The live action hero in a half shell legacy began in 1990 with the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film, which many fans believe to be the only worthwhile movie in the franchise’s history.
Even fans of the comic book loved the film when it first came out (which used to be a rare occurrence), and even though it looks campy compared to today's standards there's something inherently charming about characters created with practical effects rather than CGI.
No wonder the TMNT were so charming- their suits were created by Jim Henson's Creature Workshop, and it's said that Jim was rather upset with the amount of violence in the movie.
That on-screen violence was the same reason Playmates Toys decided not to release a toy line featuring characters from the movie, even though they were already releasing the Ninja Turtle toy line based on the animated TV series.
Want to learn more about the rubber suited Ninja Turtle tale that ushered in the 90s? Read 10 Fun Facts About 1990s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, brought to you by GeekTyrant.