Here in Germany Red Sky seasons are even weirder. Allow me to elaborate. The German version of Turtles was based on the UK version. So we got the Hero Turtles. Because in the UK Ninja was deemed inapropriate for children. Yet Germany didn't directly translate the english version. We got a very lose dub. With the Turtles and pretty much swearing enough to make sailors blush. Some glorious examples: Raphael to the robotic Irma copy: Yo Robo-bitch! i'm over here!" The Neutrinos: "Let's cruise down the fucking milkyway?" Krang: "Bullshit Shredder!" I think that show single handedly was responsible for me having a foul mouth lol. The Red Sky seasons changed translating studio. And this time around it was very close to the english dub and therefore very tame. So the weirdes part of those seasons were the characters not swearing. And the weirdest thing about the whole series in my opinion is having the title changed to Hero becaus Ninja was inapropriate for children and then start using strong language with the very first episode.
Not exactly like this, but if reboots count, then the Animaniacs Hulu series definitely falls into the category of misguided and terribly put together retoolings. Awful jokes, the vast majority of what the show great both in front of and behind the scenes being gutted, the warners becoming a mouthpiece for whatever the writers wanted to whine about, Hulu took one of the greatest cartoons of all time and made it into a show that had no merit whatsoever.
To this day, I wonder why their monster-forms were so ineffective. I get that their minds atrophied and so their skills. But you would think these larger more savage forms would at least temporarily put the baddies on their heels before they presented a danger to themselves and their friends. Instead, they seemed to be easier to defeat after the initial mutation - and I mean a lot easier. I wonder now if Standards & Practices leaned in - again - and declared that them benefiting at all would be seen as a pro-steroid message. I have no evidence nor have I heard any such account. But I did notice other later shows with the heroes in a similar bind also had them ridiculously easy to beat when using them - other super modes notwithstanding.
There’s a lot of people who DIDN’T grow up with the original series because it had no reruns after 1997. They JUST returned at the end of July, on Nicktoons late night
I think these seasons should have just been a continuation series. Its really unfair that the 80s turtles get stereotype as just being silly despite these seasons existing.
I honestly thought this _was_ a separate, continuation series back in the day simply for the way the show’s advertising was being handled coupled with the tonal and production whiplash. It caused me to kinda not like it because it was “new” and the fact the Turtles were no longer in the public eye’s favor. It just felt…mean...😟 Now I wish they’d get more attention.
I liked the red sky seasons as a kid. Watching them on Saturday mornings they felt darker and helped teach me about how easily people fall for propaganda as everyone now hates the turtles and think the turtles are the bad guys.
2003 series of TMNT did something completely different: they decided to make last seasons less "edgy" and more childish. And effects were similarly bad :P
@@benderbendingrodriguez420 Mine too as a whole, although in my humble opinion the best thing this brand gave us was "Annihilation: Earth", two-part finale of 2012 series' season 3.
I feel like the red sky seasons could have worked if they were more focus on shredder and the unstable mutation bit. Being having the old group of enemies becoming more powerful and violent plus having the more competent version of the shredder that was shown at the start of season 8 could have easily help raise the stakes and be more consistent .
I feel like the 2003 series was what the red sky seasons wanted to be, a darker tone, Shredder being sort of a fusion of Shredder proper, Krang, and being an alien overlord like Dregg, plus taking cues from the comics like April training to be a ninja and her romance with Casey Jones, and having the government and general public being against the Turtles
I think what makes the 2003 better is that they started fresh while the original series suffer too many changes by cutting all non-essential characters.
This was a fascinating deep dive into the later seasons of the '87 Turtles, I had already lost interest in the show by this point. Good to see you making videos again, Esh!
I think a lot of kids had lost interest in the show by this point and this was their way of trying to get them back. But by then it was too late as lot of kids had moved on to better cartoons like Batman, Spiderman and X-Men.
Finally a video focused solely on the Red Years! James Rolfe first introduced me too it & let's just say... I immediately bought the DVD after, practically begging my parents. I had too see this weirdness for myself since I watched the first 3 seasons on RUclips at that time. Skipped ahead & the tonal whiplash almost killed me😂
I heard about this from a Phelous video I watched back in middle school, and TOTALLY forgot how different these seasons were from the rest of the show. Like, I thought the only thing they changed was the color of the sky.
Probably the most drastic creative shakeup of a show since Doctor Who Season 7 and Season 18 and Transformers Season 3. So different from what happened in Season 1-7 that it feels like a completely different series.
The Red Sky seasons were something I wish were better, but as you said, the 80's cartoon just wasn't meant for what they were trying to accomplish. I hate the toy-driven cartoons for several reasons, but it just goes to show how even when they tried to make something legitimately good after the past few years of rushed out slop, they couldn't even manage to break away from many of the elements that eventually made them a joke.
It's true that TMNT 1987 had filler episodes with less budget and time put into them. But every season of the show also had a lot of really good to great episodes too.
87 kid here, also never saw the Red Sky seasons and it seems like I ddin't REALLY miss out on much... but I must say- The Archie comic book continuity ha d Al'Falqa, an eagle man from Saudi Arabia who helps the Turtles as they travel through the Middle East on a world tour. That guy is proper cool design, none of this "beak-nose" stuff with human lips...
