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Splinter

Rad Review: TMNT Youtooz Collectables!

by Chris M. P. May 12, 2023

written by Chris M. P.

When it comes to collectables, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and vinyl figures are two categories that show no signs of slowing down. Good for us! Bad for our wallets! But if you find yourself tired of the redundant Funko stylings, there’s a fresh collectable company called Youtooz launched in 2019 that has something for everyone. Whether it be internet memes, South Park, video games, Spongebob Squarepants, The Peanuts, and so many more recognizable properties.

But I know why you’re here…and that’s for TMNT. And, luckily, Youtooz has us shellheads covered with their line of limited edition vinyl TMNT figures! Youtooz’s TMNT vinyl figures are based off of the beloved 1987 animated series designs and feature our 4 Heroes in a Halfshell as well as that radical rat Master Splinter and the evil Shredder.

Each vinyl figure stands a little over 4 inches tall and comes in its own unique (color coded) packaging. This, in turn, makes the figures look truly great displayed together in such an alluring colorful way. Upon receiving my TMNT Youtooz, I noticed the difference between them and the familiar Funko Pop! Brand. Though both are aimed at collectors, the Youtooz vinyl figures automatically come in a sturdy plastic case as well as a slick character specific slipcase littered with nice artwork and quotes. They’re not generic in any sense which makes every Youtooz vinyl figure feel unique, as each figure can stand on its own. Each purchase being a little “project” in and of itself. Which is refreshing in the sea of “collect them all!” marketing.

Yet sometimes we need to free our figures of their protective shells (ha) to be displayed in their raw form. And, luckily, the Youtooz TMNT line look just as good out of the box as they do in them.

The figures are styled with larger heads with Youtooz signature “closed eyes” appearance sitting upon well sculpted detailed bodies. The paint applications are bold and vibrant and the vinyl figures have no problem standing on their own. The TMNT and Shredder are posed for action while Splinter is calm in solitude…as many great ninja masters are. Each Turtle showcases their individual personalities. The alluring colors reek of Saturday Morning cartoons and the figures would fit right in next to a big bowl of colorful sugary cereal. Fresh but nostalgic.

The Youtooz TMNT vinyl figure line stands out amongst the vast selection of collector vinyl. From the alluring specific packaging to the figures themselves, the higher price tag is warranted when it comes to the quality of these figures. In and out of the box I was thoroughly impressed and happy to add them to my small-ish (yet impressive) TMNT collection.

Being impressed by these little vinyl collectables just made us look to the future. We’d love to see Bebop and Rocksteady, a Foot Soldier, or April O’Neil. What other TMNT character would you want Youtooz to create for a future release? Comment Below!

These Youtooz vinyl figures are retailing for $29.99 and can be purchased through Youtooz directly.

Here’s a link to purchase your own set of radical TMNT Youtooz figures sure to be a classic addition to your collection or a great way to start a new one!

May 12, 2023 0 comment

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Mayhem

Seth Rogan’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movie Will Hit Theaters This August

by Justin Bozung March 8, 2023

written by Justin Bozung

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Seth Rogan Movie Coming

The Paramount Studios / Seth Rogan Production: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem will feature an all-star cast: Jackie Chan, Seth Rogan, John Cena, Ice Cube, Hannibal Buress, Giancarlo Esposito, Paul Rudd, Maya Rudolph, and Post Malone.

Watch the newly-released trailer down below.

It’s been 3 days since Seth Rogen walked out onto the stage at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards and announced the cast for his upcoming Turtles reboot, but the internet still hasn’t calmed down about it yet.

Scheduled to hit theaters August 4th, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem finds our favorite 4 sewer-dwelling, pizza-loving heroes in a half shell Donatello, Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Raphael with their sights set on keeping New York City safe from the antics of Bebop and Rocksteady, but also on finding acceptance from those above whom they protect.

