History Franchise / TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles

[[caption-width-right:350:Any time, any place, these turtle boys are set to raise some ''serious'' shell, dude!]]

** In fact, pretty much adaption is Lighter and Softer than the Mirage comics, not just the cartoons. The 2003 series probably comes the closest to matching that tone, but even that is not quite as dark.

* RoguesGallery: Despite only Shredder and Krang being well-known villains of the franchise, there's a sizable roster of villains that tend to appear in every or most versions of the story. At it's core, it includes [[ArchEnemy The Shredder ]][[TheSyndicate & the Foot Clan]], [[InsufferableGenius Krang]], [[MadScientist Baxter Stockman]], [[DarkActionGirl Karai]], [[DumbMuscle Bebop & Rocksteady]], [[TheBeastmaster The Rat King]], [[TheBrute Hun ]][[WhiteGangbangers & the Purple Dragons]],[[TheMenInBlack Agent]][[WellIntentionedExtremist Bishop]], [[TheEmpire The Triceratons]], [[ColonelKilgore Ch'rell]], [[EvilSorcerer Savanti Romero]], [[TheDon Lord Dregg]], [[GeniusBruiser Leatherhead]], [[EvilCounterpart Slash]], [[AIIsACrapshoot Metalhead]] and [[MightyGlacier Tokka & Rahzar.]]
** Other, less frequent, but still significant entries include [[TheEmpire The Federation]],[[BountyHunter Tiger Claw]], [[TheDreaded Hattori Tatsu]], [[McNinja Chris Bradford]], [[MuckMonster GarbageMan]], [[DemonLordsAndArchDevils Kavaxas]], [[AsianFoxSpirit Kitsune ]][[BigScrewedUpFamily & the Pantheon]], [[TheSymbiote Wingnut & Screwloose]], [[StarfishAliens Armaggon]] and [[ImplacableMan The Newtralizer.]]
** Note that, while the gallery remains consistent, some adaptations give major changes to some characters to shake things up. For instance, Karai may be TheDragon to Shredder's TheLeader or it may be the other way around. Bishop may be an alien-fighting [[TheMenInBlack man in black]] in the 2003 series and IDW comics, or an [[BecameTheirOwnAntithesis alien himself]] and a [[AdaptationalHeroism major ally]] in the 2012 series. Ch'rell may be TheDragon to Krang in the IDW comics or the BigBad while [[DeadPersonImpersonation impersonating The Shredder]] in the 2003 series. Some characters like Slash or Leatherhead even have as much appearances as allies as they do as enemies.

** Other, less frequent, but still significant entries include [[TheEmpire The Federation]],[[BountyHunter Tiger Claw]], [[TheDreaded Hattori Tatsu]], [[McNinja Chris Bradford]], [[MuckMonster GarbageMan]], [[Kavaxas DemonLordsAndArchDevils]], [[AsianFoxSpirit Kitsune ]][[BigScrewedUpFamily & the Pantheon]], [[TheSymbiote Wingnut & Screwloose]], [[StarfishAliens Armaggon]] and [[ImplacableMan The Newtralizer.]]

** Other less frequent, but still significant entries include [[TheEmpire The Federation]],[[BountyHunter Tiger Claw]], [[TheDreaded Hattori Tatsu]], [[McNinja Chris Bradford]], [[MuckMonster GarbageMan]], [[Kavaxas DemonLordsAndArchDevils]], [[AsianFoxSpirit Kitsune ]][[BigScrewedUpFamily & the Pantheon]].

