HomeBlogBlog90s Turtle Cartoons: Was It Franklin or Ninja Turtles?

90s Turtle Cartoons: Was It Franklin or Ninja Turtles?

What was the name of the 90s cartoon about a turtle?

You may be thinking of Franklin, the animated children’s series about a young green turtle who learns about friendship, family, and growing up. It premiered in 1997 and was based on the Franklin books by Paulette Bourgeois and Brenda Clark.

Another possibility is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which followed four turtle brothers named Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael. Its original animated series debuted in 1987 and remained on television through much of the 1990s.

How can you tell which turtle cartoon you remember?

Think about the characters and setting. Franklin lived in a woodland community and spent time with animal friends, including Bear, Beaver, and Rabbit. His stories usually focused on everyday childhood experiences, such as sharing, trying something new, or working through a disagreement.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, on the other hand, were a team of crime-fighting brothers trained by their rat mentor, Splinter. Their adventures featured martial arts, villains, and a love of pizza. If you remember colorful eye masks and action-packed battles, this is the more likely match.

Can turtle cartoons inspire a kids’ bathroom?

Absolutely. A friendly turtle theme can make a child’s bathroom feel playful without requiring a full makeover. We like pairing turtle wall decals with sea creatures, bubbles, or soft ocean colors for a look that feels cheerful and easy to build on.

For a gentle, storybook-inspired room, choose rounded shapes and a palette of green, blue, and sandy neutrals. If your child prefers a more energetic look, brighter accents and a mix of ocean animals can bring more movement to the space. Our guide to sea turtle and seahorse wall decals for kids’ bathrooms offers more ideas for bringing the theme together.

Place decals on a clean, dry, smooth wall rather than directly inside a shower or where water regularly splashes. Keep small removable decorations out of reach of young children, and coordinate the design with practical touches such as washable towels and an easy-to-clean bath mat.