TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES

“MUTANT MAYHEM”

First Trailer Release | By: EDDIE TOWERS

Ladies and turtles, we finally got our first sneak peek from Seth Rogen’s production company Point Grey’s new film adaptation of my all-time favorite classic franchise Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This film titled Mutant Mayhem follows our heroes in a half-shell in what I presume is their early teens. Which I don’t believe we’ve ever seen in a film adaptation. So, I’m excited about this film. So much so that I decided to raise this channel from its grave and talk about this trailer in length. 

For those of you that don’t know me. Allow me to share my credentials with all of you really quickly. I grew up watching the 1987 series when I was a kid growing up. I used to sit in front of my television and bend the antenna around until I could get a solid signal on the TV during my Saturday morning cartoons programs. Damn, I sound old just saying that out loud. Anyway, I used to sit there in my TMNT pajamas, eating cereal out of my TMNT bowl; while waiting for the TMNT theme song to play. Although, I can’t recall the first time I experienced turtles. I can say, whatever it was got me hooked for life. Since that time, I have read most of the iconic story lines, watched every movie iteration, and played every console game about the Turtles.  

If you just want to know my opinion on the new trailer for TMNT: Mutant Mayhem. I’ll leave a time stamp for you.  

Now, before I dive into Mutant Mayhem’s trailer, which I believe is going to be the best animated adaptation since the 2012 series. I must bring up the Michael Bay series. I’ve seen just about every version of these turtles. But that series is the worst design I’ve ever seen of the turtles. I mean they were compared to Shrek for Splinter’s sake. I have to say though. They did a better job at leaning into the more cartoonish side in the sequel Out of the Shadows. But clearly, that was just a cash grab designed to milk this cowabunga franchise bone-dry. Now, I’m not going to be one of those turtles’ hating fan boys. That version had potential if it was handed to the right director. Which leads me to Mutant Mayhem. 

FRAME BY FRAME

I watched this trailer twice on my phone and once again on my computer, and boy it brought it. There’s so much to talk about with this minute and a half-shell trailer. I even slowed it down on YouTube to watch a frame-by-frame comparison just because there’s so much going on. I’m not going to talk about easter eggs cause I’m sure there’s plenty of them. I just want to talk about my initial reaction. Director Jeff Rowe, who is best known for the beloved animated movie the Mitchells vs the Machines, may have struck lightning twice with yet another computer animated film. TMNT Mutant Mayhem gives a fresh take on the origin of the turtles as the brothers try and learn how to be a team while facing an army of mutants. I love that the first shot of this trailer is a view of New York City. Which is the home of the turtles. It has an interesting blend of animation and hand drawn look to it, and that subtle piano drop of the classic animated theme song hits hard with that nostalgia. But it’s the appearance of the turtles themselves that immediately steals the show. There first turtle we get is Raph. At first, I thought it was Donnie cause of the lighting. But I was confused cause he’s holding a katana, which is Leo’s weapon of choice. It wasn’t until I did a frame by frame play that I realized Raph is swinging away at the watermelon that Mikey is holding. I love the fact that the POV is from Donnie’s cell phone as it’s clearly trying to connect with a much younger audience. Which I am all about. I’ve seen a lot of haters in the comments who think this franchise got the Disney treatment. They have every right to feel that way, even if they are dead wrong. Let me explain. I love that this movie is not for me. It’s like that old saying, “if you love something, set it free.” I want a new generation of kids to see this and be inspired the same way I was when I first saw the show. It was a once in a lifetime experience that we have all experienced one way or another, whether it was the turtles or something else. We can all agree that an experience like that can shape you into the person you are today. I was raised by women, and I didn’t have a father figure growing up. But the turtles gave me a family of brothers I could relate to. I imagine somewhere out there right now, there is a little kid just like me who needs these turtle brothers to inspire them to be heroes of their own. Anyway, I know that was a long and heartwarming message. But that’s how much I love being a turtle.  

In just 30 seconds of this trailer, I can tell you as a lifelong fan of these sewer dwelling turtles. That we are going to finally get the love and treatment that these turtles have long deserved. I love the fact that these ninja turtles are being voiced by actual teenagers. In fact, I think this might be the first time we’ve ever seen voice representation true to its form when it comes to the turtles. I’m not going to lie; it took a few watches to adapt to the voices. Especially Donnie, who seems to sound a lot younger than the rest of the guys. But now hearing them on this trailer, it dawned on me. That it never occurred to me that every voice adaption of these crime-fighting teens was voiced by grown ass men. In any case, those voices are all iconic in their respective eras, and I will not stand by and watch you bash away at my childhood, except Rise. You can bash that all you want, I don’t really care.  

