Kids growing up in the late 1980s/early 1990s had almost no choice but to love Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. From their love of martial arts to their passion for pizza, those heroes on a half-shell were a legitimate cultural touchstone, thanks to their animated series and, yes, the 1990 motion picture that brought the turtles to the big screen for the first time.
In this episode, we kick off a whole new mega-series as we skateboard through the turtles’ cinematic history, beginning with a chat all about that very first movie. We’ll discuss where director Steve Barron’s original vision could’ve taken the movie, how it splits the difference between the Mirage comics and the animated show, and why it still holds up so damn well.
So pick up a slice, sharpen your sai, and prepare to stomp out the Foot as we geek out about 1990’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Cowabunga indeed.