2009.

Contents

The series was announced on May 7, 2002. It was co-produced by 4Kids Entertainment (as its first in-house animated production) and franchise creators Mirage Studios, [1] which co-owned rights to the show, [2] with animation provided by the studio Dong Woo. [3]

The series ran for 155 episodes over seven seasons. For its final season in 2008, the show moved from Fox to The CW. 4Kids also licensed the first 40 episodes to Cartoon Network in 2003, and Cartoon Network aired the series until 2007. [4] As of 2024, Nickelodeon now owns the rights to the 2003 series of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, along with the original 1987 TV series and the 2012 TV series.

Series overview

Seasons 1–4

Compared to the predominantly comedic approach of the 1987 TV series, the 2003 series more closely matches the serious tone of the original comics, with a greater emphasis on action and themes of familial bonds. The series adapts a large scope of story arcs from the comics, with the Turtles' adventures combining elements of both fantasy and science fiction.

The first season starts with the Turtles' Lair being destroyed by Mousers, robots made by Baxter Stockman. On the hunt for a new place to live, the Turtles go topside and run into the Purple Dragons, who they later discover is led by Hun. The Turtles eventually get to the source of the Mousers and rescue April O'Neil, who after this becomes the Turtles' most trusted friend. Halfway through the season, Leonardo is approached by the Foot Clan leader Oroku Saki, later learned to be The Shredder, who funded Baxter's Mouser project and is Hun's master. The Shredder attacks the Turtles and burns down April's home, forcing them, April, and Casey Jones to flee the city. When the Turtles return to New York they confront the Shredder once more and Master Splinter goes missing, leading to the introduction of the Utroms, an alien race secretly living on Earth.

Season Two starts with the brothers being sent into space in the middle of a war between two alien races, the Triceraton Republic and the Federation. Upon returning to Earth, the Turtles learn from the Utroms the origins of the Shredder. This season also introduces Karai, Shredder's daughter and pupil, when she comes to take control of New York during a gang war. The season ends in a four-parter with the Turtles and Splinter taking part in the Battle Nexus tournament.

In Season Three, the Triceratons and Federation bring their war to Earth with the Turtles having to help end the war to save their planet. Agent John Bishop, leader of the Earth Protection Force, is introduced as an independent antagonist fighting both the Turtles and the Foot. The Turtles meet Renet, an apprentice timestress, which leads to them being scattered into different worlds/timelines. The Turtles and their allies then confront Shredder for a final battle when he attempts to leave Earth to wage war upon the cosmos.

Season Four sees the Turtles recovering from their final battle with Shredder, particularly Leonardo who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. Karai takes leadership of the Foot, Hun leaves to reform the Purple Dragons into a powerful crime syndicate, and Bishop stages a faux alien invasion to secure funding for the EPF. However, lingering consequences from Bishop's engineered invasion caused an outbreak of mutations in New York.

Ninja Tribunal

Season Five introduces the Ninja Tribunal, a council of ninjitsu demigods who conscript the Turtles as acolytes to protect the world from the original Shredder, a dark evil coming back into being who threatens to set the world into darkness. During this season, the Turtles go through many trials and tribulations on their journey to become the best fighters they can be, eventually tapping into ancient energy to defeat the original Shredder. This would be the last to use the original character designs and animation style with its plot concluding the series' main storyline.

Fast Forward

The sixth season, subtitled "Fast Forward", would retool the series with a new art style and comedic tone. The season's plot focuses on the Turtles being transported about 100 years into the future to the year 2105; where they meet and befriend Cody Jones, the great-grandson of April and Casey. They must also contend with futurist enemies like Sh'Okanabo and his minion Viral as well as dealing with the activities of Cody's greedy and ambitious uncle Darius Dunn.

Back to the Sewer

The series would conclude in the seventh and final season, titled "TMNT: Back to the Sewer", while sporting another redesign for the entire cast based on the designs from the 2007 TMNT film. After returning to the present day, the Turtles must battle a cybernetic version of the Shredder which was the result of Viral merging with the data of the exiled Utrom Shredder. There is also a running subplot centered on the engagement and wedding of April and Casey.

