Editing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (section)

==History==
===1983–1986: Conception and first comics===
[[File:Tmnt1cover.jpg|thumb|upright|Cover of ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' No. 1 (May 1984)]]
[[File:NH Marker for TMNT.jpg|thumb|[[New Hampshire historical markers|New Hampshire historical marker]] (#289) for the “Creation of the ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles''” in Dover]]
The comic book authors [[Kevin Eastman]] and [[Peter Laird]] met in Massachusetts and began working on illustrations together. In 1983, Laird invited Eastman to move in with him in [[Dover, New Hampshire]].<ref name="Fernandes">{{Cite web|last=Fernandes|first=Megan|title=The birthplace of ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'': Kevin Eastman recalls days in Dover|url=https://www.fosters.com/story/news/local/2021/07/27/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-kevin-eastman-dover-nh-origins-portsmouth-mini-con-peter-laird/7970644002/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-17|website=[[Foster's Daily Democrat]]|language=en-US|archive-date=October 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019221338/https://www.fosters.com/story/news/local/2021/07/27/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-kevin-eastman-dover-nh-origins-portsmouth-mini-con-peter-laird/7970644002/}}</ref> That November, Eastman drew a masked turtle standing on its hind legs armed with [[Nunchaku|nunchucks]] to make Laird laugh.<ref name="Mental Floss-2015">{{Cite web|date=2015-06-27|title=The complete history of ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles''|url=https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/30862/complete-history-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-17|website=[[Mental Floss]]|language=en|archive-date=January 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127221734/https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/30862/complete-history-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles}}</ref> Laird added the words "teenage mutant".<ref name="Fernandes" /> The concept parodied several elements popular in [[superhero comics]] of the time: the teenagers of ''[[New Teen Titans]],'' the mutants of ''[[Uncanny X-Men]]'' and the ninja skills and training of ''[[Daredevil (Marvel Comics series)|Daredevil]]'', combined with the comic tradition of [[funny animals]] such as [[Howard the Duck]].<ref name="Collins-2014">{{Cite magazine|last=Collins|first=Sean T.|date=2014-08-14|title=Cowabunga: how ''TMNT'' went from joke to blockbuster|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-news/how-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-went-from-in-joke-to-blockbuster-230484/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-09|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|language=en-US|archive-date=June 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220603073105/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-news/how-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-went-from-in-joke-to-blockbuster-230484/}}</ref>

Eastman and Laird developed the concept into a comic book. They considered giving the turtles Japanese names, but instead named them after the [[Italian Renaissance]] artists [[Leonardo da Vinci|Leonardo]], [[Donatello]], [[Raphael]] and [[Michelangelo]], which Laird said "felt just quirky enough to fit the concept".<ref name="Mental Floss-2015" /> They developed a backstory referencing further elements of ''Daredevil'': like [[Daredevil (Marvel Comics character)|Daredevil]], the Turtles are altered by radioactive material, and their [[sensei]], [[Splinter (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)|Splinter]], is a play on Daredevil's sensei, [[Stick (comics)|Stick]].<ref name="Collins-2014" />

In March 1984, Eastman and Laird founded a comic book company, [[Mirage Studios]], in their home.<ref name="Mental Floss-2015" /> Using money from a tax refund and a loan from Eastman's uncle, they printed copies of the first issue of ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Mirage Studios)|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'' and advertised it in ''Comics Buyer's Guide Magazine.<ref name="Mental Floss-2015" />'' This attracted the interest of comic distributors, and all 3,000 copies were sold in a few weeks.<ref name="Mental Floss-2015" /> Sales of further issues continued to climb.<ref name="Mental Floss-2015" />

===1987–1989: Toys, animation and video games===
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In 1987, Eastman and Laird licensed ''Turtles'' to [[Playmates Toys]].<ref name="Collins-2014" /> Between 1988 and 1997, Playmates produced [[Turtles toys|''Turtles'' toys]] including around 400 figures and dozens of vehicles and playsets. About US$1.1 billion of ''Turtles'' toys were sold in four years, making them the third-bestselling toy figures ever at the time, behind ''[[G.I. Joe|GI Joe]]'' and ''[[Kenner Star Wars action figures|Star Wars]]''.<ref name="Mental Floss-2015" />

