A lot of humor, fun and an animated series that is action-packed! “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Ultimate Showdown” features the final remaining 13 episodes of season 1!  Recommended for the older fans and the new! Recommended!
© 2013 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved.
DVD TITLE: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Ultimate Showdown
TV SERIES AIR DATE: 2012
DURATION: (12 episodes) 312 Minutes
DVD INFORMATION: Full Screen, Dolby Digital English Stereo, Closed Caption
COMPANY: Nickelodeon/Paramount
RATED: NOT RATED
RELEASE DATE: October 1, 2013
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
Jason Biggs 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
It’s nonstop ninja action as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles face off against new enemies and old, including the Rat King, Cockroach, Baxter Stockman, and more! All this, leading to the ultimate showdown against the Kraang and the Shredder himself!
More enemies are there to take on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and now they must do all they can to protect April as she has become a target by the enemy. But why are they after April?
Find out in “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Ultimate Showdown”!
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 26-episodes were made and the first season began premiering on Nickelodeon in Sept. 2012. And now episodes 13-26 will be released on DVD courtesy of Nickelodeon.
Included in “Ultimate Showdown” are episodes 13-26 (note: Episode 14 “New Girl in Town” was included in the last DVD “Enter Shredder”). The following are spoilerless summaries:
- EPISODE 13: I, Monster – The Ninja Turtles take on the Rat King.
- EPISODE 15: The Alien Agenda – Can Karai be trusted?
- EPISODE 16: The Pulverizer – A Ninja Turtle wannabe (with no fighting skills whatsoever) named the Pulverizer wants to team up with the Ninja Turtles.
- EPISODE 17: TCRI – What is Kraang really up to?
- EPISODE 18: Cockroach Terminator– Donatello creates a spyroach to spy on Kraang, but it mutates and targets Raphael.
- EPISODE 19: Baxter’s Gambit – After many failures, Baxter Stockman convinces Shredder to test out his new plan on the Ninja Turtles.
- EPISODE 20: Enemy of My Enemy – Karai wants to partner with the Ninja Turtles to stop Kraang, but can they trust her?
- EPISODE 21: Karai’s Vendetta – Shredder sends Karai to capture April.
- EPISODE 22: The Pulverizer Returns– The Pulverizer joins the Foot Clan?
- EPISODE 23: Parasitica – The Ninja Turtles take on a giant mutant wasp which stings Leo. What will happen to Leo?
- EPISODE 24: Operation: Break Out – Donatello wants to impress April, so he tries to rescue her father Kirby from Kraang detention center.
- EPISODES 25-26: Showdown, Parts 1 & 2 – Kraang is planning on an invasion, meanwhile the Turtles tries to stop Kraang’s portal.
VIDEO & AUDIO
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Ultimate Showdown” 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: Ultimate Showdown” comes with the following special features:
- The Mutation of a Scene: The Pulverizer – (11:14) A look between the storyboard animatic, primary animation and final render of a scene from the following episode.
- The Mutation of a Scene: TCRI – (15:02) A look between the storyboard animatic, primary animation and final render of a scene from the following episode.
- The Mutation of a Scene: Cockroach Terminator – (10:40) A look between the storyboard animatic, primary animation and final render of a scene from the following episode.
- The Mutation of a Scene: Baxter’s Gambit – (13:40) A look between the storyboard animatic, primary animation and final render of a scene from the following episode.
- Animated Comic Books – Featuring animated comic books for “Tales from the Turtle Lair”, Parts Three through Six. A comic book which you can navigate page after page using your remote (or arrow keys if played on a computer).
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Video Game Trailer – (:56) Game trailer for “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”.
EXTRAS:
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Ultimate Showdown” comes with a slipcover.
With the latest volume of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”, for those who watched the series from the early 2000’s, will be happy to see the return of newer TMNT antagonists Kraang and ally/enemy Karai back into the mix.
Kraang brings an interesting predicament as he and Shredder are the top antagonists but in “Ultimate Showdown”, even the Rat King and Cockroach Terminator is introduced as well.
With “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Ultimate Showdown”, instead of one disc, you get the remaining 13 episodes to complete the first season. So, for fans of the series, you’re getting an action-packed volume of the Ninja Turtles and what best than to bring all these antagonists from past series to the series but also opening up the gate to possibly see other characters possibly showing up. Hun, Silver Sentry, Asagi Yojimbo? Anything is possible now?
But I also like how the series tends to incorporate April much more. She’s actually having a part in the series and writers are doing a good job of giving fans something different and new with this newer series. And most importantly, utilizing notable celebrities to do the voicework for the series.
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.
This time around, I watched the series with my ten-year-old. He was just born when the 2003 series was featured on television but at three or four, I began introducing him to the original series and also the 2003 version. And he also had a chance to watch the 1997 live action version as well.
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 2012 series. While April is changed a bit, as Splinter is teaching her to be a ninja, which is quite fascinating.
Picture and audio quality are good on DVD and you get animated comic books plus more “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: Ultimate Showdown” is a fun, action-packed series for today’s generation of young viewers.