* RoguesGallery: Despite only Shredder and Krang being well-known villains of the franchise, there's a sizable roster of villains that tend to appear in every or most versions of the story. At it's core, it includes [[ArchEnemy The Shredder]][[TheSyndicate & the Foot Clan]], [[InsufferableGenius Krang]], [[MadScientist Baxter Stockman]], [[DarkActionGirl Karai]], [[DumbMuscle Bebop & Rocksteady]], [[TheBeastmaster The Rat King]], [[TheBrute Hun]][[WhiteGangbangers & the Purple Dragons]],[[TheMenInBlack Agent]][[WellIntentionedExtremist Bishop]], [[TheEmpire The Triceratons]], [[ColonelKilgore Ch'rell]], [[EvilSorcerer Savanti Romero]], [[TheDon Lord Dregg]], [[GeniusBruiser Leatherhead]], [[EvilCounterpart Slash]], [[AIIsACrapshoot Metalhead]] and [[MightyGlacier Tokka & Rahzar]]

* RoguesGallery: Despite only Shredder and Krang being well-known villains of the franchise, there's a sizable roster of villains that tend to appear in every or most versions of the story. At it's core, it includes [[BigBad The Shredder]], [[InsufferableGenius Krang]], [[MadScientist Baxter Stockman]], [[DarkActionGirl Karai]], [[DumbMuscle Bebop & Rocksteady]], [[TheBeastmaster The Rat King]], [[TheBrute Hun]], [[WellIntentionedExtremist Agent Bishop]], [[TheEmpire The Triceratons]], [[ColonelKilgore Ch'rell]], [[EvilSorcerer Savanti Romero]], [[TheDon Lord Dregg]], [[GeniusBruiser Leatherhead]], [[EvilCounterpart Slash]], [[AIIsACrapshoot Metalhead]] and [[MightyGlacier Tokka & Rahzar]]

* RoguesGallery: Despite only Shredder and Krang being well-known villains of the franchise, there's a sizable roster of villains that tend to appear in every or most versions of the story. At it's core, it includes [[BigBad The Shredder]], [[InsufferableGenius Krang]], [[MadScientist Baxter Stockman]], [[DarkActionGirl Karai]], [[DumbMuscle Bebop & Rocksteady]], [[TheBeastmaster The Rat King]], [[TheBrute Hun]], [[WellIntentionedExtremist Agent Bishop]], [[TheEmpire The Triceratons]], [[ColonelKilgore Ch'rell]], [[EvilSorcerer Savanti Romero]], [[TheDon Lord Dregg]], [[GeniusBruiser Leatherhead]], [[EvilCounterpart Slash]], [[AIIsACrapshoot Metalhead]] and [[MightGlacier Tokka & Rahzar]]

** Except for Leo's swords in the 2003 seires (even though everyone still calls them katana), or the 2007 CGI movie, one might point out...

* CutLexLuthorACheck: Repeatedly subverted by Baxter Stockman. In the Mirage comics, after making a large legitimate fortune with his Mouser robots, he then proceeds to use them to commit terrorism for kicks. In the 1987 series, he tried using them legitimately but was rejected by every pest control company in town. In the 2003 seires, he makes a huge legitimate fortune with them, and then starts using them to rob banks simply because he's a greedy bastard.

* '''''VideoGame/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesThreeMutantNightmare''''' (2005): [[/index]]Final brawler in the series based on the show's third season, with the Turtles facing the Triceraton invasion, the arrival of Agent Bishop, and Shredder's plan to return to the stars. Console versions were for the same systems as the other two games, but the portable version was for the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS.[[index]]

* '''''VideoGame/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesTwoBattleNexus''''' (2004): Sequel on the same systems. This one is focused on Season 2, including fighting the Triceratons, Shredder, and participating in the titular Battle Nexus tournament.

* '''''VideoGame/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesTwoBattleNexus''''' (2004): Sequel on the same systems. This one is focused on Season 2, including fighting the Triceratons, Shredder, Agent Bishop, and participating in the titular Battle Nexus tournament.
* '''''VideoGame/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesThreeMutantNightmare''''' (2005): [[/index]]Final brawler in the series. Console versions were for the same systems as the other two games, but the portable version was for the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS.[[index]]

'''''[[CatchPhrase COWABUNGA, DUDES!!!]]'''''

