Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003 TV series) (season 1)
| Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (season 1) | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of episodes | 26 |
| Release | |
| Original network | 4Kids TV |
| Original release |
February 8 – November 1, 2003 |
| Season chronology | |
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' first season originally aired between February 8, 2003 and November 1, 2003, beginning with the "Things Change" episode.[1] The episodes were first released in eight volumes, TMNT Volume one through Volume eight. The volumes were released From September 2, 2003 through March 16, 2004. The episodes were later released in 2 part season sets, part 1 was released on May 22, 2007 which had the first 12 episodes, and part 2 was released on September 18, 2007, this had the final 14 episodes of the season.[2]
Story
The season primarily focuses on the Turtles slowly coming into conflict with the Foot Clan. After their lair is destroyed by Baxter Stockman's mousers, they find a new home elsewhere in the sewers and also gain new allies in the form of April O'Neil and Casey Jones. The Turtles foil the plans of the Shredder, Hun, and Stockman on numerous occasions before Shredder offers Leonardo a peace offering in exchange for their service, citing an unknown evil they must face together. Splinter reveals the Shredder and Hun's hand in murdering his master Hamato Yoshi, and the two sides come to blows in a battle that seemingly ends in the Shredder's defeat. However, unknown to the Turtles, the Shredder survives, and after his ninjas savagely ambush and wound Leonardo, destroys April's home and believes them dead, though the Turtles, Splinter, Casey and April survive and depart for Casey's family's farm house in rural New York. After Leonardo's wounds heal and their resolve is restored, the group returns to New York to face the Foot Clan. However, after their triumph against the Shredder, Splinter vanishes, and after following a lead from a mysterious group known as the "Guardians", the Turtles discover the Utroms, an alien race hiding amongst humanity, and are unable to save Splinter from them before being teleported into space.
Cast
Main cast
- Michael Sinterniklaas as Leonardo, the leader of the Turtles. (26 episodes)
- Wayne Grayson as Michelangelo,the Turtles' youngest funniest member and a large source of comic relief. (26 episodes)
- Sam Riegel as Donatello,the Turtles' genius engineer who is the primary source of their devices and vehicles. (26 episodes)
- Frank Frankson as Raphael, Leonardo's second-in-command who often argues with him. (26 episodes)
- Darren Dunstan as Splinter, the Turtles' sensei and adopted father, the former pet of Hamato Yoshi. (22 episodes (has no lines in episode 26))
- Scottie Ray as Oroku Saki/The Shredder, the main antagonist of the series and leader of the Foot Clan, who murdered Hamato Yoshi. (13 episodes)
- Veronica Taylor as April O'Neil, the first human the Turtles and Splinter meet who is quickly integrated into their family. (16 episodes (has no lines in episode 15))
- Marc Thompson as Casey Jones, an ally of the Turtles who has a violent enmity with Hun. (12 episodes)
Recurring cast
- Greg Carey as Hun, the Shredder's second-in-command, a hulking gangster who leads the Purple Dragons on behalf of his master.
- Scott Williams as Baxter Stockman, a brilliant, maniacal scientist working for the Foot who is mutilated every time he fails the Shredder.
Crew
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was produced by Mirage Studios, 4 Kids Entertainment, 4Kids Productions, and Dong Woo Animation and distributed by 4 Kids Entertainment and was aired on Fox's Saturday morning kids' block in the US.[3] The producers were Gary Richardson, Frederick U. Fierst, and Joellyn Marlow for the American team; Tae Ho Han was the producer for the Korean team.[3] The entire season was directed by Chuck Patton. The writers for season one were Michael Ryan, Marty Isenberg, Eric Luke, and Greg Johnson.
Episodes
| No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | TV broadcast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Things Change" | Chuck Patton[4] | Michael Ryan[4] | February 8, 2003[4] | S01E01 |
|
In the midst of an intense training session with Master Splinter, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are attacked by Mouser robots, which tear asunder their underground New York City home and separate them from their sensei. With their lair destroyed, the Turtles must search for their Master and find a new home.
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| 2 | 2 | "A Better Mousetrap" | Chuck Patton[5] | Marty Isenberg[5] | February 15, 2003[5] | S01E02 |
|
After the Turtles settle into their new lair, they discover the source of their Mouser problem: Stocktronics founder and CEO, Dr. Baxter Stockman. Donatello repairs a disabled Mouser and the Turtles track it through the sewers, where coincidentally they stumble upon April O'Neil, a young apprentice fleeing the wrath of Dr. Stockman.
