Ranked List of All Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Animated Series

Essential Highlights

The TV adaptations of the TMNT franchise masterfully combine various genres, appealing to a wide range of viewers with their innovation and diversity.
Mutant Turtles: Superman Legend is a perplexing and chaotic anime version that may leave fans feeling perplexed rather than entertained.
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles presents a distinctive blend of chaos and comedy, although its fast-paced nature might be challenging for some audiences.

It’s undeniable that the concept behind Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is quite unusual. The narrative involves four turtle brothers transformed by mystical sewer ooze. Under the guidance of their rat master, they transition into teenage ninjas battling crime. While the premise is undeniably absurd, it possesses just the right amount of craziness to captivate audiences.

Defying expectations, TMNT has evolved into a vast multimedia phenomenon, with its television series playing a significant role in its enduring legacy. Each series explores different facets of the Turtles’ personas, ranging from action-adventure to heartfelt family tales and zany humor. Every version shines in its own unique light, allowing them to build their dedicated fan bases. It’s remarkable how creators have managed to extract such a rich array of creativity and excitement from a single concept, which is why the TMNT intellectual property continues to keep audiences guessing.

As of October 16, 2024, by Ben Painter: The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise remains beloved and highly regarded, notably due to the positive reception of the latest cinematic release, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, which won the hearts of both fans and critics. A significant contributor to the Turtles’ ongoing popularity is their television history, with cartoons dating back to their 1987 debut still captivating viewers. This update introduces two additional TMNT series, including one that is currently airing.

6 Mutant Turtles: Superman Legend (1996)

A Surfeit of Absurdity Derails The Turtles’ Anime Adventure

Produced by: Bee Media & Tsuburaya Productions
Broadcast Network: N/A
Premiered On: May 21, 1996

This obscure installment in the animated Turtles saga may escape the notice of even the most devoted fans. Mutant Turtles: Superman Legend is an anime, specifically categorized as an OVA, created as an additional piece to accompany the 1987 animated series, featuring similar character designs. However, the similarities stop there. Instead of simply combating crime, these turtles embark on a quest to collect magical gemstones from another dimension. The gems transform them into massive, heavily muscled beings adorned with Wolverine-like masks. The gemstones similarly affect adversaries, morphing them into monstrous entities reminiscent of kaiju films or mecha anime. Consequently, the two factions engage in explosive confrontations filled with excessive energy attacks that rival those seen in Dragon Ball. Ultimately, Mutant Turtles makes other TMNT narratives seem tame by comparison.

Japanese creations often revel in their peculiarities, enabling viewers to delight in those eccentricities. Much of the enjoyment derives from the sheer absurdity of the experience. However, understanding the plot can prove challenging. While it’s ostensibly inspired by the earlier animated series, Mutant Turtles also draws from an existing manga series that sets up its lore in an isekai framework. That backstory serves as a foundational element, yet the show rushes through it at a dizzying pace, even modifying and adding new twists to the established lore.

The writers inundate the viewer with an avalanche of fantastical plot devices and storylines in an already over-stuffed universe. To make matters worse, they attempt to condense everything into just two episodes, resulting in a chaotic mess. Unfortunately, this anime may be a tough sell for any fan of the Turtles.

5 Rise Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2018)

The Turtles’ Quirky Escapades Create A Chaotic Animated Sitcom

Produced by: Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Broadcast Network: Nickelodeon & Nicktoons
Premiered On: July 20, 2018 to August 7, 2020

This recent reboot may initially appear disconcerting. Unlike previous TMNT series that intersperse comedy with drama, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles goes all-in on humor. The series adopts a slice-of-life structure where episodes explore the siblings’ everyday challenges in the sewer and their comically discordant relationships. The animation evokes a blend of absurdist anime and slapstick cartoon antics, resulting in an exactly as wild experience as one might expect.

At least this approach lends Rise a distinctive identity in the Turtles franchise. The exaggerated character designs and vibrant animation serve the visual comedy exceptionally well, allowing humor to frequently hit its mark. Despite the show’s unique strengths, its frenetic energy might render it a bit too much for some viewers.

