Since their inception in the original 1984 comic, there have been countless iterations of the TMNT films and series that have been made over the years.
There are some constants that have been consistent with the personalities of every turtle team, considered sacrilege to deviate from. Michelangelo is always goofy, Raphael always has anger issues, Donatello is always the smart one, and Leonardo is always the leader. But to what extent these character traits take over and how they affect the team as a whole are always slightly different, and how the turtles interact with the world around them is inconsistent from version to version. The art style chosen by a given series or movie can go a long way to help or hurt their representation of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as well.
10 The 2010s Live-Action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (2016)
Unsurprisingly, the motion-capture live-action turtles from the 2010s have resulted in some of the most poorly-received and least talked-about versions of the TMNT. The ultra-realistic designs are cool in theory, but look downright freaky in practice, the muscle-bound turtles stumbling in between real actors and causing some visual whiplash. The personalities of the turtles are surprisingly faithful, but they get few moments to shine in between the endless action scenes, explosions, and low-brow humor typical of Michael Bay. It doesn't help that these turtles are way too overpowered for their own movie, sullying the stakes by being bulletproof and incredibly strong.
9 2015 Animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Half-Shell Heroes: Blast To The Past (2015)
Half-Shell Heroes: Blast To The Past sees a younger crop of turtles sent on an adventure to the ancient past, evading the danger of pre-historic animals while trying to find a way back home. Clearly aimed at a very young demographic, the cutesy designs of these turtles certainly don't appeal to the largest common denominator. The turtles' personalities here are essentially the same as their incarnations from the 2012 series, even sharing the same voice actors. While not a terrible turtle team by any means, simply re-treading old ground while applying a generous coat of toddler-friendly sensibilities does not make a great version of the TMNT.
8 The Late 2010s/2020s Animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2018-2020), Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie (2022)
The latest 2D iteration of the beloved mutant crime-fighters, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles presented a dramatic art style that had each turtle looking incredibly different from one another, taking pages out of Michael Bay's book with excessive accessories. These were a decidedly more lighthearted group of turtles, whose hyperactive, anime-adjacent antics were dizzying enough to feel like they veered too far out of the realm of familiar territory. At times, this version of the TMNT felt a little too focused on comedy, watering down the individual turtles' personality with fast-paced humor.
7 The 1990s Live-Action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret Of The Ooze (1991), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (1993), Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation (1997-1998)
The most recognizable portrayal of the TMNT for many Millennials, the live-action 90s continuity spanned the greatest number of individual movies and shows, featuring impressive costumes that still hold up to this day. Channeling the spirit of the 80s cartoon, these turtles were deliciously campy, always promising a fun, cheesey adventure rife with catchphrases. The personalities of these turtles were somewhat surface-level, however, stunted by lazy voice-acting and the limited expressions of the animatronic turtle heads. The 90s turtles' were also haunted by a controversial fifth member, resulting in what many fans consider to be the worst TMNT series ever.
6 The 1980s Animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987-1996)
What comes to mind when many people hear the words "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles", the 1980s cartoon is an undisputed classic. Still, even those with heavy nostalgia for the series can it that it was essentially an extended toy commercial, having little to do with Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird's original vision. The most classic incarnation of the turtles, this series is still responsible for many staples of the franchise, such as the different-colored headbands. While the original cartoon went a long way to cementing the personalities of the turtles, they didn't do much to explore the team dynamic, preferring shlocky Saturday-morning goodness do the talking.
5 The 2007 Animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
TMNT (2007)
A shockingly underrated movie, 2007's TMNT put the turtles in a fight for their lives against a wholly original threat, suddenly presenting audiences with a brand-new version of the turtles' world that felt very much lived in. These versions of the turtles are a little grittier, evoking an unseen history that suggests some tension between them. While it's great to see an edgier iteration of the TMNT, the inter-turtle fighting eclipses much of the team dynamic, with Donatello and Michelangelo being particularly overshadowed by Leonardo and Raphael's feud. TMNT is a great movie, but its turtle team isn't the most cohesive or emotionally-balanced.
4 The 2019 Animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2019)
Though having to share the headline of the film with Batman, this slept on animated film features a solid incarnation of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It takes a lot to successfully contend with on of DC's most iconic heroes, and this TMNT team is strong enough to do just that, while still having the trademark banter they've become known for. That being said, this iteration of the turtles is essentially an amalgamation of other animated TMNT teams to come before it, combining the elements of the 80s cartoon with the 2003 and 2012 animated series. A great all-round representation, this variant of the team doesn't do enough to stand out on its own, resulting in a solid, but relatively forgettable entry in the franchise.
3 The 2010s Animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012-2017)
Being the first TMNT show to utilize primarily 3D animation, the 2010s turtles benefited from an art style that kept them recognizable from one another even sans colored masks, but without resorting to the exaggerated proportions of the Michael Bay or Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle body types. Striking a great balance between levity and dark moments, this version of the team had an entertaining dynamic, with plenty of moments to play off one another and show off their reactions to both humorous and intense situations. The only downside to this team was the show's insistence on romance arcs, forcibly taking the focus away from the dynamic of the brothers.
2 The 2023 Animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023)
Of all the words that describe the TMNT, "Teenage" is seldom the most focused on. But Seth Rogen's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem did just that, using actually teenage voice actors for the first time and letting them riff on one another with improvised recording sessions featuring all four turtles. The result is a close-knit TMNT that convincingly feel like brothers, hazing and ing each other while chasing their common goal of human acceptance. Mutant Mayhem's stunning art direction was just the cherry on top of an emotionally rich, but capable TMNT squad.
1 The 2000s Animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003-2009), Turtles Forever (2009)
Though far from the most relevant era of the turtles since their time in the spotlight, fanatic TMNT die-hards will recognize the 2000s turtle crew as the most faithful to the original comics. With a strikingly darker tone, this TMNT gang struck the perfect equilibrium, exhibiting all the traits of their trademark personalities without becoming caricatures of themselves. Their team dynamic was also second-to-none, feeling like an only slightly dysfunctional family that was nevertheless always on the same wavelength when it came to kicking criminal butt. Between their idiosyncrasies, believable relationship, and killer fighting prowess, the 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are the definitive edition for many fans.
