Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an American multimedia franchise created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. It began as an independent black-and-white comic book published by Mirage Studios in May 1984. Four teenage turtles mutated by radioactive ooze and trained in ninjutsu by a mutant rat named Splinter, each named after a Renaissance artist, living in the sewers of New York City and fighting crime and enemies ranging from street gangs to alien invaders. The franchise has generated over $10 billion in retail sales since its inception and has appeared in comics, animated television series, live-action films, video games, toys, and theatrical films. The four turtles, Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael, are among the most recognizable fictional characters in the world.

TMNT in Comics

The original Mirage Comics run began in 1984 as a parody of several popular comics of the time, including Frank Miller’s Daredevil and Ronin, Dave Sim’s Cerebus, and Neal Adams’s X-Men. The first issue was self-published by Eastman and Laird with a loan from Eastman’s uncle and a tax refund. It sold out immediately. The original Mirage run is darker and more violent than most adaptations, treating the turtles as genuine ninjas who kill their enemies. IDW Publishing has published an ongoing TMNT comic series since 2011 that has run for over 150 issues and is considered one of the better ongoing adaptations of the property.

TMNT on Television

The Original Animated Series (1987 to 1996)

The animated series that made the franchise a global phenomenon. Significantly lighter in tone than the original comics, this version introduced the pizza-loving, catchphrase-heavy personalities that most people associate with the characters. April O’Neil was changed from a computer programmer to a TV reporter. Krang was introduced as a new villain. The theme song is one of the most recognized in animated television history. The show ran for ten seasons and drove the toy line that generated billions in revenue.

The 2003 Series (2003 to 2009)

A darker and more faithful adaptation of the Mirage comics that ran on Fox Kids and later 4Kids Entertainment. Better regarded critically than the 1987 series for its more serious tone and closer adherence to the source material.

Nickelodeon Series (2012 to 2017)

Viacom acquired the TMNT property and produced a CGI animated series on Nickelodeon that ran for five seasons. Used 3D animation and incorporated elements from various versions of the franchise. Received strong reviews and is considered one of the better modern TMNT adaptations.

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2018 to 2020)

A more stylized and comedic animated series that redesigned the turtles significantly and changed their species. It divided fans but found its own audience and led to a follow-up Netflix film.

Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

This show takes place after the Mutants Mayhem movie. Though it was cancelled due to the Paramount merger, it acts as a bridge between the movie and its sequel that is due out in 2027.

TMNT in Film

The Original Live-Action Films (1990 to 1993)

The original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film in 1990 used Jim Henson creature shop suits to bring the turtles to life and was a massive commercial success, grossing $201 million worldwide against a $13.5 million budget. It remains the best live-action TMNT film. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze in 1991 and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III in 1993 were progressively lighter in tone and less well-received.

The Michael Bay-Produced Reboot (2014 to 2016)

The 2014 live-action CGI film produced by Michael Bay and directed by Jonathan Liebesman redesigned the turtles to be much larger and more alien-looking. It was a commercial success but received poor reviews. Out of the Shadows in 2016 added Bebop, Rocksteady, and Krang and was similarly received.

Mutant Mayhem (2023)

The animated film produced by Seth Rogen received strong reviews for its distinctive hand-drawn influenced animation style, its teenage characterization of the turtles as actual anxious teenagers, and its hip-hop influenced soundtrack. It is widely considered the best TMNT film since the original 1990 movie. A sequel is in development.

TMNT in Video Games

The TMNT arcade game by Konami in 1989 is one of the most beloved beat-em-up arcade games ever made, allowing four players to play simultaneously as each of the four turtles. The NES home version sold millions of copies despite being significantly harder and more frustrating than the arcade original. Turtles in Time in 1991 is widely considered the best TMNT game ever made. The franchise has continued to produce games across every generation of hardware. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge in 2022 by Dotemu was a genuine return to the classic beat-em-up formula and received strong reviews, becoming one of the best-reviewed TMNT games in decades.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed is set in the same universe as Mutant Mayhem. It takes place right after the movie, with the mutants being accepted into society. It acts as a bridge between the movie and the Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon.