The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been a pop culture phenomenon for decades, with a rich history of animated shows that have captivated audiences of all ages. From the classic 1987 series to the more recent "Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," each show has its own unique take on the beloved characters. In this article, I'll be ranking the five best Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated shows, with a focus on their storytelling, animation style, and impact on the franchise. While the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles may have started in the comics as a parody of superheroes like Daredevil, they quickly became heroes in their own right when the first animated series started airing in 1987. Since then, the Turtles have become a pop culture behemoth, with several animated shows, live-action movies, games, and comics hitting the shelves over the last 30 years. Recently, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles had a resurgence after the "Last Ronin" comics imagined a gritty alternate future. In it, a mystery member of the team goes on a revenge mission after the deaths of his brothers. There had been talk of "The Last Ronin" getting a live-action treatment, and a video game is in development. But until that comes to fruition, there are a handful of animated shows to keep audiences happy, although some are better than others. What makes this particularly fascinating is that the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise has evolved significantly over the years, with each new show bringing something unique to the table. From the fast-paced and energetic "Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" to the gorgeously animated "Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," each show has its own strengths and weaknesses. Personally, I think that the 1987 "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" series sets the bar for how the turtles should be seen in animation, and it nabs the top spot on our ranking purely for its iconic killer theme song. Not only that, but the series brilliantly balanced the lore and style of the comics with the fun, lighthearted tone needed for a Saturday morning cartoon for kids. However, what many people don't realize is that the 2003 "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" series had a fresh animation style and was a little edgier than the original show. It's no surprise, really, since many superhero shows and movies were reinvented for a moodier tone to move into the 21st century. In my opinion, the 2012 "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" series is more impressive than you might remember. It works hard to develop Splinter away from just being the turtles' mentor, introducing his long-lost daughter, Karai, who has been brainwashed into thinking he killed her mother. This raises a deeper question: how can a show that is so focused on action and adventure also explore complex themes like family and loyalty? One thing that immediately stands out is that the 2018 "Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" series is more fast-paced and energetic compared to the older TV shows, and it definitely leans more toward younger audiences than young teens and above. While it's good that Nickelodeon did something completely different with the franchise, it feels incredibly silly and over the top at times. For example, making Shredder into a demonic set of armor created by the Krang just took the reinvention too far. In contrast, the 2024 "Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" series picks up with the most recent version of the turtles on Paramount+, spinning off their 2023 movie "Mutant Mayhem." It's gorgeously animated in the same style as the movie and is reminiscent of the "Spider-Verse" movies, but it still retains its own unique voice rather than a copy-and-paste attempt. The voice acting from the whole cast, including Ayo Edibiri as April O'Neil, is top notch, and the episodes themselves are incredibly fun and lively. However, the annoying thing about the show is how every story is framed as if one member of the team is telling it in an unreliable fashion. This makes the events of the show feel inconsequential, especially after the movie. If you take a step back and think about it, the 2003 "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" series takes the cosmic storylines and runs wild with them. Time travel, intergalactic wars, ninja gods — the 2003 series has it all. But equally, it spends time dealing with how the turtles' adventures actually affect them. For instance, in Season 4, when Leonardo is forced to deal with his own PTSD as a result of taking on Shredder. This is a detail that I find especially interesting, as it shows how the show is willing to explore the darker side of its characters. In conclusion, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise has a rich history of animated shows that have captivated audiences of all ages. From the classic 1987 series to the more recent "Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," each show has its own unique take on the beloved characters. While some shows are more successful than others, they all contribute to the rich history and legacy of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