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| 3 | 3 | "Attack of the Mousers" | Chuck Patton[6] | Eric Luke[6] | February 22, 2003[6] | S01E03 |
|
After fainting from their initial encounter, April O'Neil wakes up in the Turtles' lair. It is there April learns of the Turtles' origin, and they all agree that Baxter Stockman and his rampaging Mousers must be stopped.
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| 4 | 4 | "Meet Casey Jones" | Chuck Patton[7] | Michael Ryan[7] | March 1, 2003[7] | S01E04 |
|
During a sparring session, Raphael lets his anger get the best of him and almost hurts Michelangelo seriously. He decides to go "topside" to cool off and meets someone filled with more anger than him: a streetwise vigilante named Casey Jones.
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| 5 | 5 | "Nano" | Chuck Patton[8] | Eric Luke[8] | March 8, 2003[8] | S01E05 |
|
A small-time thief goes on a crime spree when he stumbles upon a form of artificial intelligence made up of nanotechnology. When the crook and his ward reach April O'Neil's new antique shop, "2nd Time Around," they face off against Casey and the Turtles.
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| 6 | 6 | "Darkness on the Edge of Town" | Chuck Patton[9] | Marty Isenberg[9] | March 15, 2003[9] | S01E06 |
|
After a blackout knocks out the lights in the lair, the Turtles go topside to investigate. Once above ground, the Turtles encounter the mysterious Foot Clan gathering artifacts from around the city.
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| 7 | 7 | "The Way of Invisibility" | Chuck Patton[10] | Marty Isenberg[10] | March 22, 2003[10] | S01E07 |
|
Casey Jones becomes an unwanted house-guest in the Turtles' lair, so Raphael takes him topside to get some much needed air. During a routine skirmish with a street gang known as the Purple Dragons, Raph and Casey encounter the Foot Tech Ninja, whose cyber-armor enhances their strength and speed while giving them invisibility. Raphael is kidnapped and then interrogated by Hun, while Casey escapes to get help.
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| 8 | 8 | "Fallen Angel" | Chuck Patton[11] | Marty Isenberg[11] | March 29, 2003[11] | S01E08 |
|
Angel, a girl Casey knows from the neighborhood, is going through her initiation to join the Purple Dragons. Casey fears her going down the wrong path and tries to stop her from joining the gang with the help of the Turtles.
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| 9 | 9 | "Garbageman" | Chuck Patton[12] | Eric Luke[12] | April 5, 2003[12] | S01E09 |
|
When homeless people start to disappear mysteriously, the Turtles set out to investigate. Their search leads them to a garbage-filled island where the homeless are being used as slaves by the villainous Garbageman.
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| 10 | 10 | "The Shredder Strikes, Part 1" | Chuck Patton[13] | Michael Ryan[13] | April 12, 2003[13] | S01E10 |
|
Leonardo meets a mysterious man named Oroku Saki, who appears to be the leader of the Foot Clan; despite previous skirmishes with the Foot, Leo is offered a truce and a chance to fight against a "greater evil". Almost taken in by the offer, Leo's brothers encourage him to consult Master Splinter. They soon learn the true nature of the Foot and the significance of their emblem. Based on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Volume One Issue #1, "The Turtles origin is told
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| 11 | 11 | "The Shredder Strikes, Part 2" | Chuck Patton[14] | Michael Ryan[14] | April 19, 2003[14] | S01E11 |
|
Oroku Saki reveals himself as the Shredder and exclaims, "Those who are not with me are against me, and I crush anyone who stands against me!" The Turtles soon find themselves outmatched and make a hasty retreat. Concurrently, Master Splinter searches for his sons and prepares a counteroffensive. Based on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Volume One Issue #1, "The Turtles origin is told
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| 12 | 12 | "The Unconvincing Turtle Titan" | Chuck Patton[15] | Marty Isenberg[15] | May 3, 2003[15] | S01E12 |
|
Michelangelo yearns to use his fighting abilities to help others in the city, leading him to create his alter ego: Turtle Titan. While attempting to team-up with his superhero inspiration, Silver Sentry, Mikey must battle his hero's arch-nemesis, Dr. Malignus. Villain: Dr. Malignus | ||||||
| 13 | 13 | "Notes from the Underground, Part 1" | Chuck Patton[16] | Eric Luke[16] | May 10, 2003[16] | S01E13 |
|
While Donatello examines a pair of mysterious crystals, the lair's perimeter alarm is triggered after the crystals begin to glow. The Turtles investigate and find tracks indicating the presence of some unknown creature. These tracks lead them deep underground where they uncover an abandoned Foot Genetics Lab.