@@FictionAddiction The Archie TMNT Adventures is INCREDIBLE, not always for good reasons but always interesting. Because I was a poor Swedish boy growing up on state TV and not one single cable network I only experienced Turtles when we rented VHS tapes, played games or had the Archie comic, which was sold from start to end over here, so I have had a lot of time to study and obsess over it and while it basiclally started out as an adaptation of the first five episodes of the TV show, that first season that was mentioned, it for some reason got an ASTOUNDING lack of editorial oversight and the writers on it got free reign to explore a TON of concepts I was in NO way grown up enough to understand at the time. Al'Falqa's second appearance comes while a hate spell has been cast causing a full on riot, and a lady Golem has to help the Turtles find the source of the spells before Al'Falqa, fighting on the Palestinians side, carves his way into Jerusalem. A four-armed tiger man called Katmandu protects the newborn Lama (as in the spiritual leader of Tibet who is in fact NOT a mutant llama, but his predeccesor was) from the chinese army and the Turtles has to help him infiltrate their base. They storm Area 51 with an army of outlaws to free Michaelangelo and an actual little gray man in open hostilities against the US Government. Donatello accidentally timetravels to the Americas around 1500, is taken onboard Cristopher Columbus ship as a slave, wrapped in chains and beaten, while a worm-like earth spirit visits him to tell him "yeah dude Chris wasn't SHIT he did SO many fucked up things and by the way empires in all times often do fucked up shit to the native populace of the places they conquer and colonize, none of them are innocent" And the cherry on top of it all? The most outrageous thing to ever come from a 90's ass 90's comic book? April O'Neil is in a one-shot captured and turned into a lady turtle... AND SHE DOESN'T HAVE HAIR OR BOOBS. Add to that that the main writer was a STAUNCH environmentalist who often included screeds against industrialism and information on the conservation of environments, animals and what is being done or not done, and you have a comic that was read by thousands of little bitty 5-year old TMNT fans that would have the Internet of today break down into hysterics, it makes today's cautious movies where like, a Disney princess not getting a boyfriend makes some people go on hundred-post rants seem QUAINT.
while I prefer the 2003 and 2012 series and grew up watching them, I can't deny the charm of the original cartoon. even when it delves into fever dream territory which it tends to do a lot.
@@mr.awesome6011 agreed since the 2003 series final two seasons are a lot like the Red Sky seasons in terms of studios changing the original formula of the show because of personally issues which wind up backfiring and became less memorable than the previous seasons.
It's curious to see that this show had a "Red Sky" era at the tail end of its lifespan just like Batman The Animated Series, but it's even funnier if you consider it was created to compete with Batman TAS!
@@CaptainRockoBD I am aware, but I wasn't talking about the tone of either series here. Just that both Batman and TMNT had a distinctive era that's partially notable because the sky is red
@@CaptainRockoBD Actually the later seasons of Batman TAS were darker particularly when they moved to Kids WB. The earlier seasons were much lighter due to Fox Kids restrictions.
Not just Batman but X-Men and Spiderman too. Action shows had evolved since TMNT debuted in the 80s and by the early 90s it was clear dark, edgy and mature themes were in. Not only could you see this with other ips but the turtle brand itself as TMNT(1990) was the most successful adaption up to that point. When they made the 2nd film more silly they found less success. That's why the red sky intro features scenes from the 1st film and even based their theme song off the Turtle Power song from that movie.
When I was 14, I actually remembered the Red Sky era when it was on CBS on Saturday mornings (back when Saturday Morning cartoons were still a thing...*sighs*) and it was part of the CBS Action Zone (1994-1997) where it had Skeleton Warriors and Wild C.A.T.S. (which those two toons only lasted one season). And Carter was actually the cartoon equivalent of Keno from Secret Of The Ooze, minus the mutation and all. So, looking back at this, I think this is what happens when you let Rob Liefield take over the cartoon. LOL But it was a good effort for trying something new so I didn't hate it...much. Good review, Esh!
you and working man games are the example of people who have been around for a long time don't have a big following but have a bunch of fans who LOVE your content keep up the good work!
18:22 That is uhmm.... Pretty... Realistic of her actually. I mean, in a real scenario even if you love and help mutant heroes, you still have your own life to follow despite everything. When you help heroes over the years, there will be a time in which you'll kind of naturally retire from it and settle family and stuff.
The first five episodes had it right, if they just stuck to that style and tone throughout the series they would’ve had the best of both the action and comedy worlds.
It's too bad they, for whatever reason, got rid of all the supporting cast. That whole thing about Tyrannus recruiting mutants would have been a chance to show Leatherhead, Slash and whoever else.
5:11 jeez, either Raph bulked up, or they shrank Rocksteady! I remember him and Bebop being huge and physically stronger threats that forced the turtles to outwit them. Here? They're a couple of featherweights!
One of my personal favorite scenes is where The Rat King is defeated when he's distracted by Leonardo in an armored car, then tackled down and hogtied by Donatello.
The only piece of the 80s show i ever saw was an episode with Michaelangelo, a yellow ship, and pink lasers. Other than that i grew up on the 90s films and best tmnt series(03).
Say what you will, but I liked every season of TMNT 2003, even the final two rebranded seasons. And you've hit the nail on the head with Carter - I didn't think you were gonna mention exactly what he is, but he is indeed a Gary Stu from the look of all he is capable of right out of the gate.
I didn't learn how long the show lasted until around the time the 2003 cartoon came out. I thought it was over by the the time Power Rangers started airing. I just don't remember ever seeing new episodes. I do remember watching the first & third movies (I didn't have 2) and the episode "Invasion of the Turtle Snatchers" on VHS, thinking the show had ended years earlier. It was like 1995. Seems so weird. Also, I really like the second theme song.
I didn't grow up with these Turtles as I was only 3 at the time. My first exposure was an old VHS of the Turtles first movie, which my sister and I watched on the regular, so when I saw the more goofy Turtles from this show through renting a few videos from Blockbuster I wasn't impressed. Didn't get my Turtles until the 2003 4Kids show which I still hold is the best overall.
I remember as a kid in the early 90's trying to catch these episodes because of the monster transformations and it was really tough. The turtles were on the decline by this point and they hardly got as many reruns by the time this season was out. I finally watched them as a teenager and I just couldn't help but think "WTF is this?" They tried to steal from other popular media like X-Men, Terminator, He-Man, ect instead of just looking through the Mirage or even Archie TMNT comics as inspiration for a "serious" approach. Their biggest weaknesses, which was the low budget and poor writing/choreography, was also never alleviated. Those problems were exacerbated by the choice to make it less comedic and light-hearted. These seasons are the definition of a half-measure.
