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Vote for your favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toy!

by Kyle Tobey
written by Kyle Tobey

It was always hard to pick just 1 Ninja Turtles toy.

How could I? They were all weird and cool. My parents were great and I didn’t have to settle on one toy, thankfully! But what was your favorite? Which toy was the best and made all your friends jealous? I wish I had the Technodrome still! But we want to know what YOUR favorite toy was! This is only including the first two waves from 1988 and 1989.

The toys and show was a smash hit, but it almost never happened! Playmates would only consider making the toys if a television deal were acquired. A 5 episode mini-series was ordered. It aired in December 1987 and had to air 3 times before people caught on!

Before this, Playmates sold mostly dolls and plastic playsets. But they were looking to get in to the Action Figure market, so it was a perfect fit. In the first 4 years of being sold, the Ninja Turtles line made $1.1 billion dollars!

Of all those toys sold, we want to know which was your favorite! It’s a single elimination bracket, so you don’t have to choose out of all of them.

Check out the first round!

If you can’t remember what they look like,

or even if you’ve never seen them before but still want to vote, check out what they looked like below!

Leonardo  Raphael  Donatello  Michelangelo  April O’Neil  Shredder  Foot Soldier  Bebop  Rocksteady  Splinter

Ace Duck  Genghis Frog  Casey Jones  Metalhead  Usagi Yojimbo  General Tragg  Rat King  Leatherhead Baxter Stockman  Krang

Vote for your favorite in each group in the survey below. We’ll narrow it down over the next few weeks.

There are some big matchups ahead! Can Leatherhead take out both Donatello and Shredder in the first round? Casey jones versus Bebop?! It’s already hard to pick for your favorite. Maybe April and Leonardo will split the vote so General Tragg can pull off an upset victory.

I have my favorite that I hope wins (Metalhead!) but don’t let that sway you!

 

Create your own user feedback survey

You have until Saturday, April 14 at 11:59 to vote.

 

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These are the first Rise of the TMNT action figures from Playmates Toys. Image Source: Playmates Toys, Nickelodeon.
NewsToy/Action Figures

14 Important TMNT Details Revealed at Toy Fair 2018

by Justin W
written by Justin W

Last weekend, toy manufacturers descended upon the Toy Fair with a plethora of new merchandise planned for 2018 and beyond. With a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon on the way, we knew that there would be some interesting revelations during this event. Sure enough, Pixel Dan was on hand to get as many details as possible about the new show. In addition to getting a walkthrough with a representative from Playmates Toys, he also managed to discover some information that had not yet been revealed by Nickelodeon. With that said, let’s take a look at some of the most interesting details revealed during Toy Fair 2018.

This Origami Ninja is apparently made out of paper by the Foot Lieutenants. Image Source: Playmates Toys.

This Origami Ninja is apparently made out of paper by the Foot Lieutenants. Image Source: Playmates Toys.

1. S.H. Figuarts Shredder is On Hold

Before we get into the information revealed about Rise of the TMNT, it is important to note that the Shredder figure announced by S.H. Figuarts two years ago has sadly been put on hold. Although the figure hasn’t been cancelled, the company is waiting to see what the market will look like in 2018 before continuing on with their plans for this collectible.

2. First Look at New Foot Soldiers

In addition to the turtles themselves, Playmates Toys has also made action figures for two of the foot soldiers in Rise of the TMNT. One of these characters is the Foot Lieutenant, and the other is an Origami Ninja. A Playmates Toys representative explained that the Foot Lieutenant actually creates the Origami Ninja out of paper in the new cartoon.

3. First Look at Meat Sweats

As we mentioned in an earlier article, they are adding a new character named Meat Sweats to Rise of the TMNT. This pig-like character uses a meat tenderizer for a weapon and actually sweats meat. We don’t yet know how that will look, but the action figure does give us an idea of what we can expect.

4. Baron Draxum Will Be Revealed at Kids Choice Awards

Although the action figure for this villain wasn’t available during Toy Fair, a Playmates Toys representative did explain that we could expect to see him revealed during the Kid’s Choice Awards. While discussing this new enemy, the representative said that “we’ll have to wait and see what happens with Shredder.”

