History Of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles featuring Leonardo box set
Item No. 90816
Accessories
Descriptions
1984
In 1984, Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman created and published a 40 page black and white comic, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were born.
The comic was dark, edgy and the look of the Ninja Turtles reflected that style. In the color versions of the comics, all the Turtles were the
same color green and their signature bandanas were all colored red. If not for their different signature weapons, it was hard to tell the Turtles
apart.
1988
In 1987, the Ninja Turtles hit TV screens and took America by storm. The show ranked #1 in the ratings for an unprecedented 5 straight years. The
TV show targeted a much younger kid audience and the look of the Turtles was much lighter and friendlier than the original comic books. In 1988, the
Turtles action figures hit retail shelves and became instant "mean green selling machines!" Each of the Turtles had their own signature colored
bandana, had the first letter of their name imprinted on their belt buckle and their distinct and different personalities were a huge hit with kids.
1992
In 1992, Playmates Toys created a Movie Star collection of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures based on the characters' live-action appearance
in the TMNT movie, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Secret of the Ooze. In contrast to the regular figures, these "Movie Star" figures were made of
a softer, more rubbery material to better reflect the look of the animatronic costumes used in the film.
1997
In 1997, the Ninja Turtles continued their adventures in a live-action television series, Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation. There were some variations
to the show as Leonardo has one double-bladed katana sword. The Leo figures were also made much larger than the other Turtles, making him more powerful
and authoritative. This was also the series that introduced Venus de Milo, the 5th "girl turtle".
2003
In 2003, the Ninja Turtles returned to action in an animated television series. In this relaunch, the Ninja Turtles had a stronger family bond and the
tone was darker, edgier and closer to the original comic book feel. The 2003 series also featured magical powers which were new to the Turtles.
Leonardo and Raphael often picked fights with each other, Michelangelo was very obsessed with being cool and famous, and Donatello seemed to take
his inventions more seriously.
2005
During 2005, by request of Playmates Toys, the 2003 TV Series took a new lighter direction which brought Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Fast Forward,
a futuristic take on the heroic mutants. In the storyline, Cody Jones (the great grandson of April and Casey Jones), brings the Turtles and Splinter
to the year 2105. Cody participates in Turtles adventures, and learns ninjutsu from Leonardo and the other Turtles.
2012
In 2012, the Ninja Turtles were re-born and hit the TV air waves under the creative vision of Nickelodeon. The TV show is once again a big hit and is
consistently the #1 rated TV show in its time slot for young boys. While the Turtles retained their signature colored bandanas and distinct
personalities, Nickelodeon created its own unique look which pays homage to the look of the original comics but has a very modern anime style that
both yesterday's and today's fans find very appealing.
2014
Th Turtles returned to the big screen in 2014 as a live-action/CG film. The Turtles appeared much larger than in previous iterations, and they
had a more human-turtle hybrid appearance. The film appealed to both kids and adults who remembered the original 1980's television show, films and
toylines with fondness. A lot of the success was attributed to nostalgia, where there is a generational affection for the Turtles characters.
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