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| 14 | 14 | "Notes from the Underground, Part 2" | Chuck Patton[17] | Greg Johnson[17] | May 17, 2003[17] | S01E14 |
|
Inside the Foot Genetics Lab, the Turtles learn of past experiments that turned human subjects into monsters. The brothers soon encounter a group of these creatures who are at first hostile, but eventually become allies. The Turtles now find themselves helping these creatures evade the attacks of similar, but mindless monsters. This new partnership takes the Turtles deeper into the seemingly haunted catacombs, where creatures, and now Donatello, have disappeared.
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| 15 | 15 | "Notes from the Underground, Part 3" | Chuck Patton[18] | Greg Johnson[18] | May 24, 2003[18] | S01E15 |
|
The source of the mysterious crystals found in the lair appears to be an ancient subterranean city. This site is also the location where Donatello and the Turtles' monster allies disappear. The city is inhabited by the sole survivor of an ancient race; although he claims wanting to return the creatures to their original form, his true intentions remain unknown.
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| 16 | 16 | "The King" | Chuck Patton[19] | Michael Ryan[19] | May 31, 2003[19] | S01E16 |
|
With the Foot scouring the sewers, the Turtles move in with April. When the water heater breaks down, Donatello goes down to the basement to fix it. Here Don meets April's tenant, Kirby, an artist whose mysterious power opens an adventure to another dimension.
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| 17 | 17 | "The Shredder Strikes Back, Part 1" | Chuck Patton[20] | Eric Luke[20] | June 7, 2003[20] | S01E17 |
|
During an early morning training run, Leonardo encounters a legion of Foot Ninja and Hun. A thunderstorm develops not long before Leo encounters a new foe, the Foot Elite. As he becomes overwhelmed, Leo witnesses the return of an unexpected enemy: the Shredder.
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| 18 | 18 | "The Shredder Strikes Back, Part 2" | Chuck Patton[21] | Eric Luke[21] | June 14, 2003[21] | S01E18 |
|
After being thrown through a window into April's apartment, Leonardo lies unconscious while his brothers and Master Splinter defend against waves of attacking Foot Ninja. Desiring revenge, the Shredder seeks to destroy the Turtles and their allies at any cost.
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| 19 | 19 | "Tales of Leo" | Chuck Patton[22] | Marty Isenberg[22] | September 13, 2003[22] | S01E19 |
|
After barely escaping the Shredder's attack, the Turtles, Splinter, Casey and April head to the old farmhouse of Casey's grandmother. As Leonardo lies unconscious, each member of his family tells Leo a tale of his early adventures, hoping their voices will rouse him back to consciousness.
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| 20 | 20 | "The Monster Hunter" | Chuck Patton[23] | Michael Ryan[23] | September 20, 2003[23] | S01E20 |
|
Still recuperating at the old farmhouse, the Turtles try to keep themselves busy. Raphael helps Leonardo forge new katana blades while Michelangelo, Donatello and Casey deal with the overzealous Abigail Finn, who hopes to catch the legendary "Green Man of the Woods."
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| 21 | 21 | "Return to New York, Part 1" | Chuck Patton[24] | Marty Isenberg[24] | September 27, 2003[24] | S01E21 |
|
Thinking he has destroyed his enemies, the Shredder is not prepared for a surprise attack on his headquarters by the Turtles and Splinter. With April providing computer intel at the lair, the Turtles work their way up to the Shredder, floor by floor.
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| 22 | 22 | "Return to New York, Part 2" | Chuck Patton[25] | Marty Isenberg[25] | October 4, 2003[25] | S01E22 |
|
Continuing their assault, the Turtles and Splinter encounter mutant clones in a Foot Genetics Lab and a near indomitable foe, the Foot Mystic Ninjas. The Turtles finally make it to the Shredder's throne room, but they are interrupted by an exosuit-clad Baxter Stockman, who hopes to get revenge on both the Shredder and the Turtles.
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| 23 | 23 | "Return to New York, Part 3" | Chuck Patton[26] | Michael Ryan[26] | October 11, 2003[26] | S01E23 |
|
With Baxter Stockman causing a problem for everyone, the Turtles work with the Shredder to stop him. Just as soon as Stockman is out of the way, the Turtles enter a rooftop battle. With help from a mysterious group of warriors known as the Guardians, the Turtles enter what looks to be a fight to the finish against the Shredder.