 

5. The First Rise of the TMNT Toy Line is Coming October 1st

While talking turtles, a Playmates Toys representative revealed that we can expect this first line of toys to hit store shelves on October 1st, 2018. Considering that Nickelodeon plans on releasing the cartoon in September, I’m willing to bet that the toys will actually show up a little bit sooner than that.

6. This New Toy Line Will Include Oversized & Ninja Action Figures

As usual, Playmates Toys will be producing a line of TMNT action figures that are double the size of their typical products. In addition to this, they have also created a set of toys which says popular phrases while performing a special action. Although these aren’t exactly original ideas, it’s nice to see that they’re giving the fans something more than just a basic line of toys.

The new Turtle Van is actually called the Turtle Tank! Image Source: Playmates Toys, Nickelodeon.

The new Turtle Van is actually called the Turtle Tank! Image Source: Playmates Toys, Nickelodeon.

7. New Vehicles Will Be Included With This Toy Line

In addition to all of the action figures they will produce, Playmates Toys is also creating a set of vehicles for the turtles to drive. Two of these vehicles will be motorcycles, but one of them is the new Turtle Van – now known as the “Turtle Tank.” The Turtle Tank will double as a play set that can fold out for more fun.

8. Two New Large Playsets Will Be Sold

Every new iteration of the turtles comes with a new Turtle Lair, prompting Playmates Toys to create a new playset. This time around, they’ve decided to make two sets which can be combined to create one massive play area for your TMNT toys. One of these playsets is The Hidden City, an area we will discuss in greater detail below.

9. The Hidden City is a New and Mystical Place

According to the Playmates Toys representative at Toy Fair 2018, The Hidden City is a new element and a “mystical place” in Rise of the TMNT. Considering that we’ve seen the turtles using weapons that glow, it’s a good bet that this might actually be the place where they find their new weaponry – but that’s just my assumption and not a confirmed fact.

The Turtle Lair playset is just one of two play areas which can be combined to create one massive set. Image Source: Playmates Toys, Nickelodeon.

The Turtle Lair playset is just one of two play areas which can be combined to create one massive set. Image Source: Playmates Toys, Nickelodeon.

10. The Turtle Lair is in a Cylindrical Shape

While discussing the new playsets, a representative of Playmates Toys revealed that the Turtle Lair in the cartoon actually has a cylindrical shape. Although the lair does appear to be in a sewer, it would appear that this sewer lair is definitely circular. Ultimately, we’ll just have to wait and see what it actually looks like.

11. The TMNT May Get Their Traditional Weapons Eventually

According to a Playmates Toys representative, we may see the turtles “graduate” to their traditional equipment at a later date. This may have just been an off-handed comment about what he wanted to see in the new show, but it may also have been an important revelation. Sadly, we’ll have to wait until the show airs to find out exactly what’s going on.

12. Andy Suriano Thought Copying the 2k12 Series Would Be Disrespectful

When asked about some of the choices they have made with Rise of the TMNT, Co-Executive Producer Andy Suriano explained that he felt it would be disrespectful to borrow a lot of material from the 2k12 series. Although I’m sure we can all understand his concerns, it would appear that a lot of shellheads don’t like to see change.

13. Ant Ward Sought Advice From Fred Wolf

While being interviewed by Pixel Dan, Co-Executive Producer Ant Ward explained that he actually sought the advice of previous animators who had worked on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoons. Of all the people he contacted, only Fred Wolf responded. Fans will be familiar with Fred Wolf Films as the company behind the original animated series.

14. Andy Suriano Doesn’t Want Fans to Panic

This Co-Executive Producer of Rise of the TMNT had a fairly positive message for fans: “Be patient, it’s all gonna make sense, and it’s gonna be okay…it’s still respectful to the franchise.” Although I’m sure that some of you won’t be persuaded by this message, it’s definitely nice to know that Suriano at least understands the concerns of some fans and he wants to reassure them that this new cartoon won’t ruin anything about their heroes in a half shell.

If you want to see more from Toy Fair 2018, check out Pixel Dan’s Youtube channel for dozens of videos from the convention floor.

What do you think about all of this information? Are you more excited for Rise of the TMNT or more worried about the new cartoon? Share your thoughts and feelings either in the comments below or on Facebook/Twitter.

