I seem to remember when I was a kid and the Turtles came out they were called "Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles", not "ninja" turtles - anyone else remember this? I think they changed it for UK or European audiences for some reason.
They changed it for Euro audiences because the "Ninja" was deemed too violent for kids. They removed Raphael's sais, and Leonardo's sword.
Just like in America, He-Man couldn't been seen beating dudes up, so he would throw them, and in GI Joe, they couldn't show blood or people gettig hit, until GI Joe: The Movie.
Also, TMNT didn't start getting really good until 2005-2008, in terms of action.
Now mind you, Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies---they were very violent cartoons, complete with dynamite, beatings, punching, hitting with boards, and sexual references.