Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Four ordinary pet turtles are transformed into talking, pizza-loving teenage fighters after exposure to a strange green mutagen, and the man who raised them, Hamato Yoshi, is changed into their wise mentor, Splinter. He trains them in ninjutsu and gives each turtle a distinct personality and role, so they can operate as a team in New York City. Alongside TV reporter April O'Neil, the turtles clash with the armored villain Shredder and the otherworldly schemer Krang, juggling slapstick humor, action-packed brawls, and occasional moments of sincerity without revealing future twists or finales.

Created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, the 1987 animated series brought the comic book heroes to Saturday morning TV, leaning into comedy for a younger audience. Voice talent includes Cam Clarke, Barry Gordon, Townsend Coleman, Michael Gough, and Peter Renaday, who give each character a memorable sound and personality.

The show left a big mark on pop culture, turning phrases like "Cowabunga" into shorthand for rebellious fun and making pizza an essential part of the turtles' identity. Its bright characters and distinctive designs showed up everywhere, from toys and lunchboxes to arcade machines and tie-in merchandise, and it helped turn the franchise into a multimedia phenomenon that influenced cartoons and toys through the late 80s and 90s.

On the whole the series scored well with viewers, holding a 7.8/10 average from nearly 800 votes, and it was praised for balancing goofy humor with punchy action that appealed to kids. Themes of brotherhood, loyalty, and learning discipline run through many episodes, and while the show aims for laughs, it also gives the turtles clear motivations and an emotional center that kept audiences tuning in week after week.