Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Bingo Fest

[languajix]

Hello! Welcome to the April Bingo fest - TMNT edition! The first issue of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was published all the way back on April 30 of 1984 (for a May release), making this the 40th anniversary of the franchise.

To celebrate, I'm sharing some bingo prompt lists and example cards! This fest will run from April 1-30.




These lists are here to mix and match! I've got a list of TMNT-specific terms if you're up for writing ninja turtles, and some general ones that will hopefully fit a variety of intents and purposes. Fills can be for any fandom and any medium, and you can be as flexible as you'd like in how you interpret the prompts. You can generate your own card here. Feel free to remove any prompts that don't interest you!

The Allbingo AO3 Collection is here.

-

Common characters/items/settings from across TMNT iterations (if you use this, feel free to remove anything you're not familiar with):

Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, Michelangelo, Splinter, April O'Neil, Casey Jones, Leatherhead, Shredder, Agent Bishop, Karai, Kraang, Irma, Vernon, Jennika, Bebop, Rocksteady, The Fugitoid, Foot Clan, Baxter Stockman, Dimension X, Mutagen/Ooze, Utroms, Triceratons, Miyamoto Usagi, Mona Lisa, Mutanimals, The Last Ronin, The Technodrome, Channel 6 News, Battle Nexus, The Lair, New York City, Northampton Farmhouse, Second Time Around Antique Shop,


Here are some more general prompts to get those skateboard wheels turning:

Teenager, Mutant, Ninja, Turtle, Rat, Alligator, Shell, Pizza, Skateboard, Leadership, Inventions, Short Temper, Revenge, Swords, Bo Staff, Sai, Nunchucks, Sports Equipment, Reporter, Vigilante, Shadows, Hacking, Disguise, Masks, Blue, Red, Purple, Orange,


Some common tropes, and a few quotes and excerpts from theme songs:

Time Travel, Space, Shrinking, Dimension Travel, Apocalypse, Aliens, Robots, Clones, Magic, Transformation, Defenestration, Long-Lost Family, Outcast By Society, Secret Government Agency, "I love being a ________!", "Cowabunga!", "You are not alone", Throwing the First Punch, Always in Control, Wise Guy, The Brains of the Bunch,


Donatello Does Machines. What machines does he do? Let's find out:

Van, Communicator, Catapult, Rocket Pack, Motorcycle, Hang Glider, Blimp, Helicopter, Submarine, Tracking Device, Smoke Bombs, Music Player, Bed, Drill, Escape Pods, Drone, Backpack, Goggles, Tank, Scanner, Portal, Racecar, Artificial Intelligence, Shock Collar, Tranquilizers, Computer, Headset,


If you're feeling hungry after all of that adventuring and engineering, here are some pizza toppings the turtles recommend:

Pepperoni, Ice Cream, Jellybeans, Mushrooms, Anchovies, Peanut Butter, Sashimi, Whipped Cream, Bananas, Sausage, Cereal, Jelly, Caramel Fudge, Granola, Licorice, Pickles, Chocolate Sprinkles, Marshmallow, Clams, Avocado, Butterscotch, Onions, Popcorn, Broccoli, Yogurt, Marzipan, Bacon,
(And yes, they've eaten all of these!)

-

Challenge:

"Give me a slice of the bananas and sausage, will ya?" (1987 series, S1E1, "Turtle Tracks")

Reserve the pizza topping list when generating a card, and add a topping to some or all of your fills to make a pizza that only a turtle could love.

-

Public Cards

You can generate your own bingo card using any or all of these prompt lists above, or use the public cards below.


Public 3x3 card WITH TMNT-specific prompts:

Escape Pods	Shrinking	Chocolate Sprinkles
Turtle	FREE SPACE	Splinter
Leonardo	Long-Lost Family	Mushrooms

Public 5x5 card WITH TMNT-specific prompts:

Sai	Magic	Orange	Catapult	Tracking Device
Ice Cream	Wise Guy	Bed	Avocado	Popcorn
Throwing the First Punch	Dimension Travel	FREE SPACE	Van	Butterscotch
Vigilante	Pepperoni	Mushrooms	Shredder	Second Time Around Antique Shop
Escape Pods	Michelangelo	The Technodrome	Sports Equipment	Turtle

Public 3x3 card EXCLUDING TMNT-specific prompts:

Always in Control	Helicopter	Caramel Fudge
Swords	FREE SPACE	Vigilante
Aliens	Red	"Cowabunga!"

