#pointy tiny turtles

[cimmerian1275]

Have a semi-realistic blue turtle!! *throws into the crowd*

Idk if theres any good refs for the rottmnt show?? Like, theres that one crusty, tiny, jpeg of a ref where Leo looks like hes been dropped a few times (no hate on the artist, but the derpy face on it makes me chuckle everytime xD) and thats the only (official?) ref for the show designs i can find???

I CANT FIND A GOOD REF? THEN ILL MAKE MY OWN!!! *CACKLES* (i love having all this power as an artist...) I also did this for practice, this is literally the beginning of my own character development arc where i FINALLY learn to draw humanoids.

Anyways, messed around and influenced it some more with my own realistic style <3

I have come to realize my favourite turtle is a pain in the butt to draw and trying to draw his pointy ass head makes me second guess my life choices.

Welp, gonna keep doodling and figuring out what style to draw these guys in <3

[multi-fandomedfreak]

Dating Headcanons // Rise!Raph ❤

Authors note: SFDJIBJJKBDA WHY HAVENT I DONE HEADCANONS ON HIM SOONER

Characters: Obviously Raphael Hamato (just had to keep the format lol)

⚠Warnings⚠:Tiny bits of angst (Raph just gets insecure)

___.___.___.___.___.___.___.___.___.___.___.___.___.___.___.___.___.

-Raph is the biggest cuddle bug you have ever met in your life

-He will use any and all excuses to have you two cuddle (but tbh you don't need an excuse, one look at him and next thing you know somehow you're in his arms)

-Unfortunatly, will probably always be kinda worried that he'll hurt you in some way

-I mean to be fair, he's WELL over 6 feet this dude is pretty tall

-He's also always a little nervous that the spikes on his shell will cut you or something so you'd have to comfort him that he wouldn't hurt you

-he tends to always be super gentle with you cuz of that

-he’s already pretty gentle most of the time but around you it's turned up to the max

-But of he does end up hurting you on accident? Instant tears

-Imagine stepping on a dogs tail by accident. That’s exactly how he feels

-Much consolation later (plus a few kisses) always make him feel better

-Speaking of kisses, he was always so anxious to kiss you at first

-Not only cuz of just nerves but—in case you don't know—a snapping turtles beak is frickin pointy and is very much able to bite through human skin

-Sooo, you'd have to be the one to initiate kisses (of any kind) at first

-Because of all of these things, he'd get really insecure about himself, wondering how you could possibly like him with this whole situation

-But fear not, reassurance and lots of fluffy affection will get this man (turtle) feeling way better in no time

-He one hundred percent loves to get you stuff all the time

-Like in the way a crow would do it. He'd see a pretty flower or a pretty rock that reminds him of you and he'd give it to you

-Speaking about giving you stuff, he's an awesome listener so he always remembers the little stuff about you, which is why he always knows what to get you

-He'd also get you stuff for no reason at all, it could just be some random tuesday an he'll buy you a gift

-He's a big sap like that lol

[foodsies4me]

The Two Tiny Terrors + The Two Rebecca's

Stephanie Alissa Cloverfield (She/her, 3 years old)

Picknames: Steph, Stephie, Bumblebee

Physical description: short brown hair, brown eyes, pointy elbows, and missing two front teeth, 2 ft 10 inches (about 86 centimeters)

Personality and tidbits: Youngest trainee, but no less fearsome for it. Tiny and headstrong. Is always walking around with a steel sword for practice, but also because it's her comfort object. She will bite you if you call her Stephanie. Her mom works at the NYI, and Alec is her chosen guardian (nephilim equivalent of a godfather,) not that he knows it.

Extra info: Her backpack looks like a turtle carapace. It also has an opening for her to put her sword in.

Clara Melissa Amberlake (She/her, 5 years old)

Nicknames: Rara, pumpkin

Physical description: chin length curly red hair (yes, it really does look red rather than ginger), green eyes, freckles, 3 ft 3 inches (about 1 meter)

Personality and tidbits: Second youngest trainee and bossiest little gremlin. She's very kind and she also follows Sarah in the "you have to be polite, where are your manners!" trend. She's, like Sarah, very much a girly-girl. She likes all things sparkly and pretty dresses, but is always happy to share any of it with others. Like the butterfly clips she gave Madzie. She also has a teeeeeny tiny kiddo crush on Madzie, who she thinks is super pretty and cool.

Extra info: Her backpack is a butterfly that sometimes transforms into a dragonfly that either has bows on it or a glittery veil.

