Top 10 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Rip-Offs
#10: "Mighty Ducks" (1996)
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You might be forgiven in thinking that the animated "Mighty Ducks" series ran for a bit longer than it did. But in reality, "Mighty Ducks" only ran for a single season and it...well, actually had nothing to do with the film franchise, other than the name. These Mighty Ducks were hockey loving, alien mallards fighting for freedom against an evil race of reptilian overlords. The idea of large talking animals clashing against a secret organization definitely draws comparisons to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. However, we maintain that "Mighty Ducks" deserved a couple extra seasons on the ice.
#9: "Road Rovers" (1996-97)
This series was another one-and-done animated TMNT rip off that starred some seriously high profile canines. The "Road Rovers" were all prestigious pups who belonged to world leaders from countries like Switzerland, Russia and the United States. They all become anthropomorphic allies thanks to a device called the "transdogrifier." Naturally, they're called upon to fight crime. The response to "Road Rovers'' seemed fairly positive. Its characters were even referenced on shows like "The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries" and “Teen Titans Go!” So, what exactly happened to the "Road Rovers?" No one knows for sure. Poor toy sales, lawsuits and lack of interest were each rumored as the cause behind the demise of the Road Rovers.
#8: "Avenger Penguins" (1993-94)
While British animated animal shows like "Danger Mouse," "Count Duckula" and "A Wind in the Willows" all found audiences overseas, there was one notable outlier among their toons. "Avenger Penguins" followed three heroic biker birds who lived in...Big City and tried to peck away at a generic villain. This strange pitch found difficulty grasping fan footing in North America. It's kind of a shame, as this smart series had a great sense of humor, and had no problem poking fun at the occasionally "rushed" animation style of the Ninja Turtles. "Avenger Penguins" was an interesting ride that is ripe for some reinvestigation.
#7: "Stone Protectors" (1993)
In the wake of the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" becoming a hit, a few executives thought it would be a great idea to take a line of Troll dolls and make them animated heroes. The "Stone Protectors" were originally a group of struggling human rock stars. But after receiving pieces of a magical crystal, they’re turned into troll-like beings with special abilities. This absolutely absurd premise barely ran for a season before getting the axe. However, the series was so beloved by fans that a Kickstarter campaign to put all the episodes on DVD was successful in 2021. At this rate, the bizarre Stone Protectors might get to play on tv again someday.
#6: “S.W.A.T. Kats: The Radical Squadron” (1993)
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"S.W.A.T. Kats: The Radical Squadron" was perhaps one of the best TMNT rip offs that never got a fair shot to shine. The series begins with a couple of law enforcement cats deciding to become vigilantes and protect their city with cool tech. Despite initially achieving high ratings, the show had trouble securing merchandising deals due to its perceived level of violence. And after viewership numbers slipped, "S.W.A.T. Kats" was doomed. The series' dark atmosphere and adult themes earned it a cult following and motivated another successful Kickstarter campaign. The members of the "Radical Squadron" clearly still have some fight left in them.
#5: "Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa" (1992-93)
"Wild West C.O.W. Boys of Moo Mesa" was one of the lucky series that managed to get multiple seasons during their run back in the early nineties. Just like the ninja turtles, a group of bovines were mutated into an anthropomorphic state. But unlike the reptiles, they decided to build a Wild West like society. The animation for this strange bovine show was refreshingly bright and colorful. It was also chock full of "cow" tales that dealt with Wild West outlaws, train robbin' and gold rustlin'. Overall, the story of "Wild West C.O.W. Boys of Moo Mesa" wasn’t bad by any means, just not the most original.
#4: "Bucky O'Hare and the Toad Wars" (1991-92)
While the roots of Bucky O'Hare actually date back to the late seventies, there's no denying that the animated cartoon series has more than its fair share of turtle influence. The plucky talking rabbit and his cohorts were so colorful that their story seemed tailor made for the small screen. However, some of the original comic's adult themes were jettisoned here in favor of a more family friendly tone that was on par with the turtles. The watered down adaptation may explain why the show only ran for a single season. Despite the changes, the great character designs and space themes gave us a lot to like about “Bucky O'Hare and the Toad Wars.” The series may even inspire kids to find the original stories.
#3: "Samurai Pizza Cats" (1990-91)
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It was such a breath of fresh air when this Japanese series was adapted into "Samurai Pizza Cats" for foreign audiences. What’s not to love about cat samurai who split their time between slicing pies and cutting down the city’s crime level? The show seemed to balance a TMNT vibe with a heavy dose of "Voltron”. However, the dialogue also committed to a zany, self-referential sort of humor that reveled in breaking the fourth wall. The theme song even dares to step to our beloved Ninja Turtles with the line: "they've got more fur than a turtle ever had." Er...shots fired?
#2: "Biker Mice From Mars" (1993-96)
There's plenty of adult themes in "Biker Mice From Mars." The titular heroic trio all suffered life-changing injuries, escaped the conquest of their home planet and continued to fight their foes. All these factors made "Biker Mice From Mars" feel like a more mature TMNT knock off with action and adventure for days. The show seemed to connect with audiences as well, leading the "Biker Mice" to ride for three seasons back in the early nineties. It had to help that the show featured none other than Stan Lee as an executive producer. Ultimately, it was memorable enough to get a revival series in 2006 that updated Vinnie, Throttle and Modo for the masses.
Before we name our number one pick, here are some honorable mentions.
"Captain Simian and the Space Monkeys" (1996-97)
It Felt Real Familiar Because it Featured The Voice of TMNT’s Shredder Himself, James Avery!
"Kung Fu Dino Posse" (2010-11)
It Arrived A Little Late to the TMNT Party When It Debuted in 2010
"Toxic Crusaders" (1991)
It Took the R-Rated “Toxic Avenger” & Made It a Child Friendly Series That Featured Mutants
#1: "Street Sharks" (1994-97)
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While most of the knock offs here had relatively short runs, "Street Sharks" definitely stands as one of the most successful animated shows inspired by the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." "Street Sharks" started a three season run by taking the mutagen plot device from the "Ninja Turtles" and replacing it with a "gene-slammer". This machine gave our human heroes a way to acquire new aquatic identities. At one point, the Sharks joined forces with some outer space dinosaurs called the "Dino Vengers." These great lizards even got their own spinoff show called "Extreme Dinosaurs.” Knowing that “Street Sharks” opened up the door to another turtle imitator makes it one of the strongest shell ripoffs around.