Public 5x5 card EXCLUDING TMNT-specific prompts:

Wise Guy	Throwing the First Punch	Time Travel	Cereal	Nunchucks
Rat	Robots	Sashimi	Hang Glider	Bed
Vigilante	Skateboard	FREE SPACE	Swords	The Brains of the Bunch
Butterscotch	Marshmallow	Whipped Cream	Pizza	Mutant
Jelly	Pickles	Rocket Pack	Granola	Music Player

Here is a 3x3 card with just the pizza toppings:

Clams	Yogurt	Bacon
Peanut Butter	FREE SPACE	Marzipan
Pickles	Broccoli	Cereal

The Ninja Turtles all have a signature color. Here is a 2x2 public card with all four colors:

Orange	Purple
Blue	Red

This is my first time hosting a fest, so please do let me know if I missed anything! I hope everyone has fun. :D

(Also, if you're curious as to why anything in these lists relates to the ninja turtles, please don't hesitate to ask!)


Since Tomorrow is April 1, on April 2nd I'll put up a Cartoon Meet & Greet!

Comments

[sisterdivinium]

Ah, I had told myself I wouldn't get another bingo card until I completed the one for the Valentines Fest but the colours one is just too tempting to resist. Surely it being 2x2 won't get in the way of completing my other card, right? Right? :)

I might not know much about the Ninja Turtles (even if I did watch the cartoon here and there when younger) but I know something about "nunjas"... For anyone curious, though, would you recommend any specific version of TMNT to start watching? I think it might be easier to get than any of the comics around here.

Gotta say I'm curious as to how people will put these prompts to use. It seems like it will be a pretty fun event!

[languajix]

Nunjas, I like that!

Allbingo is so chill, I'm sure if you had any fills that happened to fit squares on both cards, no one would bat an eye! ;D

There's a lot of great variety in Ninja Turtles cartoons! For the most part, I think there's something for everyone.

If you don't mind a bit dated animation (although I personally think it holds up decently,) I really highly recommend the 2003 cartoon far above anything else. It takes itself seriously, with great characterization and some genuinely funny moments, and progresses into fun classic-comic-book-esque scifi romps as the series goes on, while still staying grounded in New York City's increasingly more complex and dangerous politics. Heads up, though: the last few seasons (Fast Forward and Back to the Sewer) were the product of executive meddling and they are a drastic change in tone/style.

It's on the Internet Archive here , although all episodes are also at a lower resolution on Youtube. If you'd like to check out the series, some good episodes that I feel are strong enough to stand on their own are:
Things Change (s1e1) - A solid introduction to the characters, setting, and general tone of the series, but not particularly exciting.
Meet Casey Jones (s1e4) - A character study on two of the TMNT franchise's most hotheaded characters, with a fun little supporting side plot.
The Shredder Strikes Back parts 1 and 2 (s1e17 & s1e18) - One of my favorite episodes in terms of storytelling, part 1 needs no words to convey the building exhaustion Leonardo feels as he's chased through the city. Part 2 is just an intense free-for-all up until the last second!

---

If the 2003 cartoon feels a little too dated, or a little too serious, then 2018's Rise of the TMNT may be more up your alley! Rise is a totally different take on the franchise. It's very divisive among the fanbase because it reimagines the family dynamics, adds a 'magic powers' element and minimizes the 'ninja' parts, and is just incredibly goofy. I will say: almost all the jokes feel original and fresh, the characterization changes are interesting, and the development of their magic and ninja skills throughout the series is very well done. It's just a lot of fun. Kind of a comfort show, the sort of thing to pop on if you've got ten minutes and need a pick-me-up.

What convinced me to give it a try was hearing the overwhelming praise from autistic fans for the writing on Donatello, who was confirmed to be written as autistic by a show writer on Twitter. Donatello is a wonderful character, fun and flawed and hilarious.