Influenced by the success of ''G.I. Joe'', ''[[He-Man]]'' and ''[[Transformers]]'', which had promoted toy lines with animated series, Playmates worked with the animation studio [[Fred Wolf Films|Murakami-Wolf-Swenson]] to produce the first [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987 TV series)|''Turtles'' animated series]],<ref>{{Cite news|title=A bit of Ireland in those green ninja turtles|language=en-US|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1990/08/21/a-bit-of-ireland-in-those-green-ninja-turtles/4e5bcfb8-d14e-497a-acb2-fa5069f43fe6/|access-date=2021-10-11|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> which premiered in 1987 and ran for almost a decade.<ref name="Collins-2014" /> It introduced ''Turtles'' elements such as their color-coded masks, catchphrases, love of pizza and distinct personalities.<ref name="Collins-2014" /> To make it acceptable to parents and television networks, the series had a lighter tone than the comics, with no expletives, less violence and less threatening villains.<ref name="Mental Floss-2015" /> In the United Kingdom and some other European regions, the franchise was renamed ''Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles'' for the violent connotations of the word "ninja".<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-01-10|title=Secrets Of The Ooze: 15 BTS Facts About Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II|url=https://www.cbr.com/behind-the-scenes-tmnt-2-secret-of-the-ooze/|access-date=2021-10-11|website=CBR|language=en-US|archive-date=March 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303001322/https://www.cbr.com/behind-the-scenes-tmnt-2-secret-of-the-ooze/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Cohen|first=Susan|date=1991-04-07|title=KID VIDEO GAMES|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/magazine/1991/04/07/kid-video-games/0436d559-c2d9-4e66-9db4-0ddede435ea1/|access-date=2021-10-11|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=May 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517135939/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/magazine/1991/04/07/kid-video-games/0436d559-c2d9-4e66-9db4-0ddede435ea1/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (NES video game)|first ''Turtles'' video game]] was released for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] (NES) in 1989, the first of several developed by the Japanese company [[Konami]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Koch|first=Cameron|title=A history of ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' video games|url=https://www.techtimes.com/articles/162234/20160602/a-history-of-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtle-video-games.htm|url-status=live|website=Tech Times|date=June 2, 2016 |access-date=October 9, 2021|archive-date=October 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009161648/https://www.techtimes.com/articles/162234/20160602/a-history-of-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtle-video-games.htm}}</ref> It sold approximately four million copies, making it one of the bestselling NES games.<ref name="Mental Floss-2015" /> In response to concerns that the series was drifting from its origins, Eastman and Laird published an editorial in the comic in 1989, writing: "We've allowed the wacky side to happen, and enjoy it very much. All the while, though, we've kept the originals very much ours."<ref>[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Mirage Studios)|''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'']] vol. 1 No. 19, March 1989.</ref> Eastman later said they regretted approving some projects, and Laird wrote of his dislike for the softer tone of the animated series.<ref name="Mental Floss-2015" />

===1990s: First films, franchise expansion and commercial peak===
The franchise reached its commercial peak in the early 1990s.<ref name="Den of Geek-2019">{{Cite web|date=2019-03-30|title=The original ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' movie is still amazing|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-original-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-movie-is-still-amazing/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-18|website=Den of Geek|language=en-US|archive-date=June 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604084146/https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-original-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-movie-is-still-amazing/}}</ref> The [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990 film)|first ''Turtles'' film]] was released in 1990, featuring costumes designed by [[Jim Henson's Creature Shop]].<ref name="Den of Geek-2019" /> It was based more closely on the comic than the animated series, with a darker tone.<ref name="Den of Geek-2019" /> It was the fourth-highest-grossing film of 1990 and broke the record for the highest-grossing [[independent film]], earning more than US$200 million worldwide.<ref name="Greenberg-1990">{{cite news|last1=Greenberg|first1=Harvey R.|date=April 15, 1990|title=Just How Powerful Are Those Turtles?|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/15/movies/just-how-powerful-are-those-turtles.html?scp=8&sq=ninja%20turtles&st=cse|access-date=August 7, 2010|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612182757/https://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/15/movies/just-how-powerful-are-those-turtles.html?scp=8&sq=ninja%20turtles&st=cse|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Den of Geek-2021">{{Cite web|date=2021-03-22|title=What went wrong with ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze''?|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/what-went-wrong-with-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-2-secret-of-the-ooze/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-14|website=Den of Geek|language=en-US|archive-date=June 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220603124342/https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/what-went-wrong-with-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-2-secret-of-the-ooze/}}</ref> A second film, ''[[The Secret of the Ooze]]'', was released in 1991. With a rushed production and a lighter tone, it received weaker reviews and was less successful at the box office.<ref name="Den of Geek-2021" /> ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III]]'' (1993) was aimed at the Japanese market, the largest foreign market for US films at the time, but failed to see release there and saw weaker reviews and sales.<ref name="Collins-2014" /><ref name="Den of Geek-2021" />

