Complete Guide to TMNT

COMPLETE GUIDE TO TMNT TIMELINE 1983: Struggling artists Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird came up with the Turtles. Leonardo 1984: In March 1984, East- man and Laird created a new company, Mirage Studios, so named because there was Leonardo is the TMNT leader, He is focused, always prepared and takes the art of Ninjitsu very seriously. He no actual studio other than Laird's living room. wears a blue bandana, 1984: Eastman and Laird printed 3,000 copies of their first comic book, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. 1985: In January 1985, they completed issue #2 and quickly received orders for 15,000 copies, which was so successful that distributors demanded 30,000 reprints of # 1, and even more of a second print of #2. #3 fetched orders totaling 50,000 copies. Raphael Raphael wears the red bandana and is the darkest of the four 1986: Playmates Toys expressed interest in pro- ducing TMNT action figures, but the comic's PG-13 atti- tude wouldn't fit Playmates' 4-8 year old target audience. So to make the Turtles viable for the younger set, the Turtles had to soften up. turtles. He can be short- tempered and anti-social and loves rap and punk music. 1987: Before Playmates would commit to a full toyline for the Turtles, they tested the waters with a five-part cartoon mini-series. 1988-1996: The show was so successfull Playmates ordered more episodes, and the show stayed on the air from 1988 - 1996 for a total of 188 episodes in the regular series. Michaelangelo The most laid back of the TMNT and loves to party and have fun. Always upbeat and helps lighten up the others with his sense of humor. He 1988: Playmates produced their first TMNT toys. wears an orange bandana and loves pizza. 1988-1992: About $1.1 billion worth of toys were sold, making the Turtles the #3 top-selling toy figures ever at the time, behind only G.I. Joe and Star Wars. 1988: The cartoon series aired in the UK, but even the toned down version was still heavily edited for broadcast in the UK and much of Europe. Donatello 1989: The Turtles debuted in The brains of the TMNT. He's their first video game. well versed in mathematics, 1990: Pizza Hut sponsored the Coming Out of Their Shell Tour, a stage musical engineering and computers and can fix just about any- thing. Donatello wears a that featured the Turtles as a purple bandana. rock band. 1990: The Turtles hit the big screen with the live-action film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles rakeing in over $200 million at the worldwide box office. 1990: Over 250,000 turtles were imported into Britain to feed the demand of young Turtles fans who wanted Master Splinter - Splinter is the adoptive father and the sensei of all the them as pets after seeing the cartoon series. 1991: Secret of the Ooze was released earning just $78 million. Turtles. He's wise, 1991: The Turtles came mature and is under fire from the American trained in Ninjitsu. Farm Bureau (AFB) in 1991, when they starred in the Random House book Teen- age Mutant Ninja Turtles ABCS for a Better Planet. 1993: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III was released earning just $42 million. April O'Neil - She's one 1995: Eastman and Laird of the TMNT's best sold the rights to the black and white comic to Image Comics. friends. The Turtles have saved her life several times. She's 1997-1998: Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation live-action TV series ran. had careers as both a writer and lab assis- 1997: Due to the overwhelm- ing desire for kids in the UK to have turtles as pets the tant and now runs her European Union banned the sale of the most popular breed, red-eared terrapins. father's antique store. 2000: Eastman sold his stake in the Turtles to Laird. 2007: The computer-animat- ed film TMNT was released making $95 million at the box office. Shredder - Shredder is pure evil. He is a Ninja master whose goals include conquering the world and destroying 2009: Laird sold the rights to the TMNT to Viacom. 2012: The original drawing of the Turtles sold at auction for $71,700. the TMNT. 2012: A New Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon airs. 2013: The new TMNT movie will air. TR Sources http://www.kldzworld.com/article/5610-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-tv-show-facts http://mentalfloss.com/article/30862/complete-history-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles RIPT http://turtlepedia.wikia.com/