Cowabunga (catchphrase)

"Cowabunga" is a catchphrase first used by the Ninja Turtles in the 1987 TV series. It is pronounced /ˌkaʊ.əˈbʌŋ.ɡə/ (KOW-ə-BUNG-gə).

In TMNT

While used by all four Ninja Turtles, "Cowabunga" is generally associated with Michelangelo. As one of the more recognizable aspects of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles lore, it continues to be referenced in various other incarnations with varying levels of sincerity.

1990 film series

In the 1990 films series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the "Cowabunga" catchphrase is introduced to the Ninja Turtles by Splinter.

Coming Out of Their Shells

The Coming Out of Their Shells tour includes a song called "Cowabunga", which is performed by Michelangelo.

TMNT: Turtles in Time

In the video game Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time, "Cowabunga" is used when the Ninja Turtles finish levels.

2003 TV series

In the 2003 TV series, it is occasionally said by Michelangelo: In "Things Change", Mikey begins to say it before being pushed by Raphael. In "Attack of the Mousers", Mikey yells it while a child. In "Notes from the Underground, Part 1", Mikey yells it in which Raph replies "Mikey, I told you no more Cowabunga!". In "The Christmas Aliens", Mikey yells it while sledding. In "Secret Origins, Part 3", Casey Jones tries to convince General Hedd that a terrorist organization called "Goongala-Cowabunga" is trying to blow-up TCRI.

IDW

In the IDW comics, Raphael finds a shirt that says "Cowabunga" inside a trash can.

2012 TV series

In the 2012 TV series, "Cowabunga" is replaced by a new catchphrase, "Booyakasha" for two and a half seasons. In "Meet Mondo Gecko", Mondo Gecko introduces the phrase "Cowabunga" into the series. Ever since "Meet Mondo Gecko", Michelangelo uses "Cowabunga" from time to time, although he still more often uses "Booyakasha". A sports equipment store named Cowabunga appears in the background of various episodes. At the end of "The Manhattan Project, Part 2", the 80's Turtles charge against a Kraathatrogon shouting "Cowabunga!". The new Party Wagon's license plate said "CWABNGA" in previous artworks instead of LUVDCTR.

2014 film series

In the 2014 film series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, it is revealed Raphael made Michelangelo promise never say "Cowabunga" again, but Raph allowed him to say it one last time against the Shredder.

Rise of the TMNT

In the 2018 animated series, all the Ninja Turtles regularly say "Cowabunga" alongside "Hot Soup". Both catchphrases are used with about an equal amount of frequency. In the show, the Ninja Turtles' use of "Cowabunga" is never remarked on in-universe. It was revealed in August 2020 by Rise of the TMNT staff writer Russ Carney in a Tweet that, "I don't think [Ron Corcillo] and I have ever written the word 'cowabunga' in a script. If it appears in any of our episodes, that was someone else's infliction."

Trivia

• The phrase "Cowabunga" was actually not originative from TMNT to begin with. It actually came from the American ventriloquist show in the 1950s, Howdy Doody, by the character Chief Thunderthud. Writer Eddie Kean wanted to think of a word that's the opposite of the friendly "Cowagoopa" (which was "hello", instead of the usual "How"). So, Eddie Kean came up with "Cowabunga", showing a sign that the character, Chief Thunderthud, would get frustrated. Eventually, after the Howdy Doody show was off the air, the word got stuck into people's minds, over the years it has become a kind of triumph for surfers, eventually getting into different media like the Ninja Turtles; and since Michelangelo is known for "pop culture references", it doesn't hurt that Cowabunga, would be used. David Wise himself stated that it occurred to him to make Michelangelo exclaim "Cowabunga!" while surfing improvisedly over an object during the very first episode, just because he vaguely recalled a similar scene that Charles M. Schulz had already done during the 1960s within a sequence in Peanuts, where Snoopy surfed and shouted that word, and that it was Fred Wolf's suggestion to use it regularly in the cartoon series as a catchphrase.
  
  This phrase enjoys some successor, mostly as a spoof of clichés.

ORIGINS OF COWABUNGA 1960