Review: 'TMNT' proves its staying power with complete 2012 series collection
Posted Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at 1:50 PM Central
Last updated Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at 1:51 PM Central
by John Couture
As a kid born in the 1970s, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were my proverbial jam as we used to say. These days, my son says that they are fire. Whatever that means.
One thing is certain, whether you're an old-school original fan or a newer generation discovering TMNT these days, there is plenty of cowabungas and pizza to go around. The anthropomorphic turtles have always counted on a legion of fans of all ages and there is no reason to believe that they are going to fade away into obscurity anytime soon. At least not if Paramount/Nickelodeon has anything to do with it.
Back in December, Paramount made the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Complete Series available on DVD for the first time and it was yet another milestone in the Turtles' journey to legendary status. The series, which debuted in 2012, ran for 124 episodes over five years and two networks and you can now own it forever.
Mutants Rule! Emerging from their hidden lair in the sewers, teenage bros Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo and Raphael face off against the most dangerous baddies and the most delicious pizza in New York City! The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are martial arts masters-in-training on a mission to defeat all enemies, protect the innocent, and make it home in time to chill. With the help of powerful pals like April O'Neil, Casey Jones, and Ice Cream Kitty - plus the expert teachings of Sensei Splinter - it's bros vs. foes when the heroes in a half shell take on Shredder, the Kraang, and the Foot Clan - one awesome attack at a time! This release features all 124 episodes of the 5-season series in one box set!
As a fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, getting the opportunity to review this collection was a real treat. Even more so, this was the series that my son (born in 2013) grew up watching. While the original series will always be my turtles, these turtles voiced by the likes of Jason Biggs, Seth Green and Sean Astin will hold a special place in my son's heart.
Currently available to stream on Netflix and Paramount+, my son discovered the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on Netflix, but even he in the wisdom of every single one of his nine years knows that if you don't own it on physical media, then you don't really own it. He literally cried when one of his favorite Pokemon shows was removed from Netflix.
I couldn't even imagine what would happen if he were to fire up Netflix and not see Mikey, Raph, Leo and Donnie waiting for him. At least now, I don't have to wonder as we will always own this collection as a backup. And with what we are seeing at Warner Bros. with their self-sabotage and sacrifice of their shows, nothing streaming ever lasts forever.
Of course, any review of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles would be incomplete without gushing about fellow Detroiter Rob Paulsen who is the connective tissue between my Turtles and this collection. In the original 1987 series, he provided the voice of Raphael while in this series he's the voice of Donatello.
Rob is the consummate voice actor of his generation and he provided the voices of so many beloved characters both on TV and in film. His resumé is too long and distinguished to list here, but rest assured that if you enjoyed an animated series or film from the 1980s through the 2000s, then there's a stellar chance that Rob Paulsen was involved in it.
With the resurgence of TMNT's popularity, it's only a matter of time before a new series and/or film is announced which will spur interest in the 2012 series. As it stands, these 124 episodes are some of the best TMNT content ever produced and will certainly stand the test of time.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Complete Series is now available to own forever on DVD.
