After losing to Shredder and the Kraang, the Turtles move with April O’Neil to Northampton to heal and plan their next battle. But the group quickly learn that things are not all safe in Northampton! “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Retreat!” features the first seven episodes of season 3! Recommended for the older fans and the newer fans who enjoy action-driven animated series.
© 2015 by Paramount Pictures All Rights Reserved.
DVD TITLE: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Retreat!
TV SERIES AIR DATE: 2013
DURATION: (6 episodes) 135 Minutes
DVD INFORMATION: Full Screen, Dolby Digital English Stereo, Closed Caption
COMPANY: Nickelodeon/Paramount
RATED: NOT RATED
RELEASE DATE: March 10, 2015
Directed by Michael Chang
Written by Joshua Sternin, Jr. Ventimila
Originally created by Kevin Eastman
Produced by MacGregor Middleton
Executive Producer: Peter Hatings, Ciro Nieli, Joshua Sternin, J.R. Ventimilia
Supervising Producer: Ant Ward
Music by Sebastian Evans
Casting by Sarah Noonan
Production Management: Vladimir Radev
Featuring the voices of:
Sean Astin as Raphael
Seth Green as Leonardo
Greg Cipes as Michelangelo
Rob Paulsen as Donatello
Mae Whitman as April O’Neil
Hoon Lee as Splinter
Nolan North as The Kraang
Kelly Hu as Karai
Phil LaMarr as Baxter Stockman
Josh Peck as Casey Jones
After a stunning battle against the Kraang and Shredder in the Season 2 finale, the Turtles find themselves without a master and without a home. On the run and with new dangers at every turn, the Turtles are faced with bizarre new mutant creatures and must take their ninja training to the next level in order to reclaim their home. Retreat – Return – Revenge!
Set three months after being driven out of New York and barely surviving and escaping from Shredder and the Kraang, the Turtles end up going to Northampton and staying at April’s family farmhouse.
But with Splinter gone and Leo still trying to rehabilitate after his injuries, the group finds out that things up north are not exactly that safe as well.
Featuring the first seven episodes (episodes 53-59) of the third season of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”!
What is “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”?
In 1984, Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird began working on a comic book series titled “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” for Mirage Studios. Featuring a darker, action-driven storyline, the comics became major collectors items due to its short print run. And because of the popularity of the comics, Playmates Toys Inc. was approached to create an action figure toyline and before they began working on the risky project, the toy company would only agree to do so, if an animated TV series was created.
Geared for children and featuring characters with color coded masks, spoke with stereotypical surfer dialogue and a love for pizza, the series was a major hit. Created in 1987, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” would air on television through 1996, and along with the TV series, the toyline was also a big success and would continue on with a live action series, multiple video games and also several live action films.
By 1997, the series has a live action series titled “Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation” which lasted for a single season and in 2003, the series was resurrected by FOX and with 4Kids Entertainment, the remake would be produced by Mirage Studios (the original series had no ownership by Mirage) and would be more edgier like the original comic books and much more darker than its 1987 counterpart and once again, the series and its toyline would become a major success.
And now “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” is back! In 2012, Nickelodeon acquired the rights to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from Mirage Group and 4Kids Entertainment and this time around, wanted to go with a CG-animated series and that there would be slight changes for this 2012 version from the original series and previous series that fans may have been accustomed to.
The new series would feature voice acting from Jason Biggs as Leonardo, Rob Paulsen as Donatello, Sean Astin as Raphael, Greg Cipes as Michelangelo, Mae Whitman as April O’Neil and Hoon Lee as Splinter. In this newer series, each of the Ninja Turtles try to get accustomed to being heroes as they are taught by their sensei Splinter. A former human that was changed into a rat.
The leader of the group is Leonardo (blue mask) who fights with two katana swords and is the level-headed member of the four; Donatello is the hacker and computer/science expert (purple mask) and fights with a rokushakubo. He also has a crush on the video gamer girl, April O’Neil; Raphael is the hot head of the group who acts on impulse and tend to be a problem with the group, as he tends to not think before acting. He fights with two sais and has a pet turtle named Spike and Michelangelo is the person who loves video games, skateboarding and pizza but he is also seen as the jokester and idiot of the group. He fights with two nunchaku and is the immature member of the.
And the group gets help from a human named April O’Neill who loves video games and pizza but also has a special spiritual sensitivity and is being trained by Splinter to be a ninja.
Together, they take on a mysterious group known as the Kraang that is led by Shredder.
A total of 40-episodes were made and the second season is currently airing on Nickelodeon. And now episodes 53-59 will be released on DVD courtesy of Nickelodeon.