I imagine they didn't look through their own material because they didn't view the comics as a huge success. The franchise became a huge success because of them so when they began to experience their decline they looked to ips that were more successful than them at that time. This is what happens when people who don't understand their own ip are in charge. That's why the red sky theme song(from scenes ripped from the movie to the song copying the Turtle Power theme from the 1st movie) is heavily influenced by the 1st film(which was the most successful turtle adaption up to that point). At the end of the day these guys got away with mediocre to terrible writing because cartoon landscape in the 80s was pretty mediocre. But by the 90s rolled along and the cartoon landscaped had elevated with more higher quality shows being produced the writers on this show began to be exposed.
reminds me of how other cartoons would change up there dynamic too Slimer and the Real Ghostbusters Batman Red Sky Gargoyles World Tore Thundercats after they moved to there new location MLP after the School of Friendship was built Disney's Doug Reboot and the two Bobs the two different partners for Bonkers Spider Man Unlimited a few other things I had on my mind but forgot. but you get the point. Cartoons trying to change and go for a new tone happened a lot to mixed results.
There were more than three comic book series. There was Mirage Vol. 1 (including Tales of the TMNT), the Archie Comics series, the short lived Image Comics series that served as a sequel to Mirage Vol. 1, then Mirage Vol. 2 which was the "actual" sequel to Vol. 1, then the IDW Series which is a sequel to the cartoon show and/or the movie (it kinda blends the two).
Loved this show back in the day. I have to echo pretty much what most people say though - the earlier seasons were better. The last couple of years with the so called "red sky" were not totally terrible, just not as good as earlier seasons.
Much like with 2003's Fast Forward and Back to the Sewers these seasons are less popular that no one wants to remember to the point that every new version that references the 87 turtles only focuses on the earlier more well-known seasons such as with the crossovers with the later animated shows and the Saturday Morning Adventures comics.
9:22 WAIT! His name is Demonicus?! I've rewatched the series multiple times over the years, and I don't think I've EVER heard anyone say his name in the show! I just knew him as "that one HAVOC mutant they didn't even bother naming because they didn't care that much"
@@FictionAddictionI don't think I ever looked at the wiki. That being said, I vaguely remember the last time I re-watched the series I could have sworn every other member of the group was named at least once. Maybe I am remembering wrong, but I could have sworn he's the only one I never heard them say his name. As goofy as his name is, part me wonders if someone saw the Gargoyles cartoon and thoughts to themselves they could one up the name Demona. They definitely failed in my opinion, considering her design is much simpler and not that different from the other characters in her show. It's just goofy with him being a goat wizard.
By the time the red sky seasons came out, aside from new and better cartoons hitting the Saturday Morning scene, I think the biggest change came from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers becoming the new hotness after the 87 show overstayed its welcome.
If it was just one show then CBS could have simply moved the show to a time where it doesn't operate opposite of Power Rangers. I think the bigger issue had more to do with Fox Kids having a plethora of great programming to watch over CBS. Not only did they have Power Rangers but they also had Batman, X-men, Spiderman, Tiny Toons, Animaniacs etc. By the early 90s, Fox Kids became king of children programming on Network Television. So much so that CBS line-up of shows headlined by TMNT could no longer compete.
I remember watching the 80s ninja turtles when it was new when i was a kid. I stopped warching ninja turtles by 1992. I had no idea it kept going until 1994 or so. I heard that the so called red sky seasons were diffeent and better but i never saw them when those originally aired. I have all the episodes now and will have to check them out.
Batman the animated series started September 5th 1992, almost exactly one year later on September 18th 1993, the tmnt red sky stuff started. Coincidence? I think not!
It has been announced that the first two seasons will be coming to Paramount Plus on Tuesday September 19. Outside of these airings, only the first two seasons are available for streaming (including digital purchase). Hope this eventually improves, but good thing I got most of the episodes from the Lionsgate previous releases for the other seasons.
@@tylercamp8808 Pluto Tv is all over the place with the 87 TMNT cartoon. Like earlier today it was showing "Red skies" episodes in order for like 5 or 6 episodes. Then it went back to showing episodes from like Season 3 or 4 before going back to showing the same "Red Skies" episodes again.
@@wesleysteeleiv From what I can tell after days of observation that it is the same episodes throughout that day in a four-hour period. This makes it one of the few places to get all the episodes for now since the digtial releases and Paramount + only has the first two seasons. Excluding "Donatello Makes Time" and "Planet of the Turtleloids" I have the episodes of Seasons 3-10 from my previous purchase of the Lionsgate release on iTunes. I plan to replace them eventually with the newer ones eventually.
@@tylercamp8808 Yeah, they try to do multiple seasons going at once. Then when they replace the ones they play right now, they'll show the episodes that come after.
Another thing that ended up is the whole berserk mutated turtle story. Donny had his story in the 03 cartoon, Raph had it in vol.4 of the Mirage comics. I was half-expecting Mikey having his version in the 2012 cartoon since everyone had their run. It is weird the Turtles didn't show much care for their brother like they did with Donny in the 03 series and Raph just slaps a sign on Leo's cage for crying out loud. The Archie comics also had time traveling mutants storyline as well. Armaggon was the main villain of that ark. It did show the Turtles still living in the late 21th century with NYC getting flooded, and mutants are more common. Also the cyber suits appeared in a much later story that focus on the Future Turtles. I knew several people who grew up on the classic cartoon but they were unaware of the Red Sky seasons. I asked them about Lord Dregg and they thought he was from the later shows that they didn't care for.
Fun fact: the Second Mutant forms are based on concept art of a Raptor version of Raphael, from the ill faded Ninja Turtles 4 movie that never came to be.
There is actually a fourth comic continuity, but it is a mutually exclusive continuation of the original Mirage one that is ignored by Volume 4. A non-Viacom comic does exist to bridge the gap though. Nick’s Amazing Adventures also became its own continuity. Still, Mirage, Archie, and IDW can be considered the “main” ones.
