When did you first discover the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ?

[ShredderX]

I did. I was a major ship jumper as a kid. In kindergarten,all I wanted were Star Wars toys. In first grade, it was He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. From second grade to third, it was Transformers. From fourth grade to Fifth, it was The Real Ghostbusters. Sixth grade to 10th, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Toxic Crusaders. 11th grade to 3rd year in college, it was Chicks ( HA !), Now its Dragonball Z figures, New Masters of the Universe, and Ninja turtles ( with the occasional Macfarlane or anime figure thrown in).

 

[Darthkush]

I was also a ship jumper. I was born in 83. So from 83 to about 88 I was all about a combination of Transformers and Real ghostbusters with various other toyline sprinkled in between. Ninja Turtles was the first franchise that i became superobsessed with. I'd say around 89' when they started releasing the first season as videotapes(of which my little brother and I had most of them) that it became my favorite cartoon at the time. I think the first time I ever heard of them was when my mom, brother and I were shopping at Bradley's(remember that place? I don't know if they had them outside of the east coast but they were a staple of my childhood shopping experiences). We went to the toy aisle and I saw an open case of ninja turtle action figures. I was captivated by them and wanted one even though I didn't really know what they were. My brother got Michaelangelo and I got Leonardo. My first few figures(in order of when I got them)...

Leonardo
Raphael
Shredder
Donatello
Rocksteady
Baxter Stockman
Usagi Yojimbo
Metalhead
April O' Neil
Michaelangelo
Bebop
Krang
General Traag
Leonardo(again. I lost first one on a beach. My dad tells anyone who will listen that story. ehheheh).
Foot Soldier

I think around the time I got the second Leonardo was when I started getting so many so often that I don't remember what came next and in what order. I remember several christmases where I would get at least 8 or 9 of them at a time as well. I remember loving the toy comercials too. They really had that "I want those!" appeal going for them.

 

[Darthkush]

I think Christmas of 1990 or 1991 I got the sewer playset and the technodrome and the module! My parents weren't wealthy but I felt rich with how much turtle stuff I was getting back then. Every Saturday was "toys r us" day and usually it was also kind of ninja turtle toy day as well. I was spoiled as all get out!

 

[ShredderX]

I was fortunate to find alot of the old school TMNT in Big Lots awhile ago. So far this is my collection ;

Old School Tmnt toys

Leonardo
Donatello
Rapheal
Michealangelo
Movie Splinter
Super Shredder
Movie Ralph
Super Shredder
Basketball Michealangelo

2K3 TMNT TOYS

Leonardo
Donatello
Michealangelo
Rapheal
Splinter
Casey Jones
Usagi Yojimbo
Leatherhead
Nano
Fugitoid
Turtle tots
Traximus
Shredder
Foot Soldier
Four-armed Shredder
Triceraton
Savanti Romero

Haven't gotten the Nick figures yet, or the Mirage figures.

 

[jbyrd1977]

It was 1987 I was in to G.I.Joe Transformers MASK and I think GOBOTS was still out then none of my shows were on and this stupid show had just started (so I thought ) as the theme music went on it created goose bumps on me as I danced around. I went from My decepticons and joes to loving TMNT in one episode I felt a connection with Mike and his party ways. COWABUNGA dudes lol. still have all my original TMNT toys the soft head ones not the hard plastic ones who remembers that lol

 

[GremlinZilla89]

I soaked it up through osmosis from my older brother. I was born during the tale end of 89 so I grew up with my brothers toys and adopted much of his love for cartoons and toys. I don't know what came first: The figures, the cartoon or the movie but they were always one of my major loves as a child. I used to play the VHS copy of the 90 film constantly to my mothers annoyance. The re-runs of the 80s cartoon were a staple of my TV diet along with Power Rangers, Rugrats, other Nickelodeon shows and The Real Ghostbusters (another love passed down from my big brother).

Like a lot of things from childhood, the Turtles fell to the wayside as I grew older but my love for them was revamped when the 07 film came along (totes underrated. Wish we got a sequel). When I saw it on DVD I started revisiting the 80s cartoon, started watching the 2K3 series, rediscovered my love for the first two live action films and eventually read the original comics.

 

[Shikamaru]

Never saw the '87 cartoon as a kid. My first exposure to it were with the movies. Next came The Next Mutation (unfortunately ), then the '03 cartoon, then the Mirage Comics and now the IDW Comics that I recently started reading and are awesome t:.

 

[superhero]

I discover them thur the ninja turtles arcade and the Nintendo game I didn't watch the tv show for couple years because we just got our tv until after my grand mama died we didn't have cable then I seen the previews of the teenage mutant ninja turtles movie when it first came out it was the first movie I seen in theaters. I also got into the toys a lot

 

[Human Torch]

I got on the Turtles bandwagon early.I think the cartoon first hit when I was like 10 or 11 and I remember collecting the videos of the early episodes.I remember trying to collect the figures but they were all sold out.I finally managed to get my hands on a Raphael before the supply finally met up with the demand.

