When the animated TV series about 4 mutaded Turtles with a ninja combat training was sold to publishers in the UK to be aired on television, the British seemed to dislike the word "ninja" - probably they didn't find it pedagogical enough. Therefore the word was taken out of the episodes as well as the title. They re-named the series to Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles. Additionally, they had to cut out any scenes that involved Michelangelo using his nunchucks (due to censorship laws).
Unfortunately, Germany (and probably also other if not all the other European countries) imported the shortened version from the UK and therefore also aired the censored version of the series.
In march 2009, NewKSM released the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles DVD box-set including the first 25 episodes. In May 2010 they released the second box including the following 25 episodes. Just as for the first box-set, they again decided to include the shortened versions (along with the German dubbing) as well as the original US version (in English) on the DVDs.

For this comparison, the shortened German Version (which is based on the UK cut of the episodes) was compared to the uncensored Original Version. Both of these Versions were included in the DVD Box 2 released by NewKSM.


Since the original version runs a little faster than the original Version (due to the problem of PAL-speedup) it is a little harder to compare the exact differences in time. Therefore, it is very much possible that the time designations are not one-hundred percent accurate.


3 cuts (black screen not included) = 14.04 sec.

Thanks to NewKSM for providing us with the DVD box-set!

Time index: UK Version/US Version

Intro:

For the UK Version of the series, the intro was lavishly re-cut. If you want to have a look at a more detailed report about the intro, have a look at the report for the very first episode of the first season of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" on our website. Also, you should have a look at the report about episode 3 which has a more detailed description about the 2 changes that were made for the German DVD's version of the intro.


Episode:

2:23/2:18-2:24
Michelangelo goes to a table with weapons (especially nunchucks) on top.
Raphael: "You don't know what you letting yourself in for."
Michelangelo: "A turtle got to do, what a turtle got to do."
Then you see him with his weapons in his hands.
6.2 sec.

3:17/3:15-3:20
Michelangelo pulls out his nunchucks. Then you see the Turtles waiting in front of the hole.
5.28 sec.

6:28/6:23-6:28
At this point, the original version shows a fade to black.
4.8 sec.

13:46/13:29-13:34
Ditto.
4.8 sec.

13:55/13:43-13:46
After Splinter (under the influence of the rat king) pushed Donatello over, Michelangelo swings his nunchucks around. Splinter kicks him.
2.56 sec.