* '''[[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1987 The first cartoon]]''' (1987-1996): Commonly called the "1987 series" after its premier year. Resemblances to its source material are mostly superficial. The first cartoon featuring the turtles proved even more popular than the comics (and it definitely remains the best-known TMNT incarnation among the general public), thanks to the [[AdaptationDistillation distillation]][=/=]{{flanderization}} of the four turtles to easily identifiable character types; the [[CanonForeigner addition]] of villains Krang, Bebop and Rocksteady; the promotion of the Shredder from one-shot baddie to ArchEnemy; gleeful breaking of the fourth wall; the addition of a TrademarkFavoriteFood (pizza) and a CatchPhrase ("Cowabunga!", although there were others), and a general LighterAndSofter comedic bent (for instance, Hamato Yoshi isn't murdered; he instead [[CompositeCharacter becomes]] Splinter). The series ended in 1996, after ten seasons, 194 episodes, and one retool nicknamed the "Red Sky" period by fans, which attempted to make the series more dramatic in the wake of more serious cartoons like ''WesternAnimation/XMenTheAnimatedSeries'' and ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries''. This series' incarnation of Michelangelo appeared in 1990 Main/{{Crossover}} TV special ''WesternAnimation/CartoonAllStarsToTheRescue''.

* {{Catchphrase}}:

* {{Cephalothorax}}: Krang, after being stripped of his body when he was banished from Dimension X. Shredder designed and built a humanoid exo-suit for him when they teamed up.
* CentralTheme: Brotherhood and strength in unity.

* LighterAndSofter: Fans of any of the cartoon series who then read the original comic book rarely expect its ''much'' darker tone, and may be shocked that the turtles actually kill people.

** '''''VideoGame/CallOfDutyModernWarfareII''''' & '''''Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0''''': Shredder was added as an operator skin on 21 March, 2023.

* '''''Operation Blue Line''''' (1990) was a promotional video released by Family Home Entertainment and sponsored by the Southern Califorina Rapid Transportation District to let kids know about alternative travel methods such as railroads.

* '''''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesMutantMayhem''''' (2023): Another ContinuityReboot with Creator/SethRogen's Grey Point pictures serving as the production company. Jeff Rowe (co-director and co-writer of ''WesternAnimation/TheMitchellsVsTheMachines'') will direct from a screenplay by Brendan O’Brian (''Film/Neighbors2014''). Like the 2007 film, it will be completely computer animated, with the animation set to be provided by Creator/{{Cinesite}}. In a first for the franchise, it is planned to have actual teenage actors voice the turtles. [[index]]

* '''''Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2''''' (2023): Leo, Mikey, April and Shredder return from the first game, with Donatello and Raphael being added as new fighters.

** '''''Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles''''' (1990): The first movie combined events from the comic book with the cartoon's humor. It went on to be extremely popular, breaking records for an independent film and even though reviews weren't glowing, praise was given to Creator/JimHensonsCreatureShop for the costumes.

* '''''Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2014''''': A ContinuityReboot with Creator/MichaelBay's Platinum Dunes serving as the production company. Where the previous live-action films used people in animatronic suits to portray the Turtles, this one uses [[SerkisFolk CGI motion-capture]].

* '''''VideoGame/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1989''''': [[/index]]An infamously [[NintendoHard difficult]] UsefulNotes/{{NES}} {{platformer}} from Creator/{{Konami}}.[[index]]

* '''''VideoGame/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesTwoBackFromTheSewers''''' (1991): Sequel to ''Fall of the Foot Clan''. Another Konami brawler platformer for the Game Boy.

* '''''VideoGame/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles''''' (1989): [[/index]]An infamously [[NintendoHard difficult]] UsefulNotes/{{NES}} {{platformer}} from Creator/{{Konami}}.[[index]]

** All the VideoGame/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles video games are based on the films or cartoons, which themselves were based on the comics.

** Pizza, at least in the 1987 series and the original movie trilogy.

[[caption-width-right:350:Any time, any place, these turtle boys are gonna raise some shell!]]