Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 4

Ok ive noticed that a few reviewers were questioning the fact that Raphael and Donatello have different voices in a few episodes. There is nothing wrong with your DVDs, the reason their voices sound different is because the people doing their voices were different. For whatever reason Rob Paulsen and Barry Gordon, who usually voiced Raphael and Donatello, were not there at the recording of those episodes. Each character had their own back up actor in case someone was absent for the recording of the episode, so that is all it is. Since the 1989 Season had so many episodes that happends from time to time with Donatello (and Bebop), Raphael, Shredder and Krang. So for future releases dont be surprised if you notice that again. After the 1989 Season most of the usual voice actors were there for the recordings except for some of the last seasons. So anyway, sorry for the long explanation but that is what it is so everyone knows.

As far as the DVD goes, I still think Artisan should have just released the whole 1989 Season in a boxset (like most tv shows) instead of these twice a year, 12 episode, dvds. But I can't complain too much since they are releasing all of them in order, even though it will take years before all the episodes are out. The quality of the episodes are good but everything else is just pretty much bare bones. It would be nice if there were at least a few extras included, but again it is still nice they continue to release TMNT on DVD. With a cheap price it is a good purchase, but just dont expect anything exstensive.

The original classic mutant-teens are back, the new series is great, but it's great to see these "still very watchable" toons, My 4 and 8 year-old (DAUGHTERS!) enjoy and ask to see these as a companion to the 21st cen. Counterparts. The FOX series just hit 100 episodes, combined with the original 193, TMNTs will be at 300+ before the end of the year. CONGRATs boys!

Don't be fooled by the VOLUME "4" This volume is continuing (not yet completing) the 35 episode season THREE, running September of 1989 to July 1990, their last season as a strictly syndicated series before CBS, picked them up for the remainder of their 10 years on air. The THIRD vol. contained the first 12 episodes of that season, VOL. 4 contains the next 12.

Notable stories from this season containing the introductions of two major characters recognizable from the 2000s: CASEY JONES (episode 39) and LEATHERHEAD (episode 41). In these earlier incarnations these character's are less like their FOX or their Mirage comicbook selves, but are still a pleasure to watch. Unfortunately this volume just missed including USAGI YOJIMBO (episode 43)

Here's the running order:

The Old Switcheroo

Attack of the Big MACC

Camera Bugged

The Four Musketurtles

Turtles at the Earth's Core

Beware the Lotus

Take Me to Your Leader

Blast from the Past

Casey Jones - Outlaw Hero

Turtles, Turtles Everywhere

Leatherhead: Terror of the Swamp

Corporate Raiders from Dimension X

Note: 5 stars series, but 3 for DVD extras.

Vol. 4 of the original TMNT cartoon covers the next 1/4 of season 3, bringing us to halfway through the season. This volume is where some alternate voices are brought in for a few of the characters, notably Raph and Don, who both also would voice them in a few future episodes; Raph's in the "Turtle Terminator" and an entire storyarc that featured the Turtles vacationing in Europe; Don's in the "Turtle Terminator" as well, plus Leatherhead's debut episode and an episode of the Europe arc.

TMNT alum Casey Jones finally gets to make his animated debut in "Casey Jones: Outlaw Hero." He appeared in a few other episodes as well, such as "Night of the Rogues," "Leonardo Cuts Loose," and "Cyber Turtles." On an interesting note, this show's version of Casey was never seen without his trademark hockey mask.

The tenth episode marks Baxter's return in "Return of the Fly." Interestingly enough, it also features the Rat King as a somewhat ally for the Turtles, who briefly appears to give them some info when Shredder captures April yet again. Personally, I liked this development for him, as it made his true allegiences unclear. While he would still appear to menace the green teens, he would also appear in other episodes like this one to unexpectedly give the Turtles info or advice. Too bad his character was all but runied in season 8 when he was turned into a trench-coat and fedora clad gun-toting assassin.

This also has one of my favorite episodes in the series, and hands down the funniest: Cowabunga Shredhead. In it, Shredder and Krang attempt to make duplicates of the world leaders in order to take over the world. Shredder also attempts to make a duplicate of Michelangelo in order to infiltrate the Turtles and destroy them. Thanks to Bebop and Rocksteady's usual meddling though, everything goes wrong and in the end Shredder winds up thinking he's the real Michelangelo. Shredder's moments believing he's the orange-clad turtle are absolutely hilarious, and hands down some of the best-written humor I've seen on television. The scene where he screams, "Turtle Power!" at the top of his lungs alone is priceless.

Like with volume 3, I think the actual animated main menu is incredibly cool looking, and it's great that the video quality has increased with each volume(compare this to vol. 1's grainy quality). Sadly, I'd at least like to see a few extras. Maybe some interviews with the writers or VAs, or how the cartoon was able to last a whopping 10 seasons, or even the classic TMNT toy commercials that featured clips of the cartoon with dubbed-over dialoge. Oh well, hopefully Lion's Gate finally realizes this sooner than later. Until then, I'm at least happy that I can add yet another classic childhood memory to my DVD collection.

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