Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003 TV series) (feb 8, 2003 – mar 27, 2010)
Description:
Unlike the 1987 TV series, the 2003 series more closely matches the tone of the original comics, with a greater emphasis on action and themes of familial bonds. As a result, the 2003 series is more adult-oriented, while still being considered appropriate for younger audiences. The series adapts a large scope of story arcs from the comics, with the Turtles' adventures combining elements of both fantasy and science fiction. They also fight the Foot Clan led by Shredder as well as the Purple Dragons led by Hun and the mad scientist Baxter Stockman. Later seasons have the Turtles contending with Agent John Bishop of the Earth Protection Force. By the end of the third season, the Shredder is revealed to be an Utrom criminal named Ch'rell. Upon his defeat at the hands of the Turtles, Ch'rell is exiled to the ice asteroid Mor Gal Tal.
During the fourth season, Karai continues to lead the Foot Clan as a female Shredder, Hun turns the Purple Dragons into a crime syndicate, and Baxter Stockman works for Agent John Bishop's group. Towards the end of the fourth season, the series undergoes a format change as the Turtles would be recruited by the Ninja Tribunal to use new mystic abilities to combat another version of the Shredder where this one is labeled as the original Shredder before Ch'rell assumed his identity. Season five would be the last to use the original character designs and animation style with its plot concluding the series' main storyline.
The sixth season, subtitled "Fast Forward", would retool the series with a new art style and comedic tone. The season's plot focused on the Turtles being transported about 100 years into the future to the year 2105; where they meet and befriend Cody Jones, the great grandson of April and Casey. They must also contend with futurist enemies like Sh'Okanabo and his minion Viral as well as dealing with the activities of Cody's uncle Darius Dun.
Fast Forward's main story would conclude in the seventh and final season, subtitled "Back to the Sewer", while sporting another redesign for the entire cast inspired by the designs from the 2007 TMNT film. After returning to the present day, the Turtles must battle a cybernetic version of the Shredder which was the result of Viral merging with the data of the Utrom Shredder. There is also a running subplot centered on the wedding of April and Casey.
The 2009 TV movie Turtles Forever serves as the finale to the 2003 series and centers around the Turtles encountering their 1987 animated counterparts, who have accidentally been transported to the 2003 Turtles' reality. To make matters worse, the 80's Shredder and Krang as well as their minions Bebop and Rocksteady free Ch'rell from his imprisonment as Hun and Karai realign themselves with Ch'rell.
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