In 1990, a stage musical featuring the Turtles as a rock band, ''Coming Out of Their Shells'', played 40 shows across the United States.<ref name="Mental Floss-2015" /> The musical was sponsored by [[Pizza Hut]] and promoted with an appearance on ''[[The Oprah Winfrey Show]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The true story of how the Ninja Turtles became a rock band|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-true-story-of-how-the-ninja-turtles-became-a-rock-band/1100-6475327/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-17|website=[[GameSpot]]|language=en-US|archive-date=May 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531022658/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-true-story-of-how-the-ninja-turtles-became-a-rock-band/1100-6475327/}}</ref> A soundtrack album and VHS were released.<ref name="Mental Floss-2015" /> After the animated series ended, a live-action television series, ''[[Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation]]'', was created in 1997 with [[Saban Entertainment]]. It introduced a fifth, female turtle, [[Venus (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)|Venus de Milo]]. The series was canceled after one season.<ref name="Mental Floss-2015" /> Laird later said it was the only licensed ''Turtles'' project he "truly regrets".<ref name="Mental Floss-2015" />

=== 2000s–present: Relaunches and sale to Nickelodeon ===
Eastman sold his share of the ''Turtles'' franchise to Laird in 2000.<ref name="Collins-2014" /> In 2003, [[4Kids Entertainment]] launched a [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003 TV series)|new animated series]], which ran for seven seasons, concluding in 2009.<ref name="Mental Floss-2015" /> Laird had a role in the production, creating a closer adaptation of the original comic.<ref name="Mental Floss-2015" />  A computer-animated ''Turtles'' film, [[TMNT (film)|''TMNT'']], was released in 2007.<ref name="Mental Floss-2015" />

