4Kids Series (2k3)

2K3 Series Season 1-4

In the 2003 TV series, the four Turtles’ personalities are in some ways different from the 1987 TV series in an attempt to follow the Mirage Comics versions of the characters more closely. All characters are more complex individuals, and the Turtles have a stronger family bond. The tone is also somewhat more serious with an emphasis on action. The show does not feature nearly as much slapstick comedy or heavy puns as its animated predecessor.

The series covers a large scope of the Turtles’ adventures taking them from the sewers, to outer space, alternate dimensions, to the future, and ultimately home once more. The first several seasons focus on the Turtles’ battles against The Shredder and The Foot, while the later seasons branch out to include other antagonists.

During the show’s run, the format was changed several times. The original run of the first four seasons kept the Turtles in their native New York facing The Shredder, The Federation/Triceratons, and Bishop. After the fourth season the show received its first major format change in the “Ninja Tribunal” season.

Ninja Tribunal Season 5
This season focused on a new threat presented by another version of the Shredder said to be the original legendary villain Oroku Saki from feudal Japan. The Turtles were then asked by the Ninja Tribunal (a group of warriors who seek to combat this ancient, “Tengu” Shredder) to train along side several human warriors to become strong enough to battle the Shredder. This involved the Turtles gaining new weapons, learning how to channel their chi into powerful projectiles, and finding their inner animal spirit. This season marked the end of the use of the original character designs and format.

Due to an unforeseen change in scheduling, the “Fast Forward” season began airing on commercial television one year earlier than originally intended. The “Ninja Tribunal” season (13 episodes) was originally going to be season five, but the schedule was changed to try to increase interest in the series and “Fast Forward” became the fifth season to air on commercial TV. This list however will keep the episodes in the correct order.

Fast Forward Season 6
This season featured a brand new direction as well as a completely redesigned look and feel. The season focused on the Turtles being transported 100 years into the future where they meet and befriend Cody Jones, a teenage descendant of April and Casey’s. Cody runs a successful and influential technology company and is its sole heir. The newly formatted show saw a brighter tone than its predecessor, and focused on shorter story lines. Some of the previous shows characters did return, however, including Bishop and Baxter Stockman.

Back To The Sewer Season 7
This season was the last of the show’s run. It featured yet another redesign for the entire cast and brought the Turtles back into present day New York. The season did feature some returning characters from the Fast Forward season. The main villain for the Turtles as they battle in a cybernetic reality is a cybernetic version of the Shredder.

Turtles Forever Movie
Turtles Forever, also known as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles Forever or TMNT: Turtles Forever is a 2009 made-for-tv animated movie that was produced by 4Kids Entertainment. Produced in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, the movie teams up different incarnations of the titular heroes — chiefly the light-hearted, campy, family-friendly characters from the 1987 animated series and the darker, more serious cast of the 4Kids’ own 2003 animated series — in an adventure that spans multiple parallel universes.

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