Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003 TV series) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Series logotype
Genre	Action Adventure Comedy Superhero Science fiction Supernatural Martial arts
Developed by	Lloyd Goldfine
Voices of	Michael Sinterniklaas Wayne Grayson Sam Riegel Greg Abbey Darren Dunstan Scottie Ray Marc Thompson Veronica Taylor
Theme music composer	Norman J. Grossfeld Russell Velazquez
Composer(s)	Ralph Schuckett Rusty Andrews John Angier Mark Breeding Louis Cortelezzi Joel Douek John Petersen Pete Scaturro John Siegler John Van Tongeren Russel Velazquez
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	7
No. of episodes	156 (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Gary Richardson Frederick U. Fierst Alfred R. Khan Norman J. Grossfeld Tom Kenney
Producer(s)	JoEllyn Marlow
Running time	21–23 minutes
Production company(s)	Mirage Studios Dong Woo Animation 4Kids Entertainment
Distributor	4Kids Entertainment (previously) ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks (current)
Release
Original network	Fox (season 1–6) The CW (season 7)
Picture format	480i (4:3 SDTV)
Audio format	Dolby Digital 5.1
Original release	February 8, 2003 (2003-02-08) – March 27, 2010 (2010-03-27)
Chronology
Preceded by	Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987 TV series)
Followed by	Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012 TV series)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an exciting American animated TV show. It is based on the popular comic book characters of the same name. The series first aired on February 8, 2003, on the FoxBox (later called 4Kids TV). It finished its run on March 27, 2010.

The show was announced on May 7, 2002. It was made by 4Kids Entertainment and Mirage Studios. Mirage Studios created the original characters and co-owned the rights to the show. The animation was done by a studio called Dong Woo.

Exploring the Series Story

This 2003 TV series is different from the 1987 version. It is much closer to the original comic books. The show focuses more on action and the strong bonds of family. It is made for a slightly older audience but is still great for younger viewers.

The series uses many stories from the comics. The Turtles' adventures mix fantasy and science fiction. They often fight the evil Foot Clan, led by Shredder. They also battle the Purple Dragons, led by Hun, and the mad scientist Baxter Stockman. In later seasons, the Turtles face Agent John Bishop and his Earth Protection Force.

At the end of season three, it is revealed that Shredder is actually an alien criminal named Ch'rell. After the Turtles defeat him, Ch'rell is sent away to a faraway ice asteroid.

New Challenges and Changes

In the fourth season, Karai takes over the Foot Clan as the new Shredder. Hun turns the Purple Dragons into a big crime group. Baxter Stockman works for Agent John Bishop. Later in this season, the Turtles get new mystic powers from the Ninja Tribunal. They use these powers to fight another Shredder, who is said to be the original one. The fifth season was the last to use the original art style and finished the main story.

The sixth season, called "Fast Forward," changed the show's look and made it more comedic. The Turtles are sent 100 years into the future, to the year 2105. There, they meet Cody Jones, who is April and Casey's great-grandson. They fight futuristic bad guys like Sh'Okanabo and Viral. They also deal with Cody's uncle, Darius Dun.

The story from "Fast Forward" ends in the seventh and final season, "Back to the Sewer." The characters get another new look, inspired by the 2007 TMNT movie. After returning to their own time, the Turtles must fight a robot version of Shredder. This Cyber Shredder was created when Viral merged with the Utrom Shredder's data. There is also a side story about April and Casey getting married.

The 2009 TV movie Turtles Forever is the final part of the 2003 series. In the movie, the Turtles meet their cartoon versions from the 1987 series. These 80s Turtles accidentally arrive in the 2003 Turtles' world. To make things worse, the 80s Shredder and Krang free Ch'rell. Hun and Karai then join forces with Ch'rell.

Meet the Characters

The Main Heroes

Leonardo fighting the Foot Clan's ninjas in the season 1 episode "Shredder Strikes Back: Part One".

• Leonardo (Leo) – He is the leader of the Turtles. Leo is serious, calm, and the oldest. He loves training and meditating. He wears a blue mask and uses two ninjatō swords.

• Raphael (Raph) – He is the hothead of the group. Raph often lets his anger get the best of him. He prefers to jump into action. He wears a red mask and uses twin sai.

• Donatello (Donnie or Don) – He is the smartest Turtle. Donnie loves technology and experiments. He creates many gadgets for the team. He wears a purple mask and uses a bo staff.

