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If you've been following my for blog for the past 10 years, then you would know I've been a big of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles since 1987. Like many kids growing up in the late 1980s, I watched the original TMNT animated series. While the cartoon has unfortunately aged quite a bit over years, it's still my favorite TMNT series; though, I did enjoy the 2012 computer-animated series.

Last year, Nickelodeon debuted the fourth TMNT animated series, titled Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,which is oddly similar to the first episode of the 2012 series, Rise of the Turtles. The pilot episode, Mystic Mayhem, was also released "free" on YouTube. Since I love anything that is free, I did watch Mystic Mayhem when it debuted. Let's just say the new animation style didn't appeal to me right away, as well as the many unnecessary character changes; so I made no attempt to watch the new series. That being said, after seeing the art cover for the Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles DVD, my interest was reignited and I thought it would give the series another chance.

Nickelodeon; 89 minutes; Amazon

The current Nickelodeon TMNT series is coming to the end this year. The fifth season, which is retitled as Tales of the Teenage Mutant Turtles, has been a rocky one for fans, as Nickelodeon has been airing only two or three episodes at a time before going on hiatus for several weeks. The most recent episodes have been airing on NickToons.

Now available on DVD is Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Wanted: Bebop & Rocksteady, featuring the upcoming special "Wanted: Bebop & Rocksteady," the flashback episode "Lone Rat and Cubs," and an exclusive Ice Cream Kitty music video.

"Wanted: Bebop & Rocksteady" is technically three episodes (Wanted: Bebop & Rocksteady, The Foot Walks Again!, and The Big Blowout), but it's featured as 67 minute movie/special on the DVD.  The plot involves the 1987 Krang and Shredder bringing the technodrome to the Nickelodeon TMNT's dimension, where they enlist the new Bebop & Rocksteady, along with the 1987 robot foot soldiers, to help them conquer New York City by opening a portal to Dimension X. To stop the Shredder and Krang, the turtles must join forces with the 1987 teenage mutant ninja turtles.

"Lone Rat and Cubs" is a flashback episode that takes place fifteen years prior, where Master Splinter is telling the young turtles the story of how he found them as babies (back when they were first mutated) and how he survived a fight against the Kraang.

Nickelodeon; Not Rated; 247 minutes; Walmart

Now available on DVD from Nickelodeon is Tales Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Super Shredder, featuring the final seven of the episodes from the fourth season of the current TMNT series, as well as the first four episodes from the fifth season, retitled "Tales Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." There are no special features or extras on the two-disc set.

The final episodes of the fourth season introduces the turtles (Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo) to the Supper Shredder, aka the mutated version of Shredder, who is determined to destroy the turtles and their master Splinter once and for all. By the season's end, Shredder finally gets his revenge; all leading to a final deadly confrontation with the turtles.

Other storylines during the season includes the turtle's human friend April O'Neil becoming possessed with the evil spirit Aeon in "The Power Inside Her"; an alien named Tokka arrives on Earth looking for her baby boy in "Tokka VS. The World"; and a fox-mutant name Alopex comes to New York City to kill Tiger Claw in "Tale Of Tiger Claw."

The fifth and final season has a new opening theme song and title sequence, and has been renamed to "Tales Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." The first four episodes are included on the second discs. The main plot of the episodes involves Tiger Claw summoning the demon Kavaxas (voiced by Mark Hamill) in the attempt to resurrect Shredder from the dead. Of course the turtles and their pals will do anything they can to save the day.

The eleven episodes on the two-disc set are:

With the last fragment of the Black Hole Generator in the Triceraton's possession, the Turtles race back to New York City for a final showdown against the alien threat. But even if they save Earth from total annihilation, will their city ever be the same?

Not Rated; 267 minutes; $19.99; Amazon

As I'm writing this, it looks the Michael Bay produced Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows will have a decent opening weekend at the box-office. The sequel is coming out while the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles computer-animated series is on hiatus. In the meantime, TMNT fans can enjoy watching the recent Nickelodeon DVD release - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Beyond The Known The Universe, featuring the first 12 episodes of the fourth season. The 2-disc set has one special feature, TMNT: Kicking Shell and Taking Names.

At the end of the third season, an alien race called the Triceratons activated the a black hole device that destroyed Earth. Seconds before the destruction of the planet, Fugitoid, an android, arrives in his spaceship in the nick of time to save Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, Donatello, April O'Neil and Casey Jones. The android needs their help to travel back in time six months earlier to stop the Triceratons from creating the black hole generator.