I just saw these seasons for the first time over the past week after buying the complete series on DVD. I gave up on the show around Season 6 when I finally tired of the non-fights after discovering the far superior “X-Men”. But, despite the show being borderline unwatchable, I really liked how the turtles were designed in Season 8 especially. At least they looked more serious. I do think it was a mistake to focus on Lord Dregg over other villains and the non-stop red sky. But overall, I enjoyed it more than a vast majority of the previous episodes. That being said, the 2003 series and even 2012 series are both infinitely better than anything in the 1987 series.
Yeah. There is something to be said for Your Fav Toons/Shows NOT Running for Several Seasons. Sometimes it works, and sometimes....well ....HoooBoy!!!!
I remember the HAVOC episodes aired about the same time as the Mojoworld episodes from the X-Men cartoon. My little kid brain thought Mojo and Titanus were the same guy
Carter is a good example of too many cooks in the kitchen. Tgey already set up (and trashed) the idea of humans being kidnapped and FORCED into mutation so ehy not use that as the nain basis for him? Bern was already sending propaganda about the boys so Carter could have been that bridge if he were a mutated human who through his experiences learns the guys aren't evil and they help him, the other mutants and people understand who the actual villain is? He doesn't need to be ve a tech wiz, a martial arts expert, ect. He just needed a good connection with the turtles and him being mutated was the perfect spice. .....he just needed a better form because WHOOOO BOY does it look bad. I know mutants as a concept itself is asking much to 'make sense' but....what IS Carter's mutation? It has robotics (how?), magically fades off his clothes (what?) and in general is just such a generic design. The animal based mutations work because of how weird you cam get mixing animal, human, and monster features. Carter felt less mutant and more magical girl Mortal Kombat transformation. "By the name of the oooze, I will punish you!"
The red sky was when the Ninja Turtles stopped being originators and started being imitators. The Power Rangers were the new king of the roost and TMNT was sadly mimicking that show, with mediocre results. At this point TMNT had more episodes than any other show at the time, except maybe Flintstones. This was like that old, sick dog that you hate to have to put down but he's suffering so much. It might have been better had the show either been cancelled or if they just kept the corny 80s version... at least that had more charm and is the show we still remember today. Like in Season 7, where it was going for a more 'edgy' version of the OG turtles like in the episode where they went back to Japan. Just have the turtles actually use their weapons. I'd take that over seasons 8 - 10.
True story, the way they were advertising the show when these episodes began, and the profound shift in style and everything else, I actually thought the show had ended and this was a new one starting off picking up from the end of the last. The continuity was kinda iffy despite clearly supposing to take place in the same world and I kinda didn’t like it because so much had turned sour towards our heroes. It’s kinda like that MTV Spider-Man series released a few years after the popular 90’s one that’s supposed to be a sequel series but goes way off in another direction. I’m actually fascinated by these episodes due to the return to form Season 1 and early Season 2 established.
The red sky and the weird eyes on the turtles.... Makes me wonder why they didn't just make their eyes white like in the Mirage books or the 2003 series. Was it too extreme? And April went from her iconic yellow suit to looking like a homeless grunge chick. Were these changes really necessary? And Carter was just lame. I'd rather have an older version of Zack the fifth turtle over him, and that character was annoying but still had more charm. I understand the need to get new villans, but they could have used more characters from Mirage comics instead of these lame new characters.
What was the weirdest part of the Red Sky era for you?
Know any other cartons have weird retools like this?
The one for me was American Dragon.
Here in Germany Red Sky seasons are even weirder. Allow me to elaborate. The German version of Turtles was based on the UK version. So we got the Hero Turtles. Because in the UK Ninja was deemed inapropriate for children. Yet Germany didn't directly translate the english version. We got a very lose dub. With the Turtles and pretty much swearing enough to make sailors blush. Some glorious examples:
Raphael to the robotic Irma copy: Yo Robo-bitch! i'm over here!" The Neutrinos: "Let's cruise down the fucking milkyway?" Krang: "Bullshit Shredder!" I think that show single handedly was responsible for me having a foul mouth lol.
The Red Sky seasons changed translating studio. And this time around it was very close to the english dub and therefore very tame. So the weirdes part of those seasons were the characters not swearing.
And the weirdest thing about the whole series in my opinion is having the title changed to Hero becaus Ninja was inapropriate for children and then start using strong language with the very first episode.
One word: Carter. He wasn't a bad character per se, but an unnecessary one
Not exactly like this, but if reboots count, then the Animaniacs Hulu series definitely falls into the category of misguided and terribly put together retoolings. Awful jokes, the vast majority of what the show great both in front of and behind the scenes being gutted, the warners becoming a mouthpiece for whatever the writers wanted to whine about, Hulu took one of the greatest cartoons of all time and made it into a show that had no merit whatsoever.
To this day, I wonder why their monster-forms were so ineffective. I get that their minds atrophied and so their skills. But you would think these larger more savage forms would at least temporarily put the baddies on their heels before they presented a danger to themselves and their friends. Instead, they seemed to be easier to defeat after the initial mutation - and I mean a lot easier. I wonder now if Standards & Practices leaned in - again - and declared that them benefiting at all would be seen as a pro-steroid message. I have no evidence nor have I heard any such account. But I did notice other later shows with the heroes in a similar bind also had them ridiculously easy to beat when using them - other super modes notwithstanding.
There’s a lot of people who DIDN’T grow up with the original series because it had no reruns after 1997. They JUST returned at the end of July, on Nicktoons late night
Good thing we have the DVDs
I think these seasons should have just been a continuation series. Its really unfair that the 80s turtles get stereotype as just being silly despite these seasons existing.
Well, silliness has been what this series was all about season 1 not withstanding. Especially after they took Mikeys nunchucks away.
I honestly thought this _was_ a separate, continuation series back in the day simply for the way the show’s advertising was being handled coupled with the tonal and production whiplash. It caused me to kinda not like it because it was “new” and the fact the Turtles were no longer in the public eye’s favor. It just felt…mean...😟
Now I wish they’d get more attention.
While they were silly it was kinda their thing. They were just an old school 2012 TMNT
I liked the red sky seasons as a kid. Watching them on Saturday mornings they felt darker and helped teach me about how easily people fall for propaganda as everyone now hates the turtles and think the turtles are the bad guys.