Turtles Forever

The 2009 television film serves as the actual four-part finale to the 2003 series and centers around the Turtles encountering their 1987 animated counterparts, who have accidentally been transported to the 2003 Ninja Turtles' reality. To make matters worse, the 80's Shredder and Krang as well as their minions Bebop and Rocksteady free Ch'rell from his imprisonment as the redesigned Hun and Karai realign themselves with the released Ch'rell.

Characters

Leonardo fighting the Foot Clan's ninjas in the season 1 episode "Shredder Strikes Back: Part One". 2003tmntscreenshot.jpg
Leonardo fighting the Foot Clan's ninjas in the season 1 episode "Shredder Strikes Back: Part One".

Protagonists

Allies

Antagonists

Others

Crew

Production

In May 2002, 4Kids Entertainment announced to produce a new animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles TV series for the FoxBox programming block to air on Saturday mornings. [1] The series was renewed for a second season in the summer of 2003; the third in May 2004; the fourth in April 2005. The "Ninja Tribunal" was originally intended to be the fifth and final season of the 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series, but the schedule was changed to try to increase interest in the series, and "Fast Forward" became the fifth season. The "Ninja Tribunal" episodes were scheduled to be released on DVD sometime in early 2007, but 4Kids Entertainment later removed them from their release schedule and the season was promoted in commercials as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Lost Episodes.

Series development was headed by producer Lloyd Goldfine, who had known the Ninja Turtles since the original Mirage Studios comics and declared he "loved the charm of the cartoon", but much preferred the idea of turtles raised to be ninja assassins, and was interested in using said plot while also being family-friendly. Once he heard 4Kids had an interest in the franchise, Goldfine suggested going straight to Mirage for guidance, and then he and other company representatives went to the company's headquarters in Northampton, Massachusetts. Turtles co-creator Peter Laird and Mirage CEO Gary Richardson approved their pitch, and Mirage remained very close during development, with Laird reading every outline and draft of the script, and approving most of the character designs. [5]

Home video

The series was initially released on DVD by FUNimation Entertainment and 4Kids Home Video in various compilation releases, with pre-2005 releases also available on VHS.

On July 25, 2023, Nickelodeon and Paramount Home Entertainment released the entirety of the 2003 series in a single box set. [6] In addition, the digital versions for all seven seasons are presently available as of May 29, 2023, either individually or in a complete series set. [7]

Broadcast history

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles originally aired in the US on Fox for its first six seasons from February 8, 2003, to October 27, 2007. It then aired on The CW for reruns of its first six seasons, its seventh and final season, and Turtles Forever from September 13, 2008, to February 28, 2009.

On November 24, 2003, 4Kids announced that they had licensed the first 40 episodes of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Cartoon Network. [4] 4Kids' CEO, Al Kahn, said he was "pleased to be able to broadcast the series with Cartoon Network. Now that we're adding the Cartoon Network audience, we're certain that many more kids across the country will become part of the growing craze and get 'Turtle-ized.'" [4] The show aired on Cartoon Network until March 24, 2007.

Jetix Europe handled pay-TV rights to the series.

Turtles Forever also aired on Nickelodeon on August 24, 2010. The show was eventually broadcast on Nicktoons from 2014 to 2015.

The show (excluding season 5 and Turtles Forever ) aired in the Republic of Ireland on RTE Two from September 17, 2003, to 2009. [8]

The series is currently available for streaming on Paramount+, [9] and Pluto TV as part of their "Totally Turtles" channel, which the latter also includes the 2012 series. [10]

Critical reception

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles received widespread acclaim and was commercially successful throughout its first five seasons, receiving wide critical praise for the faithfulness to the source material, the storytelling, character development, action, darker tone, humor, the theme song, background music, voice acting, animation and appeal to all ages.[ citation needed ] It also garnered high ratings for a 4Kids Saturday morning cartoon and shortly after the premiere became the highest-rated and most popular children's television show in the US. Unleash the Fanboy praised the series for its connection to the comic books in story and tone, and it helps that co-creator Peter Laird was closely involved with the series, making sure things stayed on the right path.[ citation needed ]

4Kids was known for its controversial history of censoring anime, but the series was acclaimed for trying to follow the dark and gritty tone of the original Mirage comics. [11] However, due to 4Kids having to keep their ratings under PG, the last two seasons of series, Fast Forward and Back to the Sewer, was met with negative reception from fans and critics alike.

