After a successful 10 year run as an animated series on Saturday mornings and after school time slots, what would be next for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? How about an extra dimension and a new addition? Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation brought the live action movies to the small screen. The series used the costumes and sets from the last two movies. But this wasn’t a complete retread production since they spent money to create Venus De Milo. Ninja Turtles, The Next Mutation: Volume One shook up the comic book universe by introducing a female hero on the half shell.
Even though Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III wasn’t a box office dud, the box office was barely half of the previous entry. Turning the Turtles into a live action show made sense during this period when Power Rangers were all the rage. Kids got excited seeing people in monster suits battling it out versus paint swapping punches. Next Mutation was a natural transition by bringing the movie action down to the small screen to replace the animation. “East Meets West” was basically a movie split up into five parts. After it aired, the producers spliced it together and put it out on home video as a movie.
“East Meets West” has Raphael frustrated at his life like any teen. He gets into a fight with Foot Ninjas. Luckily Spinter saves his shell. The rodent master needs to get his four wards focused for their ongoing battle with Shredder. But he’s not their only enemy as Splinter gets warned that dragons are coming into their realm. The Dragonlord is coming. The Turtles only hope rests in the arrival of Venus de Milo a female mutant turtle.
Venus is a very controversial character since she wasn’t in the comic books. There are plenty of purists that view her as a reptile Cousin Oliver. But the character makes sense since it made the show less of a boys club. There was the female reporter that tagged along, but what little girl wants to merely carry a microphone? They want to dress up as a turtle and swing a sword. A teen boy who hooked onto the Turtles back in 1987 just might be having a daughter when Next Mutation hit the air. No dad wants to say, “Only boys can be turtles for Halloween.” Venus might rile up purists, but it was a relief for families tired of having to explain gender roles.
The rest of the season plays well with the big monsters battling the Turtles all around New York City and especially the sewers. The production levels reflect the low budget movies. It’s not a cheap looking series. This is the first 13 episodes of the series that only lasted a single season. Volume 2 with the remaining episodes is scheduled for Dec. 4. Hard to say why it didn’t stick around as long as the animated version. It has the same fun and action as the movies and the animated cartoons. Perhaps it was just too expensive of a production for children’s programming? Ninja Turtles, The Next Mutation: Volume One is perfect for anyone with kids wondering what happened after the three feature films.
The Episodes
“East Meets West” (5 parts), “The Staff of Bu-Ki,” “All in the Family,” “Silver and Gold,” “Turtles’ Night Out,” “Meet Dr. Quease,” “Windfall,” “Truce or Consequences” and “Mutant Reflections.”
The video is 1.33:1 full frame. Even though the show was post produced on video, there’s a sharpness to the image. All the colors of life in the sewer glow on the screen. The audio is stereo. It sounds like there was no real audio recorded on the sets actors inside monster suits sound muffled. The levels are fine for fighting over.
There are no bonus features.
Ninja Turtles, The Next Mutation: Volume One brings the live action turtles of the movies to the small screen. The show brings a female turtle into the mix to make it less of a boy’s club. The production levels look so much better than Power Rangers. This is a fun series for those who enjoy the Heroes on a Half Shell.
Shout! Factory presents Ninja Turtles, The Next Mutation: Volume One. Starring: Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, Michelangelo, Venus de Milo and Splinter. Boxset Contents: 13 Episodes on 2 DVDs. Released: September 4, 2012. Available at Amazon.com.