At this point the turtles would be considered as anti-hero and lord dregg would be considered as anti-villain.
2003 series of TMNT did something completely different: they decided to make last seasons less "edgy" and more childish. And effects were similarly bad :P
2003 is my fav incarnation of the Turtles & even I checked out as a kid by that point
@@benderbendingrodriguez420 Mine too as a whole, although in my humble opinion the best thing this brand gave us was "Annihilation: Earth", two-part finale of 2012 series' season 3.
There’s definitely something pretty jarring about these last few seasons of the 80s turtles.
I feel like the red sky seasons could have worked if they were more focus on shredder and the unstable mutation bit. Being having the old group of enemies becoming more powerful and violent plus having the more competent version of the shredder that was shown at the start of season 8 could have easily help raise the stakes and be more consistent .
I feel like the 2003 series was what the red sky seasons wanted to be, a darker tone, Shredder being sort of a fusion of Shredder proper, Krang, and being an alien overlord like Dregg, plus taking cues from the comics like April training to be a ninja and her romance with Casey Jones, and having the government and general public being against the Turtles
2003 is goated
This walked so 2003 could run
I think what makes the 2003 better is that they started fresh while the original series suffer too many changes by cutting all non-essential characters.
This was a fascinating deep dive into the later seasons of the '87 Turtles, I had already lost interest in the show by this point. Good to see you making videos again, Esh!
I think a lot of kids had lost interest in the show by this point and this was their way of trying to get them back. But by then it was too late as lot of kids had moved on to better cartoons like Batman, Spiderman and X-Men.
Finally a video focused solely on the Red Years! James Rolfe first introduced me too it & let's just say... I immediately bought the DVD after, practically begging my parents. I had too see this weirdness for myself since I watched the first 3 seasons on RUclips at that time. Skipped ahead & the tonal whiplash almost killed me😂
What are you 10? 😂 begged your parents?
@@CaptainRockoBDwe’re watching a 20 something year old man talk about Ninja Turtles 🥴 we all kids man 😂😂😂
I heard about this from a Phelous video I watched back in middle school, and TOTALLY forgot how different these seasons were from the rest of the show. Like, I thought the only thing they changed was the color of the sky.
Probably the most drastic creative shakeup of a show since Doctor Who Season 7 and Season 18 and Transformers Season 3. So different from what happened in Season 1-7 that it feels like a completely different series.
The Red Sky seasons were something I wish were better, but as you said, the 80's cartoon just wasn't meant for what they were trying to accomplish. I hate the toy-driven cartoons for several reasons, but it just goes to show how even when they tried to make something legitimately good after the past few years of rushed out slop, they couldn't even manage to break away from many of the elements that eventually made them a joke.
It's true that TMNT 1987 had filler episodes with less budget and time put into them. But every season of the show also had a lot of really good to great episodes too.
I definitely agree! Even my least favorite seasons have a few classic episodes that make it worth owning the DVDs for them.@@kayokango
I personally loved the red sky seasons, it felt like what the show should've been after season 1
Yeah, exactly, and it makes the show more like the Mirage comics.
I agree
Anyone who doesn’t think the red sky seasons are the best seasons is a tard in my opinion 🤣
87 kid here, also never saw the Red Sky seasons and it seems like I ddin't REALLY miss out on much... but I must say- The Archie comic book continuity ha d Al'Falqa, an eagle man from Saudi Arabia who helps the Turtles as they travel through the Middle East on a world tour. That guy is proper cool design, none of this "beak-nose" stuff with human lips...
Oh very cool. I haven't really read the Archie comics, so this is cool info.
@@FictionAddiction The Archie TMNT Adventures is INCREDIBLE, not always for good reasons but always interesting. Because I was a poor Swedish boy growing up on state TV and not one single cable network I only experienced Turtles when we rented VHS tapes, played games or had the Archie comic, which was sold from start to end over here, so I have had a lot of time to study and obsess over it and while it basiclally started out as an adaptation of the first five episodes of the TV show, that first season that was mentioned, it for some reason got an ASTOUNDING lack of editorial oversight and the writers on it got free reign to explore a TON of concepts I was in NO way grown up enough to understand at the time.
Al'Falqa's second appearance comes while a hate spell has been cast causing a full on riot, and a lady Golem has to help the Turtles find the source of the spells before Al'Falqa, fighting on the Palestinians side, carves his way into Jerusalem.
A four-armed tiger man called Katmandu protects the newborn Lama (as in the spiritual leader of Tibet who is in fact NOT a mutant llama, but his predeccesor was) from the chinese army and the Turtles has to help him infiltrate their base.
They storm Area 51 with an army of outlaws to free Michaelangelo and an actual little gray man in open hostilities against the US Government.
Donatello accidentally timetravels to the Americas around 1500, is taken onboard Cristopher Columbus ship as a slave, wrapped in chains and beaten, while a worm-like earth spirit visits him to tell him "yeah dude Chris wasn't SHIT he did SO many fucked up things and by the way empires in all times often do fucked up shit to the native populace of the places they conquer and colonize, none of them are innocent"
And the cherry on top of it all? The most outrageous thing to ever come from a 90's ass 90's comic book? April O'Neil is in a one-shot captured and turned into a lady turtle...
AND SHE DOESN'T HAVE HAIR OR BOOBS.
Add to that that the main writer was a STAUNCH environmentalist who often included screeds against industrialism and information on the conservation of environments, animals and what is being done or not done, and you have a comic that was read by thousands of little bitty 5-year old TMNT fans that would have the Internet of today break down into hysterics, it makes today's cautious movies where like, a Disney princess not getting a boyfriend makes some people go on hundred-post rants seem QUAINT.
13:46 Carter is based on Keno who was played by Ernie Reyes Jr from Secret of the Ooze.
The theme song should've never been touched..
I appreciate the more serious tone this series got.
while I prefer the 2003 and 2012 series and grew up watching them, I can't deny the charm of the original cartoon. even when it delves into fever dream territory which it tends to do a lot.
