Summary
Needless to say,Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesis a weird idea. The story sees four turtle siblings mutated by sewer ooze. With intense training from their master (a rat), they then fight crime as adolescent ninjas. The whole premise is utterly ridiculous, but it’s just crazy enough to work.
Against all odds,TMNThas spawneda multimedia franchise, and the TV shows are a huge part of that legacy. Many of them comprise different parts of the Turtles' identity, from action to family drama to goofy comedy. They all excel in distinctive ways. As a result, each iteration has its own audience. It’s impressive how creators can garner so much variety and creativity from one premise. That’s why theTMNTIP continues to surprise.
Updated June 25, 2025, by Ben Painter: The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise continues to be a much loved and well regarded series. Largely in part to the success of the latest TMNT movie,Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, which was loved by fans and critics alike. A big part of the Turtles' success is down to the TV series. There is always a cartoon on the screens dating back to 1987 with their debut on the silver screen. This update adds two more of the TMNT series' including one currently on air.
6Mutant Turtles: Superman Legend (1996)
Even hardcore fans may not know of this obscure chapter in the team’s animated history.Mutant Turtles: Superman Legendisan anime, specifically an OVA. The creators made it as a companion piece to the 1987 cartoon, right down to using similar character designs. However, that’s where the similarities end. Rather than simply fight crime, these Turtles gather magical stones from another world. These rocks transform them into musclebound giants with Wolverine masks. The stones also work on villains, who turn into monstrous creatures straight out of a kaiju flick or mecha anime. The two parties then engage in explosive battles with more energy blasts thanDragon Ball. Suffice it to say,Mutant Turtlesmakes all otherTMNTtales look tame by comparison.
Japanese products often bask in their strange sensibilities. Viewers can easily enjoy those aspects with the same wild abandon. Granted, some of that enjoyment is ironic, as they can barely believe what they’re seeing. They also don’t know what’s going on. Though supposedly inspired by the aforementioned cartoon,Mutant Turtlesalso follows a pre-written manga. This comic establishes the show’s lore via an isekai storyline. That lore is a core foundation, but the subsequent series breezes through it at breakneck speed. It even expands and retcons certain concepts.
The writers throw a slew of fantastical MacGuffins and plot threads into a universe already rife with them. What’s more, is that they squeeze it all into two episodes. The result is a complete mess. Sadly, this anime is tough for anyTurtlesfan to get into.
5Rise Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2018)
The Turtles' Wacky Antics Make For A Chaotic Animated Sitcom
This recent reboot is jarring at first glance. While otherTMNTshows mix comedy and drama,Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesputs its eggs strictly in the former basket. The series opts for a slice-of-life format. Episodes usually follow the brothers' mundane problems around the sewer and how they get on each other’s nerves. It all unfolds in the vein of an absurdist anime crossed with cartoon slapstick. The finished product is exactly as wild as it sounds.
At the very least, that style givesRisea unique identity within theTurtlespantheon. The exaggerated designs and slick animation perfectly suit the visual humor. Because of that, the jokes land more often than they miss. As accomplished as the show is, though, it might be a little too insane.
The sheer energy ofRisealso proves to be its downfall. It’s always shoving some bizarre sight gag onscreen. That much visual noise becomes overwhelming. The scenes have no time to breathe. That frantic pace probably stems from the shorter episodes, but the writers still shouldn’t be afraid to slow things down. If they did, thenthis show might leave a bigger impact beyond escapist nonsense.
4Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987)
The Original Turtles Cartoon Achieves A Cheesy Charm By Turning Its Weaknesses Into Strengths
The first in the long line of shows, 1987’sTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesiseasily the most iconic. The reason lies in its camp value. This show is incredibly cheesy. The performances are all over-the-top; the characters are farcical; the animation is only a step abovethe stiff, recycled frames of Hanna-Barbera. Ordinarily, those would be crippling flaws, but they’re actually part of the charm.
The series wholeheartedly embraces these elements. It knows exactly what it is and has a ton of fun playing that role. It’s utterly unapologetic about being a Saturday morning cartoon. That fun then rubs off on the audience, though such a goofy take isn’t for everyone. The show is definitely a product of its time, but who says that’s such a bad thing?
3Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012)
Brilliant Portrayals Of The Teenage Stars Compensate For An Uneven Tone
Here’s a show mixing silly and serious. The 2012Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtlescelebrates both ends of the spectrum. It has a lighthearted, adventurous tone akin to the 1987 series, but it sometimes opts for the serialized storytelling and heavy drama of the 2003 series. The creators attempt to marry the two tones, though it’s not always a smooth mixture. The tragic twists conflict with the ridiculous baddies. However, the show is still a fun watch.
That’s thanks to the strength of its characters and how they’re presented. These Turtles are the most convincing as teenagers. That in itself freshens the dynamic by adding a youthful zeal to their interactions. The snappy, stylistic animation allows that zeal to shine through like never before. Of course, that wouldn’t be possible without the exemplary voice acting.
This is the firstTurtlesshow with Andrea Romano as a voice director. She has a reputation for finding the perfect actors for treasured characters, and she often brings out their best work. As a result, the deliveries are the most naturalistic of anyTurtlesiteration. Such organic and appealing stars are the biggest reason to tune in, as they carry the show through its rough patches.
2Tales Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2024)
A Follow-up To The Mutant Mayhem Movie
Thanks to the massive success of theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhemmovie, a follow-up series was produced titledTales Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,which will act as a bridge between the Seth Rogen and Evan Golberg-led film and the upcoming untitled sequel.
They feature largely the same voice cast and character designs, albeit a change to a cheaper animation style. The younger turtles offer a real change of pace to the other series, and, like the movie, it leans heavily on the mutant aspect of the franchise’s lore, something which has been overlooked in the past.The main antagonistof the series is Agent Bishop, who returns from the 2003 series, this time as a female. The series was loved by fans and performed well on streaming as it captures a nice blend of action, heart and character development.
1Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003)
This Dark And Edgy Series Is A Love Letter To The Classic Comics
At long last, fans ofthe ultraviolent IDW comicsget their show. 2003’sTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesis still a Saturday morning cartoon, but it focuses on intense action and drama. Story arcs unfold over multiple episodes, challenging characters in profound ways. That’s not to say the episodes are entirely devoid of humor. It just emerges naturally from the brotherly dynamic rather than laugh-out-loud gags. From that perspective, it couldn’t be more different than previous iterations.
Some might argue that the show takes itself too seriously. The creators attempt to ground some of the wacky concepts, but they still contrast with the weightier elements and tone. That’s especially apparent in the final season, which gets a little too crazy. Again, though, fans' acceptance of that approach depends on their preferences.If they’re looking for a faithful adaptation of the source material, then the 2003 show is the best way to go.