Rebecca Andora Silverstone (She/her, 8 years old)

Nicknames: Beccs, Sourdrop

physical description: tanned skin, slate eyes, wide nose with a small scar on the right nostril, 4 ft (about 120 centimetres)

Personality and tidbits: Would be one of the biggest menaces in any other institute, but given she's at the NYI she's one of the more behaved kiddo's. Best friends with Rebby, the other Rebecca. She dresses like Alec because practical clothes are easiest to fight in, but also because she wants to be like Alec when she grows up. She doesn't usually help with pranks, but she loves to play the decoy so people don't notice they're going to be the victim of an incoming prank.

Extra info: Her backpack is a sailing boat.

Rebecca Antonia Lovedale (She/her, 9 years old)

Nicknames: Rebby, Sugarnsnap

physical description: long face and longer hair, she has a birthmark that goes from her right eyebrow to her cheek, that kind of looks like the shape of Italy, 4 ft 3 (130 centimetres)

Personality and tidbits: She gives a false impression of being calm and quiet, and, compared to the bigger menaces like Max, she is. But, she can also be very rambunctious when given the chance. Her energy levels come in waves and bounces, a big avalanche of words before she goes quiet again. She loves to people-watch and climb on the walls and loves anything and everything science.

Extra info: Her backpack is a plasma globe, and yes, it is functional. Don't ask me how Magnus managed that one, the answer is a mix of magic and I don't know.

[oceanlipgloss]

POTION

RAFAYEL.

+ warnings: humour slaughterhouse aka very, very lame jokes (crack is the foundation, fluff is the cement). And, one summer noon, Rafayel becomes an unwilling part of the cat population. I did him dirty; can he can get an F in the chat?

What a diabolical creature.

Huge eyeballs, bigger than jellyfish. Staring at him. The eyes of a serial killer or a netherworld monster. Pointy ears, sharper than traffic cones. Eavesdropping on every sound. Gnashing teeth, the ugliest smile he had ever seen.

And now he, too, looked like that.

A creepy cat.

The tiny doodle watched him from its high vantage point on the white wall. Not just a cat, but a smiling cat. Not just a smiling cat, but a demon drawn in black marker. Very hard to ignore.

He could not bear to glance at the mirror. For the first time. Plum fur shot up in spears and spikes, likening him to a downy porcupine.

A glass of soda floated into his thoughts.

Cool droplets flowing down his throat.

Lying down on the floor.

Falling asleep in the summer sun.

Waking up.

A gnarly cat.

Potion.

Somehow, somehow, he had drank a potion, shimmering and clear.

Thirst sure has its perks.

Where had that stuff even come from?

Familiar in flavour—bubbles and lime.

Even as an artist, he thought about how that was all much too surreal. Absolutely wild. Truth be told? A concoction of nightmares combined.

Violet cat. Nice colour palette, but useless paws. Unable to hold a paintbrush. What meaning was there to life now? Would she accept him for he had become?

The insecurities were a terror.

Dramatic as he was—rightfully so, for once—he had screamed at the top of his lungs. The only sound that rang out in the messy studio was the loudest cat noise he had heard to date, however.

A shrill meow.

This had to be some sort of eldritch curse or divine punishment, didn’t it?

The God of all cats was avenging those backstabbing furballs for the endless slander he had subjected them to. It’s all his doing, yeah?

When plagued by anger or fright, cats hiss. Now a wrathful cat himself, he hissed as well.

Familiar hands, scooping him up.

So weird.

Her palms, warm against his sunlit fur, but also much, much bigger. To his newfound bundle of a form, that was too unfamiliar; she had always been shorter, smaller.

No sparkle of surprise.

Was the potion her plan all along? Start location: sinister doodle on the wall.

Nothing made sense.

Actually, naked walking jellyfish, tree-climbing sea turtles, and grass-eating sharks would’ve all been way more credible.

Facing his reflection wasn’t an option, but he so desperately wanted to make sure this wasn’t a figment of a sick hallucination, so he almost had the urge to say, ‘draw me like one of your French cats’ just to see if he had now really become a member of the world of felines—but his tongue could only muster cat-voice.

Instead, a pop of colour gleamed in his mind.

Inspiration!

He wanted her attention, and cats like affection. Why not make use of the situation? Blame it on the catty qualities later.

With shiny eyes he would have liked to ask, ‘would you still love me if I was a cat?’

The perfect answer and just what he was longing for.

Warm fur pressed against her neck. Fingertips tickled a soft stomach. Giggles chimed in pointed ears. Mellow weight on her chest.

So much doting. Her lips kissed the tip of his eraser-pink nose. Compliments poured onto his head like paint in all colours.

He felt really, really hot. Fur, glee, embarrassment.

Cats can’t blush, but in his flustered mind cherry-red mingled with plum-purple on the tips of his ears to gleam like crystal powder.

