A brief history of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

A look back at Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were hard to explain when they emerged from the sewers in the 1980s, but that didn’t hurt their popularity. These stories aired on WJBK on December 24, 1987 and on WITI on April 19, 1990.

Back in the mid-1980s, four reptilian crime fighters took the world by storm when these unique action figures debuted on store shelves.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are four brothers named Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael who are adept at martial arts. The heroes, named after artists from the Italian renaissance period, come equipped with their own signature weapons – a staff, sais, nunchucks, and swords – and the iconic party wagon, which served as the turtles' transportation.

Inspiration behind the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

In 1983, comic book artists Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman created the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, four genetically mutated reptiles living in the New York City sewers with their rodent sensei Master Splinter and spending their days fighting crime and indulging in pizza.

When were the TMNT toys released?

Playmate Toys created a toy line from the comic book and debuted the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures in 1988.

The toy manufacturer stipulated that an animated series should be created along with the toys with a lighter tone given the gloomy nature of the comic. And the TMNT cartoon debuted on Dec. 14, 1987.

Within the first four years the TMNT action figures were on the market over $1 billion were sold worldwide, making them the third-best-selling toy franchise ever at that time, according to the New York Times.

Images of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles show the articulated figures stylized to match the original sketch done by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. They recreated the sketch by collecting them all and snapping their bases together. Each win

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Why are the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles so popular?

Karl Aaronian, senior vice president of Marketing for Playmates Toys, explained to FOX Television Stations the appeal of the action figures for fans.

"It’s definitely a combination: there is balance of humor and action, and nostalgic appeal. In the 80’s and 90’s, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were a true phenomenon, completely dominating the action figure category (up to a 70% market share – completely unheard of, even to this day!). Also noteworthy, the original figures didn’t have any chase or exclusive figures, which is different than todays’ retail landscape."

"The characters are relatable. They have real skills, are kids themselves and are part of a very unique family – and they live in a magical underground world, that in most kid’s eyes, really exists. Nothing has come before or since that has knocked TMNT off its mutant hero mantle – and many have tried."

What toy experts said about the Ninja Turtles

The Ninja Turtles had appeal because they were tactile, plastic, and limbs that can bend easily with their weapons which kids could attach to the turtles utility belts, one writer shared in a review of the toys for Salon.com last year.

Image of the Mutations Mix ‘N Match Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, designed after the Paramount+ animated series Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles enable fans to swap out heads and limbs between each of the collectible figures to create unique

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Meanwhile, in a 2013 TMNT toy review for the publication Wired.com, another reporter wrote in that most of the action figures stand very well independently. And the toys are ideal because they fit the theme or mood of that character.

The writer added that the toys are packaged in a way with stretchy plastic ties holding the pieces in place. The toys are equipped with plenty of detailed accessories adding to the versatility to play with the action figures.

TMNT toy awards

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have received multiple toy awards through the years, including "Action Figure of the Year" for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Mayhem characters released by Playmates Toys and "Vehicle of the Year" for the TMNT Mutant Mayhem Pizza Fire Van from Playmates Toys.

These toys were inspired by the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem" movie released in 2023.

And last year, the Ninja Turtles toys received a nomination for the National Toy Hall of Fame.

Most expensive Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ever sold

Prices for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have varied through the years, but the priciest one on the market is the Undercover Raph, which is currently valued at $3,500.

Released in 1994, this version of Raphael features him dressed in a fedora and a real fabric trench coat complemented with spy accessories including an undercover mutant camera, private eye pistol and his signature ninja sais.

Playmate Toys also created a ‘94 series with the other turtle characters dressed in trench coats and fedoras with their own detective gadgets.

TMNT today

Playmate Toys stopped making the original version of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1997, but the toy manufacturer has created new iterations of the action figures, which are still circulating online and in stores for toy collectors seeking a little nostalgia from their childhood and the new generation of kids getting their first introduction to the "heroes in a half shell."

With the release of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem" movie in 2023, Playmates Toys released an updated version of the characters inspired by the popular film.

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