Ninja Turtles Creator -- Michael Bay's a Freakin' Genius

The mastermind who CREATED the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles back in 1984 isn't offended Michael Bay is rewriting TMNT history -- in fact, he LOVES the director's new vision ... and he wants turtle fans everywhere to back the hell off.

You'll recall ... Bay pissed off a lot of people when he revealed his remake of TMNT would see the loveable turtles as aliens ... not mutants -- outraging super fans across the globe, including Robbie Rist ... the guy who voiced Michelangelo in the 90s movies.
 
But TMNT creator Peter Laird -- who sold his rights to the story years ago -- is coming to Bay's defense via his blog, telling TMNT lovers, “It could be a genius idea -- for the first time -- someone has come up with a way to have as many freakin' Turtles as they want.”

Laird adds, "I would actually encourage TMNT fans to swallow the 'chill pill' Mr. Bay recently suggested they take."

Turtle power.