What will make this new TMNT movie stand out from those that have come before it, will be the big screen introduction of such well-known origin story/mythology/1980s animated TV series characters as “Genghis Frog,” “Leatherhead,” “Wingnut,” “Cynthia Utrom,” “Ray Millet,” and “Mondo Gecko,” but also the insane cast of big names attached.

Splinter: Jackie Chan
Donatello: Micah Abbey
Michelangelo: Shannon Brown Jr.
Leonard: Nicholas Cantu
Raphael: Brady Noon
Bebop: Seth Rogan
Rocksteady: John Cena
April O’Neil: Ayo Edebiri
Genghis Frog: Hannibal Buress
Leatherhead: Rose Byrne
Superfly: Ice Cube
Wingnut: Natasie Demetrious
Baxter Stockman: Giancarlo Esposito
Ray Millet: Post Malone
Mondo Gecko: Paul Rudd
Cynthia Utrom: Maya Rudolph

With Rogan at the helm of this new movie, Turtles fans will likely get to see a much better film than those previously brought to the big screen by director/producer, Michael Bay.

And judging from the recent statement by the President of Nickelodeon Animation and Paramount Animation, Ramsey Naito, the studio itself might be thinking the exact same thing:

“We are beyond thrilled by this world-class cast we’ve assembled to bring these iconic, beloved characters to life in a new chapter of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles universe. This really sets a new bar for this globally celebrated franchise, and we can’t wait to show audiences this film.

March 8, 2023 0 comment

Collection Reviews

Lootcrate Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movie 30th Anniversary Box

by Kyle Tobey March 12, 2020

written by Kyle Tobey

Lootcrate announced a new kind of mystery crate called “Loot Launcher”, where the crate is only released if enough people pledge to support the mystery box. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle crate promised an exclusive Splinter Spirit figure with the box, and it well exceeded it’s goal.

I supported this crate months ago and got a surprise package in the mail! Check out what was in this special TMNT 30th Anniversary crate!

Foot Clan Patch and Pin

This embroidered patch and pin are fun, subtle ways to show your loyalty to the Foot Clan. Put these on and you’ll only get 1 question; Regular? Or menthol? (Don’t smoke, it’s from the movie.)

Foot Clan Graffiti Tee

The Foot Clan continue to make their mark in this box. The logo for Channel 3 News has been tagged and, shockingly, there are no witnesses. It’s a good quality shirt with a fun design. I’m a fan of shirts where only fans would get the reference, and this fits the description.

Foot Clan Headband

This is a great addition to your cosplay closet, or an accessory for your toy display!

Spirit of Splinter Figure from NECA Toys

This is definitely a grail piece for most. This alone makes the entire crate completely worth it. “Spirit Splinter” is a fantastic “Movie Moment” figure that perfectly captures this emotional moment in the film. His translucent blue paint makes this figure feel like much more than a repaint of the standard Splinter.

He comes with a bag of marshmallows and a stick to roast around the blue fire pit. You can recreate this pivotal moment (if you collected last year’s wave of figures) with a fire pit that lights up as well. It’s an amazing figure that’s a must have and now very hard to get for any TMNT figure collector.

This new venture from Lootcrate is a great idea and made a ton of fans of the original movie very happy. You absolutely get your money’s worth and everything in the box is made with really high quality. Even the headband, which could have easily been a throwaway product, was made with a lot of care and quality material.

If you were lucky enough to get this box, let us know what you think! Other than the figure, what did you like best? Do you like this new Lootcrate idea? Let us know in the comments!

March 12, 2020 0 comment

As the series draws to a close, let's pay some respect to one of the best iterations we've ever seen of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Image Source: Nickelodeon.

Blog TV Series

Booyakabunga: Saying Goodbye to Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

by Justin W October 30, 2017

written by Justin W

When I took this role several years ago, all I knew was that Nickelodeon had plans for a new television show that would hit the air in 2012. We hadn’t even seen a trailer yet, but I was still very excited about the possibilities. Little did I know that I would come to regard this newest version of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as the best iteration of the franchise we have ever seen. Now that the series is coming to an end, it’s time for a retrospective.