• Michelangelo (Mikey) – He is the funny and youngest Turtle. Mikey loves comics, video games, and pizza. He is optimistic and kind-hearted. He wears an orange mask and uses twin nunchaku.

Allies and Friends

• Splinter – He is the Turtles' mutant rat sensei and adoptive father. Splinter taught them ninjitsu. He acts as their teacher and guide. He uses a cane as a weapon.

• April O'Neil – April is the Turtles' first human friend. She is smart with technology, like Donatello. She helps the Turtles on missions. April owns an antique store. She later marries Casey Jones.

• Casey Jones – Casey is the Turtles' second human friend and Raphael's best buddy. He is a vigilante who uses sports gear as weapons. He wears a hockey mask. Casey becomes part of the family and marries April.

• Angel – A teenage girl from Casey's neighborhood. She was almost tricked into joining the Purple Dragons. The Turtles and Casey helped her. She becomes a good friend to the Turtles.

• Professor Zeyton Honeycutt/Fugitoid – A robot from a faraway galaxy. He invented a device that can teleport anywhere. Two groups, the Federation and Triceretons, want his device. The Turtles help him escape.

• Leatherhead – A mutated alligator. He became smart after being exposed to the same mutagen as the Turtles. He helps the Turtles fight bad guys.

• Justice Force – A group of superheroes who are friends with the Turtles. They are like a parody of famous superhero teams.
  • Stainless Steel Steve – A founding member with a metal saucer on his forehead.
  • Joey Lastic – A founding member with stretchy powers.
  • Zippy Lad – A super-fast founding member.
  • Silver Sentry – The leader of the newer Justice Force team. He is like Superman.
  • Nobody – A police officer who became a superhero. He is like Batman.
  • Raptarr – A winged hero who resembles Hawkman.
  • Nano – A robot made of tiny robots. He joins the Justice Force.
  • Green Mantle – A hero with a superpowered cape. He is like Green Lantern.

• Ultimate Daimyo – The ruler of the Battle Nexus. He is a powerful warrior. He became friends with the Turtles.

• Miyamoto Usagi – A samurai rabbit from another universe. He is a master swordsman and a close friend of Leonardo.

• Lord Simultaneous – A Time Lord who controls time and space. He has an apprentice named Renet.
  • Renet – Lord Simultaneous's apprentice. She is a bit clumsy but helps the Turtles.

• The Ancient One – An old ninjitsu master who trained Hamato Yoshi. He later mentored Leonardo.

• Ninja Tribunal – Four ancient ninjitsu masters. They trained the Turtles to fight the Tengu Shredder.

• Ninja Tribunal Acolytes – Four human students who trained with the Turtles. They helped fight the Tengu Shredder.

• Cody Jones – In "Fast Forward," he is April and Casey's great-grandson. He accidentally brings the Turtles to the future.

• Serling – Cody Jones's robot butler. He often complains but helps the Turtles.

• Starlee Hambrath – A young alien intern at O'Neil Tech. She helps Cody and the Turtles.

• Constable Biggles – A robot police chief in the future. He often clashes with the Turtles but helps them.

Bad Guys and Villains

• The Foot Clan – A secret ninja group that wants to control the city.
  • The Shredder/Oroku Saki/Ch'rell – The main bad guy. He is a rich businessman who secretly leads the Foot Clan. He is actually an alien criminal named Ch'rell. He constantly fights the Turtles.
    • Tengu Shredder/Oroku Saki – The true, original Shredder. He is a demon who took over Oroku Saki's body long ago. He has powerful magic.
    • Cyber Shredder – A computer program created by the Utrom Shredder. He tries to escape into the real world.
  • Karai – The adopted daughter of the Utrom Shredder. She is a skilled fighter. She sometimes helps the Turtles but also leads the Foot Clan.
  • Hun – Shredder's strong second-in-command and leader of the Purple Dragons. He is very strong and hates mutants.
  • Baxter Stockman – A brilliant but mad scientist. He creates robots called mousers. He often gets hurt and rebuilt.
  • Dr. Chaplin – A young scientist who works for the Shredder and Karai.
  • Master Khan – A Foot Clan member who works for the Cyber Shredder.
  • Foot Ninjas – The regular soldiers of the Foot Clan.
  • Foot Tech Ninjas – Foot Ninjas who can turn invisible.
  • Elite Foot Ninjas – Shredder's personal guards and most skilled fighters.
  • Foot Mystics – Magic-using members of the Foot Clan. They control elements like Earth, Fire, Water, Air, and Metal.