An unusual picture.

Steady, steady. Her heartbeat was steady. His heart raced into next week. It was worse now, though. Cat hearts double up the speed of human ones. Drowsy with sunlight.

What a long, long day.

One good thing came out of it.

Love. So much love.

Once this nap ends, will he have two legs again?

Summer sunshine would butter his studio pale yellow and bright white by then. He would be sprawled out on the floor, sketches scattered all over. The cat would continue to stare at him from on the wall.

The cat.

Everything was that weird cat’s fault. Those big, evil eyes followed him as he painted, stalking his every movement and creation. He hated it so, yet did not have the heart to erase it. She had climbed up there and drawn that little traitor.

What a silly, hideous thing, haunting his subconscious.

What a diabolical dream.

+notes: dude, I can't believe that my first Rafayel fic is...*flailing hands* this. Something so silly...listen, memes and silly crap occupy an entire apartment complex in my brain, but what did I actually just write? No fucking clue. 0. Null.

All I know is that this is my first ever crack fic. And at the time, I thought it would be funny. Now I don't know if my opinion still stands. I merely wrote this in 3hrs 17mins. Not even a 4hr timeskip between coming up with the idea and writing it. I was that excited for the crack.

Was it worth it? No, maybe. Yes, perhaps. Yes, no, maybe so. Idek. However, I'm not sorry for making fun of Rafayel, of course. Affectionately bullying him and being sadistic happen to be favourable pastimes of mine. I love him so much, bro.

+ MASTERLIST

+ AO3 POST

©𝙤𝙘𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙜𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙨

[taybatwo2]

Another Magic Mixies Pixling Review!!

This time of Marena and how she compare to similar themed dolls.

So many fins and shades of blues!

Here is a close up of Marena herself. She’s really cute (I have been loving the Pixling dolls). She’s similar to the other dolls in the line, with a ball joint in the head, shoulders, hips and elbow joints, a (very nice) fabric skirt, and a molded on top.

She’s supposed to be a mermaid Pixling, but she gives me more of a water nymph vibe…..yup, that’s just going to be my head canon.

A close up of her face up. Her screening is lightly pixelated, but it’s not distracting like what Mattel uses on their Fashionistas. I love the little scale pattern around her eyes and wish that’s what would have been printed on G3 Lagoona’s forehead. Her ears look to be added on as separate pieces and have a tiny bit of glitter in them.

While her shirt is molded on, it is a very cute mold and “ties” around the back. The extra molded detail, paint, and unique design adds to her cuteness (they could have just had the same top design for all the dolls, but instead they have made separate molds for all the characters….so far). Her skirt is silky (but not the paper-like silk that Disney/Jakks Pacific/Mattel uses), hemmed, with a tule around the bottom (along with the cut, it is is reminiscent of a mermaid tail).

Even the shoes have cute little pear, heart and scale patterns (matching her skirt). More under the cut:

Marena was swarmed by some adorable, big haired aquatic monsters. Marena meet the Mermalades! I always like to compare the Pixlings with Moose’s Zelfs. Their ancestor of sorts.

Marena likes the look of these sea buddies.

Mermalade is a darker blue, and the newer Mermalades actually has more fins than Marena does (I wish she did have some webbing in between her fingers and maybe some fins off of her forearms). Interesting to note, that the fins are more curved than the pointy fins Marena has.

She actually has a much closer color pallet to Sealia or Oceana. But I do not own these little guys…yet.

Huh, something scared them off….I wonder what it-

Well that is startling, but not an usual sight around my house. “Is this how you treat your dolls?!?”

No no no, this Taylee Turtle Enchantimal was going to be a Monster High custom…and that’s as far as I got…

“I can’t see anything!! Hello??”

Don’t worry Taylee, you’re doing great.

Enchantimals are about the same height as Pixlings, but have smaller proportions. They also have opposite joints (well, at least Taylee has knee joints, I don’t believe most Enchantimals have these). You can also see how basic the molded (granted I acetoned some of it away) and fabric pieces are compared to Marena. I mean it’s not really a fair comparison because I think of Marena as more of an aquatic mammal, fish, or amphibian and Taylee is more of a:

Here are Dolce Dolphin and Sedda Seahorse.

Yeaaaaah, the skirts might look a bit more inspired, but none of them have fins sculpted to their legs or arms, and their shirts are still kinda boring. Also wanted to compare her to this unreleased mermaid Novi Star, just because her decorations around her eyes and her large ear fins reminded me of them….and actually the large head, small torso and hands are kinda reminiscent or Marena too, huh….

