History WesternAnimation / TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1987

* InstantAwesomeAddMecha: The episode "Cyber Turtles" featured this.

* ItSeemedLikeAGoodIdeaAtTheTime: the episode with the giant squid.
** Also the episode "Case Of The Killer Pizzas".

* VillainDecay: Bebop and Rocksteady are perfect examples of this. They actually start as human mooks of a criminal gang, then [[TookALevelInBadass they takek several levels in Badass]] when they are turned into mutants by Shredder. The mutation apparently gives them super strength and enhances their hand-to-hand combat proficiency, to the point that in their first encounter with the turtles after the mutation, they're able to defeat them easily [[NeverBringAKnifeToAFistFight with their bare hands]]. They're so tough, the turtles are forced to lure them into a trap and shut them inside a zoo cage in order to defeat them. Villain Decay and Flanderization kick in after two or three appearances later: from that moment on, Bebop and Rocksteady are demoted from co-dragons to common mooks; they become [[{{Flanderization}} even more stupid than they were]] before the mutation occurred; they are always equipped with laser guns, [[ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy with which they can never hit the turtles]]; even if their aim were better it wouldn't matter, since [[GunsAreWorthless they get easily and regularly disarmed]]; when this happens, they generally prefer to run away instead of facing the turtles in hand-to-hand combat, and when they decide to give it a try they're beaten without effort.

* VillainDecay: Bebop and Rocksteady are perfect examples of this. They actually start as human mooks of a criminal gang, then [[TookALevelInBadass they takek several levels in Badass]] when they are turned into mutants by Shredder. The mutation apparently gives them super strength and enhances their hand-to-hand combat proficiency, to the point that in their first encounter with the turtles after the mutation, they're able to defeat them easily [[NeverBringAKnifeToAFistFight with their bare hands]]. They're so tough, the turtles are forced to lure them into a trap and shut them inside a zoo cage in order to defeat them. Villain Decay and Flanderization kick in after two or three appearances later: from that moment on, Bebop and Rocksteady are demoted from co-dragons to common mooks; they become [[Flanderization even more stupid than they were]] before the mutation occurred; they are always equipped with laser guns, [[ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy with which they can never hit the turtles]]; even if their aim were better it wouldn't matter, since [[GunsAreWorthless they get easily and regularly disarmed]]; when this happens, they generally prefer to run away instead of facing the turtles in hand-to-hand combat, and when they decide to give it a try they're beaten without effort.

* VillainDecay: Bebop and Rocksteady are perfect examples of this. They actually start as human mooks of a criminal gang, then [[TookALevelInBadass they took several levels in Badass]] when they are turned into mutants by Shredder. The mutation apparently gives them super strength and enhances their hand-to-hand combat proficiency, to the point that in their first encounter with the turtles after the mutation, they're able to defeat them easily [[NeverBringAKnifeToAFistFight with their bare hands]]. They're so tough, the turtles are forced to lure them into a trap and shut them inside a zoo cage in order to defeat them. Villain Decay and Flanderization kick in after two or three appearances later: from that moment on, Bebop and Rocksteady are demoted from co-dragons to common mooks; they become [[Flanderization even more stupid than they were]] before the mutation occurred; they are always equipped with laser guns, [[ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy with which they can never hit the turtles]]; even if their aim were better it wouldn't matter, since [[GunsAreWorthless they get easily and regularly disarmed]]; when this happens, they generally prefer to run away instead of facing the turtles in hand-to-hand combat, and when they decide to give it a try they're beaten without effort.

* AllMyCircuits: Krang is shown to have a specific fondness for a soap opera of the "Oh John! Oh Marsha!" variety. In fact, that's [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin pretty much all the show seems to be]].

* AbsoluteCleavage: Subverted: Although April's jumpsuit was occasionally left open enough for this trope depending on the artist, her cleavage was usually left undrawn whenever this happened, as seen in her [[http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/Perez85/AprilCharacterModel.jpg character]] [[http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/Perez85/April.png model]]. Fan artists, on the other hand...