The first five seasons of the 2003 series are just animation bliss. 🤤
@@mr.awesome6011 agreed since the 2003 series final two seasons are a lot like the Red Sky seasons in terms of studios changing the original formula of the show because of personally issues which wind up backfiring and became less memorable than the previous seasons.
It's curious to see that this show had a "Red Sky" era at the tail end of its lifespan just like Batman The Animated Series, but it's even funnier if you consider it was created to compete with Batman TAS!
Batman the animated series was dark the entire series lol.. in fact the earlier seasons were much darker than the later.
@@CaptainRockoBD I am aware, but I wasn't talking about the tone of either series here. Just that both Batman and TMNT had a distinctive era that's partially notable because the sky is red
@@CaptainRockoBD Actually the later seasons of Batman TAS were darker particularly when they moved to Kids WB. The earlier seasons were much lighter due to Fox Kids restrictions.
Not just Batman but X-Men and Spiderman too. Action shows had evolved since TMNT debuted in the 80s and by the early 90s it was clear dark, edgy and mature themes were in. Not only could you see this with other ips but the turtle brand itself as TMNT(1990) was the most successful adaption up to that point. When they made the 2nd film more silly they found less success. That's why the red sky intro features scenes from the 1st film and even based their theme song off the Turtle Power song from that movie.
When I was 14, I actually remembered the Red Sky era when it was on CBS on Saturday mornings (back when Saturday Morning cartoons were still a thing...*sighs*) and it was part of the CBS Action Zone (1994-1997) where it had Skeleton Warriors and Wild C.A.T.S. (which those two toons only lasted one season). And Carter was actually the cartoon equivalent of Keno from Secret Of The Ooze, minus the mutation and all. So, looking back at this, I think this is what happens when you let Rob Liefield take over the cartoon. LOL But it was a good effort for trying something new so I didn't hate it...much.
Good review, Esh!
Some of the episodes I used for this actually had the action zone bumper!
Nice to see you back man, thanks for the review. I look forward to seeing what you do next.
you and working man games are the example of people who have been around for a long time don't have a big following but have a bunch of fans who LOVE your content keep up the good work!
18:22 That is uhmm.... Pretty... Realistic of her actually. I mean, in a real scenario even if you love and help mutant heroes, you still have your own life to follow despite everything. When you help heroes over the years, there will be a time in which you'll kind of naturally retire from it and settle family and stuff.
The first five episodes had it right, if they just stuck to that style and tone throughout the series they would’ve had the best of both the action and comedy worlds.
Everyone always forgets about the Red Sky Seasons when they talk about how goofy this show was at times.
Could be worse, at least it's not The Next Mutation.
Or the Michael Bay Turtles.
Damn you Venus!!!!!!
That's not saying much
It's too bad they, for whatever reason, got rid of all the supporting cast. That whole thing about Tyrannus recruiting mutants would have been a chance to show Leatherhead, Slash and whoever else.
5:11 jeez, either Raph bulked up, or they shrank Rocksteady! I remember him and Bebop being huge and physically stronger threats that forced the turtles to outwit them. Here? They're a couple of featherweights!
Usagi is one of my favorite characters in the TMNT series
The I suggest you poke around on my channel. I talk about Usagi quite a lot.
@@FictionAddiction okay
I didn't watch the red sky episodes until I was in my 30s watching them on RUclips. X men, Spider-Man and Batman dominated my tv 1992-1996.
"I wanna conquer eeeeaarrth!"
🤣 Holy shit, I forgot about that line 😂
if only red sky tmnt crossovers with red sky batman
One of my personal favorite scenes is where The Rat King is defeated when he's distracted by Leonardo in an armored car, then tackled down and hogtied by Donatello.
The only piece of the 80s show i ever saw was an episode with Michaelangelo, a yellow ship, and pink lasers.
Other than that i grew up on the 90s films and best tmnt series(03).
I wonder how long this vid is gonna be …probably less then 20 minutes can’t wait to see it
I wish the original cartoon finished the way it started. TMNT Vs. Shredder & Krang. season 10 should've been similar to City at War
I’ve heard about these seasons but never seen anyone covered it till now 🤷♀️
Say what you will, but I liked every season of TMNT 2003, even the final two rebranded seasons.
And you've hit the nail on the head with Carter - I didn't think you were gonna mention exactly what he is, but he is indeed a Gary Stu from the look of all he is capable of right out of the gate.
I didn't learn how long the show lasted until around the time the 2003 cartoon came out. I thought it was over by the the time Power Rangers started airing. I just don't remember ever seeing new episodes. I do remember watching the first & third movies (I didn't have 2) and the episode "Invasion of the Turtle Snatchers" on VHS, thinking the show had ended years earlier. It was like 1995. Seems so weird.
Also, I really like the second theme song.
Cause of this I subbed to you man. You kept me laughing and enjoying this madness
Yay!! I love it when you talk about the turtles ^^
Bro, this videos amazing. Your channels gonna be huge. 7k is a lot but with videos like this I can see you being at 100k in a year or 2.
I didn't grow up with these Turtles as I was only 3 at the time. My first exposure was an old VHS of the Turtles first movie, which my sister and I watched on the regular, so when I saw the more goofy Turtles from this show through renting a few videos from Blockbuster I wasn't impressed. Didn't get my Turtles until the 2003 4Kids show which I still hold is the best overall.
I watched the Red Sky era of TMNT during the mid to late 90's (1995-1997).
I actually loved the red sky seasons. They're my favorite after season 1.
I remember as a kid in the early 90's trying to catch these episodes because of the monster transformations and it was really tough. The turtles were on the decline by this point and they hardly got as many reruns by the time this season was out. I finally watched them as a teenager and I just couldn't help but think "WTF is this?" They tried to steal from other popular media like X-Men, Terminator, He-Man, ect instead of just looking through the Mirage or even Archie TMNT comics as inspiration for a "serious" approach.
Their biggest weaknesses, which was the low budget and poor writing/choreography, was also never alleviated. Those problems were exacerbated by the choice to make it less comedic and light-hearted. These seasons are the definition of a half-measure.