Clocking in at only five seasons in length, this won’t go down as the longest running animated series in the TMNT franchise. That being said, there were several elements which made this version of our heroes in a half shell particularly noteworthy. After going back to the fourth season recently, I noticed some very interesting themes on display which made me appreciate the series even more. With that in mind, let’s talk about a few moments from SSN 4 that prove the quality of this series. Prepare for some potential spoilers.

RESPECT FOR TMNT HISTORY

Although this series is literally chock full of references to past iterations of the TMNT, moments such as their visit to Zayfod’s Cantina show a profound respect for the history of this franchise. For those who may not have been aware, this was actually a moment taken right out of the comic books. Their reason for visiting might have been different, and the events may have changed, but the turtles visited a bar in space while fleeing the Triceratons – and that’s accurate to some of the first comic books that Kevin Eastman & Peter Laird ever created.

This scene in the series was pulled directly from a moment in the Mirage comics. Image Source: Nickelodeon.

Another moment of comic book accuracy came when the turtles had to take on various enemies in gladiatorial combat in order to escape from the Triceratons. These are just two moments from the fourth season, but there are several other notable scenes and episodes from throughout Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles which are taken directly from other iterations of the TMNT. Say what you will about the style of animation they chose, but at least the plot pays homage to all of the different versions of the turtles that came before.

Oh, and “Zayfod’s Cantina”? That has got to be a sly reference to Zaphod Beeblebrox, an important character from Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

DEEP AND COMPLEX CHARACTERS

After taking the turtles on an adventure through the universe, Fugitoid makes an admission which shakes his newfound friends to their core. This is the very moment when the audience discovers that Professor Honeycutt is actually a flawed character. Learning about his true motivations not only reveals that he is an imperfect hero, it also sets up his brilliant moment of redemption. Eventually, he selfishly makes the kind of sacrifice that only he is capable of making.

Later on in the season, we see Super Shredder and Splinter fighting one another. Oroku Saki’s desire to see Hamato Yoshi’s destruction has lead him to make a brash decision which has, as Splinter rightfully points out, made him a monster “both inside and out.” Moments after making this statement, we see Shredder literally smash Splinter’s foot. This might just seem like a random act of violence, but remember that Shredder is actually the leader of the Foot Clan. There is an unmistakable symbolism behind seeing the leader of the ‘Foot’ literally smashing a foot.

Super Shredder faced off against Splinter during SSN 4 and the results weren’t pretty. Image Source: Nickelodeon.

No matter how you look at it, there was a lot of wonderful subtext just beneath the surface of Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. These undertones not only provided much needed depth for notable characters, they also created a much more meaningful universe for the turtles.

NOSTALGIA AND CREATIVITY

Needless to say, nostalgia played a large factor in making Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles successful. The reverence shown to past comics, cartoons, movies and games undoubtedly made this series even better. With that said, it took the creative minds of Ciro Nieli and Brandon Auman (among many others) to make this show a possibility. It was likely thanks to them that all of these subtle little details came together to produce such an excellent and largely cohesive story.

On November 12th, 2017, Nickelodeon will air the series finale of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Although it’s sad to see this version of our heroes in a half shell come to an end, it’s nice to know that we’ll be getting an entirely new TMNT series in 2018. We can only hope that this cartoon will live up to the standards that have been set over the past 5 years, but that remains to be seen. All we can do right now is show some love to all of the amazing people who made the 2k12 series possible.

As far as I’m concerned, you’ve all earned your rightful place in the history of this franchise.

What did you think of Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? Are you sad to see this animated series come to an end? Are you hopeful for the future? Share your thoughts and feelings either in the comments below or on Facebook/Twitter.