Okay, Taylee wandered off when I was looking at the other Enchantimals and Nobvi Star concept, soooo, let’s compare Marena with Ebbie Blue, the youngest of G2’s Blue family.

“She’s like a mini me!” She is both less and more detailed than you Marena (I LOVE the scales on the arms and under her pigtails, her little fins on her arms, and how the scales merge into her tail, but she can’t tip her head up and can move her arms out).

Also, she’s got widdle, round fingers that look like they have not finished growing.

Let’s compare you to someone a bit older: Kelpie Blue from G2!

“Look at her sharp toe-nails, and those shoulder spikes! I think she’s more sea monster than nymph.” “Is someone saying something down there? I can’t move my head down to see.”

Well….that’s a little better. Kelpie has really cute and unique scales, fins, and shortened webbing in between her fingers, but her articulation is REALLY poor (she can’t move her head up/down, or move her arms/legs out).

Her ears were also added on later, like Marena’s.

“I wonder if all dolls get stiffer when they grow up?”

“I dunno, I have a torso joint that es magnífica.”

“Are you a sea monster too??”

“Sí! But don’t worry I won’t eat you up, you’re too cute like my Señor Squishy.” “Whoa!!”

“Let me introduce you to more Lagoonas.”

After chasing the speedy G2 around, she finally got to look at her tiny little ear fins while playing with her hair, and Freshwater Lagoona and Saltwater Lagoona both couldn’t get over how cute she was.

“Look at the lil’ kindy!”

“A lil’ sea grub!!”

She’s actually closest (design wise) to both G1 Lagoona’s. A lack of scales, she’s in-between both their colors of blue and she has the added pink accents too.

Side tangent about Lagoona:

Thought I should add a quick summery of my thoughts on my different generation Lagoonas. G1 Lagoona:

pros: All the different material used in her clothing, her face-up, her personality, her addition of a diary, her fully webbed hands (with different colored webbing and see through fins). cons: she has an ill-fitting swimsuit, her fins keep falling off, her thin joints make her pretty delicate, glue head (this one is treated with La’s Totally Awesome cleaner, but I still need to treat Freshwater Lagoona, and de-yellow her head), and the elastic hip joints make her floppy. Her character being ALL about Gil in the series (I really don’t hate his character and I LOVE his G1 design, I just wish there were more to her stories than just him).

G2 Lagoona (I’m still looking for the OG G2 Lagoona, so have the Beast Pet one here):

pros: Her softened face is kinda cute, her sculpted scales around her arm and leg fins, her stronger joints, her fins stay in SO MUCH BETTER. cons: I remember her being a lot more hyper and speedy than G1 and it’s an odd choice to me, her eyes were changed from green to blue, her webbing decreased in size and is no longer another color (and many of her dolls didn’t have this much articulation).

G3 Lagoona (I originally gave her braids to make her have kinky hair, but the braids are kinda growing on me).

pros: torso joint on most of her dolls, see through legs, her fins stay on pretty well, larger ear fins, a really fun personality on the show, her joints are stronger/her doll feels sturdier, I like many of her shoes and themes (jellyfish/tentacles/pearls).

cons: I didn’t like her first couple of releases, her pink (while it reminds me of an axolotl) is a bit too sunburnt looking for me…? Maybe a paler or darker pink. I would have liked it if they would have painted her ears/and had a blue to pink fade on her arms as well…also her dots on her forehead should have either been sculpted scales or drawn scales like Marena. Biggest disappointment: should have hand webbing, a diary, and accessories that have to do with her love of telenovelas!!! I’m still getting used to her being really different than G1 Lagoona and would have really liked it had she been her cousin from the Amazon (because I want to see them interact with each other SO BAD).

Anyways, Tangent over:

My last take aways is: MARENA HAS THE BEST HAIR FIBER OUT OF ALL OF THEM!!

okay, now the review is over.

[yourlocalartestpluto]

The Lil guys, Goofy Goobers, and Tiny Pointy Turtles have formed an alliance, they will now be silly together!

[randomrottmntscreenshots]

Okay, this is the first time I do this, but I was wondering... Do you have any screenshots of when they're ittybitty pointy? Thank you!! :)

I could look for specific instances but I know a blog for the job!

[rottmnt-background-screenshots]

YEET the tiny pointy turtles!

I am in love with their little far away sprites! It's so low res XD. Look at their limbs! What's not to love?!

[pointy-tiny-turtles]

woag..

