Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Complete First and Second Seasons (2012 - 2014/Paramount/Nickelodeon DVD)

Picture: B Sound: B Extras: B- Episodes: B-

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have had many incarnations over the years; some better than others, to say the least. The new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series that premiered on Nickelodeon in 2012 is a 3D-rendered (if not here in 3D) animated series that was an instant success reminiscent of the original 1980s series. Now working on its Fifth Season, the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has once again launched a successful line of toys/merchandise with a rabid fan-base, both adult and child alike.

The series takes many elements from the comic series as well as the original animated series, but makes them its own. The First Season follows a similar storyline to the original series as a ninjutsu master named Hamato Yoshi (Splinter) and his four turtles are exposed to a chemical called Mutagen; transforming them so that the turtles are humanoid and Splinter is rat-like. Splinter and his humanoid turtles retreat to the sewers of New York where he trains them in the ways of ninjutsu and raises them as his own. Throughout the first season and into the Second Season we see the turtles (essentially) face a ''villain of the week,'' as new good guys and bad guys alike are introduced. The series leans heavily on the old comics, video games, films, and animated series to draw inspiration; which is a good thing. Using older/familiar elements helps pull in old and new viewers, while keeping us acquainted with the established mythos.

This is a fun, fast paced series that is family friendly and can be fun for the whole family to watch.

Season One

DISC 1 - Rise of the Turtles:

Rise of the Turtles
Turtle Temper
New Friend, Old Enemy
I Think His Name is Baxter Stockman
Metal Head

SPECIAL FEATURES:
"Making Of" Animatics
Theme Song: Karaoke Music Video

DISC 2 - Enter Shredder:

Monkey Brains
Never Say Xever
The Gauntlet
Panic in the Sewers
Mousers Attack!
It Came From the Depths
New Girl in Town

SPECIAL FEATURES:
Animated Comic Books: (menu based)
Tales from the Turtle Lair, Part One
Tales from the Turtle Lair, Part Two
The Mutation of a Scene:
New Girl in Town

DISC 3 - Ultimate Showdown - Part 1:

I, Monster
The Alien Agenda
The Pulverizer
TCRI
Cockroach Terminator
Baxter's Gambit

SPECIAL FEATURES:
The Mutation of a Scene:
The Pulverizer
TCRI
Cockroach Terminator
Baxter's Gambit

DISC 4 - Ultimate Showdown - Part 2:

Enemy of My Enemy
Karai's Vendetta
The Pulverizer Returns!
Parasitica
Operation: Break Out
Showdown - Part 1 and Part 2

SPECIAL FEATURES:
Animated Comic Books: (menu based)
Tales from the Turtle Lair, Part Three
Tales from the Turtle Lair, Part Four
Tales from the Turtle Lair, Part Five
Tales from the Turtle Lair, Part Six

Season Two

DISC 1 - Mutagen Mayhem:

The Mutation Situation
Follow the Leader
Invasion of the Squirrelanoids
Mutagen Man Unleashed
Mikey Gets Shellacne
Target: April O'Neil

SPECIAL FEATURES:
Mutation of a Scene: The Mutation Situation
Mutation of a Scene: Follow the Leader
Mutation of a Scene: Invasion of the Squirrelanoids
Mutation of a Scene: Mutagen Man Unleashed
Mutation of a Scene: Mikey Gets Shellacne
Mutation of a Scene: Target: April O'Neil
Channel 6 News Special Report: Creatures of the Night

DISC 2 - The Good, the Bad, and Casey Jones:

Slash and Destroy
The Kraang Conspiracy
The Good, The Bad, and Casey Jones
Fungus Humungous
Metalhead Rewired
Of Rats and Men

SPECIAL FEATURES:
Mutation of a Scene: Slash and Destroy
Mutation of a Scene: The Kraang Conspiracy
Mutation of a Scene: The Good, The Bad, and Casey Jones
Mutation of a Scene: Fungus Humungous
Mutation of a Scene: Metalhead Rewired
Mutation of a Scene: Of Rats and Men
Meet Casey Jones

DISC 3 - Showdown in Dimension X - (Part 1):

The Manhattan Project: Part 1
The Manhattan Project: Part 2
Mazes & Mutants
The Lonely Mutation of Baxter Stockman
Newtralized!
The Wrath of Tiger Claw
Pizza Face


DISC 4 - Showdown in Dimension X - (Part 2):

The Legend of the Kuro Kabuto
Plan 10
Vengeance is Mine
A Chinatown Ghost Story
Into Dimension X!
The Invasion: Part 1
The Invasion: Part 2

The technical features are well done, as any modern animated series should be displayed. This being a CGI series, there isn't the highest level of detail, but is very well done. The picture is nice in it's anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 widescreen image that has bright colors and solid enough blacks, but the CGI on DVD doesn't look the best and would be much better served on Blu-ray. The sound is also adequate in a lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo that comes heavy from the front without surround action to enhance the viewing experience.

The extras in this box set are nice, effort is put forth and they are enjoyable to sift through. The special features include:

• Note that the special features are spread out among all discs -
  "Making Of" Animatics
  Theme Song: Karaoke Music Video
  
  Animated Comic Books: (menu based)
  Tales from the Turtle Lair, Part One
  Tales from the Turtle Lair, Part Two
  The Mutation of a Scene:
  New Girl in Town
  
  The Mutation of a Scene:
  The Pulverizer
  TCRI
  Cockroach Terminator
  Baxter's Gambit
  
  Animated Comic Books: (menu based)
  Tales from the Turtle Lair, Part Three
  Tales from the Turtle Lair, Part Four
  Tales from the Turtle Lair, Part Five
  Tales from the Turtle Lair, Part Six
  
  Mutation of a Scene: The Mutation Situation
  Mutation of a Scene: Follow the Leader
  Mutation of a Scene: Invasion of the Squirrelanoids
  Mutation of a Scene: Mutagen Man Unleashed
  Mutation of a Scene: Mikey Gets Shellacne
  Mutation of a Scene: Target: April O'Neil
  Channel 6 News Special Report: Creatures of the Night
  
  Mutation of a Scene: Slash and Destroy
  Mutation of a Scene: The Kraang Conspiracy
  Mutation of a Scene: The Good, The Bad, and Casey Jones
  Mutation of a Scene: Fungus Humungous
  Mutation of a Scene: Metalhead Rewired
  Mutation of a Scene: Of Rats and Men
  Meet Casey Jones
  
  Mutation of a Scene: The Manhattan Project
  
  Mutation of a Scene: Mazes & Mutants
  Mutation of a Scene: The Lonely Mutation of Baxter Stockman
  Mutation of a Scene: Newtralized!
  Mutation of a Scene: The Wrath of Tiger Claw
  Mutation of a Scene: Pizza Face
  
  Mutation of a Scene: The Legend of the Kuro Kabuto
  Mutation of a Scene: Plan 10
  Mutation of a Scene: Vengeance is Mine
  Mutation of a Scene: A Chinatown Ghost Story
  Mutation of a Scene: Into Dimension X!
  Mutation of a Scene: The Invasion
  Channel 6 News Special Report: Ooze-Gate 2014

- Michael P. Dougherty II