When four pet turtles were bathed in alien ooze, they began to mutate and became the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Raised in New York City sewers by their foster father and wise sensei, Master Splinter, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael wage war against crime. Led by Master Splinter, the four turtles learn the ancient martial art of Ninjitsu, mastering skills of stealth, weapons, and fighting. They stop evildoers in all forms, whether barbaric gangs, lowlife crooks, deranged cyborgs, or even the crime syndicate The Foot, led by their archrival, The Shredder. This release of the 2003 reimagined series includes all 155 episodes. Also included is the TV movie and series finale, Turtles Forever where worlds collide as the turtles from the 2003 dimension meet the 1987 turtles and other classic characters like Splinter, Casey, April, and a slew of archenemies like Krang, the Foot Soldiers, and Bebop & Rocksteady!

For thoughts on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003): The Ultimate Collection, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/EXMMI2aDpio?t=123]

Video Quality

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003): The Ultimate Collection comes to DVD in a 18-Disc set with a 480p that is somewhat disappointing, and not only because we wish there was a Blu-Ray option. Admittedly, we are stoked to be able to own the entire run of the show in one collection instead of tracking down expensive, out-of-print discs that had episodes in a bizarre order. Yet, it does not seem like Paramount put a lot of effort into making this the most pleasant viewing experience for fans, as some comparisons show that the older releases actually hold up a bit better in some respects.

The animation style is one of our favorite aspects of the series, and this transfer really struggles when it comes to delivering sharp edges or stable line detail. There are numerous moments where the picture appears more blurry due to the fact that this is derived from the same newer source utilized for Paramount+ which has been deinterlaced and perhaps even hit with DNR. This show was made with vivid colors throughout, but it cannot conjure the saturation it deserves. The discs could also benefit from deeper black levels as the image is not completely free of crush or artifacts. It should also be noted that the TV movie “Turtles Forever” is windowboxed and features more egregious ghosting that even the main episodes experience. Owning all these episodes physically is a joy, but the set itself leaves something to be desired for fans.

Audio Quality

This release is much more robust on the audio side with a Dolby Digital 2.0 track that brings this to life well. The music comes through with a fine fidelity and clarity with no strain in the upper registers. Dialogue is rendered crisp and clear without issues of clipping even during more kinetic moments. There is a decent amount of weight in the featured channels during the fight scenes that push the boundaries of children’s entertainment at times. Paramount Home Entertainment has done a good job with this audio experience considering the limitations of the format. There are no subtitles provided on this set.

Special Features

There are no special features provided in this collection.

Final Thoughts

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003) is one of the most exciting interpretations of these classic characters that we have seen committed to screen. The ‘80s version is a classic that we would watch anytime day or night, but there is something captivating about the slightly more serious tone of the narrative which does not completely abandon the elements that make the Turtles fun. This series takes storytelling seriously, and it is not uncommon to find yourself in a season-long binge as you keep wanting to hit play on the next episode. Paramount Home Entertainment has provided a DVD set with a mixed bag of an A/V presentation and no special features. With the inconsistent nature of how these seasons were initially dispatched on DVD, we are glad to finally have the entire run in one package. We just wish it was a better effort overall. Recommended

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003): The Ultimate Collection can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or through various other online retailers.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the DVD.

Disclaimer: Paramount Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this set free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.