During the climax of the 1991 sequel Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze, the Turtles drop in a dockside night club where Vanilla Ice happens to be performing live. As if by some Divine Reptilian Intervention, the Miami rapper starts to freestyle lyrics about the heroes in green party crashers immediately upon seeing their bodacious ninjutsu flow. And, thus, "Ninja Rap" was born.
"Ninja Rap" became one of Van Winkle's most enduring songs, even being featured in a KRAFT Macaroni & Cheese commercial years later. More than that, the track captured the pure outrageousness of the Ninja Turtles franchise at the very peak of its popularity.
According to Myrna Gawryn, who choreographed "Ninja Rap," director Michael Pressman originally only hired her to create a little movement for the song.
"He said he didn't want any 'real' choreography, just some loose dancing around the club," Gawryn said. "I had created a whole piece and was kind of disappointed."
Instead of taking no for an answer, the first night that she arrived on the set, she took the four Turtle actors aside and stayed up late, secretly teaching them the dance that she had choreographed.
The next day, they showed the fully rehearsed routine to Pressman, who fell in love with their moves and decided to put the choreography in the film.
"When Vanilla Ice arrived, I taught it to him and his two dancers," Gawryn added, "and we shot it a couple of days later."
This website chronicles one fan's mission to track down and preserve the last surviving artifacts from the glory days of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The following listed original movie props, production material, artwork, and prototypes are the result of tireless years of research and determination. Through the help of crew members, actors, artists, and private owners, a collection of these treasures and their stories grew.
NinjaRap.com was created to share this collected cultural history with the world, and is dedicated to everyone whose lives were somehow touched by those four ordinary pet turtles who went on to do some truly extraordinary things. Cowabunga, dudes and dudettes!
The Shredder's (James Saito, François Chau) Helmet
This is the Shredder's (James Saito, François Chau) screen-worn helmet from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991).
The inner brown rubber section was used in the first movie before serving as the base for the sequel's modified helmet. The gold-painted squares that adorn the sides are plastic, while the straps that wrap around the helmet are metal, and the blades on top are resin.
The mouthpiece, which is separate from the helmet, is also made of resin, and was secured to the actor's face with temple tips and a mask string.
The costume pieces can be screen-matched throughout Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991) by comparing the helmet's golden squares and the mouthpiece's distinct wear and markings.
According to Richard "Petie" Waldrop, the sequel's prop master, only two helmets were ever made for the original films. This particular one is labeled #2, while the stocking cap on the inside is marked #1.
Provenance: Acquired directly from the prop master, North Carolina.
Michaelangelo's (Michelan Sisti) Hero Nunchaku
This is an original hero pair of nunchaku from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990). Each nunchaku measures 12" in length. They are made of solid wood, and the cords are leather. Michaelangelo's (Michelan Sisti) weapon of choice, aside from his pizza cutter, he can be seen carrying them throughout the movie. It is possible that the weapons were used again for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991), although Mikey didn't twirl them around as much in the sequel due to complaints received from parent groups.
These nunchaku show an incredible amount of wear, including several scars on the wood and scattered splotches of white paint, evidence that they had quite the Foot workout.
According to Richard "Petie" Waldrop, the sequel's prop master, only three weapon sets were created for the first two Ninja Turtles movies, and Planet Hollywood has one. In his own words, he referred to these particular weapons as "the best" of them all.
Provenance: Acquired directly from the prop master, North Carolina; private collection, Hawaii.
Leonardo's (Mark Caso) Hero Katana
This is an original hero pair of katana from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991). Each sword measures 33" in length. The blades and hand guards are made of a heavily-built aluminum, while the hilts are wooden and wrapped in leather. The blade edges, although dulled, are substantial enough in weight to still cause injury.
These katana can be seen at the beginning of the film when Leonardo (Mark Caso) brandishes them at the crooks robbing the mall.
According to Richard "Petie" Waldrop, the sequel's prop master, only three weapon sets were created for the first two Ninja Turtles movies, and Planet Hollywood has one. In his own words, he referred to these particular weapons as "the best" of them all.
Provenance: Acquired directly from the prop master, North Carolina; private collection, Hawaii.
“A” Camera Clapperboard
This is a one-of-a-kind “A” camera clapperboard from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991). Normally clappers would display the names of the director and the cinematographer, but this clapboard shows the prop master of the movie, Richard “Petie” Waldrop, because it was presented to him by director Michael Pressman after filming wrapped on December 4, 1990.
There are hidden magnets on the wooden arm to prevent bouncing after clapping. Similar style slates can be seen in The Making of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Behind the Shells (1991) documentary.
