When it comes to popular franchises, none may have the tenure or versatility as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. What started as parody to Marvel’s Daredevil has a cultural phenomenon that has made fans throughout decades with its various TV series and other mediums. Film has been no exception to the Turtles as the group have been adapted to the big screen on several occasions with the most recent being 2016’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows. Since then the franchise has taken a break from any major motion pictures, but there was talk that a new film was development. It was not until 2020 when Nickelodeon announced that a new film was in the works and being produced by none other than the team of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg; and this film came in the form of the new animated feature-Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.

The new movie deals with Leonardo (Nicolas Cantu), Raphael (Brady Noon), Donatello (Micah Abbey) and Michelangelo (Shamon Brown Jr.) looking for a way to be accepted by human world. The four find their chance meeting the young reporter April O’Neil (Ayo Edebiri) who is trying to take down the mysterious Superfly (Ice Cube): a mutant determined to destroying the humans for the sake of mutant kind. When the project was announced Rogen stated that he wanted to film to focus on the teenage side of the series. To accomplish this, the filmmakers hired Jeff Rowe, the director behind Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Mitchells vs. The Machine, to helm the latest TMNT film; and Rowe set out to this installment to be the “ultimate coming of age film”. Growing up with the series, I was looking forward to see what the next TMNT film would bring to the franchise; and from the previews Mutant Mayhem looked to be something different for the series. After seeing this animated installment, I can say that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem was that and more as the film is a refreshing and enjoyable take on the heroes in a half shell.

With the franchise having so many depictions, it could be difficult to bring something new to TMNT especially on film. However Mutant Mayhem answered this by having an origin story that was simplistic and thematic. Rather than centering on the grandiose nature of the series (though it was there to be sure) the story centers on the personal journey of four turtles. This direction was a compelling aspect for the plot as it grounded the Turtles’ origins in a manner that has not been seen on the big screen. When it came the series’ lore, the plot handled it well and gave its own spin on it that could easily be expanded upon. The plot culminated in a conclusion that, while a bit quick, was entertaining and fitting for the new adaptation.

Yet a TMNT film is only as good as the four turtles it centers on, and the latest heroes in a half shell were formidable group to say the least. While their usual traits were a bit skewed, particularly Mikey, each turtle were solid in their characters and together the four brothers were fantastic in their comradery. However the turtles are only as good as their supporting cast, and this movie featured a fairly decent set of characters. April surprised me with her character and direction while Splinter (Jackie Chan) was a different take on the wise rat; though I think this take worked for the film’s direction and, to no surprise, Chan brought a lot of life to this rendition. As for the rest of the cast the movie was filled with mutant characters like Bebop (Seth Rogen) and Rocksteady (John Cena). The mutants were as one noted as they could be but each were memorable in their own with the most notable being Mondo Gecko (Paul Rudd). As for the villains taking up the roles was of course Superfly as well as Cynthia Utrom (Maya Rudolph). Both characters were simplistic in their direction, but they both worked for the movie and both brought the right intensity for such memorable cast.

Animation has been no stranger to the Turtles even on the big screen, but seeing the latest film be an animated feature was a little surprising. With Rowe’s previous work, I expected Mutant Mayhem to be stylized in its animation and it did not disappoint. While I was not the biggest fan of the character design (with the exception being the Turtles), the animation managed to create a gritty and vibrant look that was appropriate for a comicbook movie. When it came to action, the movie was a stellar experience as both the animation and cinematography crafted some exciting moments for the film. Equally as stylish was the music by the duo of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. The score was far more soothing than I expected, but its thematic nature was appropriate in capturing the movie’s coming of age element while being engaging enough to capture the movie’s exciting moments.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is a surprising addition to the iconic series. While some of its directions were questionable, the film was a able to live up to the series with its engaging story and solid cast; and along with its stylish presentation the film was a dynamic experience to say the least. What Mutant Mayhem establishes is a world that screams with potential, and I could easily this story continue in future movies. When it comes down to it, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is a new beginning for the series and with its style and entertainment ends up being a standout for the year.