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.


1 word-altertaion
3 cuts (black screen not included) = 12 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:

7:27/7:11-7:18
Just before you see a black screen in the original version you see Zach lying on the floor; the pendulum moves towards him. Then the episode fades to black.
3.52 sec. (fade to black not included)

14:47/14:20-14:26
The original version now shows a black screen.
5.88 sec.

17:05/16:39-16:43
While Shredder keeps Zach prisoner, a short shot of Michelangelo and Leonardo was cut out. They call for Zach.
Leonardo: "Zach!"
Michelangelo: "Micro-Dude!"
Then you see Zach shouting "Don't do it, guys".
3.68 sec.

18:17/17:52
In the original version, Zach uses the bad word "Ninja".
Original Version: "You are the Ninja Turtles."
In the UK version he says "Hero Turtles".
No difference in time.

19:31/19:03-19:08
When Shredder turns around, the Turtles are standing behind him with their weapons produced. Michelangelo swins his nunchucks around. Then Rpahael dashes towards Shredder.
4.8 sec.