This is excellent craftsmanship, which understands the finer and the not-so-subtle points of cross-over. And it does so with enough self-irony to make this movie a real enjoyable trip, by taking the whole idea far beyond the meta-level.
It is literally a full cross-over of the 1987, the 2003 TV animated series and the original black and white comic of 1984. The 1987 version is the most cartoon-ish one, which had a much younger target audience, than the other two versions. The 2003 version aimed at young teens, while the original comics, quite sinister and rough, sometime even brutal, were created for mature audience.
In this movie, all of the drawn series* (in style, tone, plot, lingo and background) really merge together. One of the funnier things as an example is, that in the 1987 series, the fourth wall is often broken by the turtles talking to the audience, making silly remarks or moral statements, whereas that never happened in the 2003 version and so the 2003 characters always wonder who the 1987 turtles talk to, and the black/white turtles narrate as they did in the comics. The black and white version makes fun of the colored headbands, the 2003s are annoyed by their 1987 brethren silliness and they even start to refer to each other in their style distinction.
*It does not take any TMNT Manga (the Japanese versions of the franchise) into account, or I just missed the reference.
I would say that this is a true homage to Eastman and Laird's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It certainly closes one chapter of my (admittedly never ending) childhood, by taking me on a - somewhat nostalgic - trip through teen memories*, giving them a worthwhile ending, the one it never really got back then...
*Just in case you are wondering, I grew up with the classic comic TMNTs in my early teens, saw some of the 1987s, but did not like it due to its more childish style and I have seen some, but not really followed the 2003 version much. But I know enough to connect them in this movie.
So all the small sentiments are a nice touch, but the real genius, I think, is an ironic, reflective re-wind through the history of its own existence. In a more morbid interpretation, it seem to be like the legendary flash-back of ones own life, in the moment of death, packed into a movie. In this case, I mean the cultural death of a legendary quartet of mutated Testudines. Indeed, I have not seen or heard much of the turtles lately. They have become a passing memory, almost eager to be replaced by the new heroes of todays media and culture.
The reason I deduct a point from perfection is the finite tone of the movie. Almost to the point, where you could interpret it as a depiction of self-pity, composed of its own demise; if you the more cynical type.
If the 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' have ever been, no matter how small, a part of your childhood or teenage pantheon of heroes, you should really watch this, which is more true, if you are familiar with all the styles. Even the hardcore comic fans that may despise the whole TMNT-franchise, will find gratification, because the film takes the viewer back to appreciate its own origin. And with that, it also makes us think about origins, including our own, which closes the circle to our childhood or teenage heroes, that may have had an impact on us - although I am still not sure, how much influence the turtles had, beyond my occasional craving for pizza.
If 'TMNT' doesn't mean anything to you, you will probably not understand much at all; and neither the drawing style, nor the plot will be enough to satisfy a casual viewer, not by todays standards anyway. But I do believe that this is intentional, to keep the cross-over true to its originals, mixing the different versions very harmoniously. The 2003 TMNTs did seem to have had a bit of a polish tho, which may just have been done to better separate them from their 1987 counterparts.
All in all: COWABUNGA!
It is literally a full cross-over of the 1987, the 2003 TV animated series and the original black and white comic of 1984. The 1987 version is the most cartoon-ish one, which had a much younger target audience, than the other two versions. The 2003 version aimed at young teens, while the original comics, quite sinister and rough, sometime even brutal, were created for mature audience.
In this movie, all of the drawn series* (in style, tone, plot, lingo and background) really merge together. One of the funnier things as an example is, that in the 1987 series, the fourth wall is often broken by the turtles talking to the audience, making silly remarks or moral statements, whereas that never happened in the 2003 version and so the 2003 characters always wonder who the 1987 turtles talk to, and the black/white turtles narrate as they did in the comics. The black and white version makes fun of the colored headbands, the 2003s are annoyed by their 1987 brethren silliness and they even start to refer to each other in their style distinction.
*It does not take any TMNT Manga (the Japanese versions of the franchise) into account, or I just missed the reference.
I would say that this is a true homage to Eastman and Laird's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It certainly closes one chapter of my (admittedly never ending) childhood, by taking me on a - somewhat nostalgic - trip through teen memories*, giving them a worthwhile ending, the one it never really got back then...
*Just in case you are wondering, I grew up with the classic comic TMNTs in my early teens, saw some of the 1987s, but did not like it due to its more childish style and I have seen some, but not really followed the 2003 version much. But I know enough to connect them in this movie.
So all the small sentiments are a nice touch, but the real genius, I think, is an ironic, reflective re-wind through the history of its own existence. In a more morbid interpretation, it seem to be like the legendary flash-back of ones own life, in the moment of death, packed into a movie. In this case, I mean the cultural death of a legendary quartet of mutated Testudines. Indeed, I have not seen or heard much of the turtles lately. They have become a passing memory, almost eager to be replaced by the new heroes of todays media and culture.
The reason I deduct a point from perfection is the finite tone of the movie. Almost to the point, where you could interpret it as a depiction of self-pity, composed of its own demise; if you the more cynical type.
If the 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' have ever been, no matter how small, a part of your childhood or teenage pantheon of heroes, you should really watch this, which is more true, if you are familiar with all the styles. Even the hardcore comic fans that may despise the whole TMNT-franchise, will find gratification, because the film takes the viewer back to appreciate its own origin. And with that, it also makes us think about origins, including our own, which closes the circle to our childhood or teenage heroes, that may have had an impact on us - although I am still not sure, how much influence the turtles had, beyond my occasional craving for pizza.
If 'TMNT' doesn't mean anything to you, you will probably not understand much at all; and neither the drawing style, nor the plot will be enough to satisfy a casual viewer, not by todays standards anyway. But I do believe that this is intentional, to keep the cross-over true to its originals, mixing the different versions very harmoniously. The 2003 TMNTs did seem to have had a bit of a polish tho, which may just have been done to better separate them from their 1987 counterparts.
All in all: COWABUNGA!