Cowabunga Dude!

90’s lovin’ readers, I have a tiny confession to make. But before I do that, I feel I should explain myself. One of four sisters, I grew up in a fairly ‘girly’ household playing dress up, barbies, and reading J-14. I’m not saying there were “girl” things and “boy” things to do as a kid, but I blame my impending confession on my gender. I…didn’t watch Ninja Turtles. I know what you’re thinking…(…that I’m lame? ...that I shouldn’t even call myself a lover of the 90’s without having watched TMNT?) Well, just cut it out. I fully recognize that TMNT ruled the decade. And I know the basics – it started off as comic book around late 80’s, and erupted with fame on TV in the 90’s. But still, I need to know more, like about the characters. So, I took it upon myself to do a bit of umm…fieldwork..,– which can be more accurately described as… chatting with pals on MSN. I am now slowly realizing what my childhood majorly lacked.

Study A – Leonardo

- * a n g i e * - says:
who was your favourite ninja turtle?
Chuck says:
Leonardo!
- * a n g i e * - says:
why?
Chuck says:
cause he's blue, has the best weapon (sword), and is quite brave

So between Chuck’s description of Leonardo as “quite brave”, and some of my own further research, I think it’s safe to say that Leo was sort of the alpha dog of the group. He was fair, and valiant, and took his martial arts studies seriously, like a good turtle should.

Study B – Donatello

- * a n g i e * - says

who was your favourite ninja turtle?

Miss Nicole says:

purple!

- * a n g i e * - says:

do you remember why?

Miss Nicole says:

I dunno, he was the brains of everything

My level headed, intellectual roommate chose Donatello, and it seems to make perfect sense. Apparently he was the most peaceful Ninja turtle, and used his brains over weapons to solve problems. Oh – and thiis guy was plain brilliant – inventor of the Turtle Van and the Turtle Blimp!

Study C – Michelangelo

- * a n g i e * - says:
who was your favourite ninja turtle?
ness says:
LOL Mikey!
- * a n g i e * - says:
how come?
ness says:
because he's fun like me! and says cool things like DUDE and RADICAL! and COWABUNGA!

So I might not have actually watched TMNT but I definitely copied the cool kids at school and said COWABUNGA. Michaleangelo was the fun turtle – laid back, relaxed, and eating pizza with anchovies most of the time. He wore the orange mask and had a sweet pair of numchucks too.

Study D - Raphael

- * a n g i e * - says:
Dave, who was your favourite ninja turtle?
Dave says:
michaelangelo
- * a n g i e * - says:
didn't ANYONE like raphael??
Dave says:
nah, he was a pretty angry and secluded ninja turtle, not very fun, or even useful

My friend Dave summed poor Raph up pretty well. Last but not least, he was the cynical figure of the four. Always sarcastic and probably the most violent, he often was instigating fights with others.

So there you have the stars behind all the hype- the TV show, the backpacks, the action figures, even the shoelaces that my cousin Mat stole from Zellers when he was five. As for where the “Turtle Power” lies today, Imagi Animation Studios released a comeback film , entitled TMNT in March of this year. The story seems to pick up where it left off : in the sewers of NY after the defeat of their arch nemesis , “The Shredder”, the troop has somewhat drifted. Leonardo and Master Splinter forge some unity into the group of turtles and once again, they save the city. Like many other passed crazes of the 90’s, I was not surprised to read that the movie received some pretty harsh reviews. Just like TGIF, the popularity of TMNT flourished in the 90’s and lacked it’s turtle power in the new millennium. As one critic and former fan of the turtles put it best, the movie “ is a bland, plain cheese when it shouldbe a supreme with extra anchovies.” Michelangelo would not be impressed.