‘Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation Volume One’ DVD Review

Posted 8 years ago by Television

Ninja Turtles The Next Mutation DVD

Being a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fan often means embracing the good (the comics, the first movie, the ’87 cartoon) and the bad (Coming out of Our Shells Tour). The Turtles’ inherent wackiness keeps me from ever taking it too seriously, but one piece of TMNT history always gives me that weird embarrassed feeling, and that is Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation.

In case you didn’t turn on your TV for the five minutes that NT:TNM aired in the late nineties or you’ve just done a better job than me of repressing the memories of this show, I’ll fill you in. The Next Mutation was the first (and only) live-action TMNT show, and it was made by Saban, of Power Rangers fame. The costumes were pretty horrible, April and Casey are nowhere to be found, and the Shredder barely shows up at all. Sounds like a formula for a great TMNT show!

Oh, and there’s a fifth Turtle named Venus de Milo. For some reason.

There were only 26 episodes of this show produced, so it’s a little odd that Shout Factory is stretching their release over two volumes, especially with it being available to stream on Netflix for quite a while now. Being the TMNT completist that I am, however, I’m glad to finally have it on DVD. It’s horrible and wacky, but it makes you appreciate the good parts of the Ninja Turtles’ history even more.

Ninja Turtles The Next Mutation DVD

It was kind of funny popping this DVD in around the same time I was reading the leaked TMNT script and posting my thoughts on the site. As I was reading it, all I could think about was The Next Mutation and how they both threw out everything about the Turtles that fans loved and tried re-inventing things for the sake of reinvention. I’m actually surprised that script didn’t have female Turtles until the end.

Ninja Turtles The Next Mutation DVDI can’t imagine any TMNT fans actually liking this show, but you know they’re out there. I just can’t buy into a version of the Turtles without the Shredder, April, and Casey playing a big part.

The DVD itself is present nicely, like most Shout Factory releases. There aren’t any special features to speak of, but the two-disc set holds about four hours worth of crazy, live-action TMNT episodes. Volume 2 is set to come out in December.

Ninja Turtles The Next Mutation DVD

The Verdict

If you’re a casual TMNT fan or you’re thinking about buying this out of sheer morbid curiosity, I’d just catch the series on Netflix instead. If you’re like me though and you buy almost anything with a Ninja Turtle on it and you plan on one day watching every minute of TMNT history with your children (family bonding), then you should definitely buy it.
  • Cody Mix

    I am happy to say I have never seen an episode of TNM. I think it may have been due to my new found interest in pro wrestling at the time (late 90’s) but even to this day I have not watched one.

    As a TMNT fan though I feel I may need to force a few episodes on myself just for the sake of fandom.

    • It’s worth checking out for the sheer WTF-factor. As Tommy said, it makes you appreciate the good TMNT stuff even more.

      • Cody Mix

        Good point, its probably like watching 60’s Batman although the campiness in that is a little more acceptable…I think.

  • TNM is easily the worst iteration of the Turtles ever made. (And not to be a picker of nits, but it’s Coming Out of Their Shells, not Our Shells). I don’t plan on buying these DVDs, but I have seen all the episodes. Once was enough! And you forgot to mention the worst part — Turtle Tits.

    • Cody Mix

      From the pic it looks like they drive a Hummer?! Nothing screams the 90’s like a giant SUV.

  • I saw this on Netflix recently and had no idea it ever existed. Had to watch the first episode at least, holy crap it was bad. Hilariously bad, I couldn’t look away for quite a bit actually. But I eventually did. Because it’s bad.

    • Haha, yeah it’s pretty horrible!