[something-is-wrong]

I love when Rise just makes the boys

Tiny

Important addition:

[20s-turtle-posting]

Rat Dad of the Year 1988, or something along those lines. Anyway *gives him cute round rat ears instead of funny pointy little dog ears like they did in 2003 for some reason*

Image ID under the readmore

[A series of three images. In the first image, Splinter, smiling, gently holds one of his turtle sons in his arms with their head tucked under his chin. One hand is on the turtle’s shell, the other rests on their head. The drawing is sketched in a soft gray color, and there is a tiny pink heart next to Splinter

In the second image, there are two separate sketches. One is a bust portrait of Splinter set at a 3/4 angle. His ears a tilted back slightly and his expression is neutral. The second is a small doodle of Splinter licking the cheek of a young toddler-aged Leonardo. Leo is making a “Bwuh!” noise in protest, and there is a small sound effect caption of “mlep mlep” to describe the sound of Splinter grooming his son

In the third image a young turtle tot, perhaps four to five years old, is standing facing to the left, sketched in green. One hand is held over his chest and there are tears on his cheeks as he says “Mas’er Splin’r I hadda bad dream. Can I stay wif you?”

End image ID]

[extratmnt]

Credit to @pointy-tiny-turtles for mine.

hello I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. The anonymity of tumblr means that I associate my idea/image of you with your icon and sometimes I look at people’s icons and I’m like ‘hmmm….what is that and why?’ 

so pls reblog this and comment in the tags the meaning behind your icon and why you chose it. this is a social experiment. do it for science pls.

[angelkitty54]

Having thoughts on that AU where the 12 turtle bros meets the rise turtles tots...

The 12 boys noticing Splinter calling the Rise boys by their colours instead of their names (unless he's being serious, or they're in trouble) and 12 Mikey trying to talk to little Mikey, calling him Orange to differentiate but...

Rise Mikey, tiny face screwed up in the biggest, deadliest scowl: "How dare you."

Rise Raph: Gasps dramatically with a hand over his heart

Rise Leo: "Donnie did he just call him 'Orange'!?"

Rise Donnie: "Yup."

Rise Leo: "Did he call our brother 'Orange'!?"

Rise Donnie: "He did."

Rise Leo: "Okay! Raph gimme a boost." Climbs on top of Raph so he can get all up in 12 Mikey's face.

12 Mikey, sweating profusely: "Uh...?"

Rise Leo: Jabbing him in the chest. "How dare you call him by that name! Those are dad's names for us! You don't get to use them! Only dad can use them!"

Rise Raph: "Who do you think you are?" Also jabbing him

Rise Mikey: "Disgwaceful! Dish-on-er-table! Dish-on-er on you! Dish-on-er on your cows! And your chickens! And your unicorns! Dish-on-er on all your aminals!

Rise Donnie: "Yeah. What they said."

Rise Leo: "We don't wanna play with you anymore. Come on guys."

Rise Raph: "I'm watching you bucko." Does the pointy eye thing

All of them glare at him as they walk away.

12 Mikey runs back crying to his Leo after being bullied by tiny children. The rest of the 12 boys are left somewhat intimidated. Splinter is touched, albeit a little bit conflicted by his kids attitudes...

[wonkycreatures]

[Image description: A photo of a turtle and a dinosaur sculpture made of polymer clay. The turtle is on the left while the dinosaur is on the right. There's a tiny tree between them and the ground is stone-like.

The turtle is green, it's shell a darker shade than it's body, with turquoise spots on the shell. It has googly eyes like eyes.

The dinosaur is dark green with the same kind of eyes as the turtle and pointy ears. It's belly is painted in a darker, blueish green. It has spikes on it's head going down it's back and tail. The spikes are a similar color to it's belly with glitter on top. End ID]

There’s also another post of turtle alone and one of dinosaur alone.

[3days-ofbread]

Headcannons for the TF2 Mercs being animals?

Well now.... lets see what i can come up with (evilly rubs hands together like a fly)

Scout

-Squirrel is low-hanging fruit. So fuck that.

-Thinking of some sort of bird, like a blue jay or a roadrunner. Just a tiny little bastard, y'know?

Soldier

-Eagle is low-hanging fruit. Raccoon is low-hanging fruit. So fuck those.

-First thoughts were all rodents. Like a possum or groundhog (are groundhogs rodents-- ARE POSSUMS RODENTS-- IDFK)

-Gonna have to go with a caracal. I just vaguely remembered a wild cat that can jump high so i looked it up and its a caracal. So yeah.

Pyro

-Getting really really heavy dog vibes here. Bulldog, probably. Looks terrifying and does scary shit but is just having a good time.

Demoman

-WHY AM I THINKING OF THE CATS FROM THE WARRIOR BOOKS-- I DIDNT EVEN READ IT

-...,,.cow. Like one of the wooly ones with long fur/hair(?) and long horns. Is that even a cow anymore or is it some kind of buffalo? I think I've already established I'm not good with the specifics.

