Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) - Part One: From Sewers to Stardom. How Four Mutant Turtles Changed Action Cinema

03/31/25 • 45 min

Episode Summary:
In this bodacious episode of The Fandom Portals Podcast, hosts Aaron and Brash shell out their thoughts on the classic 1990 film, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

They reminisce about their first encounters with the turtles, from the animated series to the iconic movie. The hosts also dive into some totally tubular trivia, behind-the-scenes secrets about the Jim Henson Creature Shop suits, and compare the 90s film to Michael Bay's 2010s take. It's a nostalgic trip filled with pizza, puns, and plenty of turtle power.

Topics:

Gratitudes and Growths: Personal Reflections Before Diving into TMNT
First Takes: Our First Impressions of the 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movie & Fan Reactions
Fandom Fact Face-Off: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movie Trivia Challenge!
Set Secrets: Unmasking the Magic - The 1990 TMNT Animatronic Suits
Devil's Avocado: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Face-Off - 1990s vs. Michael Bay's TMNT Designs
Sign-Off: Calling All Turtle Fans!

Key Takeaways:

The 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie holds a special place in the hearts of many fans, evoking nostalgia for the late 80s and early 90s "Turtle Mania".
The film's success was surprising, as many Hollywood studios were initially hesitant to back it, fearing it would flop like other comic book adaptations of the time.
Jim Henson's Creature Shop created the groundbreaking animatronic suits for the turtles, which, while impressive for their time, had their share of challenges for the stunt performers.
There's debate about the best portrayal of the turtles, with the 1990s film's practical effects being compared to the CGI-heavy designs of Michael Bay's movies.

Quotes:

"As a wise man said, forgiveness is divine, but never pay full price for late pizza."
"This is legit peak turtles until the mutant mayhem movie came out."

Call to Action:

Cowabunga! If you enjoyed this trip down memory lane, please subscribe to The Fandom Portals Podcast for more deep dives into the fandoms you love! Leave us a review, and share this episode with your friends on social media using the hashtag #FandomPortalsTurtles .

Apple Podcast Tags:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, TMNT, 1990s movies, comic book movies, nostalgia, pop culture, movie review, film analysis, behind the scenes, Jim Henson, practical effects, CGI, fandom, geek

Instagram: instagram.com/fandomportals/?locale=en
Threads: threads.net/@fandomportals
Email: [email protected]
Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/fandomportals

Episode Summary:
In this bodacious episode of The Fandom Portals Podcast, hosts Aaron and Brash shell out their thoughts on the classic 1990 film, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Topics:

Gratitudes and Growths: Personal Reflections Before Diving into TMNT
First Takes: Our First Impressions of the 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movie & Fan Reactions
Fandom Fact Face-Off: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movie Trivia Challenge!
Set Secrets: Unmasking the Magic - The 1990 TMNT Animatronic Suits
Devil's Avocado: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Face-Off - 1990s vs. Michael Bay's TMNT Designs
Sign-Off: Calling All Turtle Fans!

Key Takeaways:

The 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie holds a special place in the hearts of many fans, evoking nostalgia for the late 80s and early 90s "Turtle Mania".
The film's success was surprising, as many Hollywood studios were initially hesitant to back it, fearing it would flop like other comic book adaptations of the time.
Jim Henson's Creature Shop created the groundbreaking animatronic suits for the turtles, which, while impressive for their time, had their share of challenges for the stunt performers.
There's debate about the best portrayal of the turtles, with the 1990s film's practical effects being compared to the CGI-heavy designs of Michael Bay's movies.

Quotes:

"As a wise man said, forgiveness is divine, but never pay full price for late pizza."
"This is legit peak turtles until the mutant mayhem movie came out."

Call to Action:

Apple Podcast Tags:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, TMNT, 1990s movies, comic book movies, nostalgia, pop culture, movie review, film analysis, behind the scenes, Jim Henson, practical effects, CGI, fandom, geek

Instagram: instagram.com/fandomportals/?locale=en
Threads: threads.net/@fandomportals
Email: [email protected]
Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/fandomportals

Previous Episode

Gabriel (2007) - Part Two: The Untapped Potential of Purgatory and the Powerful Character Arcs of Gabriel and Michael.

Episode Summary:

We explore the character arcs of Gabriel, Sammael/Michael, and the fallen angels. We analyze Gabriel's journey from righteous archangel to grappling with humanity, his relationships, and pivotal moments.

Aaron and Brash dissect Samuel's transformation as Michael, leader of the fallen, and his redemption.

