Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003 TV series) season 1

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003 TV series) season 1, also known as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, premiered on August 8, 2003, on the Fox Box programming block. It comprised 26 episodes and introduced viewers to a new animated adaptation of the popular comic book franchise created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird.

The season focuses on the core quartet of Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo, four mutant turtles trained in the art of ninjutsu by their master, Splinter, a mutated rat. Living in the sewers of New York City, they emerge to protect the city from various threats.

Season 1 establishes the key characters, including the Turtles’ friend and ally April O'Neil, and their primary adversary, Oroku Saki, known as the Shredder, leader of the Foot Clan. The season arc introduces the Foot Clan as a significant criminal organization and details their initial clashes with the Turtles. The Utroms, a benevolent alien race whose ship crashed on Earth centuries ago and who are working in secret to advance humanity, are also introduced, adding a science fiction element to the series.

Key storylines in the first season include the Turtles' initial encounters with the Shredder and the Foot Clan, April O'Neil's involvement in their lives after an attack by robotic Mousers, and the overarching mystery of the Utroms and their connection to the Shredder. The season culminates in a confrontation between the Turtles and the Shredder.

The animation style of season 1 is noted for its darker and grittier aesthetic compared to the 1987 animated series. The season aimed to stay closer to the tone and storylines of the original comic books.