-Can accidentally and purposefully rock your shit like a fucking boat and will not hesitate to do so. Don't fuck with 'em, man. They'll fuckin' get you.

Heavy

-Bear is low-hanging fruit. So fuck that.

-...why am i thinking goose? Like, can be very gentle if it likes you but will fuck you the fuck up if you piss it off. Plus HeavyMedic with Dove Medic. And goose in Canada. Canada cold place. Russia cold place. It just works.

Engie

-Turtle is low-hanging fruit. So fuck that.

-Thinkin' a rat. Burrowy little bastards with hands to commit crimes with. Engineer being short joke. Plus Engie probably had or wanted a pet rat as a kid.

Medic

-hrhfnfgnnfmfnrhrhrfm dove is low-hanging fruit,.....,.

-First thoughts were actually of goats? Mountain goats, to be specific. Goose also works, but swan works better than goose does. But I'm sticking with goats. Little assholes, it fits.

Sniper

-owl low-hanging fruit crocodile low-hanging fruit yadda yadda fuck that.

-Thinking of the type of mouse from the 'its time to get funky' meme. This one.

-But ehh......,,

-SPITTING COBRAS. Snakes that can spit venom from a distance. They're technically from Africa, not Austrailia, but whatever. Also I found this picture.

(i have a question... For god. WHHHYYY--)

And someone tell me why i found this gif of a priest facing off with a snake--

I'm getting sidetracked. Anywho.

Spy

-Snake is low hanging fruit but i also just did one. So fuck that.

-Immediate thought: Poisonous frogs. Small bastards that are dumb enough to jump into your coffee. But this one is smart enough to jump into your coffee.

-Scorpion? It has pointy thing on its back. Spy is just the other way around.

Aaaaand that's all of my ideas. Enjoy.

[turtlethon]

"Raphael Meets His Match"

Season 4, Episode 17 First US Airdate: September 15, 1990

A contest to win a cruise leads to Raphael encountering a villainous pirate.

"Raphael Meets His Match" premiered as the second half of a double bill with "Bebop and Rocksteady Conquer the Universe". This is the first and only episode of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles written by Charles M. Howell IV, who prior to this worked on a number of Hanna-Barbera series and would go on to write for Animaniacs.

An abridged version of the new title sequence makes its debut here, running for only thirty seconds (half as long as the normal one). This is carried over for the Lionsgate DVD release. For Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles, the full-length titles are used, making this almost certainly the first time a TMHT episode ended up with a longer running time than the TMNT version.

The Turtles emerge from Pick-A-Peck-O-Pizza, grousing about the miniscule portions of the take-home meals they’ve been sold. Michaelangelo suggests that this penny-pinching must be how the owner of the establishment, McDonald Crump, “became a bazillionaire”. Yes, we’re going there.

Donatello is thrilled to find he’s won a prize from a scratch card included with his tiny pizza, but soon finds himself dismayed when he learns this simply means he can claim another miniscule meal. Leonardo and Michaelangelo scratch their cards and get the same outcome. Raphael, however, wins a pass to Crump’s “big birthday cruise”. Leonardo shoots down the idea, pointing out that the Turtles can’t go wandering around in public.

Later, in the Lair, Raphael reveals his plan to the other Turtles and to April: as this is a costume party, he’ll go as... himself. April will also be attending, covering the event for Channel 6.

On the night of the cruise, the Turtles emerge from a manhole and watch as attendees board the ship. Donatello reassures Raphael that he’ll fit right in, pointing out that several other guests are wearing home-made Ninja Turtle costumes. A few of the attendees are returning from the costume party in last year’s “April Fool”, including Big Hat & Suspenders Guy, Cowboy with Giant Hat, Pointy Nose Devil and Racy Female Superhero.

April interviews McDonald Crump, who presumably for legal reasons doesn’t resemble his real-world counterpart in any significant way beyond having weirdly tiny hands. When quizzed on why he holds such lavish parties, Crump explains it’s so he can tell everyone about his pizza restaurant operation. He then wanders off, leaving Vernon complaining – rightly, for once – that their news report ended up becoming a commercial. 

Raphael meets up with April and Vernon before almost immediately being embraced by a young woman ostensibly wearing a salamander costume. She drags him off against his will, acting the entire time as if they’re old friends. (Vernon then makes a noise indicating that he’s about to say something before we jump to the next sequence – I suspect his comments were cut for time.)

The mystery woman encourages Raphael to use his invitation to get them both into the party, with the understanding that she’s attending as his date. Having pulled off this ruse, she kisses him on the cheek for his help and runs off.