Provenance: Acquired directly from the prop master, North Carolina; private collection, Texas.
Donatello's (Leif Tilden) Bandana Knot
This purple fabric knot is part of Donatello's bandana that was worn by Leif Tilden in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991). The knot was salvaged by one of the Turtle dressers after filming wrapped. The eye mask part would have been glued onto the foam latex head. (That's a fact, Jack!)
According to The Sunday Mail, an Australian tabloid owned by News Corp, Donatello's voice changed in the sequel due to Corey Feldman's drug conviction. He was replaced by Adam Carl.
Provenance: Acquired directly from a former EUE/Screen Gems Studios executive assistant, North Carolina.
Set-Ready, Stuffed Ninja Rap Is Born! Newspaper
This is an original Ninja Rap Is Born! newspaper from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991). The prop master on the film confirmed its authenticity, recognizing it as one of three set-ready, stuffed versions. The newspaper measures 10 x 14.5".
And "stuffed" this newspaper certainly is! There are pages and pages of fake news stories, even a sports page on the back. The newspaper was printed in Wilmington at The Star News, a real local paper.
Splinter holds up this newspaper and chastises the Turtles at the very end of the movie, making them do ten back flips as punishment for their very un-ninja-like behavior of showing up on the front page of the Daily News after getting down and busting some radical dance moves with Vanilla Ice the previous night.
"Ten flips now!" commands Splinter. "And remember: Go, ninja! Go, ninja! Go! I made another funny! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha..."
A prop newspaper using a similar template as this one can be seen in the 1990 Saved by the Bell episode "Save the Max." The school's student newspaper, The Bayside Breeze, features the same sports page section on the back. Another version of the newspaper can be seen in the Full House episode entitled "The King and I." There are production stills of this exact paper in Splinter's hands.
Provenance: Acquired directly from the prop master, North Carolina; private collection, California.
Kevin Eastman's TCRI Ooze Canister
This is a production-made TCRI ooze canister from the set of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990). Measuring 13” in height and 3” in width, the canister is made entirely of aluminum and comes from the personal collection of Ninja Turtles co-creator Kevin Eastman. This example retains the comic book name TCRI (short for “Techno Cosmic Research Institute”) with a “Warning: Hazardous Material” cautionary caption underneath the lettering. According to Todd Langen, the sequel's screenwriter, the acronym was later changed to TGRI due to the existence of a real laboratory with that name in California. A radioactivity symbol appears on each of the end caps, just like the canister seen in the original movie when Splinter recounts his and his sons' origin story to April O'Neil. However, perhaps due to the fact that the first film does not delve much into the back story of the ooze like the sequel does, the TCRI name is not shown on screen. Instead, the screen-used canister simply displays a generic “Radioactive Material” label.
When this prop was made, the canister design was still undergoing several cosmetic changes. For example, it appears that the vinyl lettering was originally a dark burgundy before being colored black. Also, the “R” on one side shows evidence of font style experimentation, with an extra piece of vinyl tape producing a different downward slope. This canister is slightly shorter than the ones used in the second movie, but is much more substantial and sturdier due to the heavy-duty metal material (the canisters in the sequel were made of either PVC or foam, depending on whether they were hero/background or stunt versions).
Provenance: Acquired directly from Kevin Eastman Studios, Massachusetts.
Hero TGRI Canister with Mutagen Ooze
This is an original hero TGRI canister from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991).
The prop master on the film authenticated this canister as one of about 200 canisters used in the film, mostly as background props in the lab. Only one canister used during filming contained any real "ooze," while the others were painted a bright green inside the tubes to simulate the slime. Unfortunately, any hopes of re-animating Tokka and Rahzar are dashed because this is one such green-ooze-painted canister. The canister's tube is made of acrylic, and the side plates and end caps are of a hard plastic. (Stunt canisters contained foam rubber end caps as a safety precaution.) The canister measures approximately 13.5".
Ooze canisters are key props in the movie, as they explain the origins of the Turtles and their dramatic transformation from common household pets to lean, mean, green fighting machines.
Provenance: Acquired directly from the prop master via an Azalea Auction sale in Castle Hayne, North Carolina on January 24, 2004; private collection, Arkansas; private collection, Hawaii.
Background TGRI Canister with Mutagen Ooze
This is a production-made TGRI canister that was designed for background use in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991). The canister is missing its TGRI decal due to heavy production use. Traces of the lettering can still be seen, however.
The prop master on the film authenticated this canister as one of about 200 canisters used in the film, mostly as background props in the lab.
