MovieChat Forums > Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003) Discussion > How can anyone prefer the 2012 cartoon t...

How can anyone prefer the 2012 cartoon to this or the original series?

posted 10 years ago by Horror_Metal
12 replies | jump to latest

I grew up with the 80's/90's show and have been a huge Turtles fan all my life. I watched the cartoon and the movies, played the video games, collected the action figures, and even almost dressed as Raphael for Halloween one year. I realize the old cartoon isn't as dark and gritty as the comics but is that really such a bad thing? The only thing about the show I don't particularly care for is that the character of Raphael has been changed from an angry and rebellious hothead to merely a somewhat rude and sarcastic Michaelangelo clone. He's my favorite character and I hate that his rivalry with Leonardo, which I present in most incarnations, has been left out. That said, I still love the show and watch it constantly. I also love the first two live action movies, the 2003 series (which was arguably the closest to the comics) the 2007 CGI film, and even thought the new 2014 film was pretty good despite its many flaws.

But I just cannot get into the 2012 Nickelodeon CGI series, like at all. I figured other hardcore Turtles fans would share my viewpoint that in this new show the animation sucks, it's way too kid friendly and aimed towards children (and yes, far sillier than the original cartoon, admit it!), April and Casey being made into teens was a horrible idea, and Splinter is totally wrong in several ways. But I've been hearing from fellow fans things like "This is the best adaption of the Turtles by far!" and "I love everything about this show! It's perfect!" WHAT?!!!!! Better than the extremely fun and entertaining 80's/90's series? Better than the dark and serious 2003 series? Better than the first two live action movies? No way! It may be better than the third live action film and The Next Mutation but that's about it. I can't believe all the praise this new abomination is getting! I know it's a matter of opinion but seriously? I've tried sooo hard to get into this show because of all the good things I've been constantly hearing about it but I cannot get past the animation style or the horridly silly tone of the cartoon. I know the original series was silly but nostalgia factor aside, I still find it enjoyable as an adult! I absolutely HATE that they've made Casey Jones into an irritating little kid that looks like an emo trick-or-treater. The Caseys from the original and 2003 cartoon would kick this little punk's ass!

Anyway, can someone please enlighten me as to why this awful new incarnation of the Turtles is being regarded so highly?

Horror_Metal

[–] blackheart981 10 years ago

That's the thing, I feel its because people think the 87 show is too kiddy, while the 2003 series were too dark. To most people, I think they feel that the 2012 series is in between... in other words, just right. I think they did the turtles alright, but I agree that they made kiddie versions of April, Casey, and even Karai. Even the enemies are laughable aside from the Shredder. I gave up after a few episodes as well. 2003 raised the bar and the 2012 just took 10 steps backwards. Just look at Donatello, he is kinda like an idiot in the 2012 version. Not to mention, he has Raph's voice from 87. Totally doesn't mix.

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[–] Horror_Metal 10 years ago

Well said. That's actually a pretty accurate assessment. I agree completely. I think my main issue is that, being an 80's kid, I just can't relate to the new show at all. Like every other cartoon nowadays, it just doesn't appeal to me in the least. I'll admit it has a few things going for it, but the best way I can sum it up is that's it just too "new" for someone like me to find it enjoyable, if that makes sense.

Horror_Metal

[–] WatchingYouReadThis 10 years ago

The season 2 finale I think is still up on Nick's site, go check it out.

Too kiddy? You mean the part where someone murders a woman out of revenge, to then take her baby and raise it as his own? Very childish, that's like something you'd see on spongebob. Or two teenage girls beating the sh*t out of each other in a New York city back alley.

Way more kiddy than the '87 series.

[–] ZakkWyldeMyLittlePony 9 years ago

I like the 2012 series for the most part, but it's nowhere as good as the 2003 version. I HATE Casey Jones' design and character in the 2012 version. It's also annoying that the 2012 series has the concept that Splinter is Hamato Yoshi as a rat instead of being Yoshi's pet (I never watched the 80's/90's cartoon for the record; The 2003 series was my generation of the turtles)).

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[–] TheSilhouette 9 years ago

Seriously, you've already made your mind up.

But why can't more people enjoy BOTH?

Everything had to deteriorate into an "either, or" mentality and it's ridiculous.

[–] sephirothslies 9 years ago

I love all versions of the Ninja Turtle cartoons. Grew up with the original. Watched the 2003 version in my 20s. But I have to say the new series is becoming my favorite. It's might have very few "kiddy" parts but overall its pretty dark with just the right touch of comic relief. Sometimes I'm shocked at how far they go for a kids show. And it just keeps getting better.

[–] jakal911 9 years ago

I watched them all and the 2012 is frustrating to watch. It had some potential but it's just going nowhere fast.

My generation grew up with the 87, and the first season is amazing. The other seasons afterwards, I cannot watch again.

I was an adult when the 2003 series started and I've rewatched both this and the 87 since. The 2003 stands out to me as being my favorite.

[–] blackheart981 9 years ago

Same here Jakal. I lost interest in the 2012 series during the 1st season.

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[–] Kefka_8203 9 years ago

I'm not sure we watched the same show if you consider 2003 less kiddy than 2012.
Hell, 2003 even re-used that eye-rollingly dumb gimmick from stuff like GI Joe to have pilots of downed planes magically parachute to safety, shown in detail of course, even if their planes got blown up.
It has a morbidly obese fat guy who drools what looks like semen try to conquer the world through collecting garbage. It has no internal consistency(Where's the superheroes when you might need them? Why isn't anyone investigating over a dozen sunken ships in a few weeks? Why's anyone even using New York as a harbor? Why did Michelangelo not turn the truck with the toys over to the police? Why why why?)
I've heard a lot of -87 fans complain about TMNT: Forever being mean by playing the old Turtles for laughs, but until I re-watched 2003 I didn't pay that opinion too much thought. But now..Every Turtle in 2003 is dumb as bricks. Seriously, they're dumber than a brain damaged dinosaur. And a hell of a lot more mean-spirited with their douchebaggery spilling over onto others, like when Mikey REPEATEDLY destroys Aprils stuff.
The saving grace of the show is the secondary characters.
Also, 2003 TMNT has no sense of pacing. It's not a huge revelation that the Shredder is alive when we see his body walk away and it only passes like 3 episodes.

[–] Blue-Sonic 8 years ago

Well if you removed your nostalgia glasses XD jk

[–] ZakkWyldeMyLittlePony 7 years ago

Even though I never really watched the 1987 series other than seeing a few clips on YouTube, I wasn't really interested or impressed with it. I found it too cheesy and it was essentially a product of the 80's more so than anything Ghostbusters related. But then again, I love Ghostbusters so I am biased. The 2003 series holds up far better in the same sense as Batman The Animated Series as they both have that dark atmosphere. I essentially don't really like the 87 series or at least what I've seen of it for the same reasons Peter Laird and most of the fans of TMNT who were around before the 87 series came along don't like it but instead of being spoiled by the comics, I was spoiled by the 2003 series. I enjoy the 2012 series more so than the 87 series but not as much as the 1990 film or the 03 series but the only thing I don't care for in the '12 series is Casey's design. I'm with you on that 100% since I really liked Casey in the 2003 series and they really watered down his character in the 2012 series and even though it doesn't bother me as much, but making April and Casey high schoolers is too much of a change from the source material since she isn't working her traditional news reporter job that is present in most other versions. I was at first not really interested in the 2012 series since I was essentially as I said before, spoiled by the 2003 series but it grew on me over the years.

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