
The Ninja Turtle Renaissance
Once upon a time, long, long ago (ie 1987) four tiny turtles came into contact with radioactive ooze in the sewers of New York City. They mutated into humanoid creatures and were taken in by a wise mutant rat named Splinter, who named them after Renaissance artists and trained them in the art of ninjutsu.
Now some chopping-edge animation is bringing them back to the screen in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (TMNTMM), complete with a punched-up script from comedians Seth Rogen (Knocked Up) and the team behind Bad Neighbors and Neighbors 2, along with Annie Award-winning writer Jeff Rowe. Prepare to see how one patient rat dad raised his four turtle sons, gave them education and purpose, and taught them to use their individual strengths and character to bring justice to a strange world.
Stream Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem now.
Turtle style

The TMNTMM creative team really wanted to lean into the teenage element in the title, to tell a coming-of-age story, rather than one focusing on established heroes. The idea carries through to every aspect of the story, from production design to camerawork.
Writer-director Jeff Rowe, production designer Yashar Kassai, art director Tiffany Lam Almack, and lead character designer Woodrow White worked with artists around the globe, from South Korea to Scotland, to bring a sketch-like style to the film’s 3D animation, partly inspired by the rough and exaggerated drawings that Jeff made in the margins of his own school notebooks. They encouraged the art team to draw with the punk passion and intensity of their 15-year-old selves, and not to fear being cringey or emo. And as colour references for the New York backgrounds and characters, the artists drew on the vibrant 1990s TMNT toy range, which leaned into the grosser aspects of a story about mutant sewer creatures fighting crime. The result is character and set design that has more in common with graffiti tagging and the rad designs you’d scribble on your shoes and skateboard, than it does with the rounded perfectionism of mainstream 3D animation.
To match this energy, head of cinematography Kent Seki wanted the audience to feel as if they were riding along and goofing off with the turtles, so he kept camera angles low and made it feel as if it was handheld and operated by someone in the group, whether they’re fighting, or scampering through a bodega getting their groceries. In contrast, scenes that are set in the more adult world, away from the turtles, are shot in a more formal cinematic style.
Father & sons

The focus on teenage life carries through especially strongly in character design, with all the Turtles longer limbed and ganglier than we’re used to seeing them, each still growing into their body in a different way. Check out Donatello’s glasses and Michaelangelo’s braces! And think of their mentor Splinter as a tired father of four rowdy teens, forever in his work-from-home dressing gown and tracksuit pants. Influences for Splinter’s look and build include actor Danny DeVito, and The Dude (Jeff Bridges) from film The Big Lebowski, but with months-long observations of real, live rats thrown in the mix.
The art of voice

In keeping with the film’s sketchy punk style, instead of recording their tracks separately, the voice cast was allowed to work in groups and to improvise, which worked especially well with the four teenage actors who voice the Turtles – Micah Abbey (Donatello), Shamon Brown Jr. (Michaelangelo), The Fabelmans’ Nicholas Cantu (Leonardo) and Boardwalk Empire’s Brandy Noon (Raphael).
And take a peek behind the mask of the rest of the voice acting cast – you’ll spot some pop culture fan favourites, including John Cena (Peacemaker) as mutant warthog Rocksteady, Seth Rogen as his idiot henchman partner in crime, Bebop the mutant rhino, and Ice Cube (Fist Fight) as the villain Superfly. Comedy delights Maya Rudolph (Sisters) and Hannibal Buress (Baywatch) voice ruthless Techno Cosmic Research Institute exec Cynthia Utrom and Genghis Frog respectively. And Ayo Edebiri (fresh from an Emmy Award-winning breakout role in The Bear) voices turtle ally and intrepid reporter April O’Neil, while martial arts comedy great Jackie Chan (Heart of Dragon) voices Splinter.
Stream Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem now.
Also watch
Grab your cereal bowl and your blanket, it’s time to get back that Saturday morning cartoon feeling! Check out Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles S1-3, Avatar: The Last Airbender S1-3, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, DC Legion of Super-Heroes, Twende S1, SpongeBob SquarePants S1-5, and The Patrick Star Show.
More like this

Bea's Block S1
Join Bea and her friends as they spread kindness and build empathy through playful adventures in their community.

Behind the crime tape with Dog Man
Dav Pilkey and the Dog Man movie team open their case files to talk about how kittens and friendship could cure the World’s Most Evilest Cat.

Dog Man (2025)
This charming and heartwarming animated adventure follows Dog Man - a dog and human hybrid - who must take down feline supervillain Petey the Cat.

The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie (2024)
Porky Pig and Daffy Duck are Earth's only hope. They must save the world from an alien threat, but only if they can work together!

Sonic The Hedgehog 3
When Team Sonic meets their match in Shadow, they must form an unlikely alliance with Dr Robotnik to save the world.

The best kids' shows and movies to stream during school holidays
Showmax has loads of fun to look forward to during school holidays in June/July 2025, including blockbuster movies for the whole family.

Iyanu S1
When a teenage orphan discovers she has magical powers, she embarks on a remarkable journey with her friends to discover the truth about the evil lurking in her homeland.

My Penguin Friend (2024)
Jean Reno drives this charming movie inspired by the true story of a heartbroken fisherman who forms an unlikely bond with a penguin he rescued from an oil spill.
The Mommy Club NBO now streaming
The Chocolate Empire, now streaming
More enthralling movies to stream

Chicago Fire S13
Scorching hot drama that follows a group of dedicated firefighters in Chicago. House MD's Jesse Spencer stars.

Landman S1
Taylor Sheridan (Yellowstone) creates this enthralling Billy Bob Thornton lead drama set in the heart of Texas. Roughnecks and billionaires collide as everyone tries to get rich quick in the oil industry.

Glory awaits: From MTN8 Kings to Manchester's Crown, football's biggest stage is on Showmax
With some mouthwatering football fixtures on the horizon, Showmax Premier League has you covered with all the action.

Bea's Block S1
Join Bea and her friends as they spread kindness and build empathy through playful adventures in their community.
Latest Stories

Glory awaits: From MTN8 Kings to Manchester's Crown, football's biggest stage is on Showmax

The best Premier League signings of 2025's summer window

What to watch on Showmax in Kenya in September 2025

Alexander Isak a great option for LFC's attack, say former Liverpool striker David Ngog

Kate and Annie take charge in Ten Pound Poms Season 2

Radio queen Cess Mutungi to host The Mommy Club NBO reunion

Vilakazi's verdict: Sundowns to "edge it" in high-stakes MTN8 semi-final

Rivalries reignite in thrilling Premier League games on Showmax

5 patients you’ll meet in The Pitt Season 1
.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Ilana Glazer delivers in Babes

5 new reality shows on Showmax in August

The Big 6ix on new Premier League season and their SA adventure

Will anyone stop the champs? Booth on Downs' quest for a 9th title

The curtain rises: Wembley Showdown - LFC vs Crystal Palace

Showmax Premier League weekly watchlist: 8-14 September 2025

Showmax PL kicks off football fiesta with MTN8 quarter-finals

Melissa Kape Saili tips Morocco to win WAFCON final

Showmax PL kicks off new football season with unmatched action

Ugochi Oparanozie backs Nigeria to overcome Banyana Banyana

Get Ready for the PL Summer Series – live on Showmax

Nthabeleng Modiko backs reigning champions for WAFCON glory

Everyone Else Burns and 8 more cult classics

Binge five of the 10 biggest Emmy nominees on Showmax

Dangerous minds in The Institute + 7 more superpowered series