TMNT Mutant Mayhem is Great! Except that one thing...

My video on Rise TMNT is one of my favorite things I've ever done: https://youtu.be/h97LkMZilgU

I feel like with each generation of TMNT since 2012, the goal has been to make the turtles be more "teen-like". However, Mutant Mayhem by far does the best job of representing teenagers. Their dialogue reminded me of how my younger 16 year old brother talks. The improv from the teen voice actors and the writers/directors working with the VAs definitely helped it's accuracy.

This movie had the TMNT actually be voiced by Teenagers instead of adults trying to sound like Teenagers

Honestly, Rise deserved so much better. They took a gamble with so many things, like Raph being the leader, they all have unique designs, April is already friends with the turtles, and Splinter's entire backstory, just to name a few. It all paid off so well, and I really want more, especially with how gorgeous that animation and fight scenes were.

Might be a controversial opinion, but this is probably my favorite iteration of Michelangelo, ever! Most versions of Mikey tend to be two things, an idiot, or a total beach bum, but this one is a total vibe. He's endearing and supportive, and I just found him to be really wholesome. To be fair, I haven't watched Rise yet, so I can't say definitively, but for now, this movie is my favorite iteration of the character.

I enjoyed that Leo's crush on April propelled the plot forward, it wasn't a gag. Leo being over the top and needing to save April's scooter was the catalyst to their first fight. Raph, Mikey, and Donnie were ready to bail. At the very start of the movie Leo "rats" out the boys to Splinter about seeing a movie and they all get grounded. This contributes to Leo being in on the lie with his brothers. He has this crush on April, he wants to go to school one day, and he learned already in the film that being honest with his dad gets him punished. I think romance is a part of highschool. I feel like I must have lived a completely different life in HS because me and all my friends were girl/boy crazy. I found Leo's crush on April not creepy, but sweet. He obviously wants to impress her and it's very realistic for a 15 year old to have an interest in girls. Signed anyone who has dated in highschool. Where were some of you going to school where no one was dating? Please, tell me. But maybe more selfishly, after all the hate April's design got before the movie for being bigger and black- to hear Leo refer to her multiple times as gorgeous, beautiful, or just dreamily stare at her- Like come on. That was the best!! Girls with April's body type are going to love this, it's a confidence boost, and Leo is correct. April is beautiful. I don't care if they get together in the end, I'm not a shipper. I am sure fanfiction can fulfill any whim I might have, but please. Let's have more characters like April be beautiful. Full stop. Not fat but beautiful. Not plump but gorgeous. Just beautiful.

As a huge TMNT fan who prefers darker and older turtles, MM was fantastic. Just because it isn’t what I prefer doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the absolute heck out of it! My little brother and I had a great time at the theater with our themed popcorn, drink, and action figures we brought from home

This movie was so good. The animation, the characters, the fight choreography, and the fact that they were voiced by actual teenagers are all awesome, and I love how they really focused on the turtles and Splinter as a family over them as ninjas.

Part of the reason seasons 1-5 of 03 TMNT will forever be GOATed is for having the most healthy Casey/April ship, and not having the turtles pursue humans romantically. In season 5, Mikey is approached with the topic and says, “Maybe if she was green and had a shell, you’d have something.”

Given that this Splinter doesn’t have any relation with Hamato Yoshi, I think it’d be cool if they incorporated the guy as an ally to the Turtles and Splinter in the sequel. Like he ends up a cool uncle to the turtles.

Briefly on that last bit: From what I'm told, even the animators on Sausage Party say that Rogen and Goldberg weren't responsible for the bad working conditions (that was mostly Nitrogen Studios and co-director Greg Tiernan apparently), so I can buy that that wasn't carried over to this film. If anything it probably convinced Rogen to keep a closer eye on things this time.

As someone who’s not big on TMNT I absolutely loved this movie and the down to earth Teenage approach and I loved seeing the Turtles Struggles with wanting to be among society, it’s cliche done right. Also I feel like Leo having a crush on April worked because teens are gonna have crushes (not always) and it was hilarious seeing the turtles dunking on Leo for it! But yeah it seems like they remained friends in the end HOPEFULLY

Glad that someone still thinks that Rise DESERVES more time. I really enjoyed the movie and still wished that the show got at least 2 more seasons. Also I agree with the romance it's annoying.

It's nice to know we can have a good Ninja Turtles story without Shredder or Krang. And I'm sure the Leo and April thing was all in good fun. 😙

The after credits was great. I gotta say, I was glad that they focused on mutants rather than the Foot Clan for once, but I wished Splinters backstory was more like the Nicktoons one.

Shout out to Raphael for being the only Turtle who hasn’t crushed on April (as of now, please don’t ever do it) He’s got his lizard Queen Mona Lisa and they are the best couple (in 2012)!!

It helps that actual teens did the roles and supposedly improved some of the dialogue. I've been teaching HS students for 25 years and this felt pretty authentic by movie standards. I also get the sense that these TMNT are still on the younger side. I don't think Mikey and Donnie have had their growth spurts or voices change yet, which would be typical of HS freshmen boys, roughly ages 14-15. We will hopefully see these characters grow and mature into the characters we are more familiar with.

Even if you don't particularly care for TMNT, I feel like EVERY animation enthusiast NEEDS to see this film. It is GORGEOUS. I had to stop myself multiple times in the theatre from literally going "MMM! OOH!" as the different shots came on screen. It's all so tasty and textural and there was clearly so much love put into it

movie is a ten out of ten for having that superfly entrance. Ice Cube killed it as the villain!

I don't say this often, but yeah this film has STUNNING animation. Every frame is a painting.