October 30, 2017 13 comments

Reviews TV/Cartoon Series

TMNT – “Lone Rat and Cubs” Review

by Dan Spitaliere August 14, 2017

written by Dan Spitaliere

As a life long TMNT fan, it’s hard not to be excited about “Lone Rat and Cubs.” Written by Kevin Eastman himself, the episode proved to be equal parts sentimental and action packed. Getting to see not just the original incident that created the Turtles and Splinter, but what life was like for them in the aftermath was a special treat. It was also great to see more of Splinter again, and Hoon Lee was in peak form throughout the episode.

Despite being more of fan of the origins where Splinter is a rat who is mutated (versus a human made rat), it’s hard not to like this origin. The reason for that is the time the episode takes to show how difficult life is for the once Hamato Yoshi. We see the personal despair Splinter experiences. His life has been filled with tragedy. He lost his wife and daughter and now finds himself mutated, his humanity stolen from him. Now, he lives on the run, taking care of four babies, trying to avoid the very creatures that turned him and the turtles into what they are. It’s a captivating story.

We also see that Splinter doesn’t immediately bond to the Turtles. Considering he originally picks them us pets, it’s compelling to see the transformation over the course of the episode. He takes care of them to protect life, but slowly over time the relationship changes. He begins to see them as a means of atonement, then finally a second chance at being a father. It’s an important moment of character growth that we don’t typically see for Splinter. Except in the case of the IDW comics, where Splinter is literally the Turtles reincarnated father, he has always been their adopted father. In fact, Splinter (in most versions of the TMNT, but maybe most of all in this) is probably the best step-father and single father in media. Whether the team at Nickelodeon intended it or not, they’ve given their audience insight and a positive role model into what is surely a difficult experience.

The growth of this relationship is the core concept of “Lone Rat and Cubs,” but the episode is also about the discovery of home. Splinter takes his new family all over New York, trying to avoid the Kraang, all while scavening for food and trying to stay out of the public eye. They find shelter in an empty water tower, under elevated train tracks, and in a warehouse, but the Kraang seem to find them at every turn. Of course, these moments where Splinter is discovered bring us the action. And boy, what action it is!

Splinter is such a bad ass in this series. It never gets old watching him take on all challengers, and the creative team have done such a great job of giving him a distinctive style. Of course he knows how to use each of his sons’ future weapons. They learned from him! It’s something so simple, but smart to show us.

What’s more, this is a young Splinter. He’s the closest to the Hamato Yoshi we learn he was. Brash and passionate, with a clear aggressive streak. It’s always been easy to see how Splinter and Leo connect, but how cool is it to see how much closer he was to Raph in personality when he was younger?

The episode also gave us insight into the Turtles as children. We get to see bits of their personalities. Mikey’s appetite. Donnie’s ingenuity. Raph’s energy, and also the origin of the scar in his shell.They’re a handful, but cute. And when the five of them get swept away in a sewer current trying to escape the Kraang, the four Turtles come together to rescue their adoptive father, guiding him to land and ultimately what will become their home.

“Lone Rat and Cubs” treated us to the full origin of this version of the TMNT. We got to see Splinter name the Turtles, discover the Lair, and eventually present the four with their signature weapons. All wrapped up in a story focused on the growth of a mans love for his adopted charges. It’s great to see Mr. Eastman be so flexible with the property. You can tell he loves these characters, and carefully crafted a tale that would fit within this particular versions boundaries, but still be classically TMNT.

It’s been mentioned in these reviews before, but TMNT has always been at it’s best when it’s a story about family. This is certainly true here. As we march forward in these Tales of the TMNT, I’m grateful for the opportunity to take pause and look at the past of these characters. In a season that promises demons, monsters, and parallel dimensions, it’s great to take a step back to basics. TMNT will always be about a family surviving in a big city, and taking on the forces that wish to do that family harm. It’s why the characters are so timeless and relatable, despite being turtles and a rat who practice ninjutsu.

August 14, 2017 7 comments

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