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During Toy Fair 2018, Playmates Toys revealed the action figure and details about a new character for Rise of the TMNT called 'Meat Sweats'. Image Source: Playmates Toys, Nickelodeon.
NewsToy/Action Figures

Playmates Toys Reveals New Character ‘Meat Sweats’ In Rise of the TMNT

by Justin W
written by Justin W

There were a lot of interesting revelations during the Toy Fair this weekend, but this may in fact be the most surprising and hilarious announcement of them all. While Playmates Toys was unveiling a new toy line for Rise of the TMNT, they inadvertently revealed the name and basic design for a new character by the name of Meat Sweats. Although there aren’t many details about him just yet, one look at the action figure will speak volumes.

According to a representative of Playmates Toys, Meat Sweats is a large mutated pig that actually sweats meat. As you can see from the action figure, he appears to have a mutated arm and a meat tenderizer for a weapon. Although we don’t know if this is a new villain, he definitely doesn’t look like a friend to our heroes in a half shell. I could be wrong about that, but I’m willing to bet that Meat Sweats is not a good guy.

Regardless of his purpose in the show, I think we can all agree that this is one of the most ridiculous and humorous new characters we have seen in any version of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in a long time. Even though the 2k12 series included several awesome new characters, I can’t think of any that literally made me laugh out loud when I heard their name. Even if you’re worried about Rise of the TMNT, you have to admit that this is an interesting twist.

In addition to revealing Meat Sweats and his action figure, Playmates Toys also unveiled their first full toy line for Rise of the TMNT. Despite the fact that there were a lot of awesome toys on display, we felt it prudent to give a little more focus to this new character reveal before getting carried away. With that said, you can expect even more updates regarding awesome new toys that were announced during the Toy Fair in the coming weeks.

What do you think about this new character in Rise of the TMNT? Are you excited to see Meat Sweats in action? Does the very idea of this character make you laugh? Share your thoughts and opinions either in the comments below or on Facebook/Twitter.

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The Monsters + Mutants Playmates toy line can now be found in a store near you. Image Source: Nickelodeon, Playmates Toys.
NewsToy/Action Figures

Monsters + Mutants Playmates Toy Line Hits Store Shelves

by Justin W
written by Justin W

With Halloween right around the corner, it’s no wonder that the latest story arc includes classic monsters such as Frankenstein and Dracula. That being said, you might be surprised to learn that this tale has its roots in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles history. Back in the 90’s, Playmates Toys actually worked with Universal to create a crossover toy line which turned our heroes into the monsters from their various film franchises. This line was fairly popular, so it may in fact have been the impetus behind these latest spooky episodes from Tales of the TMNT.

Our first hint about this story arc came from New York Toy Fair 2017, when Playmates Toys revealed their plans to create yet another crossover set featuring the turtles as classic monsters. At the time, they confirmed that this was a cross-promotion for one of the tales that would be told during the final season of Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Now that the episodes in question have begun to hit the air, you’ll be glad to know that the Monsters + Mutants toy line has officially hit store shelves.

 

To be fair, this might not be news to some fans, as the toys have actually been popping up in stores for at least a month now. Even so, there’s a chance that some shellheads weren’t aware that Playmates Toys has essentially brought back the Universal Classic Monsters line from the 90’s. The Monsters + Mutants line may not have the Universal brand attached to it, but these characters aren’t necessarily owned by the studio, so it’s perfectly safe for Nickelodeon and Playmates to bring this crossover back to life.

The main toy line includes Donatello as Frankendon, Leonardo as Mutant Mummy Leo, Raphael as Vampire Raph and Michelangelo as Werewolf Mikey. If you want to see where these character designs came from, check out our reviews for the latest story arc or watch each episode on Nick.com (available as of 10/05/2017). Alternatively, you can wait to get the episodes on DVD when The Final Chapters is released in December.

Have you been picking up the Monsters + Mutants Playmates toy line? Are you interested in collecting these TMNT toys? Share your thoughts either in the comments below or on Facebook/Twitter.

