Customer Reviews

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Original Series (Volume 4)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ok ive noticed that a few reviewers were questioning the fact that Raphael and Donatello have different voices in a few episodes. There is nothing wrong with your DVDs, the reason their voices sound different is because the people doing their voices were different. For whatever reason Rob Paulsen and Barry Gordon, who usually voiced Raphael and Donatello, were not there at the recording of those episodes. Each character had their own back up actor in case someone was absent for the recording of the episode, so that is all it is. Since the 1989 Season had so many episodes that happends from time to time with Donatello (and Bebop), Raphael, Shredder and Krang. So for future releases dont be surprised if you notice that again. After the 1989 Season most of the usual voice actors were there for the recordings except for some of the last seasons. So anyway, sorry for the long explanation but that is what it is so everyone knows.
As far as the DVD goes, I still think Artisan should have just released the whole 1989 Season in a boxset (like most tv shows) instead of these twice a year, 12 episode, dvds. But I can't complain too much since they are releasing all of them in order, even though it will take years before all the episodes are out. The quality of the episodes are good but everything else is just pretty much bare bones. It would be nice if there were at least a few extras included, but again it is still nice they continue to release TMNT on DVD. With a cheap price it is a good purchase, but just dont expect anything exstensive.

The original classic mutant-teens are back, the new series is great, but it's great to see these "still very watchable" toons, My 4 and 8 year-old (DAUGHTERS!) enjoy and ask to see these as a companion to the 21st cen. Counterparts. The FOX series just hit 100 episodes, combined with the original 193, TMNTs will be at 300+ before the end of the year. CONGRATs boys!

Don't be fooled by the VOLUME "4" This volume is continuing (not yet completing) the 35 episode season THREE, running September of 1989 to July 1990, their last season as a strictly syndicated series before CBS, picked them up for the remainder of their 10 years on air. The THIRD vol. contained the first 12 episodes of that season, VOL. 4 contains the next 12.

Notable stories from this season containing the introductions of two major characters recognizable from the 2000s: CASEY JONES (episode 39) and LEATHERHEAD (episode 41). In these earlier incarnations these character's are less like their FOX or their Mirage comicbook selves, but are still a pleasure to watch. Unfortunately this volume just missed including USAGI YOJIMBO (episode 43)

Here's the running order:

The Old Switcheroo
Attack of the Big MACC
Camera Bugged
The Four Musketurtles
Turtles at the Earth's Core
Beware the Lotus
Take Me to Your Leader
Blast from the Past
Casey Jones - Outlaw Hero
Turtles, Turtles Everywhere
Leatherhead: Terror of the Swamp
Corporate Raiders from Dimension X

Note: 5 stars series, but 3 for DVD extras.

Vol. 4 of the original TMNT cartoon covers the next 1/4 of season 3, bringing us to halfway through the season. This volume is where some alternate voices are brought in for a few of the characters, notably Raph and Don, who both also would voice them in a few future episodes; Raph's in the "Turtle Terminator" and an entire storyarc that featured the Turtles vacationing in Europe; Don's in the "Turtle Terminator" as well, plus Leatherhead's debut episode and an episode of the Europe arc.

TMNT alum Casey Jones finally gets to make his animated debut in "Casey Jones: Outlaw Hero." He appeared in a few other episodes as well, such as "Night of the Rogues," "Leonardo Cuts Loose," and "Cyber Turtles." On an interesting note, this show's version of Casey was never seen without his trademark hockey mask.

The tenth episode marks Baxter's return in "Return of the Fly." Interestingly enough, it also features the Rat King as a somewhat ally for the Turtles, who briefly appears to give them some info when Shredder captures April yet again. Personally, I liked this development for him, as it made his true allegiences unclear. While he would still appear to menace the green teens, he would also appear in other episodes like this one to unexpectedly give the Turtles info or advice. Too bad his character was all but runied in season 8 when he was turned into a trench-coat and fedora clad gun-toting assassin.