Season four picks up exactly where it left off, with the turtles and their human friends traveling across the universe to retrieve the parts to the black hole generator, so they can change history. Sadly, upon their first visit to another planet, the turtles accidentally run across a new enemy, Lord Dregg. Later, they also encounter a cyborg bounty hunter shark, Utroms, Salamanders and other aliens on their journey.

The episodes on the 2-disc set are:

Disc1 Beyond the Known Universe The Moons of Thalos 3 The Weird World of Wyrm The Outlaw Armaggon Riddle of the Ancient Aeons Journey to the Center of Mickey's Mind The Arena of Carnage

Disc 2 The War for Dimension X The Cosmic Ocean Trans-Dimensional Turtles Revenge of the Triceratons The Evil of Dregg

Not Rated; 43 mins; $14.99; Amazon

Arriving today on DVD from Nickelodeon is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Half-Shell Heroes: Blast To The Past; the 43-minute movie spin-off of the current TMNT animated series. There are no special features or extras. However, it does come with a bonus Nick Jr. DVD.

Based on the Playmates Toys' Half-Shell Heroes, "Blast To the Past" dropped the current computer-animation style and went with a 2D animation look. The four turtles are now half the size of what they are in the regular series, but they still have the same voices.

After finding crystals inside a meteorite that will help power up Donatello's new turtle vehicle, he accidentally sends himself along with his brothers, Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael, as well as Bebop and Rocksteady, back in time to the Cretaceous Period.

The turtles don't exactly fit in with this era as they're constantly being chased by hungry dinosaurs. They would rather just head back home, but the meteorite's crystals have been destroyed.  To make things worse, their enemy, the Triceratons, are also there; forcing the dinosaurs to help them mine for crystals.

Leo, Donnie, Raph and Mikey must befriend a few dinosaurs and plan a last-minute attack on the Triceratons, in the hope of stopping the aliens' plans, rescue Bebop and Rocksteady (Yep, they're in trouble!) and grab a few crystals, so they can return home to NYC.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Return To NYC!
Studio: Nickelodeon
Release Date: July 14, 2015
Retail: $14.99
ASIN: B00WGEALKW
Running Time: 157 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

While TMNT fans are patiently waiting for the final episodes of the third season to air on Nickelodeon, they grab their hands on the newest DVD release, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Return To NYC!, which features seven action-packed episodes (Vision Quest, Return to New York, Serpent Hunt, The Pig and the Rhino, Battle for New York - Part 1, Battle for New York - Part 2, Casey Jones vs. the Underworld) from the current season. Special Features includes Mutation of a Scene for each episode.

Season Three started with the Turtles along with their human pals Casey Jones and April O'Neil, taking shelter at April's family farm as the Kraang and Shredder take over New York City. "Vision Quest" finds Leonardo leading the turtles into the forest, so they can be one with nature. They quickly receive a message from a spiritual manifestation of Splinter, which leads them on a journey to overcome their weaknesses.


The Turtles, April and Casey head back to New York City, which is overrun by Kraangdroids and Foot Clan, to search for Splinter. Thanks to amnesia, Splinter has lost his humanity and the turtles must somehow convince him to snap back to his normal self in "Return to New York."


Now reunited with Splinter, the turtles go in search of his daughter, Karai in "Serpent Hunt," whom is now a serpent mutant, but they must deal with a handful of Kraangdroids as well as two humans, Zeck and Sternko, who work for Shredder.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Pulverizer Power
Studio: Nickelodeon
Release Date: June 9, 2015
Retail: $9.98
ASIN: B00V3R3B6Y
Running Time: 70 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

While the TMNT fans are patiently waiting for the newest batch of episodes to kickoff later this month, they can bide their time with this week's DVD release of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Pulverizer Power, featuring three action-packed episodes from the Nickelodeon hit computer-animated series.

This single-disc DVD centers on all the episodes that center on the teenage human superhero-wannabe, The Pulverizer.

The episodes include:

The Pulverizer - The TMNT meet their first fanboy, a teenager dressed in a homemade TMNT costume. He calls himself "The Pulverizer" and thinks he knows martial arts, but he actually doesn't know a thing about fighting and just causes trouble for the turtles.