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No, this isn't a shot from the original animated series -- this is the original Bebop & Rocksteady in a modern TMNT crossover! Image Source: Paramount Home Video, Nickelodeon.
NewsTV/Cartoon News

Upcoming Bebop & Rocksteady Episodes Will Include 80’s TMNT Crossover

by Justin W
written by Justin W

When Playmates revealed the TMNT toy lines they had planned for 2017, I was curious about what it all meant. At the time, they unofficially announced that each set would be based around one of the “tales” that would be told during the final season of Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This was big news, because we still didn’t know exactly what to expect from the upcoming season. Two of the action figures they revealed were Bebop & Rocksteady wearing gear from the original animated series, but they wouldn’t tell us anything else about this design.

Thankfully, we can now safely assume what they were going for with the retro motif. Various screencaps have been surfacing online over the past few days, revealing significant details about the upcoming tale featuring Bebop & Rocksteady. These pictures confirm without a doubt that the episodes in question will serve as yet another crossover into the alternate dimension of the original animated series. Not only will we get to see the original turtles once again, but the original Shredder, Krang, Bebop & Rocksteady will all be making their own appearances as well.

Unfortunately, there is one thing we can confirm for certain: Shredder will not be voiced by his original actor. Sadly, James Avery passed away in 2013 and took his iconic voice with him. Although there will never be another voice quite like his, I’m certain that Kevin Michael Richardson will do an excellent job with the role. Kevin currently voices the 2012 Shredder, and he has now been tasked with taking on the role of 80’s Shredder. If Rob Paulsen can do two voices in one show, I’m sure Richardson is also capable of that feat.

The 80's TMNT are back once again in another crossover event! Image Source: Paramount Home Video, Nickelodeon.

The 80’s TMNT are back once again in another crossover event! Image Source: Paramount Home Video, Nickelodeon.

Cam Clarke, Barry Gordon, Townsend Coleman and Rob Paulsen will once again reprise their roles as the 80’s TMNT. Pat Fraley was also brought in to reprise his role as Krang, so you can rest assured that most of the characters will sound almost exactly the same as they did three decades ago. Although Trans-Dimensional Turtles was definitely awesome, it’s nice to see that they’re giving fans yet another crossover in 2017 – the 30th anniversary of the original animated series.

Wanted: Bebop & Rocksteady will hit the air on September 17th, 2017, roughly a week after being released on DVD. That’s right – you can actually see this “tale” of the TMNT ahead of time by purchasing the DVD when it comes out on September 12th! This release includes episodes 15, 16, 17 and 10 from the fifth season. It might seem like an odd pairing, but the tenth episode was actually Lone Rat and Cubs, which was its own individual tale. Episodes 15-17 will serve as an epic three-part crossover featuring the retro turtles and villains alongside their modern counterparts.

Although I am disappointed that Nickelodeon has chosen to break with tradition by releasing these episodes out of order, it’s clear that this release offers some serious value. Not only do you get an episode written by Kevin Eastman, but you also get a three episode crossover event with significant 80’s TMNT heroes and villains. The Wanted: Bebop & Rocksteady DVD also includes the Ice Cream Kitty music video, something a lot of fans have been hoping to see for quite some time.

Even in another dimension, Shredder and Krang still plot the destruction of our favorite heroes in a half shell. Image Source: Paramount Home Video, Nickelodeon.

Even in another dimension, Shredder and Krang still plot the destruction of our favorite heroes in a half shell. Image Source: Paramount Home Video, Nickelodeon.

Say what you will about Nickelodeon’s decisions regarding this release, but at least they’re giving you several reasons to pick it up. No matter what you decide to do, it looks like these episodes are going to be a lot of fun. By now, it should be clear that creators Ciro Nieli and Brandon Auman decided to go out with a bang. Finishing up this season with a three-part crossover is the perfect way to show some love and appreciation to the fans, and I can’t wait to see how it turns out!

UPDATE: There have been contradictory reports about when these episodes will air. As of now, we can assume one of two things:

  • 1. Nickelodeon will release these episodes a week earlier than originally scheduled (September 10th instead of September 17th) in order to make room for the monster episodes that will most likely hit the air during October.
  • 2. Nickelodeon will push these episodes to the end of the season, airing them sometime after October.

Whatever they decide to do with the schedule, we’ll do our best to keep you informed.

Will you be picking up the Wanted: Bebop & Rocksteady DVD upon release, or are you going to watch these crossover episodes as they air on Nickelodeon? Are you happy to see the show crossing over with the 80’s TMNT once again? Share your thoughts and plans either in the comments below or on facebook/twitter.

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