Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a part of multiple generations of popular childhood animation and comics. Here are a few differences fans haven't noticed about the original 1990's version and it's evolvement. The 1990's film, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, globally popularized the comic franchise and set the precedent for transforming comic book series into animations leading to live-action films. Apart from both comic book and the on-screen success it has also released famous lines of toys, action figures, video games and other merchandise. With an upcoming reboot, fans are anxious to see the next depiction and direction of TMNT.
Originally created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird during a night of humorously thinking-up satirical comic ideas, TMNT has undergone some diverse changes including striking character and plot developments. From years of production, character, story-line, and marketing alterations, TMNT may surprise even the most loyal fans with some facts that have gone unnoticed from the original 90's release.
April O'Neil's Drastically Adverse Depictions
As the first human ally of the ninja turtles, April's character is very crucial to the relationship between mutant and human. The 1990 depiction portrays April played by Judith Hoag (who also starred in TV film series Halloweentown and Nashville) as a successful and well-known TV reporter who came on strong and even hassled the chief of police to be more proactive about fighting crime. She definitely fits into the ninja turtle motive with her passion for halting crime. Fans can see a contrast to this in the more recent adaptation in 2014's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle version where April played by Megan Fox ( Transformers, Rogue) is an underestimated and devalued reporter who is fighting to get a serious story and make a name for herself.
Physical Build Of Ninja Turtles Turns Friendly Into Nightmarish
Creators of the comic characters Ninja Turtles set their goals on making the mutated aquatic reptiles friendly, comedic, vulnerable and somewhat childish while still understanding the value of saving others and abolishing crime. The visual artist work of the turtles has changed over the course of time. Originally they kept their reptilian facial features with human-size structures and muscular physique. They could easily look fierce and goofy at the same time and even cute. As time has progressed, they have been reproduced in many shapes and sizes including leaner, flexible and more agile to hulk-ish, steroidal giant beast looking mutant turtles. The first modern CGI live-action depiction in 2014 was criticized for the appearance of the turtles' facial features being too Human-like and their stature too monstrously built. Fan art has also expanded in creative imaging of these famous mutant characters.
Highest Grossing Independent Film from 1990 - 1999
Major film distribution companies missed their chance with the 1990 live-action TMNT including GMC, Columbia Pictures, Orion Pictures, Walt Disney Pictures, Warner Bros, and Paramount Pictures who all turned away the film believing that it would be a tragic box office failure.
To their disappointment, an independent and very small production company at the time, New Line Cinema, took on distribution of the film which grossed the highest independent film profit of the '90s until the release of Blair Witch Project in 1999. Interestingly it was also the 9th highest-grossing film in 1990 worldwide.
Splinter's Origin Tells Many Tales
Splinter's background has changed numerous times with each rendition. The original story tells that he was the pet of Martial artist and clansman, Hamato Yoshi. Splinter spent time mimicking his master and learning to fight. After a terrible love story gone wrong, Master Yoshi is killed and Splinter sets out for revenge after saving 4 turtles covered in a toxic lab ooze spilled in a sewer leading to their mutations. A later story tells that Hamato Yoshi had power struggles, was framed and banished. He became homeless and found 4 turtles who touched a mutant lab substance in the sewers, the turtles become human-like and Hamato Yoshi becomes half rat-half human taking on the name Splinter. Other renditions have changes to the story but all have one thing in common, Splinter takes the turtles as his "sons" and trains them in martial arts to fight crime.
Shredder Attacks New York City
Due to the many versions of Shredder's storyline and plans, there are subsequently different targets that he has in New York. The original story tells it that Shredder travels to New York and kills Hamato Yoshi to avenge his slain brother. In the 1990 depiction, Shredder travels to the big apple to kill Hamato for taking the woman he loved and fleeing to America. After which Shredder recruits young troubled teenagers to join his Foot Clan and cause chaos in the streets. After attempting to kidnap April O'Neil, the clan accidentally stumbles upon the turtle's den discovering their mutation, master, and ninjutsu skills. The 2014 Paramount version creates a different plot, Shredder is in league with his adopted son Eric Sacks who, after discovering the possibility of mutation decides to create his own mutants, release gas in the city creating a disease and then selling the mutagen as a cure to get rich.
Sally Menke Gets Kicked Off The Original Project
Although Sally Menke edited CBS documentaries, she would later work with world-famous directors such as Billy Bob Thornton and Oliver Stone. She also worked with Quentin Tarantino on eight projects including Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, and Inglorious Basterds winning two academy awards for best film editing.
During the 1990 TMNT project, Golden Harvest Production (Iron Monkey, Fist of Fury, The Way of the Dragon with Bruce Lee) asked Sally Menke to leave the project because they were not happy with her editing. She still received credit and moved on to editing major world-renown films. Sadly she passed away in 2010 during a hike in Los Angeles from a heat stroke.
April O'neil Was More Than Just A Reporter
Actress Megan Fox plays the role of April in the 2014 and 2016 Paramount Pictures Films. She is not only a reporter but she is the reason why the mutation happens in the first place. Her father was a scientist who created the mutagen and experimented on animals. During the destruction of the lab by Shredder, April helps the turtles and Splinter escape into the sewers where they later evolve into the large mutants. After negative criticism for the 2014 film, Fox was awarded a Golden Raspberry Award for worst supporting actress. In the earlier version of TMNT, April played by Judith Hoag is a hard-hitting reporter who gets too involved in The Foot Clan's criminal activities and Shredder attempts to shut her up. There are more depictions of April in animated series such as Mirage Studio's comic where she is not a reporter but a programming genius. The 2003 Animated TV series depicts her as a technical assistant to Dr. Baxter. Regardless of her story, she is always in trouble and the ninja turtles are always there to save her.
Splinter And Shredder Give Each Other Permanent Scars
Scars on movie characters can have a huge impact on the perceptions and feelings of viewers. Take Kylo Ren from Star Wars, for example, the scar across his face gives the character a completely different depth of stronger frightening and verdictive attributes.
In the original adaptation of TMNT Shredder comes to Hamato Yoshi's home and kills Master Yoshi. In a brave attempt to fight back, Splinter viciously attacks Shredder's face leaving a permanent scar while Shredder swipes at Splinter with his katana severing his ear. A subtle but foreshadowing event of their unfinished business that would later resolve itself at the end of the film.
Jim Henson Creature Shop VS CGI
Famously known for creature makeup and visual productions of shows and movies such as Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone, Star Wars : The Rise Of Skywalker, The Neverending Story, Dr. Doolittle, and The Muppet Show Jim Henson Creature Shop has truly excelled at costume and makeup for the exciting depictions of creature characters. This is also true for the original TMNT and its sequels. The 1990 project was brought to life by the foam and rubber creations that so masterfully depicted the mutant ninja turtles and other film characters. The 1997 TV series Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation also used specialty costumes to showcase the characters. In contrast, the more recent depictions using computer graphics have overly exaggerated the characters giving them a fake appearance with more aggressive expressions and oversized stature. As a result, the 2014 and 2016 versions have been widely criticized.
Ninja Turtles Betray Pizza
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is one of the most popularly known comic series from the 1980s. These fun and laid back mutant turtles and their way of relating to the youth makes them a fun comic series to follow and easily grow attached too. Every fan knows that pizza is a huge part of the series. What is not so broadly known is that the company Pizza Hut had a $20 million buy-in marketing campaign with the film but did not think the film was major enough to promote within the film. As a result, the film itself uses Dominoes Pizza instead. In the VHS release, Pizza Hut shows a commercial and coupon discount before the film starts. The film is tied between the two major Pizza companies.