The Pulverizer Returns - The Foot Clan have recruited their newest member - The Pulverizer, whom is undercover to help the turtles stop Shredder from creating an army of mutants.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: NYC Showdown
Studio: Nickelodeon
Release Date: June 9, 2015
Retail: $9.98
ASIN: B00V4RGNIG
Running Time: 65 minutes
Rating: NOT Rated
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving on DVD from Nickelodeon is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: NYC Showdown, featuring three exciting episodes from the 2003 series. There are no special features or extras on the single-disc.

The TMNT series was produced by produced by 4Kids Entertainment and Mirage Studios and aired from 2003 to 2009. It dropped the wackiness of the original animated series and was more in line with the comic books. There were were several three-episode DVD releases and a few season volumes released before Nickelodeon purchased the franchise. NYC Showdown and The Search For Splinter (available June 9, 2015) will mark the first DVD releases from the 2003 incarnation that Nickelodeon has released.

NYC Showdown features episodes 21, 22 & 23 (Return to New York, Pt. 1 -3). The turtles (Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael) and Master Splinter barely escaped New York after Shredder and the Foot Clan invaded their home. They take refuge at the farmhouse that belongs to a relative of Casey Jones. After they had fully recovered from the injuries, they decide to return to New York to make a final strike against Shredder.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Search For Splinter
Studio: Nickelodeon
Release Date: June 9, 2015
Retail: $9.98
ASIN: B00V4RH6F0
Running Time: 65 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

While it might seem like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has been on television constantly since 1987, there was actually a hiatus between 1998 and 2003. The second animation series was produced by by 4Kids Entertainment and Mirage Studios. The series debuted in February 2003. It dropped all the slapstick of the original series and focused on story-arcs, which offered a darker plot, similar in style to the comic book series.

While the series was popular with fans of all ages as well as critics, it went downhill when it was retitled "Fast Forward," when the character designs were altered and the turtles were sent to the future. The series tried to bounce back by bringing the turtles back to the past in Back to the Sewer, but it was too little, too late as the series was canceled; though the turtles would return in the TV-Movie Turtles Forever.

Nickelodeon purchased the franchise in 2009 and launched a computer-animated series in 2012, which is currently in it's third season. During it's run, the 2003 series mostly received single-disc DVD releases, featuring only three episodes. A Season 4 two-disc DVD set was later released, though the first half the season was missing. Seasons 1 & 2 were eventually released in two volumes (2-discs) sets each. Fast Forward was released in a similar format as well as Ninja Tribunal (the fifth season).

On June 9, 2015, Nickelodeon will finally be releasing the 2003 series to DVD, but with three episodes per disc. The DVD titles will be The Search For Splinter and NYC Showdown (I'll have a separate review for it posted soon). The Search For Splinter features the very first episode "Things Change" and the two-part season one finale, "The Search for Splinter Parts 1 & 2."

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Retreat!
Voice Cast: Seth Green, Sean Astin, Greg Cipes, Rob Paulsen, Mae Whitman, Josh Peck
Studio: Nickelodeon
Release Date: March 10, 2015
Retail: $14.98
ASIN: B00NGL7IUA
Running Time: 157 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving on DVD from Nickelodeon this coming Tuesday is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Retreat!, featuring the first seven episodes from the third season. Special features includes 7 Shorts: "The Mutation of a Scene."

Since its debut in 2012, TMNT has been a ratings hit for Nickelodeon, bringing in young and old fans to new incarnation. The series replaces with the traditional 2D animation with computer animation, but still has the humor that made the 1987 series so popular

Season Two ended with the four Turtles (Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael), April O'Neil and Casey Jones fleeing New York City after it was taken over by the Kraangs and Shredder. They take refuge at April's family's farmhouse. With Master Splinter left behind, the turtles feel lost, especially with Leonardo struggling to heal his wounds from the fallout. The turtles must regain their strength, so they can one day return to the city and stop their enemies once in for all.

