The third season for the animated Ninja Turtles has some truly classic moments, and it's obvious this is where the show gained some legs. The animation mistakes are rare (they were prevalent in earlier seasons), the humor stronger, and some great new characters added. This DVD set includes a dozen episodes from this season. Other episodes will likely be included in future volumes.
This is not a set that comes close to perfection though. A few episodes are stretches, and show that the writers were already reaching for ideas. Attack of the 50 foot Irma is not high on any fans best-of list and the blatant Short Circuit knock off Attack of Big Macc is tough to defend. Arguably the biggest offender is Turtles at the Earth's Core. The cute dinosaurs aimed solely at the youngest possible demographic are just terrible.
The rest of this set offers some memorable moments. Here is where the series became self-referential, bringing up plot lines from previous editions (Donatello's line "I wish I had the moon boots from episode 6" for example) and even ribbing itself a little (Krang's "It moves the story along quicker" when asked by Shredder how he illogically had a device ready). That's the type of thing that helps TMNT appeal to a wider audience, and why it has a dedicated fan base behind it.
For a new generation of kids, this edition of the franchise will be tough. The newer series offers darker storylines, and a harder edge. These four playful turtles are brightly colored, softer, and rarely actually hit anyone with their trademark weapons. They're great characters and always have been. For those who know only the latest edition, this may not be such a wise selection.
Those who did grow up on this show will love revisiting it. It's probably not as good as you thought it was when you were five, but you'll still smile at some of the humor and enjoy the extended action. It's hard not be involved in such light fun. (*** out of *****)
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