DRAWING IN STYLE

There’re a few things I wanted to mention about the art style and direction. I love this unpolished look of not only the characters. But the city as well. The best way I can describe it is this; if it was a bringing your daughter to work day situation, and the kids were bored. So, you let them draw all over your work, and voila, a new art style is born. I love it. Feels gritty but cartoonish, urban and unpolished, and I’ve seen people have been comparing it to Spider-man’s Enter the Spider verse. But I couldn’t disagree more, this is more in tune with the Mitchells vs the Machines art style which makes sense. Since the director also helmed that film. Now, I am an avid fan of storytelling, and I strongly believe a song or soundtrack can make or break a trailer. So, hearing “Can I Kick It?” by A Tribe Called Quest slap in the background of this trailer hit all the right notes. It’s as if this trailer was edited just for my own entertainment. Speaking of, I heard Seth Rogen say somewhere in an article, that the music choices for this movie are going to be like that of a Tony Hawk’s Pro Skaters’ soundtrack. Which of course is part of the charm of those games. If you grew up with those games, you know what I’m talking about. In fact, I’m hoping to drop a new video on my gaming channel as I dive into Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2 remasters. Keep an eye out for that video. The link to my gaming channel is right here. Click it now, do it!  

Back to the trailer. The voice actors did a great job expressing teenage energy and added so much charm to the boys. That scene where Raph throws a ninja star at the watermelon that oddly is shaped the same as Mikey’s face gets cut out suddenly. But this is the first full shot we get of the green team, pun intended, and so much to say about the expression of their faces. Donnie’s curiosity, Leo’s need to be a protector, Raph’s no fucks given attitude, and Mikey’s concerning reaction gives me hope that this is the film that will finally give us a true movie trilogy. Since Michael Bay’s was cut short, and the original 90’s series were kind of a trilogy only by name, but don’t resemble and actual bearing to the movie that came before it. We all know what happened to that fiasco of a series. I am still convinced that TMNT 3 was an entirely different movie that was thrown together as a turtle’s story at the last minute. On that note, I should mention the TMNT ‘07 animated film. That was a good film, despite all the hate it gets. The villains were forgettable but the story between the brothers falling out is true story telling! Another interesting fact that I must mention is the design of the turtles and their weapons. First off, I love that they went with the classic color and slim look design of the turtles. That will always be my favorite version of them. I don’t care much for the muscular and gritty versions we got in the early 2000’s or the mutated look we got in the Michael Bay franchise. I also appreciate that all four turtles are around the same height and size. Only Raph being slightly bigger than his brothers. Somewhere along the way, they changed it to make Donnie slim and tall, and Raph big and bulky. This seems more in line with the classic looks which kind of resemble the 2012 series too. Which is by far my favorite animated adaptation, and if you are a huge fan of the 90’s era. I encourage you to give it a chance. I also like the subtle letters on their belts that were first introduced in the 87 animated series, and it has been a long going tradition along with their iconic blue, red, purple, and orange masks. But my favorite little detail you might have missed is Mikey rocking his iconic num-chuks. Which was infamously removed from the 87 series due to the belief that it would encourage violence at the hands of a blood thirty gang with the use of ninja weapons. But still allowed Leo to have his iconic katanas and Raph with his Sais. If you ask me, I will gladly take Donnie’s bow over any of those weapons any fighting day of the week, I mean have you seen the reach that bow gets? No contest. Anyway, I’m glad to see Mikey sporting his OG nun-chucks.  

OTHER CHARACTERS’ FIRST LOOKS

Now, I’ve seen people mention Splinter’s afro look. I think this might be a flash back scene we will get. We all remember looking at our parents’ photo albums. As we got a kick out of seeing what our parents looked like when they were young. For all the kids watching this. We used to take pictures on a disposable camera that we’d throw away after developing our photos at our local Walgreens and display our pictures in a book for all to see. Those were vastly different times. Anyway, if it’s end up being his look. I have to say, it’s a minor change that I can live with. I mean it can’t be as bad as the Splinter from Rise of the TMNT.  

My favorite moment in this trailer was the subtle 2 frame shot of Bebop and Rocksteady head bobbing to some jams. I can’t really tell here, but it looks like Rocksteady may have gotten his rhino into some of those sweet, sweet greens. If you know what I mean. When I saw these two, I was like, oh… here we go, Bring on the Mayhem! But surprisingly, that’s the only other mutants we got, and I genuinely was shocked and appreciated the fact that they didn’t give me everything. It leaves me with more excitement for this movie. 

April. Well, it seems like everyone is divided on this one. I grew up with the red head news reporter in the iconic yellow jumpsuit, and there have been plenty versions of her since. There’s been a long-time debate on her ethnicity. Some say, Asian, other say white or black. If you ask me, who gives a flying fuck. Every adaptation of April has been awesome, and I’m sure this one will be too. In fact, my favorite thing about her looks is her size. I’m happy to see that she is representing a large population of plus size women. Not everything has to be hot. Except my pizza, that delivery better be here soon or I ain’t paying full price for that pizza. It’s evident in her response to interviewing the turtles that she will in fact be a journalist of some sort. Possibly a blogger who has a following higher than my channel here on YouTube. But let’s show her that we can out follow her community by throwing a ninja star at the subscribe button. 

Anyway, this trailer gives enough to build excitement. But it keeps a lot in wraps, and I appreciate that. I love the design of the characters and aesthetics of the city. I hope the full trailer doesn’t give away too much. I want to go in knowing nothing more than what I’ve seen here today. What were your favorite things about this trailer? Even better, what is your favorite topping on a pizza? I’m fasting right now, and I’m starving. So, all I can think about right now is pizza. Let’s keep the discussion going in the comments section. As always, I’ll catch you on the next one.