TMNT: Mutant Mayhem 2 Introduces a Hilarious Joke Never Seen Before in the Franchise [Exclusive]

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise has continually transformed over the years, particularly in how the turtles themselves are depicted. In past versions, the turtles were almost identical, differing mainly by their eye mask colors and choice of weapon. However, recent projects have taken creative liberties, dramatically redesigning the characters. Notable examples include Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.

Mutant Mayhem embraces imperfection with a sketchy, hand-drawn aesthetic and gives each turtle a distinct look. Raphael is larger and more imposing than his brothers, Donatello is slimmer and wears glasses, and Michelangelo sports braces. These differences make the turtles feel like authentic teenagers navigating awkward growth spurtsand now, that awkwardness is about to reach new heights.

While promoting the short film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Chrome Alone 2 Lost in New Jersey, which debuts alongside the new SpongeBob movie on December 19, 2025, producer Jeff Rowe shared an exclusive insight into the Mutant Mayhem sequel. Donatello, it turns out, will experience a noticeable growth spurt. We ended up making Donnie a lot taller. He hit a growth spurt, Rowe explained, noting that the voice actors are also aging between projects. This change is cleverly incorporated into the story, turning a production necessity into a comedic opportunity.

This adjustment opens fresh storytelling possibilities. In animation, characters rarely age, which allows them to remain static across decades of content. Donnies growth within the same iteration of the turtles marks a unique shift, giving future installments the chance to explore natural character development. While its unlikely the turtles will fully grow into adults on screen, their high school adventures in Mutant Mayhem could eventually lead to graduation or other milestones in later films.

In addition to the feature sequel, the turtles are featured in the holiday short Chrome Alone 2 Lost in New Jersey. The short depicts them reacting to a strange, live-action toy commercial that parodies AI-generated content. The commercial intentionally exaggerates errors, like extra fingers on children, to highlight the uncanny nature of AI. Director Kent Seki described the short as a way to create humor while commenting on modern technologys shortcomings.

The short blends comedy with visual innovation, continuing the unique style introduced in Mutant Mayhem. The mix of live-action and animation not only nods to the franchises history but also satirizes contemporary issues like AI in media production. According to Seki, the project aims to entertain while offering a subtle critique, making it relevant and timely.

Author: Maya Henderson