This also has one of my favorite episodes in the series, and hands down the funniest: Cowabunga Shredhead. In it, Shredder and Krang attempt to make duplicates of the world leaders in order to take over the world. Shredder also attempts to make a duplicate of Michelangelo in order to infiltrate the Turtles and destroy them. Thanks to Bebop and Rocksteady's usual meddling though, everything goes wrong and in the end Shredder winds up thinking he's the real Michelangelo. Shredder's moments believing he's the orange-clad turtle are absolutely hilarious, and hands down some of the best-written humor I've seen on television. The scene where he screams, "Turtle Power!" at the top of his lungs alone is priceless.

Like with volume 3, I think the actual animated main menu is incredibly cool looking, and it's great that the video quality has increased with each volume(compare this to vol. 1's grainy quality). Sadly, I'd at least like to see a few extras. Maybe some interviews with the writers or VAs, or how the cartoon was able to last a whopping 10 seasons, or even the classic TMNT toy commercials that featured clips of the cartoon with dubbed-over dialoge. Oh well, hopefully Lion's Gate finally realizes this sooner than later. Until then, I'm at least happy that I can add yet another classic childhood memory to my DVD collection.

Finally they started to speed things up with the releases. The original TMNT is the best cartoon I have ever seen. It is filled with action and humour. The episodes are well written and are never boring. It's so much better then the 2003 TMNT, were the humor is seriously lacking. These 12 episodes are part of the best season of the entire run. I'm looking forward seeing these episodes again. The Turtles, Splinter, April, Shredder and Krang are at top form. Baxter Stockman returnes with a vengenge and Casey Jones is introduced. The Rat King also returns. The episodes included on this release are:

THE NINJA SWORD OF NOWHERE
20,000 LEAKS UNDER THE CITY
TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER
THE FOUR MUSKETURTLES
TURTLES, TURTLES EVERYWHERE
COWABUNGA, SHREDHEAD
INVASION OF THE TURTLE SNATCHERS
CAMERA BUGGED
GREEN WITH JEALOUSY
RETURN OF THE FLY
CASEY JONES: OUTLAW HERO
MUTAGEN MONSTER

I recomant this to any TMNT fan, or just any cartoon fan. You won't be sorry buying this DVD. I already can't wait for Volume 5, or Volume 6 for that matter :=)

this is one of the greatest shows ever made and on season or volume 4 has great episodes. the original turtle show rocks loved it as a kid and still do. If you have not seen this movie then you should

I loved this one it introduces Casey Jones and the first return of Baxter stockman the episodes are
The Ninja sword of nowhere
20,000 Leaks under the Sea
Take me to your Leader
Four Musketurtles
Turtles, Turtles Everywhere
Cowabunga Shredhead
Invasion of the turtle snatchers
Camera bugged
Green with jealousy
Return of the fly
Casey Jones
Mutagen Monster

We now get a second set of Season 3 episodes of the show Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Original Series. While this is still the same as the previous volumes have been, though that doing things this way it's taking a while to get all the episodes out on DVD in their seasons that they aired in. While I can't say that anything new was done with this set cause once again the episodes are on one DVD, and the each of the episodes I feel that they haven't been properly restored up to this point of this volume being released. Normally when handling old animated shows you there have been companies that handled them properly and managed to restore them to their original way of viewing them. Though there isn't much to see in this besides the next 12 episodes of Season 3, this set gets 2.5 stars out 5.

When I first opened this package, I noticed it wasn't wrapped in bubble wrap.
Then upon looking at the case, I noticed that I was smashed! The DVD itself is great, works
flawlessly. But that isn't the point, the case should be in perfect condition as I bought it
brand new.

I'm really getting fed up of if receiving packages that are not wrapped up in bubble wrap
and end up getting damaged in the process. If this ever happens again, I am going to reconsider
in using Amazon for future purchases.

Neil, England

This is an awesome 12 episode dvd of the original tv series. You can't go wrong for the price and the episodes are just as I remember them. My only complaint is that the third season should've been released together, but this doesn't reflect Amazon, their service is top notch.

I really like this series of cartoons because it is still action packed without being to violent. It's kind of corny to watch now as an adult, but my son loves them.