The episodes were not always as aired. The tapes tended to have just the one intro sequence and set of closing credits but more interestingly a look at the BBFC site reveals that some of the episodes received further edits. It seems that the distributor wanted a U certificate (Universal – Suitable for All) for the tapes but in order to receive this from the BBFC sometimes cuts were required. Unless off-air recordings surface to compare, no further details are available, but any episodes that received further cuts are noted in the list below.
There are twenty two tapes in all and their placement in the list is based on a rough episode order. In some cases episodes saw multiple releases. In total forty-four episodes and one special saw a VHS release in the UK.
How It All Began Cat No. 99032
Episode:
[SP] How It All Began To obtain a U certificate cuts of 32 seconds were required.
Notes:
A 50-minute special that begins as a clip-show summarising some of the events of the first season before filling out the runtime with abridged versions of season two episodes [6] Return of the Shredder, [7] The Incredible Shrinking Turtles, [8] It Came from Beneath the Sewers and [9] The Mean Machines.
The footage covering the first season is taken from another clip-show episode: Blast from the Past from the third season.
The Case of the Killer Pizzas Cat No. 99012
Episodes:
[11] The Case of the Killer Pizzas To obtain a U certificate cuts of 3 seconds were required.
[12] Enter the Fly To obtain a U certificate cuts of 3 seconds were required.
Invasion of the Punk Frogs Cat No. 99022
Episodes:
[13] Invasion of the Punk Frogs
[15] New York’s Shiniest To obtain a U certificate cuts of 2 seconds were required.
Return of the Technodrome Cat No. 99042
Episodes:
[18] Return of the Technodrome To obtain a U certificate cuts of 33 seconds were required.
[17] The Catwoman from Channel Six
Attack of the 50-Foot Irma Cat No. 99132
Episodes:
[21] Attack of the 50-Foot Irma
[20] Turtles on Trial To obtain a U certificate cuts of 8 seconds were required.
Green With Jealousy Cat No. 99112
Episodes:
[39] Green with Jealousy
[23] Sky Turtles
[22] The Maltese Hamster
Notes:
Part of the “Tempo Special Edition range [that] features an extra long running time”. In this case that means “AN AWESOME EXTRA ADVENTURE FREE!”
The Fifth Turtle Cat No. 99052
Episodes:
[26] The Fifth Turtle
[27] Enter the Rat King
Attack of Big Macc Cat No. 99062
Episodes:
[30] Attack of Big Macc
[28] Turtles at the Earth’s Core
April Fool Cat No. 99092
Episodes:
[29] April Fool
[35] Turtles, Turtles Everywhere
20,000 Leaks Under the Sea Cat No. EUKV 2010
Episode:
[32] 20,000 Leaks Under the Sea
The Very Best of the Turtles Cat No. NVT 12946
Episodes:
[6] Return of the Shredder To obtain a U certificate cuts of 13 seconds were required.
[32] 20,000 Leaks Under the Sea
[33] Take Me to Your Leader
[34] The Four Musketurtles
Notes:
Includes the previously released 20,000 Leaks Under the Sea. An abridged version of Return of the Shredder was previously included as part of the How It All Began special.
Cowabunga Shredhead Cat No. 99102
Episodes:
[36] Cowabunga Shredhead
[38] Camera Bugged To obtain a U certificate cuts of 3 seconds were required.
Invasion of the Turtle Snatchers Cat No. 94602
Episode:
[37] Invasion of the Turtle Snatchers
Corporate Raiders from Dimension X Cat No. 99122
Episodes:
[43] Corporate Raiders from Dimension X
[61] Shredderville
Super Bebop and Mighty Rocksteady Cat No. 99192
Episodes:
[45] Super Bebop and Mighty Rocksteady
[46] Beware the Lotus
 | The Biggest Ever Video Cat No. 96462 Episodes: [51] The Case of the Hot Kimono [47] Blast from the Past To obtain a U certificate cuts of 2 seconds were required. [48] Leatherhead: Terror of the Swamp [50] Usagi Yojimbo [52] Usagi Come Home To obtain a U certificate cuts of 2 seconds were required. [34] The Four Musketurtles [33] Take Me to Your Leader [32] 20,000 Leaks Under the Sea [6] Return of the Shredder To obtain a U certificate cuts of 13 seconds were required. Notes: Includes five previously unreleased episodes followed by the complete contents of the Very Best of the Turtles tape (so a third release for 20,000 Leaks Under the Sea) but with the episode order reversed. |
The Biggest Ever Saturday Morning Heroes Cat No. 96782
Episode:
[63] The Big Rip Off
Notes:
Tape of episodes from various shows, including one Hero Turtles episode.
The Biggest Ever Saturday Morning Picture Show Cat No. 96612
Episodes:
[64] The Big Break In
[65] The Big Blow Out
Notes:
Tape of episodes from various shows, including two Hero Turtles episodes.
Sewer Heroes Series: Raphael Meets His Match Cat No. 99182
Episodes:
[82] Raphael Meets His Match
[80] Raphael Knocks ‘em Dead To obtain a U certificate cuts of 5 seconds were required.
Sewer Heroes Series: Leonardo Lightens Up Cat No. 99152
Episodes:
[84] Leonardo Lightens Up
[98] Leonardo versus Tempestra
Sewer Heroes Series: Donatello’s Degree Cat No. 99162
Episodes:
[96] Donatello’s Degree
[88] Donatello Makes Time
Sewer Heroes Series: Michaelangelo Meets Bugman Cat No. 99172
Episodes:
[92] Michaelangelo Meets Bugman
[94] What’s Michaelangelo Good For?
Notes:
Although it IS the episode on the tape, there’s no BBFC record for Michaelangelo Meets Bugman. It seems the similarly-named Michaelangelo Meets Bugman Again[dead link: see below] was mistakenly submitted in its place. Whoops.
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Additional rated episodes
In 2020 the BBFC redesigned its website and irritatingly a lot of information was lost and search options were reduced. Gone was information on multiple submissions of the same film/TV episode as well as anything refused a certificate. Information on cuts was also reduced, now simply noting "a version of this work was cut".
Strangely almost all of the Hero Turtles information was removed. Of the episodes released, only the How it All Began special has a listing. Curiously, following the website redesign, some other listings appeared for episodes that were rated, but apparently never released. The episodes are:
[7] The Incredible Shrinking Turtles
[8] It Came From Beneath The Sewers A version of this work was cut.
[9] The Mean Machine [sic]
[10] Curse of the Evil Eye A version of this work was cut.
[14] Splinter No More A version of this work was cut.
[16] Teenagers From Dimension X
[44] Pizza By The Shred
The first five of these episodes were classified 1st July 1990, just over a month before the How It All Began special (6th August 1990) was rated. That special incorporates cutdown versions of the first three of those episodes and might be why the longer versions went unreleased as well as Curse of the Evil Eye which concludes the arc.
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Finally here are two “Hero Turtles” opening sequences for your viewing pleasure:
