The animated TV series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles about 4 mutated turtles quickly became popular all over the USA back in 1987. Because of the huge success, British companies decided to buy the publication rights for the UK. However, since the laws for the protection of children and youth were way more strict than in the USA, most of the episodes had to be censored. They even altered the title - the word Ninja was replaced by the word Hero. Several episodes either re-dubbed or cut out any dialogue that included the word ninja. Also, Michelangelo's nunchucks were very often an issue of censorship and sometimes they even censored the use of other weapons as well.

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-set released by KSM. However, the German Version runs a little faster than the original Version (due to the problem of PAL-speedup), therefore 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.

For this episode, the British publishers had to make 12 cuts with a total runtime of 44 seconds. There are 3 scenes that were repeated in the censored version (total runtime: 10 seconds).

The 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.

Comparison of the Versions

1:23
Raphael uses the word ninja - this can't be heard in the UK Version.
No difference in time.

3:49
After the 2 bankrobbers startet shooting at the Turtles, Leonardo and Michelangelo jump up. In the UK Version you don't see Michelangelo throwing his nunchuck.
1.04 sec.

3:49
After Leonardo threw his sword, you (of course) don't see the guys being disarmed by Michelangelo's nunchuck. Subsequently, there's also a missing camera panning upwards where you see a working platform exactly above the bankrobbers. Leonardo's sword cuts the platform's rope. Again, the UK Version starts this scene a little later - leaving open why the gangsters are suddenly disarmed.
1.96 sec.

5:56
After the explosion, the Turtle-Bus dashes towards our heroes. Michelangelo pulls out his weapon, swings it around a little and then throws it towards the bus. The UK Version starts this scene when the nunchuck crashes through the window and winds round the steering wheel.
3 sec.

8:21
A missing fade to black. Also, a few frames of the following scene are missing.
4.68 sec.

8:30
Michelangelo rolls after absconding from the machine. Again, he has to dodge an attack. A tamper wants to get him and he escapes at the last moment.
5.92 sec.

Now it's getting a little complicated. The censored version uses several scenes twice - however, they decided to invert the repeated scenes. Additionally, they changed the order of the scenes.

8:30
At this point, the censored version shows an inverted scene that will later on be shown again in both episodes. Raphael is standing on an excavator shovel. However, you don't see him climbing up there yet - that follows a little later. In the foreground you see the demolition ball swinging around. Donatello absconds from it. Then, April is in danger - a bulldozer follows her.
-4.68 sec.

8:34
Subsequently, the censored versoin repeats a scene that could already be seen at 8:26: the excavator and the demolition ball break the wall down. Again, the scene was inverted. On the left you see the inverted scene and on the right you see the original scene.
-1.52 sec.

Inverted Scene:	Original Scene:

8:47
At this point, both versions show the sequence that was already shown at 8:30 (of course, this time it's not inverted). There's no difference in time, this scene is only included to show you the difference between the scenes.
No difference in time.

16:57
The Turtles move towards teh machines that are controlled by Omnus a little longer. Michelangelo swings his nunchucks around. Then, he attacks one of the radio-controlled machines. Donatello runs past him.
3.76 sec.

17:02
This time it was not Michelangelo who was cut out: You see Leonardo swirling his swords around.
2.48 sec.

17:05
This time, it's Michelangelo again. He swings his nunchuck around while the others wait for Leonardo.
4.48 sec.

17:37
Michelangelo throws his nunchuck at the camera that Shredder uses to watch the Turtles. The camera is broken. There's quite a long shot of the weapon spinning around in mid-air.
7.04 sec.

19:17
Michelangelo does a salto and lands in between his friends. The Turtles move towards Shredder and Bexter while Michelangelo swings his nunchuck.
3.08 sec.

19:21
Seconds later, Shredder throws a bottle filled with gas at the Turtles. In the censored Version, there are a few missing frames of the bottle in order to cut out as much as much footage of the nunchucks as possible.
0.48 sec.

Again, it's getting a little complicated. The order of the scenes was altered, some scenes were shortened and some footage you already saw was repeated.

19:28
After Shredder and Bexter fled, you in the original version see Leonardo and Michelangelo who still hold their weapons in their hands and talk. Leonardo shortly moves his swords in circles before he holsters them. A part of this scene is also included in the shortened version (however, there they show that a little later).
9.28 sec.

19:28
In the censored version they now included as cene that can later on be seen again in both versins. April look out from behind the edge of the computer that she used to hide. Then, they included a scene that was already shown. However, it's unclear to why they did this. April asks if he's gone and Raphael responds that he's gone but will be back for sure.
-3.8 sec.

19:32
Subsequently, the censored version includes a part of the scene with Leonardo that in the original version was shown at 19:28. Then, the Turtles in both versions look for April (even though Raphael already talked to her in the UK Version...).
-3.2 sec.