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This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.

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'Turtle Power' doc traces 30 years of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

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'Turtle Power' doc traces 30 years of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Some 30 years ago, the budding comic book artists Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird created a quartet of sewer-dwelling reptiles called the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. 

These so-called "Heroes In a Half Shell" came to life in an underground, black-and-white comic book. They have since mutated into a worldwide phenomenon, with immensely popular toys, a cartoon and, more recently, a hit feature film from producer Michael Bay. The film has already grossed more than $117 million in North America since opening on August 8. 

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But if you're a true fan of the classic Turtles, a new documentary might be more up your alley. Randall Lobb, who by day is a high school English teacher in Canada, is the filmmaker behind "Turtle Power: The Definitive History of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles."

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The film was released on DVD just as the Paramount Pictures feature opened in theaters. Lobb joined KPCC's John Horn for an interview about the legacy of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. 

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