Once the ship has set off, Raphael meets up with April and relays what just happened. Suspicious about the whole incident, he decides to investigate further. Along the way he encounters a guy in a Turtle suit who tears into him for ripping off his costume. Not much in the way of a pay-off for this in the present moment, but this guy will make a return appearance later.

Raphael sneaks onto the bridge, where he finds his mystery date tying up the captain and first mate. After being confronted, Raph has a ship wheel dropped on him that serves as a restraint. He escapes this by flexing until the wooden wheel crumbles, and dives on the salamander lady to stop her from adjusting the boat’s path. Pressed as to her true intentions, she reveals her name to be Mona Lisa, but before she can explain further, the ship begins rocking violently.

Raphael looks outside and is shocked to see a beam of light holding the ship in place. A submarine emerges next to it, and after we return from commercials Mona explains the sub is called the Kleptofoil. From it emerges Captain Filch, a skeevy fellow dressed like a straight-to-video version of Cobra Commander from GI Joe. Filch boards the captured ship and confronts McDonald Crump, revealing he’s issued ransom demands to “all the major newspapers”. Furious, Crump orders his guards to intervene, only for Filch to summon his mutant anemones – huge, sullen-looking monsters that quickly surround the attendees.

April watches from nearby, snatching the camera out of a cowering Vernon’s hands to capture the events for the news. Filch spots her and is pleased that these events are being recorded for the world to see; he warns the guests that if they defy him, they’ll be fed to the sharks.

Back on the bridge, Raphael admonishes Mona Lisa for her actions, accusing her of colluding with Captain Filch and working to steer the ship in the direction of his submarine. She protests her innocence and wishes the “real Ninja Turtles” were around to save the day. The conversation is interrupted by the sounds of the approaching mutant anemones. Raph and Mona work to free the crew and make their escape. After our heroes leave, Filch’s creatures capture the crew and tie them up once more.

Raphael and Mona navigate the ship before being cornered by more of the mutants, forcing them to dive into the surrounding waters. Impressed by Mona’s swimming ability, Raph reveals to her that he’s one of the real Ninja Turtles. Mona eagerly hugs him, insisting that she knew the team would arrive and rescue everyone.

Later, aboard the ship, April and Vernon meet up with Raphael. He introduces them to Mona, who reveals that she isn’t wearing a costume and is a real mutant. Mona attempts to kick off a flashback. Raphael, however, is the King of the Fourth Wall Break, and can’t allow this to occur without pointing out the narrative device at work.

Mona recounts her backstory: a physics major in college, she was on a field trip with friends when her boat was hijacked by Captain Filch. He took her captive aboard the Kleptofoil, intending to use her skills to aid him in his goal of world domination via hi-tech piracy. After playing along for some time, Mona secretly hatched a plan to destroy the lab by uh... smashing the whole place up with a single hammer. A burst pipe led to her being submerged in radioactive water, transforming her into a mutant salamander who’s now perpetually at odds with her former captor.

We’re kind of circumventing the standard Laws of Mutation rules here, given that this transformation doesn’t involve mutagen, so the whole “you turn into the last animal you were in contact with” bit isn’t an issue. This does, however, raise the question of why the radiation would turn Mona into a salamander at all. We’re not getting a satisfactory answer though, so let’s just continue.

Mona begins crying at the thought of being a “grotesque mutant”, and having failed to stop Filch. Raphael comforts her, but we can’t allow the show to be too moving or emotionally resonant for long, so things quickly move along. He attempts to call the other Turtles for assistance, but finds his Turtlecom is water-logged and no longer working. The group is soon discovered by one of the mutant anemones. Raph sends the creature overboard, and our heroes then begin working to assemble a plan: April will head to the radio room to contact the Turtles, Mona will work to shut off the forcefield and Raphael is tasked with creating a diversion. (A seasick Vernon stays behind, out of sight.)

Elsewhere, a captive McDonald Crump attempts to negotiate with Captain Filch, offering him money or shares in his pizza restaurant chain in exchange for freedom. Raphael intervenes, sporting a pirate hat as he swings in on a rope and confronts the villain before being surrounded by more mutant anemones. April is also found by the creatures, who drag her out of the radio room and present her to their boss. Upon learning of what transpired, Filch tells his hench-mutants to return her to the radio room, figuring her skills will prove useful.

In the Lair, Michaelangelo seems oddly spaced-out as he stares at a monster movie airing on TV. A newsflash cuts into the broadcast to inform viewers of the situation aboard Crump’s ship. Footage airs of April being held captive by two of Filch’s mutants (inexplicably, it’s daytime during the recording and they’re clearly standing on dry land). She explains that unless Filch receives two billion dollars immediately, all of the assembled guests will be made to walk the plank and will wind up being fed to the sharks. Naturally, the Turtles quickly head off to do their thing.

