The Best Version Of Classic Superhero Franchise Now On Netflix
Growing up as a fan of these shell-heads, I never had any idea that the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles would become pop culture legends- the kind that we reinvent every few years so their legacy never ends. Like most fans of the 1987 show, I was originally less invested in the later animated spinoffs, fearing they would pale in comparison to the ‘80s adventures I fell in love with. However, after binge-watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012) on Netflix, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that this may very well be the best version of this beloved franchise.
The TMNT Backstory
By now, most people know the general story of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and the cartoon on Netflix doesn’t rock the boat too much: once again, we follow the adventures of some real turtles mutated into humanoids, and they are taught ninjitsu by their mentor and father figure, a similarly-mutated rat. Some finer details of the franchise mythology are a bit different, including human ally April O’Neil being a 16-year-old girl. Others are quite similar, including the fearsome Shredder and his evil Foot Clan serving as our characters’ primary antagonists.
Voice-Acting Is On Point
Like any animated show, a big part of what makes the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles CGI cartoon so fun is the awesome voice cast. Donatello is voiced by voice-acting legend Rob Paulsen (who voiced Raphael in the 1987 cartoon), and Michelangelo is voiced by Greg Cipes (perhaps best known for voicing Beast Boy in Teen Titans and Teen Titans Go!). Raphael is voiced by Lord of the Rings icon Sean Astin, and Leonardo is first voiced by Jason Biggs (maybe he got excited hearing pizzas referred to as “pies”) and later, Seth Green.
A Fan-Favorite During Its Initial Run
Long before this Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles show ended up on Netflix, it was a darling of audiences and critics alike. For example, the show has won three different Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards and has been nominated for several more. And on Rotten Tomatoes, the series as a whole has an audience rating of 88 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, which highlights just how much fans of all ages fell in love with these famous reptiles.
Not Just For Kids
Here’s a confession: despite all the awards and good buzz, I didn’t check out the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2012 cartoon until it landed on Netflix, mostly because I thought it was aimed squarely at kids. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course: as a child, I fell in love with the kid-friendly 1987 cartoon which was vastly different from the dark and bloody original comics it was based on. Therefore, I didn’t have a problem with new Turtles shows aimed at younger audiences, but worried that this particular one might not appeal to me as an older fan.
Digs Deep Into Turtle Lore
That’s why I was so pleasantly surprised to discover how many elements from the Mirage comics actually got included in this new cartoon, including the Kraang being an entire alien race unto themselves and not just one burbling bad guy in a robot suit. Later episodes brought in elements from the Archie Comics, including the Mighty Mutanimals. Eventually, it hit me that this show was designed for Turtles fans of all ages, and my own deep knowledge of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles lore was rewarded with every new episode I streamed on Netflix.
Blending The Best Franchise Elements Like Toppings On A Pizza
Speaking of Turtles lore, the success of this show arguably inspired by the ongoing comics from IDW. While those comics started coming out a year before this show premiered, they later embraced more and more elements from across the different eras of TMNT media. In short, the 2012 cartoon helped cement the Ninja Turtles as a kind of modern mythology, one where creators keep reinventing these heroes for a new age while still including the best aspects of their earlier adventures (honestly, Marvel could learn a lot from this approach).
Wins Serious Points For Faithful Character Design
It’s an open secret that you have plenty of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles content on Netflix right now, including the most recent live-action movies and the Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon and spinoff film. In my always humble opinion, the 2012 cartoon is the best of the bunch: its faithful character designs alone are better than the abominations that we saw in those Bay-produced films. And while Rise has certain charms, it personally tweaked too much of the TMNT formula for my tastes, what with Raphael being the leader and the Turtles gaining literal mystic powers.
Stream The TMNT Series On Netflix
GFR SCORE
Fortunately, the 2012 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon is “just right,” offering a blend of great designs, genuine humor, and plots that playfully remix our favorite characters and stories. Will you be grateful to check out the secrets of the ooze, or is this one cartoon you’ll want to flush back down into the sewers? The only way to find out is to order some of your favorite pizza and watch it yourself.