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| 24 | 24 | "Lone Raph and Cub" | Chuck Patton[27] | Eric Luke[27] | October 18, 2003[27] | S01E24 |
|
With the Shredder defeated, his headquarters destroyed, and the Foot in disarray, the Turtles turn to a new problem: Master Splinter is missing. Angry and confused, Raphael impatiently heads out to find his sensei only to be thrust into a solo adventure helping a headstrong kid, Tyler, against ruthless mobsters.
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| 25 | 25 | "The Search for Splinter, Part 1" | Chuck Patton[28] | Greg Johnson[28] | October 25, 2003[28] | S01E25 |
|
After a frustrating and exhaustive search for Splinter, the Turtles' suspicions turn towards the Guardians. This suspicion leads them to an austere building with the company name TCRI—the same name on the canister of ooze responsible for their mutation. Following their only lead, the Turtles enlist April and Casey to help them get inside.
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| 26 | 26 | "The Search for Splinter, Part 2" | Chuck Patton[29] | Greg Johnson[29] | November 1, 2003[29] | S01E26 |
|
The Turtles manage to infiltrate the TCRI building, discovering there is more to the employees and to the building itself than meets the eye. They manage to find an unconscious Splinter in a stasis tank, but soon find themselves transported to a place unknown.
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References
- ↑ Season One Episode list with detailed synopses at the Official Ninja Turtles website
- ↑ TMNT DVD releases on Official Site ninjaturtles.com. retrieved on February 15, 2008
- 1 2 "TMNT credits on Dongwoo Animation". Dongwoo Animation Co. Archived from the original on December 19, 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-01.
- 1 2 3 Things Change Ninja Turtles Official Website. February 15, 2008
- 1 2 3 A Better Mousetrap Ninja Turtles Official Website. February 15, 2008
- 1 2 3 Attack of the Mousers Ninja Turtles Official Website. February 15, 2008
- 1 2 3 Meet Casey Jones Ninja Turtles Official Website. February 15, 2008
- 1 2 3 Nano Ninja Turtles Official Website. February 15, 2008
- 1 2 3 Darkness on the Edge of Town Ninja Turtles Official Website. February 15, 2008
- 1 2 3 The Way of Invisibility Ninja Turtles Official Website. February 15, 2008
- 1 2 3 Fallen Angel Ninja Turtles Official Website. February 15, 2008
- 1 2 3 Garbageman episode Ninja Turtles Official Website. February 15, 2008
- 1 2 3 The Shredder Strikes, Part 1 Ninja Turtles Official Website. February 15, 2008
- 1 2 3 The Shredder Strikes, Part 2 Ninja Turtles Official Website. February 15, 2008
- 1 2 3 The Shredder Strikes, Part 3 Ninja Turtles Official Website. February 15, 2008
- 1 2 3 Notes from the Underground, Part 1 Ninja Turtles Official Website. February 15, 2008
- 1 2 3 Notes from the Underground, Part 2 Ninja Turtles Official Website. February 15, 2008
- 1 2 3 Notes from the Underground, Part 3 Ninja Turtles Official Website. February 15, 2008
- 1 2 3 The King Ninja Turtles Official Website. February 15, 2008
- 1 2 3 The Shredder Strikes Back, Part 1 Ninja Turtles Official Website. February 15, 2008
- 1 2 3 The Shredder Strikes Back, Part 2 Ninja Turtles Official Website. February 15, 2008
- 1 2 3 Tales of Leo Ninja Turtles Official Website. February 15, 2008
- 1 2 3 The Monster Hunter Ninja Turtles Official Website. February 15, 2008
- 1 2 3 Return to New York, Part 1 Ninja Turtles Official Website. February 15, 2008
- 1 2 3 Return to New York, Part 2 Ninja Turtles Official Website. February 15, 2008
- 1 2 3 Return to New York, Part 3 Ninja Turtles Official Website. February 15, 2008
- 1 2 3 Lone Raph and Cub Ninja Turtles Official Website. February 15, 2008
- 1 2 3 The Search for Splinter, Part 1 Ninja Turtles Official Website. February 15, 2008
- 1 2 3 The Search for Splinter, Part 2 Ninja Turtles Official Website. February 15, 2008
External links
- Season One Episode list with detailed synopses at the Official Ninja Turtles website
- Episode list with synopses at TV.com
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