I imagine they didn't look through their own material because they didn't view the comics as a huge success. The franchise became a huge success because of them so when they began to experience their decline they looked to ips that were more successful than them at that time. This is what happens when people who don't understand their own ip are in charge. That's why the red sky theme song(from scenes ripped from the movie to the song copying the Turtle Power theme from the 1st movie) is heavily influenced by the 1st film(which was the most successful turtle adaption up to that point). At the end of the day these guys got away with mediocre to terrible writing because cartoon landscape in the 80s was pretty mediocre. But by the 90s rolled along and the cartoon landscaped had elevated with more higher quality shows being produced the writers on this show began to be exposed.
reminds me of how other cartoons would change up there dynamic too
Slimer and the Real Ghostbusters
Batman Red Sky
Gargoyles World Tore
Thundercats after they moved to there new location
MLP after the School of Friendship was built
Disney's Doug
Reboot and the two Bobs
the two different partners for Bonkers
Spider Man Unlimited
a few other things I had on my mind but forgot. but you get the point.
Cartoons trying to change and go for a new tone happened a lot to mixed results.
I don't think _anything_ after season 3 was shown on Finnish TV. Even the home video releases were just the first two seasons.
12:03
This whole dumbass decision could've been fixed if they just gave Dregg a human disguise and said he was from an Alternate Timeline.
Like your review sums up, these seasons could've been really good if they just had a plan from the start
The red sky seasons were the best. They were darker. The turtles looked better. The red sky was freaking dope.
There were more than three comic book series. There was Mirage Vol. 1 (including Tales of the TMNT), the Archie Comics series, the short lived Image Comics series that served as a sequel to Mirage Vol. 1, then Mirage Vol. 2 which was the "actual" sequel to Vol. 1, then the IDW Series which is a sequel to the cartoon show and/or the movie (it kinda blends the two).
Always trust the ronin rabbit.
15:24
I wouldn’t be surprised if IDW Slash was at least partially inspired by the secondary mutations.
I always noted that the 5th and final appearance of Casey Jones was also the first and only appearance of the faction of 4 aliens with Cyber Suits.
Tmnt got darker but don't get me started on the comic book versions
Loved this show back in the day. I have to echo pretty much what most people say though - the earlier seasons were better. The last couple of years with the so called "red sky" were not totally terrible, just not as good as earlier seasons.
Much like with 2003's Fast Forward and Back to the Sewers these seasons are less popular that no one wants to remember to the point that every new version that references the 87 turtles only focuses on the earlier more well-known seasons such as with the crossovers with the later animated shows and the Saturday Morning Adventures comics.
9:22 WAIT! His name is Demonicus?! I've rewatched the series multiple times over the years, and I don't think I've EVER heard anyone say his name in the show! I just knew him as "that one HAVOC mutant they didn't even bother naming because they didn't care that much"
You can find their names on the TMNT wiki. But yeah, most of these guys don't get namedtopped in the show. Clearly, no one really cared much
@@FictionAddictionI don't think I ever looked at the wiki. That being said, I vaguely remember the last time I re-watched the series I could have sworn every other member of the group was named at least once. Maybe I am remembering wrong, but I could have sworn he's the only one I never heard them say his name.
As goofy as his name is, part me wonders if someone saw the Gargoyles cartoon and thoughts to themselves they could one up the name Demona. They definitely failed in my opinion, considering her design is much simpler and not that different from the other characters in her show. It's just goofy with him being a goat wizard.
I want to say one thing I dislike from the Red Sky seasons. They got rid of April's yellow jumpsuit. HOW DARE YOU!
imagine a darker take on the turtles more in line with the original comic being successful.
OH WAIT WE HAD THAT. and it was great!
8:06 - "We have the Toxic Avenger at home"
By the time the red sky seasons came out, aside from new and better cartoons hitting the Saturday Morning scene, I think the biggest change came from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers becoming the new hotness after the 87 show overstayed its welcome.
If it was just one show then CBS could have simply moved the show to a time where it doesn't operate opposite of Power Rangers. I think the bigger issue had more to do with Fox Kids having a plethora of great programming to watch over CBS. Not only did they have Power Rangers but they also had Batman, X-men, Spiderman, Tiny Toons, Animaniacs etc. By the early 90s, Fox Kids became king of children programming on Network Television. So much so that CBS line-up of shows headlined by TMNT could no longer compete.
I remember watching the 80s ninja turtles when it was new when i was a kid.
I stopped warching ninja turtles by 1992.
I had no idea it kept going until 1994 or so. I heard that the so called red sky seasons were diffeent and better but i never saw them when those originally aired.
I have all the episodes now and will have to check them out.
Batman the animated series started September 5th 1992, almost exactly one year later on September 18th 1993, the tmnt red sky stuff started. Coincidence? I think not!
The Red Sky era began on September 17, 1994.
OG cartoon is still great.
Been re-watching it on Pluto TV TMNT Channel since they added the OG series a few days ago.
This is nice to know, I can watch it on roku now!
It has been announced that the first two seasons will be coming to Paramount Plus on Tuesday September 19. Outside of these airings, only the first two seasons are available for streaming (including digital purchase). Hope this eventually improves, but good thing I got most of the episodes from the Lionsgate previous releases for the other seasons.
@@tylercamp8808 Pluto Tv is all over the place with the 87 TMNT cartoon. Like earlier today it was showing "Red skies" episodes in order for like 5 or 6 episodes. Then it went back to showing episodes from like Season 3 or 4 before going back to showing the same "Red Skies" episodes again.
@@wesleysteeleiv From what I can tell after days of observation that it is the same episodes throughout that day in a four-hour period. This makes it one of the few places to get all the episodes for now since the digtial releases and Paramount + only has the first two seasons. Excluding "Donatello Makes Time" and "Planet of the Turtleloids" I have the episodes of Seasons 3-10 from my previous purchase of the Lionsgate release on iTunes. I plan to replace them eventually with the newer ones eventually.
