Since the vibrant and tubular team known as theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtleshas been around since the ’80s, it only makes sense that there have been a handful of different versions of them. They went with a standard design for nearly a decade thanks to the popular cartoon before some major changes began to take hold with the design of the team.
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Every single person is going to have their own favorite version of the team; in fact, you’re probably thinking about yours right now. Whether they’re animated, live action, or on the pages, there have been tons of incredible versions of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
10Half-Shell Heroes: Blast To The Past
The design of the Ninja Turtles fromthe 2015 TV movieHalf-Shell Heroes: Blast to the Past is a bit different from what most people will be used to. The overall style of the movie is much more kid-friendly than others, but it is still solid.
The design is probably what you’d think of when imagining an even younger version of the teenage turtles. While it’s far from revolutionary and not likely to make a return any time soon, it was a unique attempt at something different, so points for that.
9Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014 - 2016)
There is a bit ofa split on the new live-actionNinja Turtles look. Some people really like the realistic take on what the Ninja Turtles would look like if you saw them kicking butt outside your window, while others absolutely hate it.
Wherever you stand, you once again have to give credit where it’s due for those behind the series trying something different. It may not have worked for everyone, but it’s hard to see any other attempt actually working in a live-action setting in the modern era.
8Rise Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
While people do have incredibly split opinions about the actual content of the Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series from back in 2018, one thing that can be said positively is the designs are great.
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People may not like the bulkier Raphael, but the bulk does fit his character just like the slimmed-down looks and different shading of the turtles manages to match each individual personality. It was a bold design choice, but a welcome attempt at something new for a team with a design that never changes all that much fundamentally.
7Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012)
There have been a number of animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle designs, and a lot of people absolutely love the redesign that came with the 2012 animated series. Somehow, the art style still manages to keep each turtle unique even while they all look relatively the same.
It is that classic Nickelodeon style that most people would expect from any of its 3D properties, but even among them it stands out. It isn’t most people’s absolute favorite series, but it is vibrant and familiar, something that helped make the series a surprise hit.
6Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, the art style and attitude took a major shift, and for the first time, this version of the Ninja Turtles really does feel like young teenagers just trying to figure out the world.
The glasses that Donatello sports might be a bit much for some people, but the overall design for each turtle is great. With just how many critics and fans love the movie, it’s a safe bet that most fans of TMNT will love it too.
5TMNT (2007)
While the 2007 version of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles can be seen as a bit of an oddity when compared to other efforts, this version is a lot of fun. It tried to tell a new story for the turtles, giving everyone fleshed-out and personal stories.
Casey Jones and April O’Neil may not work for some people as well as they do in other versions, but you’ll love this turtle team. They don’t stand out from one another as much as in other versions, but this moviealso has some fantastic action to enjoy.
4Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987 - 1996)
The classic television series is the thing that truly kicked off the Ninja Turtle fever. It is as simple as it gets thanks to it being a kids cartoon, but there’s a reason that people still buy classic Ninja Turtles merchandise.
Despite how dated the show is, every aspect of it, aside from some of the voice work, holds up perfectly. It’s a cheesy cartoon for kids, and that’s all it needs to be. The only things to differentiate the turtles from a glance are their colors and weapons, but that’s fine because everyone knew it was time for some turtle power.
3Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990-1993)
While the original live-action Ninja Turtles may look a bit dated, there is so much nostalgia for these movies and the look of the characters that it’s hard not to love them. Even now, kids are capable of loving these cheesy and surprisingly dark action movies from the ’90s.
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While most people will want to skip out on the third movie, the first one is an absolute classic, and the second one, though not as good, is still a must-see. The original movie features everything Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fans needed, and the lack of animation will be refreshing for most people today.
2Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003)
While it may be controversial to say it, the 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles run might just be the absolute best. Whilethe original cartoonhad a lot more charm, the 2003 show set out to tell some genuine stories and do some new things with the classic team.
With fantastic designs for every character, one of the most bumping theme songs of an era already filled with incredible theme songs, and some imaginative plots, this show is a must-watch. Sit back and enjoy, but watch out for Shredder.
1Eastman And Laird’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
While they may not have been their own unique characters yet, it’s hard to not look at each version of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and see the original as one of the best. The art style and unique tone when compared with many other efforts really make it stand out.
It’s clear why what seemingly began as a parody of Daredevil became such a massive hit right from the beginning. That incredible art style goes a long way, and it still stands out immediately for anyone who sees it for themselves.
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