The series' writers must have a love for old horror movies, as the first episode of the season, Within The Woods, the turtles must battle a strange plant creature wearing overalls and a feed sack (and later Casey's hockey mask). It's obvious that the producers were paying homage to the Friday the 13th films. The fifth episode, titled In Dreams, mixes elements of A Nightmare Elm Street & The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, where April & Casey must somehow figure out how to wake up the turtles, whom are all trapped in a nightmare world. Horror icons Robert England, John Kassir and Bill Mosely guest-voice in the episode.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Complete First Season
Voice Cast: Jason Biggs, Rob Paulsen, Sean Astin, Greg Cipes, Mae Whitman, Hoon Lee
Studio: Nickelodeon
Release Date: October 7, 2014
Retail: $35.98
ASIN: B00LN87984
Running Time: 625 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Available to this on DVD from Nickelodeon is the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Complete First Season, featuring all 26 episodes on a 4-disc set. Special Features include 6 "Making Of" Animatics, Theme Song: Karaoke Music Video, Animated Comic Books: Tales From The Turtle Lair Part 1-6, and The Mutation of a Scene (New Girl in Town, The Pulverizer, TCRI, Cockroach Terminator, Baxter's Gambit). Included in the set is a 16-page sample of the upcoming coffee book Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Visual History by Andrew Farago.

Nobody ever imagined the kind of phenomenon that would occur when the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book was printed in 1984 by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. Now 30 years after their debut, the series is still going strong with new issues being released by IDW Publishing, this summer's blockbuster film is headed for Blu-ray in the middle of December and Nickelodeon is currently airing the third season of the third animated series on Friday nights.

The Nickelodeon series borrows the best bits from the original 1987 series and the 2003 reboot, which finds Leo, Donnie, Ralph and Mikey battling an alien race known as the Kraang, Shredder and his Foot Clan and dozens of deadly mutants. Along with their master Splinter and their human friend April O'Neil, the Turtles must protect New York City at all costs.

Episodes on the 4-disc set are:

Summer is definitely here, but if the hot weather is too much for you to handle, then you should stay inside and watch some great toons with your family. Nickelodeon Home Entertainment is releasing two DVD collections featuring some of the most popular Nickelodeon characters from their hit series, including SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Sanjay and Craig.

Heroes In Action (ASIN: B00J5G1NA6; Retail: $9.98) features five action-packed adventures. First up, SpongeBob's best friend, Patrick, becomes a superhero in Patrick-Man! and battles the Dirty Bubble, but wrecks havoc on Bikini Bottom! SpongeBob must come to rescue in Gary's New Toy when Gary becomes obsessed with a new red ball.

After Michelangelo was caught skateboarding in the lair, the Turtles get grounded in I Think His Name Is Baxter Stockman, but they sneak out to encounter Baxter Stockman in a mechanical battle armor. The Turtles must out-think the scientist, if they plan on saving the city from total destruction.

After Sanjay and his snake pal, Craig, grow huge muscles, they join the police force, Muscle C.O.P.S. In Cold Hard Cash, Craig and Sanjay teamup to locate a frozen treasure that is worth $100 before Baby Richard Dickson gets his hands on it.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Good, The Bad, And Casey Jones
Voice Cast: Jason Biggs, Rob Paulsen, Sean Astin, Greg Cipes, Mae Whitman, Hoon Lee
Studio: Nickelodeon
Release Date: July l, 2014
Retail: $14.98
ASIN: B00J2T18XS
Running Time: 133 minutes
Rating: Not Rated

Review:

Before the Michael Bay produced Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot hits theaters this August, fans can look forward this Tuesday's DVD release of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Good, The Bad, And Casey Jones, featuring six action-packed episodes from Nickelodeon's second season. Special Features include 6 Shorts: "The Mutation of a Scene" and Meet Casey Jones.

The four teenage turtles first appeared thirty-years ago in the comic books created by Kevin Eastman & Peter Laird. It was quickly followed by a popular Playmates toy line, two animated series, one live-action series, three live-action films and one computer-animated film. The franchise seemed to be at a standstill until Nickelodeon purchased the rights and created a third animated series that premiered in 2012.

Despite a mixed-reaction to the early concept-art, Nickelodeon's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles quickly won over old and new fans by providing great characters and an exciting storytelling with a blend of humor.

Episodes on the single-disc DVD are:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutagen Mayhem
Voice Cast: Jason Biggs, Rob Paulsen, Sean Astin, Greg Cipes, Mae Whitman, Hoon Lee
Studio: Nickelodeon/Paramount
Release Date: March 11, 2014
Retail: $14.99
ASIN: B00H7BJ1XC
Running Time: 135 minutes
Rating: Not Rated



Review:

Its still a few months off before the Michael Bay produced "Ninja Turtles" live-action (well CGI) incarnation hits the theaters, but fans can enjoy Nickelodeon's latest DVD release, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutagen Mayhem, featuring the first six episodes from the second season. Special features include 6 Shorts: "The Mutation of a Scene"and Channel 6 News Special Report: Creatures of the Night.