• Purple Dragons – A street gang led by Hun. They often cause trouble in the city.

• The Mob – An organized crime group. They fought the Foot and Purple Dragons for control of the city.

• Dr. Malignus – A supervillain who fights Silver Sentry and the Turtles.

• Garbageman – A very large man who lives in a high-tech garbage machine. He tries to make a kingdom out of junk.

• Mr. Touch and Mr. Go – Two assassins with special powers. Mr. Touch has superhuman strength, and Mr. Go has superhuman speed.

• Ultimate Ninja – The son of Ultimate Daimyo. He wants to be the best ninja and often challenges Leonardo.

• Drako – A dragon warrior who fought Splinter. He teams up with Ultimate Ninja.

• Agent John Bishop – A secret government agent from the Earth Protection Force. He hunts aliens and mutants, including the Turtles. He is very agile and quick.

• Savanti Romero – A former apprentice of Lord Simultaneous. He was banished to the past and tries to get revenge.

• Necro-Monster – A scary creature that came to Earth on a meteorite. It traps people in nightmares.

• Rat King – A super-soldier created by Agent Bishop. He has a strange connection to rats.

• Lord Hebi – A large snake villain and enemy of Miyamoto Usagi.

• Darius Dun – Cody Jones's uncle in "Fast Forward." He is the CEO of O'Neil Tech but does illegal things.

• Street Phantoms - A gang of criminals who can become non-solid.
  • Jammerhead – A cyborg leader of the Street Phantoms.

• Sh'Okanabo – A shape-shifting alien in "Fast Forward." He plans to turn Earth's people into his mindless minions.
  • Viral – Sh'Okanabo's computer assistant. She can infect computer systems.

• Dark Turtles – Evil clones of the Ninja Turtles. They were created by Sh'Okanabo.

• Torbin Zixx – A mercenary who often tricks the Turtles.

• Triple Threat – A three-headed alien wrestler. Each head has a different personality.

• 80's Shredder – The Shredder from the 1980s cartoon. He is not as serious as the 2003 Shredder.
  • 80's Krang – The companion of the 80s Shredder.
  • Bebop and Rocksteady – The clumsy mutant henchmen of the 80s Shredder and Krang.

Aliens and Other Beings

• The Utroms – A peaceful alien species. They crash-landed on Earth centuries ago. Shredder (Ch'rell) is a criminal from their race.

• The Triceratons – A warring alien race that looks like humanoid Triceratops. They breathe nitrogen and sulfur. They hunt the Fugitoid.

• The Federation – An alien military group. They are at war with the Triceratons.

• The Levram – A race of fierce warriors who love combat.
  • Kluh – The most famous Levram warrior. He fights Michelangelo in the Battle Nexus.

Voice Actors

The people who gave voices to the characters are very important!

• Michael Sinterniklaas – Leonardo, Dark Leo
• Wayne Grayson – Michelangelo/Turtle Titan, Dark Mikey
• Sam Riegel – Donatello, Dark Donnie
• Greg Abbey – Raphael, Dark Raph
• Darren Dunstan – Splinter, Sliver Sentry
• Veronica Taylor – April O'Neil
• Marc Thompson – Casey Jones, Serling, Ultimate Daimyo
• Greg Carey – Hun
• David Zen Mansley – Bishop, Savanti Romero, Zog, Rat King, Darius Dun
• Karen Neill – Karai
• Scottie Ray – Ch'rell/Shredder/Oroku Saki, Tengu Shredder, Cyber Shredder
• Scott Williams – Baxter Stockman
• Christopher C. Adams – Cody Jones

How the Show Was Made

In May 2002, 4Kids Entertainment announced they would make a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles TV series. It would air on Saturday mornings on the FoxBox. The show was so popular that it was renewed for many seasons.

Lloyd Goldfine led the show's development. He loved the original Mirage Studios comics. He wanted to make a show that was family-friendly but still had the serious ninja feel. He worked closely with Peter Laird, one of the Turtles' creators. Laird read every script and approved most of the character designs.

Watching at Home

The series has been released on home video, like DVDs. However, the complete series has not been released yet.

In Spanish: Las Tortugas Ninja (serie de televisión de 2003) para niños