Included in “RETREAT!” are the following episodes (with spoilerless summaries):
- EPISODE 53: Within the Woods – The gang move to Northampton to take shelter at April’s family farmhouse.
- EPISODE 54: A Foot Too Big – Bummed out that he has no chance with April, Donatello befriends Bigfoot who falls in love with him. Meanwhile, The Finger is hunting down Bigfoot.
- EPISODE 55: Buried Secrets – The gang finds a lost Kraang scout ship under the house and find…April’s lost mother?
- EPISODE 56: The Croaking – Michelangelo befriends Napoleon Bonafrog, a member of the Punk Frogs.
- EPISODE 57: In Dreams – The Turtles are trapped in their dreams by the Dream Beavers. Can April and Casey work together and find a way to wake the Turtles?
- EPISODE 58: Race with the Demon – Donatello and Casey must put aside their difference and work together.
- EPISODE 59: Eyes of the Chimera – A mutant Chimera created by Speed Demon’s mutagen kidnaps Casey, Raph, Mikey and Donnie. Can Leo and April stop it?
VIDEO & AUDIO
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Retreat!” is presented in full screen format. The CG animation and the character designs is quite different from its previous series predecessors but for the most part, the animation is pretty cool. I love how the series mixes CG but also cool artwork at times. The overall look of the city and the integration of the characters to the environments is cool and detail of the CG animation is a plus for the series. I also like how they gave each ninja turtle a distinct look. From Donatello have a gap to Raphael having a chipped shell.
But for the most part, the series does look good as one can expect on DVD.
As for audio, the series is presented in Dolby Digital and dialogue and music is clear and understandable.
There are no subtitles but closed captions are included.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Retreat!” comes with the following special features:
- The Mutation of a Scene – (34:22) A look between the storyboard animatic, primary animation and final render of a scene from the following seven episodes.
EXTRAS:
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Retreat!” comes with a slipcover.
With the Ninja Turtles losing the battle against Shredder and the Kraang, with Splinter lost, the Ninja Turtles along with April O’Neil move to Northampton where April’s family house is located in hopes they can formulate a plan to strike back at Kraang.
But life in Northampton is not exactly safe thanks to Big Foot, the Dream Beavers, a Chimera, a Kraang Scout and more!
And will Donatello recover from his injuries? And how will he deal with the fact that April may not love him like he loves her? And with his jealousy towards Casey Jones, can the two work together?
And as mentioned in previous DVD volumes, I like the fact that this latest animated release of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” allows April O’Neil to play a much bigger part, not only as a protective daughter but also seeing her in action, having been trained by Splinter. So, it’s a different type of April O’Neil that many of us who are familiar with past “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” are used to. As the same can be said for the hotheaded, Casey Jones.
And also, I enjoy how this series utilizes notable celebrities to do the voicework for the series. From Sean Astin, Seth Green and more, the voice work for this series is pretty cool and not too annoying.
And I feel for older fans or the newer generation, these Ninja Turtles are still fun to watch and yet different from previous series but still retaining the positive aspects of previous series.
I very fortunate to be around when the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book came out and since then, like many other adults who grew up with the franchise, it’s been part of our lives. May it be when were a child watching the animated series or playing the video game at the arcade or at home on a video game console. “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” has been a big part of American pop culture for 25 years.
I have grown up watching the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and seeing every incarnation of the series. And so far, each has brought something new and different to keep the series fresh and new for the new generation of viewers watching it.
With this new series that began in 2012, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” somewhat gets a new reboot. The characters are the same four ninja turtles but they now have their distinct style, their own look and some characters are much different than how they were presented in past series.
And sometimes they don’t win the battle, as evident in the season two finale. And with season three, the group must regroup and recuperate after being run out of New York and are needing time to heal.
I have to admit that while I was raised on the original series, I’m glad the “Cowabunga” days of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are gone and while I thought the 2003 series was fantastic as it featured a more darker tone, I think for today’s younger fans, especially the Nickelodeon audience, children will enjoy this series. Yes, there is fighting violence, but nothing too violent that parents need to worry.
The series has always been about Splinter and his four teenage mutant ninja turtles taking on Shredder and his ninja and other bad guys and that still exists in this latest CG series. While April and Casey Jones have changed a bit, this alternate version of these characters are current and probably much easier for children to follow.
Picture and audio quality are good on DVD and you get seven “Mutation of a Scene” shorts.
Overall, if you are have grown up with this series and still appreciate it, a fan that is young at heart or want to introduce your own child to the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Retreat!” is a fun, action-packed series for today’s generation of young viewers.
