It hasn’t all the time been simple being a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fan.
Sure, we have had some high-highs, particularly in relation to the TMNT cartoons in addition to The Final Ronin comedian arc (which I am each anticipating-and dreading the live-action adaptation of). However, for each good model we’ve gotten, we’ve additionally had one thing like Ninja Turtles: The Subsequent Mutation, or the abysmal Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III.
Nevertheless, not too way back, we received my favourite TMNT film ever in Mutant Mayhem, and I am pleased to report that the companion cartoon, Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, is now on Netflix. Should you’re a critical Turtles fan like myself then you’ve got to look at it. Here is why.
It Serves As A Bridge Between Mutant Mayhem, Which I Cherished, And The Greenlit Sequel
Here is the factor about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, and any nice film, actually. As quickly because it ended, I wished extra.
After we received information that a sequel was coming, I used to be over the moon. That stated, the sequel is slated for October ninth, 2026, which is eternally from now!
Not solely that, however I might additionally wish to know what occurs in-between the occasions of the primary film and the second.
Effectively, enter Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Debuting on Paramount+ in August 2024, this 12-episode sequence (which is now on Netflix) offers a bridge between the primary film and the second, which is vastly appreciated.
Watching the present nearly seems like a love letter to followers of the film, because it begins off two months after the movie ended. As an alternative of being afraid of the turtles, characters at the moment are inviting them to events, and Grasp Splinter is now studying to talk “vermin” on account of his relationship with Scumbag.
We additionally get fascinating new villains, and it makes me excited for what we’ll get within the subsequent film…all the best way in 2026. God, that’s a very long time from now. Fortunately, we’ve got this present to tide us over.
The First Story Arc Permits Us To Be taught Extra About Every Particular person Turtle From Mutant Mayhem, Which Is Appreciated
Despite the fact that I beloved Mutant Mayhem (considerably on account of its wonderful solid), one factor I didn’t love is that I didn’t really get a really feel for all of the Turtles, most notably Michelangelo, who is usually probably the most expressive Turtle in each model of the sequence.
Mutant Mayhem’s Mikey appeared much more reserved than earlier iterations of the character, and I simply wished to know extra about what his deal was. Sure, I knew this model wished to do stand-up comedy, however that’s just about all I received out of him from the film.
Fortunately, Mikey–and the entire Turtles, for that matter–will get an episode devoted to him. That’s as a result of the primary 4 episodes see the Turtles remoted from each other.
Within the first episode, “Leo Nardo Stands Alone,” we’ve got the chief of the Turtles on the run and attempting to get involved along with his brothers, who received separated throughout a battle. Within the second episode, “Mikey Does the Proper Factor,” we get a comical journey the place Mikey is caught with a man who desperately desires to be reworked right into a mutant. I beloved this episode as a result of we received to see simply how unprepared Mikey is as a personality, but additionally that he has a great coronary heart, which may be very Mikey-like (and what we didn’t actually get to see within the movie).
The third episode, “Raph Thinks It By” is all about my favourite Turtle, Raphael, and the fourth, “Donnie Hangs Robust” options everyone’s favourite nerd, Donatello.
All of it coalesces with the Turtles reconvening to cease a well-known character (with a special face), Bishop, who had been searching them down. This additionally swirls again into the film, since Bishop’s backstory on this model offers with Superfly, which we study within the fifth episode, “Bishop Makes Her Transfer!” Plus, since this sequence is pulling parts from the movie, all of it feels so distinctive (and but acquainted) to what’s come earlier than. Talking of which…
It Additionally Feels Totally different From Any Different TMNT Present That I’ve Ever Seen Earlier than
As someone who has seen each TV present, and watched each film based mostly across the Turtles, I can let you know with certainty that Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles feels totally different from each model–save Mutant Mayhem, after all–that I’ve ever seen.
However, whereas Mutant Mayhem felt like an appetizer, Tales seems like the complete meal. It truly is the interplay between the Turtles and different mutants that does it, which we see much more of within the second half of the sequence.
As a result of right here’s the factor. Despite the fact that we’ve undoubtedly gotten interactions with different mutants earlier than in earlier reveals, I feel Tales actually makes it really feel natural.
For instance, within the later episodes, we’re launched to a gaggle of mutants known as The East River Three, and so they make for a fantastic foil to the Turtles.
That is good, as a result of in most iterations of the Turtles, we’ve gotten enemies like Shredder, or Kraang, so it’s good to see mutants take up the majority of the antagonism this time, which is becoming, given what we received within the film.
This creates a brand new kind of dynamic that differs from most earlier variations of the reveals, and I like that, because it feels thrilling and new, similar to Mutant Mayhem itself did.
It Introduces Us To New Variations Of Characters Not Seen In Mutant Mayhem
Very like the Turtles we get in Mutant Mayhem who’re considerably totally different from what we’ve gotten up to now, the opposite characters are additionally extra fleshed out right here as properly, resembling Leatherhead, Wingnut, Scumbag, and Ray Fillet, simply to call a couple of.
Within the present, we see them interacting with the Turtles much more, so we get to discover extra of what they’re like as characters, which is all the time a great time.
However, I actually need to speak about acquainted Turtles characters not featured within the film, like Pigeon Pete, who initially appeared within the IDW comics, and the 2012 present, and Bishop, who goes all the best way again to the 2003 animated sequence.
Now, Pigeon Pete is a cool addition to the Mutant Mayhem gang, and he’s voiced by Christopher Mintz-Plasse. On this model, he’s mutated by Michelangelo’s blood fairly than Kraang, and he joins the opposite Mutanimals.
Nevertheless, the character I actually need to speak about is Bishop, who is totally totally different in Tales. On this model, it’s a lady fairly than the standard male, and he or she’s not likely evil. As an alternative, she holds a grudge towards all mutants on account of occasions that occurred in Mutant Mayhem that we weren’t aware of earlier than.
I actually love that the present, just like the film, is completely altering all the things we find out about traditional TMNT characters, however for the higher, which brings me to my final level.
And Actually, Who Would not Need Extra Turtles Content material?
Since I don’t have Paramount+, I missed the preliminary launch of Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and I’m overjoyed that it popped up on Netflix alongside different TMNT reveals, just like the 2012 model, and Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
As a result of, I don’t know if you happen to might inform or not, however I LOVE the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (much more so than the Energy Rangers!) And though I’ve seen Mutant Mayhem 3 times now, I’m glad that I now have one thing else to tide me over till 2026.
As a result of Tales is the most effective kind of tide-me-over. It’s each devoted to the Turtles, but additionally completely totally different. It options extra of my favourite characters, however in manner greater adventures.
Not solely that, nevertheless it additionally leaves characters alive that I’m nearly sure are going to look within the subsequent film.
So, if you happen to’re an entire Turtle fan like me, then you definitely owe it to your self to take a look at Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It’s truthfully probably the greatest Turtles cartoons that’s ever existed. So, say it with me, individuals. Turtle energy!