@@tylercamp8808 Yeah, they try to do multiple seasons going at once. Then when they replace the ones they play right now, they'll show the episodes that come after.
Another thing that ended up is the whole berserk mutated turtle story. Donny had his story in the 03 cartoon, Raph had it in vol.4 of the Mirage comics. I was half-expecting Mikey having his version in the 2012 cartoon since everyone had their run. It is weird the Turtles didn't show much care for their brother like they did with Donny in the 03 series and Raph just slaps a sign on Leo's cage for crying out loud.
The Archie comics also had time traveling mutants storyline as well. Armaggon was the main villain of that ark. It did show the Turtles still living in the late 21th century with NYC getting flooded, and mutants are more common. Also the cyber suits appeared in a much later story that focus on the Future Turtles.
I knew several people who grew up on the classic cartoon but they were unaware of the Red Sky seasons. I asked them about Lord Dregg and they thought he was from the later shows that they didn't care for.
Rip Uncle Phil
Fun fact: the Second Mutant forms are based on concept art of a Raptor version of Raphael, from the ill faded Ninja Turtles 4 movie that never came to be.
It would have been awesome if this version of the show took place in the Gargoyles universe.
There is actually a fourth comic continuity, but it is a mutually exclusive continuation of the original Mirage one that is ignored by Volume 4. A non-Viacom comic does exist to bridge the gap though. Nick’s Amazing Adventures also became its own continuity. Still, Mirage, Archie, and IDW can be considered the “main” ones.
For shame, you didn't mention the OVA! or the Creator's Syndicate Daily Comics for newpapers.
Great episode!!!
I just saw these seasons for the first time over the past week after buying the complete series on DVD. I gave up on the show around Season 6 when I finally tired of the non-fights after discovering the far superior “X-Men”. But, despite the show being borderline unwatchable, I really liked how the turtles were designed in Season 8 especially. At least they looked more serious. I do think it was a mistake to focus on Lord Dregg over other villains and the non-stop red sky. But overall, I enjoyed it more than a vast majority of the previous episodes. That being said, the 2003 series and even 2012 series are both infinitely better than anything in the 1987 series.
Yeah. There is something to be said for Your Fav Toons/Shows NOT Running for Several Seasons. Sometimes it works, and sometimes....well ....HoooBoy!!!!
I never watched season 7 and beyond because of the sudden tone shift. It just didn’t feel the same.
This is literally the premise of the TMNT Mutant Mayhem Movie lmaooo
I knew about all of this except for the "Turtle Tips" segment you mentioned
Theres more than 3 comic continuities
Red Sky was a completely wrong turn for the show. When I was a kid I was watching “Get Shredder” and couldn’t believe It happened
I remember the HAVOC episodes aired about the same time as the Mojoworld episodes from the X-Men cartoon. My little kid brain thought Mojo and Titanus were the same guy
Great vid
I feel like they should stop at the 4th Season.
8:09 - I seriously do not remember any of those toys
Its hilarious how try-hard these last couple seasons were. Its too bad they couldnt find a balance.
Looking back I think the red sky episodes were the best
I think Carter was there for Teaching purposes and Action Figures purposes.😂
Mutant mayhem slowed it down😂
Tmnt out of the shadows movie was awesome 😎
whats funny is that storyline about mutating people is kinda what super fly was trying to do
tbh, i prefer dwelling on these seasons over the earlier ones
I’m surprised you didn’t get copyright strike from playing the music 😂😂
Carter is a good example of too many cooks in the kitchen. Tgey already set up (and trashed) the idea of humans being kidnapped and FORCED into mutation so ehy not use that as the nain basis for him?
Bern was already sending propaganda about the boys so Carter could have been that bridge if he were a mutated human who through his experiences learns the guys aren't evil and they help him, the other mutants and people understand who the actual villain is?
He doesn't need to be ve a tech wiz, a martial arts expert, ect. He just needed a good connection with the turtles and him being mutated was the perfect spice.
.....he just needed a better form because WHOOOO BOY does it look bad. I know mutants as a concept itself is asking much to 'make sense' but....what IS Carter's mutation?
It has robotics (how?), magically fades off his clothes (what?) and in general is just such a generic design. The animal based mutations work because of how weird you cam get mixing animal, human, and monster features. Carter felt less mutant and more magical girl Mortal Kombat transformation.
"By the name of the oooze, I will punish you!"
Sadly I stopped watching the 1980's version BEFORE the Red Sky arc even aired like around 1991.
Up for a review of the SWAT Kats?
The red sky was when the Ninja Turtles stopped being originators and started being imitators. The Power Rangers were the new king of the roost and TMNT was sadly mimicking that show, with mediocre results. At this point TMNT had more episodes than any other show at the time, except maybe Flintstones. This was like that old, sick dog that you hate to have to put down but he's suffering so much. It might have been better had the show either been cancelled or if they just kept the corny 80s version... at least that had more charm and is the show we still remember today. Like in Season 7, where it was going for a more 'edgy' version of the OG turtles like in the episode where they went back to Japan. Just have the turtles actually use their weapons. I'd take that over seasons 8 - 10.
True story, the way they were advertising the show when these episodes began, and the profound shift in style and everything else, I actually thought the show had ended and this was a new one starting off picking up from the end of the last. The continuity was kinda iffy despite clearly supposing to take place in the same world and I kinda didn’t like it because so much had turned sour towards our heroes. It’s kinda like that MTV Spider-Man series released a few years after the popular 90’s one that’s supposed to be a sequel series but goes way off in another direction.
I’m actually fascinated by these episodes due to the return to form Season 1 and early Season 2 established.
The red sky and the weird eyes on the turtles.... Makes me wonder why they didn't just make their eyes white like in the Mirage books or the 2003 series. Was it too extreme? And April went from her iconic yellow suit to looking like a homeless grunge chick. Were these changes really necessary? And Carter was just lame. I'd rather have an older version of Zack the fifth turtle over him, and that character was annoying but still had more charm. I understand the need to get new villans, but they could have used more characters from Mirage comics instead of these lame new characters.
The last season was so Badass