Several of the characters introduced in the series would later appear in subsequent publications of the TMNT franchise. Hun was introduced into the Mirage Comics with the issue Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Volume 2 No. 56 in March 2009, [12] and also appears as a recurring figure in the IDW comic series and in the 2012 animated series, as does Agent Bishop. Angel, Ch'rell, Darius Dun, and the Street Phantoms would also be featured in the IDW comics, and the Triceraton Mozar as an antagonist during season 4 of the 2012 series.

Related Research Articles

Leonardo (<i>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</i>) Fictional character

Leonardo, commonly nicknamed Leo, is a superhero appearing in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics and related media, and created by American comic book artists Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. He is one of the four central characters of the franchise, along with his brothers, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo. Leonardo is the oldest turtle and the fearless leader of the group.

Shredder (<i>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</i>) Fictional villain in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise

The Shredder is a supervillain and the main antagonist of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles media franchise created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. The character debuted in the Mirage Studios comic book Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1, and has since endured as the archenemy of the turtles and their Master Splinter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krang</span> Fictional Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles character

Krang is a supervillain appearing in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-related media, most frequently in the 1987 animated series and its associated merchandise, such as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures comic book and many TMNT video games. The character has endured as one of the franchise's most prominent antagonists and a major foe of the Ninja Turtles.

Splinter (<i>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</i>) Fictional mutant rat and martial arts instructor of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise

Splinter, often referred to as Master Splinter or Sensei by his students/sons, is a fictional character from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics and all related media. A mutant rat, he is the grave and stoic sage of the Turtles, their ninjutsu and martial arts instructor, and their adoptive father. The character was originally a parody of the Marvel Comics character Stick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foot Clan</span> Fictional ninja clan in the TMNT franchise

The Foot Clan is a fictional ninja clan in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics and all related media and are the main antagonists. It is led by the devious Shredder and his second in command Karai. The Foot Clan was originally a parody of the criminal ninja clan The Hand in the Daredevil comics. In addition to the obvious similarity in their names, both clans originate from Feudal Japan, practice ninjutsu and black magic, and are now powerful global organized crime rings who are familiar with multiple illegal activities such as drug smuggling, counterfeiting of money, gunrunning, murder, assassination, computer hacking, theft, and terrorism.

Leatherhead (<i>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</i>) Comics character

Leatherhead is a fictional character in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) comics and all related media. The character first appeared in Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #6 and was created by Ryan Brown. He is depicted as a mutated humanoid-alligator.

Karai (<i>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</i>) Comics character

Karai is a fictional supporting character appearing in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics and related media. She is usually a high-rank member of the Foot Clan outlaw ninja organization. She was originally introduced in Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird's comic book series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 1992. Since then, she has appeared in several different Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics, television series, films, and video games. She is depicted as Shredder's second-in-command or adopted daughter in most versions and shares a rivalry with Leonardo and is at times considered his love interest. In one version of the comics, she is the granddaughter of the immortal Shredder, while in the 2012 series, she is Hamato Miwa, the only child of Hamato "Splinter" Yoshi and the late Tang Shen.

<i>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus</i> 2004 video game

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus is a third person beat 'em up video game, released in 2004 by Konami. It is the sequel to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and is based on the 2003 TV series.

The first season of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles originally aired between February 8, 2003 and November 1, 2003, beginning with the pilot episode "Things Change". The episodes were first released in eight volumes, TMNT Volume one through Volume eight. The volumes were released from September 2, 2003 through March 16, 2004. The episodes were later released in 2 part season sets, part 1 was released on May 22, 2007 which had the first 12 episodes, and part 2 was released on September 18, 2007, which had the final 14 episodes of the season.

