One of the most iconic and beloved cartoons ever, the classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles captivated and captured the imaginations of kids growing up in the '80s and '90s. This bodacious franchise has exploded so much in popularity that it's become a major brand, spawning a variety of toys, games, films, and more modern animated series featuring our favorite pizza-loving mutants turtles.

Yet, it's tough to beat the classic cartoon show, which was largely responsible for this franchise blowing up into the ether of Dimension X in of popularity. It took an obscure dark comic book concept, made it more colorfully appealing, and fleshed it out to perfection.

Updated on August 5th, 2022, by Shawn S. Lealos: The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles first arrived on TV 35 years ago with the animated series that started it all. With a new animated movie based on the recent Netflix series out now, it is a good time to look back and examine the best of the show that started the entire TMNT craze. That original iteration looked very different from what kids are seeing in the series today, and while the animated might look a little dated in comparison, the episodes hold up well, with several standing the test of time as the best stories in the entire franchise - animated or live action. With so many great options in the 10 seasons of the original series, it is easy to pull out a few more for new fans to fall in love with.

Turtle Tracks (Season 1, Episode 1)

It is impossible not to recommend the best Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles episodes without going back to the one that started it all. The first episode of the first season was "Turtle Tracks" and this set up the entire adventure perfectly.

This one episode introduced the world to the Turtles and explained who they were and what their mission was. It also brought in the iconic ing characters that live on today, including ally April O'Neil, mentor Splinter, and enemy Shredder.

Divide And Conquer (Season 10, Episode 8)

Just as the first episode of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was a perfect introduction, the heroes got a perfect finale too with "Divide and Conquer." The last three seasons were shortened with only eight episodes each and the final episode in season 10 sent the Turtles on their way with their greatest victory.

This had their final fight with Lord Dregg, who was a great villain for the final season. The action was great, the fighting was smart, and the Turtles used their brains and strength to beat Dregg. In a perfect Teenage Mutant Ninja Turles quote, Splinter tells them at the end they are now his equal, and it was a fantastic conclusion to the series.

Enter: The Shredder (Season 1, Episode 2)

While the premiere was one of the best Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles episodes of all time, the second was just as impressive. Titled, "Enter: The Shredder," the episode did what it promised and proved that the villain in the series was just as incredible as the heroes.

"Enter: The Shredder" also introduced the two best lackeys in TMNT history with Bebop and Rocksteady. For fans only familiar with them as bad guys, their backstories were told here and it set up the best villains the Turtles ever faced.

Night Of The Rogues (Season 7, Episode 6)

What makes the season seven episode, "Night of the Rogues," so fun was that this was a giant team-up of Turtles villains with the intent of stopping them once and for all. The Turtles beat Shredder, Rocksteady, and Bebop so the master villain locked his minions away and brought in a group of bad guys to do his bidding.

Fans got to see all the weird Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles mutant animals, including the Rat King, Slash, Leatherhead, Temptesstra, Scumbug, Anthrax, and Chrome Dome fight as one against the Turtles, and they won.  It was a great idea, but as expected, the Turtles had friends as well who came to save them.

Splinter Vanishes (Season 4, Episode 49)

"Splinter Vanishes" was a fourth-season episode of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. As the title suggests, the Turtles' mentor disappeared and left only a note behind, forcing them to split up. However, Rat King and Leatherhead captured them one by one and they have to fight together to escape.

In the end, it turned out that Splinter manipulated the Turtles into going their own ways because he knew the bad guys were doing something dangerous and he wanted them safe until they figured out what it was. The episode showed the Turtles on their own for much of the run time and that is always fun watching them realize they need each other if they want to be complete.

Enter The Rat King (Season 3, Episode 9)

Much of the charm of TMNT is the vast array of amusing and memorable villains. Such is the case with this episode during what's arguably the peak of the show's run; Season 3.

This fun little romp hinges on the strength of one of the show's more entertaining villains, the Rat King. April O'Neil gets captured by the overgrown mutant rat as he's angered by the way his fellow rodents are treated. It's rat vs rat as Splinter s up with the Turtles to fight him and save April. The episode contains a nice blend of goofy Turtles-brand comedy and fun action - and it's neat to see Splinter and the Turtles team up, which doesn't occur all too often in the show.

The Big Blow Out (Season 3, Episode 47)

Not to be confused with that crazy crossover episode of the Nickelodeon TMNT 2012 finale, this conclusion to the "Big Trilogy" closes out the already memorable Season 3 with a bang - in more ways than one.

It's the culmination of an epic showdown between the Turtles and the band of main villains - Shredder, Krang, Bebop, and Rocksteady. The Turtles scramble to stop the massive Technodrome, which is rolling through New York and destroying all in its wake. Michael Bay-style explosions, chases, and plenty of action-laced fights comprise this thrilling finale, which keeps fans engaged from start to finish.

The Day The Earth Disappeared (Season 10, Episode 7)

The world is in danger from Dimension X once again, and it's on the Turtles to save the day! In one of the trippier and simultaneously most epic episodes of the show's long run, Dregg threatens to send the entire planet into the Dimension X solar system. This episode brings the usual action and thrills of TMNT, with an added sense of urgency thanks to the ominous presence of a space warp that threatens to engulf Earth in mere hours.

Between Dregg, the Batmen, and Mung, "The Day The Earth Disappeared" features a myriad of cool foes for the Turtles to face off against, with a pretty awesome premise and backdrop to boot.

The Old Switcheroo (Season 3, Episode 6)

Rather than leaning on epic premises and thrilling fights, "The Old Switcheroo" is one of those classic episodes that reminds fans just how appealing this show can be with its lighter side, ie - amusing gags, wacky concepts, and funny moments from our favorite Turtles.

Basically, the fact that this episode contains a rapid-fire pizza maker and Shredder and Splinter swapping bodies tells fans all they need to know about the silliness of this one. It also features some classic moments from Bebop and Rocksteady here, who are in prime form.

Raphael Meets His Match (Season 4, Episode 17)

This makes for a uniquely fun episode to watch; not just because of the atmosphere of the yacht party, and the array of amusing costumes its inhabitants are dressed in, but because it's the first to play with the idea of a sort of female counterpart to the Ninja Turtles. No, we're not talking about April, but a similar mutant reptile/amphibian cheekily named Mona Lisa.

Mona's fiery nature and drive add a neat dynamic to the four Turtles, particularly with Raphael, who she develops something of a bond with. Together, they fight to get back at the owner of the yacht, Captain Filch, who had kidnapped and caused her to turn into the human-salamander hybrid she's become.