The relentless pace also proves to be a double-edged sword. It showcases a constant stream of bizarre visual gags. This overwhelming visual cacophony hardly allows for moments of calm. This breathless rhythm likely stems from the brief episode lengths, but the writers could have benefitted from allowing for slower pacing. A more measured approach might grant the series a greater impact beyond mere escapism.

4 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987)

The Groundbreaking Turtles Cartoon Captures Cheesy Charm By Embracing Its Flaws

Produced by: Fred Wolf Films
Broadcast Network: CBS
Premiered On: December 14, 1987 to November 2, 1996

As the pioneering series, the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles stands as the most iconic entry in the franchise. The secret to its success lies in its campiness. The show is characterized by its high cheese factor, with exaggerated performances, ludicrous characters, and animation that only slightly surpasses the reused frames typical of Hanna-Barbera. While such elements would typically be significant shortcomings, they instead contribute to the series’ distinct charm.

The show revels in its quirks. It fully embraces its identity and thoroughly enjoys its role as a classic Saturday morning cartoon. This unabashed fun resonates with viewers, although it might not appeal to everyone. It undoubtedly reflects its era, but who is to say that such a quality is inherently negative?

3 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012)

Captivating Character Portrayals Offset Uneven Tone

Produced by: Nickelodeon Animation Studio & LowBar Productions
Broadcast Network: Nickelodeon & Nicktoons
Premiered On: September 28, 2012 to November 12, 2017

This series artfully merges lightheartedness with seriousness. The 2012 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles harmonizes both comedic and dramatic elements, frequently juxtaposing a playful tone reminiscent of the 1987 show against the serialized storytelling and deeper themes found in the 2003 series. The creators strive to marry these differing styles, though the blending process isn’t always seamless. Often, the weighty narrative moments collide with absurd villains. Nevertheless, the series remains an enjoyable watch.

This is primarily attributable to the strength of its characters and their dynamic interactions. These Turtles are portrayed most convincingly as teenagers, infusing their interactions with a sense of youthful exuberance. The sharp, stylistic animation amplifies this energy like never before. Such vibrant portrayals wouldn’t shine without the excellent voice acting.

This series showcases Andrea Romano as the voice director for the first time. She is well-known for her ability to cast the ideal voice actors for beloved characters, often bringing out their finest performances. Consequently, the vocal delivery is among the most natural of any Turtles adaptation, elevating the experience and helping to navigate the narrative’s uneven patches.

2 Tales Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2024)

A Direct Sequel To The Mutant Mayhem Film

Produced by: Nickelodeon Animation Studio, Point Grey Pictures
Broadcast Network: Paramount+
Premiered On: August 9, 2024 – Present

Riding on the wave of success from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, a new follow-up series named Tales Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was created to connect the movie with the forthcoming untitled sequel.

This series features much of the same voice cast and character designs, though it employs a less expensive animation style. The younger iterations of the turtles bring a refreshing change to previous series, and they focus significantly on the mutants’ lore, an aspect often neglected in earlier installments. The primary antagonist is Agent Bishop, returning from the 2003 series, but portrayed here as female. The series has been warmly received by fans and has performed well on streaming platforms due to its appealing mix of action, emotional weight, and character growth.

1 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003)

This Gritty Series Honors The Classic Comics

Produced by: Mirage Studios & 4Kids Entertainment
Broadcast Network: Fox & The CW
Premiered On: February 8, 2003 to May 23, 2009

At long last, fans of the extreme IDW comics have a corresponding series. The 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles remains a Saturday morning staple, yet it emphasizes high-octane action and compelling drama. Multi-episode arcs engage the characters in complex ways. While humor is present, it arises organically from sibling interactions rather than scripted jokes. From this perspective, it markedly contrasts with earlier versions.

Some may contend that the show leans too heavily into its serious tone, as the creators strive to anchor the whimsical elements of the franchise. However, this grounding can be at odds with the heavier themes. This tension is particularly pronounced in the final season, which can veer into convoluted territory. Ultimately, how viewers respond to this series rests on their preferences. For those seeking a true adaptation of the beloved source material, the 2003 rendition is undoubtedly the gold standard.

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