** Actually, this was played straight in the original series. If you look at those model sheets, they're for the 2009 movie ''{{Turtles Forever}}'' which was made by 4Kids Entertainment, and most people can guess how they would feel about a busty babe exposing a decent amount of cleavage on one of their programs. Yes, there ''have'' been exceptions, but usually there's been editing to most female characters busts on the shows they acquire.

** Also the Polarasoid Kids, initially.

* IncredibleShrinkingMan: Twice: once in "The Incredible Shrinking Turtles" and again in "Funny, They Shrunk Michelangelo".

* ThisIsADrill: The transport modules that Shredder and the other bad guys used.

** Another episode had several giant bugs, created somewhat by accident by Shredder,Beepop, and Rocksteady (What I mean is it was their intention to make an army of giant ants, but instead Beepop and Rocksteady wasted most of Krang's chemical on only a couple of insects), which included an ant, a praying mantis, a wasp/bee?, and a fly. Cue giant monster fight.

* EvilCounterpart: Mondo Gecko to Michaelangelo, [[spoiler: at least until his HeelFaceturn.]]

* EvilIsSexy: Tempestra.

** Another time, she stops a generator from overloading by pulling the power plug. [[WallBanger She stops a GENERATOR by UNPLUGGING it]].

* FridgeLogic: MediaWatchdogs forced the animators of the first cartoon to change Michaelangelo's weapon of choice to a grappling hook late in the series, claiming that ''nunchuku'' were too violent. [[WallBanger It didn't seem to bother them that two of the Turtles used ''blades.'']]

** Also "Raphael Drives Them Wild", Raphael and Oscar the cab driver.

* CharacterDevelopment: LonelyRichKid Buffy Shellhammer goes from a BitchInSheepsClothing to a DefrostingIceQueen and then to a JerkassWoobie all in the course of one half-an-hour episode.

* HotScoop: April O'Neil

** Actually, this was played straight in the original series. If you look at those model sheets, they're for the 2009 movie ''{{Turtles Forever}}'' which was made by 4Kids Entertainment, and most people can guess how they would feel about a busty babe exposing a decent amount of cleavage on most of their shows. Yes, there ''have'' been exceptions, but usually there's been editing to most female characters busts on the shows they acquire.

* BodySwap: "The Old Switcheroo," with Splinter and Shredder.
** And "Cowabunga Shredhead," with Michaelangelo and Shredder.

* AbsoluteCleavage: Subverted: Although April's jumpsuit was occasionally left open enough for this trope depending on the artist, her cleavage was usually left undrawn whenever this happened, as seen in her [[http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/Perez85/AprilCharacterModel.jpg character]] [[http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/Perez85/April.png model]]. Fan artists, on the other hand...

** How else do you think they made so many seasons?

* BrotherChuck: General Granite, the gray rock soldier from "Hot Rodding Teenagers" was never seen again after this episode.

* CatchPhrase: Several, with "cowabunga" being far and away the most recognizable.

* RhinoRampage: Rocksteady

* AbsoluteCleavage: April's jump suit was [[{{Understatement}} pretty revealing]] for the most part.

* FiveManBand:
** TheHero: Leonardo
** TheLancer: Raphael
** TheSmartGuy: Donatello
** TheBigGuy: Michaelangelo
** TheChick: April O' Neil
** TheSixthRanger: Zack the "fifth turtle".

* SiblingYinYang: The villainous Shredder's brother is actually a cop fighting for justice.

** One example that stands out is PatFraley who did the voices of Krang and Baxter Stockman, and has one scene where the human Baxter is sent to the Technodrome's disentigrator, and begs Krang to spare his life only to have Krang refuse him. [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotAwesome That means that PatFraley was begging himself to spare his life, and he refused his own request for mercy.]] This scene is also played very convincingly due to Pat Fraley's enormous voice acting talent, and to think he also did several other major characters on the show is nothing less than amazing.

* FoeYay: April O' Neil had moments of this with both Shredder and the Rat King.

* AdaptationDisplacement: This is the version most people remember when they think about the Turtles (or at least most people over the age of 18 or so).