The first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was published in 1984; created by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman. The comic books popularity lead to a Playmates toy line;  eventually leading to the insanely popular animated series, which lasted for ten seasons. Three live-action feature films were released during the early 90s. Besides from a short-lived and unpopular live-action series in the late 90s, the franchise took a slight pause until the revamped Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series in 2003, which lasted seven seasons, one made-for-TV movie and a few title changes. A CGI-animated feature film was released in 2007 and was quickly forgotten about. After Nickelodeon purchased the franchise, a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles computer-animated series debuted in the fall of 2012. At first many older fans were skeptical of the new animation style, but most have embraced the series for its storytelling, humor and action.

The second seasons has the Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo once again battling the alien race, K.R.A.N.G., but they accidentally unleash dozens of mutant canisters across the city, which turns April's father into a mutant; along with several hungry squirrels. To make matters worse, the turtles have to deal with Shredder's daughter (well, she's not really his daughter) Karai and her robotic Foot soldiers.

This season also introduces the teenage version of Casey Jones and Donatello's Mutagen Man creation. Plus, Michelangelo has a really bad case of ache.

It may be only the middle of October, but Nickelodeon is getting ready for the holiday season with re-releasing four of their most popular DVD titles in Holiday Gift sets featuring a 16-page coloring book, crayons, stickers and a poster in each set at the retail of value of $19.99 each.

The DVD titles are:

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Rise of the Turtles - The single-disc set features the double-length premiere episode "Rise of the Turtles" along with four additional episodes - Turtle Temper; New Friend, Old Friend; I Think His Name is Baxter Stockman; and Metalhead. Special features include six "Making of Animatics" and the Theme Song Karaoke Music Video.

Here is a snippet of my review earlier this year:

Rise of the Turtles is packed with six action-packed episodes that fans of all ages will enjoy watching.

 

• Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure -Dora the Explorer's 2009's two-part episode is the perfect present for the holidays. Swiper gets on Santa's naughty list when he tries to steal the Christmas Star from Dora's Nochebuena Party. To help Swiper learn from his mistake, Dora must help him travel to the past, the present and the future to learn what the true meaning of Christmas is about.

Special Features include "Jingle Bells" Music Video, "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" Music Video, and the Young People's Chorus Behind-the-Scenes Featurette.

Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure is a cute spin on the timeless Charles Dickens' tale.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Ultimate Showdown
Voice Cast: Jason Biggs, Rob Paulsen, Sean Astin, Greg Cipes, Mae Whitman, Hoon Lee
Studio: Nickelodeon
Release Date: October 1, 2013
Retail: $19.99
ASIN: B00DTRR3XS
Running Time: 312 minutes
Rating: Not Rated

Review:

Nickelodeon's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will be premiering its second season next month, but now it is your chance to get caught up with season one's third volume titled Ultimate Showdown featuring twelve episodes, including the two-part season finale Showdown! Specials features include 4 Shorts: "The Mutation of a Scene," and the Animated Comic Books: Tales From the Lair, Parts Three - Six. There is also an exclusive Lego TMNT mini comic book inside the DVD case.

The second-half of season one debuted in January featuring the debut (or the return of a fan favorite for fans of the 1980s' TMNT) of the Rat King, though technically we have already met Dr. Victor Falco earlier in the season. Karai investigates the turtles' enemy, the Kraang, and learns why they are interested in capturing the young April O'Neil.

Donatello creates the Shellraiser out of Leatherhead's subway car. The turtles befriend a teenager who dresses up in a costume and calls himself "The Pulverizer", a they battle Baxter Stockman, Fishface, and the Purple Dragons.

As Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo are coming closer to rescuing April's father, they stumble upon the Kraang's plan on opening a portal to Dimension X and invading Earth with the Technodrome. Meanwhile, Karai and the Footclan kidnap April, leading Splinter to confront his old nemesis, Shredder, who reveals a startling revelation.

 The twelve episodes on the 2-disc set are:

This week Nickelodeon released the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Enter Shredder on DVD, containing seven episodes from the first season of 2012 series with all-star voice cast of Jason Biggs, Sean Astin, Greg Cipes, Mae Whitman, Hoon Lee, and Rob Paulsen - the original voice the 1987's Raphael, but now he is voicing the new Donatello.