The second season of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles originally aired between November 8, 2003 and October 2, 2004, beginning with the "Turtles in Space, Part 1: The Fugitoid" episode. The episodes were first released on DVD in eight volumes, TMNT Volume nine through Volume fourteen. The volumes were released From May 18, 2004 through January 18, 2005. The episodes were later released in 2 part season sets; part 1 was released on February 19, 2008, containing the first 12 episodes of the season, and part 2 was released on October 28, 2008 with the final 14 episodes.

The Ninja Tribunal arc was the fifth season of the 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series.

The third season of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles originally aired between October 9, 2004, and April 23, 2005, beginning with the "Space Invaders, Part 1" episode. The entire season of the television series was released on DVD in seven volumes from March 15, 2005, through May 16, 2006. This is the only season of the 2003 series which has a prodcode, and included a Christmas episode under the title "The Christmas Aliens".

The fourth season of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles originally aired between September 10, 2005 and April 15, 2006, beginning with the "Cousin Sid" episode. Fourteen random episodes from this season were released on DVD on September 12, 2006. Much of this season focused on Leonardo, the group's leader, who became bitter, reserved and isolated following the final episode of the previous season in which he, his brothers and their master were almost killed. He went so far as to lash out at Splinter, causing him serious injury. This season is known among of fans as the darkest season of the series.

The sixth season originally aired between July 29, 2006, and October 27, 2007, beginning with the "Future Shellshock" episode. The season is lighter in tone and less violent than previous ones, with a greater emphasis on jokes, and includes recreated designs for all returning characters.

The seventh and final season of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, titled Back to the Sewer or TMNT: Back to the Sewer, aired on Saturday mornings on the CW4Kids on CW Network in 2008–2010. With this season, the show moved from Fox's 4Kids TV lineup to the CW. The season began with the episode "Tempus Fugit" which aired on September 13, 2008. It is followed by the TV movie Turtles Forever.

<i>Turtles Forever</i> 2009 animated superhero film

Turtles Forever is a 2009 American animated superhero television film directed by Roy Burdine and Lloyd Goldfine and written by Goldfine, Rob David, and Matthew Drdek. A crossover film featuring two different incarnations of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fighting together, it was produced in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the characters and serves as the finale to the 2003 TV series. The film aired on The CW4Kids on November 21, 2009.

<i>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</i> (IDW Publishing) Ongoing American comic book series

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an ongoing American comic book series published by IDW Publishing. Debuting in August 2011, the series is part of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles media franchise created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird and was the first new comic incarnation of the Turtles to debut after the franchise's sale to Nickelodeon in October 2009. It is the fifth comic book series in the franchise's publication history and serves as a reboot of the franchise's story and characters.

References

  1. 1 2 "4kids To Produce And Launch New Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Series" (PDF). 4kidsentertainment.com. May 7, 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 25, 2006. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
  2. "4Kids Entertainment Annual Report 2002" (PDF). March 31, 2003. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 8, 2006. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  3. "TMNT – Dongwoo Animation Official Site". Dongwoo Animation Co. Archived from the original on December 19, 2008. Retrieved May 1, 2008.
  4. 1 2 3 "4Kids Entertainment licenses Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Cartoon Network" (PDF). 4kidsentertainment.com. November 24, 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 24, 2005.
  5. NYCC2009: TMNT Animation: 25 and Going Strong
  6. "'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003) - the Ultimate Collection' Leaps Onto DVD on July 25".
  7. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003), The Complete Series
  8. RTÉ Guide .   September 13–19, 2003 edition and subsequent dates.
  9. "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles". Paramount+ . February 7, 2003. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  10. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Is Streaming Live On Pluto TV
  11. Patrick Coakley (September 24, 2014). "Why Does No One Talk About the 2003 Ninja Turtles". Unleasth the Fanboy. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
  12. "Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Volume Two #56". Miragelicensing. March 2009. Retrieved February 3, 2018.

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