“You threw me far from grace and now I fall onto it.” - Gabriel

Join us as we unravel themes of innocence, corruption, sacrifice, and the battle between light/darkness in Purgatory.

Topics:

Andy Whitfield's portrayal of Gabriel.
Gabriel's righteousness vs. Purgatory's darkness.
Gabriel's turning point; confrontation with Asmodeus.
Sammael/Michael's complex character.
Climax: Gabriel's battle with Michael.
Significance of Gabriel's final act; missing end credit scene.
World-building/setting in "Gabriel".

Key Takeaways:

Whitfield's Gabriel captures innocence and struggle.
Gabriel's fall is symbolized by changes and internal conflict.
Gabriel/Michael's relationship highlights love, betrayal, redemption.
Michael's transformation and sacrifice show gray areas of good/evil.
The ending's interpretation is affected by the missing scene.
Purgatory's world-building has potential but needs development.

Apple Podcast Tags:

Gabriel, Andy Whitfield, Purgatory, fallen angels, character analysis, film discussion, action, fantasy, Australian cinema, Geek Freaks, film review, movie analysis, sci-fi, thriller, supernatural

Instagram: instagram.com/fandomportals/?locale=en
Threads: threads.net/@fandomportals
Email: [email protected]
Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/fandomportals

Next Episode

undefined - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) - Part Two: Raphael's Rage and Donatello's Development. Splinter the Master of Mentoring, Family and Ninjitsu!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) - Part Two: Raphael's Rage and Donatello's Development. Splinter the Master of Mentoring, Family and Ninjitsu!

Episode Overview:

What makes a person gravitate toward Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, or Michelangelo? According to Aaron, a classroom teacher by day and podcast host by night, your favourite Ninja Turtle reveals more about your personality than you might think. We unpack this fascinating psychology while diving deep into the groundbreaking 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film.

Raphael's Emotional Journey and Donatello's Lack of Development:
The film's attempt to balance the darker comic book origins with the lighter animated series created something uniquely special, though not without its contradictions. We explore Raphael's emotional journey as he learns to channel his anger constructively, while lamenting Donatello's underdevelopment despite being a fan favourite. The practical action sequences—with their Power Rangers-esque fighting style—remind us of an era before CGI dominated action filmmaking.

Mentors and Family in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:
Perhaps most compelling is our discussion of Master Splinter as the ideal mentor figure, offering wisdom and warmth in contrast to Shredder's predatory exploitation of vulnerable youth. This lens reveals surprising depth in what could have been dismissed as just another children's film. The turtles' unconventional family unit—with all its dysfunction, conflict, and ultimate loyalty—continues to resonate across generations because it reflects our own complex family dynamics.

Key Takeaways:

• Discussing how each turtle's personality connects to different types of people – Leonardo (leadership), Donatello (tech-savvy), Raphael (emotional), Michelangelo (fun-loving)
• Examining the underdevelopment of Donatello in the film despite his importance in other TMNT adaptations
• Analyzing Raphael's emotional journey as he learns to channel his anger and trust his family
• Critiquing the film's uneven dialogue, which ranges from teen slang to overly expository
• Evaluating the practical action sequences, considering the limitations of the turtle suits
• Discussing the tonal balance between the darker comic book source material and the lighter animated series
• Highlighting Master Splinter as the ideal mentor figure in contrast to the predatory Shredder
• Exploring how the turtles represent a non-traditional but loving family unit that continues to resonate with audiences

Apple Podcast Tags:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, TMNT 1990, Jim Henson, Raphael TMNT, Leonardo TMNT, Donatello TMNT, Michelangelo TMNT, Shredder TMNT, Splinter TMNT, TMNT Movie Review, TMNT Nostalgia, 90s Movies, Comic Book Movies, Geek Freaks Network, Fandom Portals Podcast

Instagram: instagram.com/fandomportals/?locale=en
Threads: threads.net/@fandomportals
Email: [email protected]
Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/fandomportals

The Fandom Portals Podcast - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) - Part One: From Sewers to Stardom. How Four Mutant Turtles Changed Action Cinema

Transcript

Speaker 100:00:15.275

Hello everybody . It's Aaron here from the Fandom Portals Podcast . I'm joined here , as always , by my amazing turtle brother , brash . How you going , brash ? How about yourself ? Oh , mate , I'm having a great day . It's Boston over time . The reason we're talking like this , guys , is because this is our Portal is Pick episode , and we are happy to announce that this episode is