Having served her purpose, Filch goes on to make April begin her plank walk. Meanwhile, Mona reaches the room containing the forcefield generator. She uses her acrobatic skills to avoid the attacks of the mutant anemones, with one attempting to hurl a chair at her which ricochets, hitting and destroying the control panel.

April is saved at the last second by the arrival of the Turtles via their blimp, who are able to board the ship now that the forcefield has been stopped. The group unite with Raphael and Mona, working their way through Filch’s army of mutants and freeing the guests. Mona insists on attempting to destroy the Kleptofoil, despite Raphael’s concerns for her safety. As she charges off to do so Filch sends his remaining mutants after her, one of whom encounters the nasty guy in the Turtle costume from earlier. It seems like this is the moment where this blowhard should receive his come-uppance, but... no, him being mistaken for a Turtle and being mad again is as far as it goes.

Captain Filch begs for mercy from Raphael as he’s backed into a chair on the deck of the boat, suggesting they could rule the world as a duo. Raph obviously isn’t receptive to this idea and mocks him before Donatello stomps on the back of the chair, flinging the villain into the sea.

The Turtles watch from the deck as Filch’s submarine blows up. As the team set about freeing the crew of Crump’s ship, Raphael is insistent that Mona Lisa will be fine, but is quietly seen expressing more concern than he lets on.

Filch is hauled back aboard the ship and arrested. McDonald Crump shows his appreciation to the Turtles by offering to make all of them vice presidents of his pizza operation. Our heroes are eager to take him up on this opportunity and begin making changes, but their hopes are shot down when he adds that they should come see him in his office after taking off “those ridiculous costumes”.

The team returns to the Lair. Raphael is blue, figuring that he’ll never see Mona Lisa again. Like the rest of the team, he’s astonished as it’s revealed April found her and brought her to their home, with a giant stack of pizzas. Michaelangelo is thrilled at the opportunity to chow down as Leo and Donnie exchange some very strange glances.

It feels like we’re getting into a groove where the show is consistently delivering memorable, landmark episodes during this Saturday morning run, a huge step up from the inconsistent syndicated portion of season four where little of any real importance took place. This is a character spotlight adventure largely done right, giving Raphael a chance to shine and a new ally to work with while bookending the proceedings with appearances by the other Turtles. Structurally it might be a little too close to the previous week’s Raph episode – and I have no idea why the decision was made to have two shows built around the same member of the team air in such quick succession – but this is a minor gripe.

Captain Filch isn’t brilliant, and his near-silent mutant goons are particularly dull. Nevertheless, he’s a huge step up from generic mob boss Pinky McFingers last week. Unlike Pinky, Filch gets one go-around, as he joins the huge roster of debuting S4 characters who will never be seen or spoken of again.

In what must rank as one of the greatest blunders TMNT ever committed, Mona Lisa is also doomed to never return. This is a true head-scratcher given her immediate popularity with viewers, years before online fandom or the concept of shipping was even a thing. It’s a true shame, as she has a great design, strong voice work from Pat Musick, and her character has tremendous chemistry with Raphael. Mona’s backstory is... patchy, admittedly, but the concept of her waging a one-woman war against the man who held her captive is so strong that I can forgive any minor issues.  

Mona Lisa is also unique in her role as a heroic female character in the show who has parity with the Turtles as a crime fighter. The other recurring women that have appeared tend to serve different roles, whether that’s acting as a damsel in distress or moving the story along (April, Irma), a conflicted villain (Lotus Blossom) or... however you care to describe what Kala is there to be. (Bystander? Mikey’s love interest?) I’d go so far as to suggest Aunt Aggie outclassed all of these characters in terms of being someone who does what the Turtles do as well as they do. Mona, however, is surely more appealing to young viewers. It’s telling that she would receive an action figure in the TMNT line years after this episode aired, one of very few times Playmates stepped out of their comfort zone and added a female character to their range other than April.

Years later, Peter Laird would reveal that the original pitch for Mona Lisa was that she would be a female mutant Turtle. Both he and Kevin Eastman strongly objected to this idea, considering it “creatively bankrupt”, and as a result the change was made to the salamander mutation. In this instance I think introducing a different mutant character instead of yet another Turtle worked out in the show’s favour. The original idea would return some way down the road, however.

McDonald Crump is, to my knowledge, the first time our heroes have encountered a Donald Trump expy in any version of TMNT, but by no means the last. In fact, we’ll revisit this idea in the very next episode, "Slash - The Evil Turtle from Dimension X".