 

[ValeriaRichards]

I didn't get into TMNT until a few years ago, more specifically December '12. I've loved it ever since. I kinda wish I'd gotten into it sooner I feel like I would have loved the 2k3 series as a kid.

 

[samxteal]

For me, it was 1987. At the time I was a die hard fan of " The Real Ghostbusters ". I remember my mom had a People magazine that had an article with two guys posed with some giant turtles. One guy had a mullet/ jheri curl with a porn star mustache, and the other guy was bald with glasses. The only other thing I remember was the hard to pronounce names of these characters, and that the article said that it would be the next big thing. I thought, yeah right. Ninja turtles ? that sounds stupid. It will never beat " The Real Ghostbusters. " And I politely dismissed it.

Summer of 1988. I was 10 years old on vacation at my cousins house in Columbus Ga. They had a pool, and I spent 95% of my time in it. My younger brother told me that there was a cartoon on about Ninja Turtles. Once again, I politely dismissed it and decided to practice my dog paddle.

Christmas of 1988. I'm hounding my mother to buy me the Ghostbuster 's Firehouse for christmas. Toys R Us are completely sold out, yet they had a HUGE section, of you guessed it, Ninja Turtle toys. This time, I gave them the finger because I was pissed about not having the GB's Firehouse.

Then it happened. Summer, 1989. At my grandparents house one friday afternoon, and bored out of my mind. Finally decided to give this so called " Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle " toon a shot. Just one hit, got me hooked. I had to have everything turtles, from the toys, to that nasty ass mutant " fruit pies. " To this day, I pack my laundry in a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle duffle bag. Damn turtle power turned me into a " shell- head ". ( Kinda like a crack head,but you don't have to give b**W jobs for a fix, and your teeth doesn't fall out.

I have been a TMNT fan sinceI can remember I was Born in the US and my family moved to England shortly after I can at least remember back to my 2nd birthday and i was a fan of them then for sure, Me and my Best friend(pretty much since i was one) have love the turtles I have had toy lost toy I am a turtle guy. I love every version for what it was even those versions most people despise (ala TMNTIII, or next mutation, or Out of their shells) IM happy that there legacy is still going and im super excited for the new movie and hopefully it will turn out great i know i will enjoy it regardless because that is who i am.

 

[LostSon88]

The first episode of the 87' toon, followed by watching the VHS of the 90' film at my cousins house.

After that I was hooked. Going years watching the show every morning before school at 7:00 after "James Bond Jr." and "Denver the last Dinosaur".

Oh the simple life of childhood...

 

[Casey Jones]

I can't remember which came first: Playing the video game or watching the cartoon. This was 1988-1990. I know it was before the movie came out. I wouldve been 6 or 7. I had an older brother who I think watched the cartoon. He may have got me into them. Not totally sure.

I became really turtle crazy when the movie came out. Toys, movies, video games, tents, key chains, clothes, food, soundtracks, posters, etc.

 

[Mace Dolex]

It was 1987 I was in to G.I.Joe Transformers MASK and I think GOBOTS was still out then none of my shows were on and this stupid show had just started (so I thought ) as the theme music went on it created goose bumps on me as I danced around. I went from My decepticons and joes to loving TMNT in one episode I felt a connection with Mike and his party ways. COWABUNGA dudes lol. still have all my original TMNT toys the soft head ones not the hard plastic ones who remembers that lol

Hehe yeah it seems that the cartoon was a major influence on kids back in the day if a toyline didn't have a daily cartoon to go along with it then said toyline would get forgotten amongst the popular ones.

 

[jasontodd]

First became a fan from the 87 series. I watched it religiously. There was a VHS release that collected the first few episodes so I bought that and watched it till I wore it out. I played the Nintendo games, had turtle bed sheets, action figures, posters, and Halloween costumes. I remember the first time I heard about the live action movie in 1989. I was at a mall with my family and saw a poster in the window of one of the stores it was a shot of Leonardo sitting down at the farm from the movie. I was blown away. I thought it looked absolutely real and Iwas unbelievably excited. it was at this time that I bought colorized graphic novels of the original Mirage comics. There was 4 volumes and I read them all before the movie opened in theatres. After I saw the movie I was in love because having just read those original graphic novels, I was blown away by how closely the movie stuck to the story. Loved the two sequels as well as a kid. Even went to see the "Coming out of their shells" Rock and Roll tour concert and bought 2 VHS that were associated with it as well as the soundtrack. I was a fan of the 2003 cartoon and even loved the 2007 movie (dat Raphael vs Leo in the rain) love the new TMNT cgi show on Nickelodeon as well. Saw the new trailer for Bay turtles and absolutely hated it.

 

[Young Superman]

The late 80s cartoon.