On October 21, 2009, it was announced that Laird had sold the franchise to [[Viacom (2005–2019)|Viacom]].<ref name="Collins-2014" /> He said he had tired of working on ''Turtles'', writing: "I am no longer that guy who carries his sketchbook around with him and draws in it every chance he gets."<ref>{{Cite web|date=2009-10-22|title=Peter Laird: 'I never expected to be working on the same thing for this long'|url=https://www.cbr.com/peter-laird-i-never-expected-to-be-working-on-the-same-thing-for-this-long/|access-date=2021-10-14|website=CBR|language=en-US|archive-date=June 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220620034400/https://www.cbr.com/peter-laird-i-never-expected-to-be-working-on-the-same-thing-for-this-long/|url-status=live}}</ref> In August 2011,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2011-09-01|title=IDW's "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" #1 Sells Out|url=https://www.cbr.com/idws-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-1-sells-out/|access-date=2021-10-15|website=CBR|language=en-US|archive-date=June 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220603060349/https://www.cbr.com/idws-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-1-sells-out/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[IDW Publishing]] launched a [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (IDW Publishing)|new ''Turtles'' comic series]], with Eastman as co-writer and illustrator.<ref name="Collins-2014" /> A [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012 TV series)|third animated series]]<ref name="Mental Floss-2015" /> premiered in September 2012 on [[Nickelodeon]], and ran for five seasons before ending in 2017.<ref name="Reuters">{{cite news|date=October 21, 2009|title=The Mirage Group Sells Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Nickelodeon|work=[[Reuters]]|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS136562+21-Oct-2009+PRN20091021|url-status=dead|access-date=August 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110201021447/https://www.reuters.com/article/2009/10/21/idUS136562%2B21-Oct-2009%2BPRN20091021|archive-date=February 1, 2011}}</ref> A [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014 film)|fourth live-action ''Turtles'' film]], directed by [[Jonathan Liebesman]] and produced by [[Michael Bay]], was released in August 2014. It received negative reviews but was a box-office success.<ref name="Collins-2014" /> A sequel, ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows|Out of the Shadows]]'', directed by [[Dave Green (director)|Dave Green]], was released in June 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows {{!}} Official UK Site {{!}} Paramount Pictures UK|url=https://www.paramount.co.uk/movies/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-out-shadows|access-date=2021-10-15|website=www.paramount.co.uk|archive-date=November 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102084950/https://www.paramount.co.uk/movies/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-out-shadows|url-status=live}}</ref> It it was a [[box-office bomb]] resulting in a planned third film in the series being scrapped.<ref name="flop">{{cite news |author=Matt Goldberg |date=October 29, 2016 |title=Andrew Form on Why ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2'' Flopped |url=https://collider.com/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-2-box-office-flop/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103151444/https://collider.com/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-2-box-office-flop/ |archive-date=November 3, 2016 |access-date=June 11, 2018 |publisher=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Pamela McClintock |author2=Mia Galuppo |date=September 8, 2016 |title='Ben Hur' to 'BFG': Hollywood's Biggest Box-Office Bombs of 2016 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2016s-biggest-box-office-bombs-958780/item/box-office-bombs-gods-egypt-959603 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713171444/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2016s-biggest-box-office-bombs-958780/item/box-office-bombs-gods-egypt-959603 |archive-date=July 13, 2018 |access-date=July 13, 2018 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |publisher=}}</ref>

A fourth animated series, ''[[Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'', premiered in 2018 and ran for two seasons.<ref name="s2order">{{Cite news|last=Carter|first=Justin|date=August 16, 2020|title=Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was the adrenaline shot all nostalgia franchises need|language=en|work=Syfy|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-rise-nickelodeon|access-date=February 5, 2021|archive-date=July 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210706193449/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-rise-nickelodeon|url-status=live}}</ref> A [[Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie|film sequel]] was released in 2022 on [[Netflix]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Vlessing|first=Etan|date=February 5, 2019|title=Nickelodeon to Make 'Loud House,' 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' Animated Movies for Netflix|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/nickelodeon-sets-loud-house-ninja-turtles-animated-films-at-netflix-1182783|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=August 3, 2021|archive-date=April 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413083455/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/nickelodeon-sets-loud-house-ninja-turtles-animated-films-at-netflix-1182783|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem|Mutant Mayhem]]'', an animated film directed by [[Jeff Rowe (filmmaker)|Jeff Rowe]] and produced by [[Seth Rogen]], was released in August 2023. It received positive reviews, with praise for its performances, script and stylized animation; several critics named it the best ''Turtles'' film.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-07-28 |title=Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reviews: Mutant Mayhem impresses critics |language=en-GB |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-66313210 |access-date=2023-07-28 |archive-date=July 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728154917/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-66313210 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Treese |first=Tyler |date=2023-05-23 |title=TMNT: Mutant Mayhem Release Date Moved Up, New Poster Released |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/1290388-tmnt-mutant-mayhem-release-date-change |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230524034205/https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/1290388-tmnt-mutant-mayhem-release-date-change |archive-date=May 24, 2023 |access-date=2023-05-25 |website=[[ComingSoon.net]] |language=en-US}}</ref> A followup series, ''[[Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TV series)|Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'', premiered in 2024 on [[Paramount+]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cecchini |first=Paul |date=August 5, 2024 |title=''Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' Wants to Bring a 'Punk Rock' Aesthetic to the Franchise |url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/animation/tales-of-the-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-showrunners-animated-interview-1235032549/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806085644/https://www.indiewire.com/features/animation/tales-of-the-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-showrunners-animated-interview-1235032549/ |archive-date=August 6, 2024 |access-date=August 6, 2024 |website=[[IndieWire]] |language=en-US}}</ref>