The first two seasons are on Paramount+, and Netflix has the first season and the post-series movie. If you might be interested in checking it out, I don't think the first episode of the series (Mystic Mayhem) is the best example. The writers and animators were still getting their feet wet and it really shows. Some better episodes to try:
The Longest Fight - A hilarious look at the group as a whole: their dynamics, priorities, and general ninja skill level as the series begins.
The Purple Jacket - Fun exploration of Donatello as a character - dramatic theatre kid, nerd, goofball.
The 2022 film, "Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" on Netflix, which takes place after the show, is really good too! It's watchable without having seen the series, though it will spoil a couple of things.

For a no-commitment sample of Rise, this is one of my favorite fanvideos showcasing the superpowers/magic aspect of the show and the great fight scene animations (contains spoilers,) and here is a fan compilation/edit of some Donnie-centric clips (contains spoilers.)

---

I know that was a lot of text for a short question! Thank you so much for asking. And thank you! I'm glad that this bingo looks like fun. It was definitely fun to put together!

[sisterdivinium]

Oh, but the fact that it was a long response is positive rather than negative! Thank you very much for all the detailed information because now I feel I can better navigate and choose a starting point that's more to my taste! :) I'm leaning more towards the 2003 version, as "more serious" suits me fine, and also because one of my own favourite cartoons, Teen Titans, is from the same year -- which must be a good omen, right?

Watching the intro to the show I realise I recognise it from back then, I just can't tell if I ever watched any of these episodes or not (as opposed to some of those from the '87 cartoon, which I don't remember at all but I know I watched as a kid). Guess I'll find out. Thanks again!

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> Ah, I had told myself I wouldn't get another bingo card until I completed the one for the Valentines Fest but the colours one is just too tempting to resist. Surely it being 2x2 won't get in the way of completing my other card, right? Right? :) <<

Well, colors are easy to throw into almost anything.

>> I might not know much about the Ninja Turtles (even if I did watch the cartoon here and there when younger) but I know something about "nunjas"... <<

I think TMNT would make a great crossover with Warrior Nun and you should totally try that.

For anyone curious, though, would you recommend any specific version of TMNT to start watching? I think it might be easier to get than any of the comics around here.

If you start with the 1980s cartoon, that's early enough to give you a solid grounding.

Gotta say I'm curious as to how people will put these prompts to use. It seems like it will be a pretty fun event!

I've got my card. I invite you to drop by my Poetry Fishbowl today -- which I'll be opening shortly -- with a theme of "Screw this, I'm out of here!"

Re: Thoughts

[sisterdivinium]

Well, colors are easy to throw into almost anything.

True enough, it's just that these ones (the precise tone of each notwithstanding) are particularly evocative for my little nun show, which is an interesting coincidence! I'm quite excited to put it all on paper.

I just don't know about a crossover as I'd have to be much, much more knowledgeable to pull one off, haha!

And the 80's cartoon is the version I'm slightly more acquainted with. I know I saw some of it but not much -- there's this memory of it being on during my school hours, which never allowed me to watch even though I wanted to, if only so this one toy I had of Michelangelo could see his friends on screen :)

And I was offline by then, sorry! Maybe next time :)

Re: Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> True enough, it's just that these ones (the precise tone of each notwithstanding) are particularly evocative for my little nun show, which is an interesting coincidence! I'm quite excited to put it all on paper.<<

I remember your very insightful post about color theory in Warrior Nun.

>> I just don't know about a crossover as I'd have to be much, much more knowledgeable to pull one off, haha! <<

More than once, someone has prompted me for a canon I don't know. I just use online resources to look up enough for a one-shot fanwork.

https://fanlore.org/wiki/Teenage_Mutant_Ninja_Turtles

https://fanlore.org/wiki/Category:Teenage_Mutant_Ninja_Turtles

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teenage_Mutant_Ninja_Turtles

You can also find quotes by searching "quotes" plus the name of the canon.

Re: Thoughts

[sisterdivinium]

I remember your very insightful post about color theory in Warrior Nun.

And I still have a few things left to say about how the show uses colour!

More than once, someone has prompted me for a canon I don't know.

I confess that's beyond my ability, but I find it pretty cool that you manage to do it. For me, it's usually only things I'm absolutely obsessed about that end up in fic. I'm quite monofannish, really. But if ever the desire to dare comes up I'll keep your tips in mind, thank you!

Re: Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

Monofannish is fine. Polyfans are much less likely to notice subtle details like color symbolism.