Provenance: Acquired directly from the prop master via an Azalea Auction sale in Castle Hayne, North Carolina on January 24, 2004; private collection, Arkansas; private collection, New York.
Foot Soldier (Daniel Pesina) Mask and Bandana
This mask and bandana make up part of the Foot Soldier costume that was worn by actor and Wushu Master Daniel Pesina in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991).
Although similar to the Foot Clan masks seen in the first movie, the sequel's mask eye holes are slightly smaller. The patch is a bolder red than the rest of the bandana to stand out better in the film. The black on the wire frame of the eyes was hand-painted.
Daniel Pesina appeared as a Foot Soldier in the majority of the film's fighting scenes, getting kicked, punched, or thrown, including in the infamous night club scene with Vanilla Ice near the end of the movie.
At one point during that scene, the actor who played Donatello was supposed to roll Pesina and then do a side kick, but he decided to do a roundhouse kick instead without giving a warning, and as a result, Pesina almost lost his two front teeth. The Foot Soldier actors could barely see where to move in front of whatever technique was being thrown, and the Turtle actors were just as visibly impaired with their giant reptile heads.
During the cuts, a few of the Foot would run around and get hit again. In one instance, Pesina was taken down four different times in the same fight.
"It was a bloody mess," he admitted.
But the fighting didn't end when the cameras stopped rolling. On the first day that Vanilla Ice showed up on set, Michelan Sisti, the actor who played Michaelangelo, went up to the rapper to give him a hug and welcome him aboard. That's when Ice's large bodyguard coldly stiff armed him—even with the full Turtle suit on.
About 18 of the actors nearby, including Pesina, stepped forward to pounce until Pat Johnson, the stunt coordinator, who used to work under Chuck Norris (and was the mustached ref in The Karate Kid), stopped them from brawling right then and there.
"[Vanilla Ice's] bodyguards almost got their butt kicked," Pesina laughed.
Provenance: Acquired directly from Daniel Pesina.
Foot Soldier (Daniel Pesina) Mask and Bandana (#2)
This mask and bandana make up part of the Foot Soldier costume that was worn by actor and Wushu Master Daniel Pesina in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991).
Multiple props and costumes were made for back-up purposes. This is Daniel's second mask, and it saw much more action than the first.
Provenance: Acquired directly from Daniel Pesina.
Foot Soldier (Daniel Pesina) Arm Guards
These arm guards make up part of the Foot Soldier costume that was worn by actor and Wushu Master Daniel Pesina in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991).
Provenance: Acquired directly from Daniel Pesina.
Foot Soldier (Daniel Pesina) Belt
This belt makes up part of the Foot Soldier costume that was worn by actor and Wushu Master Daniel Pesina in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991).
Provenance: Acquired directly from Daniel Pesina.
Foot Soldier (Daniel Pesina) Wrist Bands
These wrist bands make up part of the Foot Soldier costume that was worn by actor and Wushu Master Daniel Pesina in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991).
Provenance: Acquired directly from Daniel Pesina.
Michaelangelo's (Michelan Sisti) Right Knee Pad
This right knee pad makes up part of the 60-pound latex Turtle costume that was worn by Michelan Sisti as Michaelangelo in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991). There were four acting Turtles and about six stunt Turtles by the end of the movie.
A musician, Broadway actor, and later puppeteer for the Jim Henson Company, Sisti played Mikey in the first two Turtle movies, as well as the Domino's Pizza delivery guy who slides the pizza down the sewer grates in the first film and April's overly friendly neighbor in the sequel. He would later play Charlene Sinclair in the Jim Henson television series Dinosaurs (1991-1994).
Provenance: Acquired directly from Daniel Pesina.
Donatello's (Leif Tilden) Elbow Pad
This elbow pad makes up part of the 60-pound latex Turtle costume that was worn by Leif Tilden as Donatello in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991).
Tilden is credited as playing Donnie in the first two Turtle movies, and also a Foot Soldier in both films. He would later play Robbie Sinclair in the Jim Henson television series Dinosaurs (1991-1994).
Provenance: Acquired directly from Daniel Pesina.
Venus de Milo's (Nicole Parker) Hero Belt
This turquoise-colored leather belt with resin emblem buckle was worn by actress Nicole Parker in her role as Venus de Milo in the short-lived 1997 FOX television series Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation. One of only three made, this particular belt is marked "hero" on the inside.
Turtles co-creator Kevin Eastman came up with the idea of introducing a fifth Turtle in 1994, sketching out designs for a male character called Kirby, as a homage to a personal inspiration of his, comic book legend Jack "King" Kirby. Kirby would have featured prominently in a fourth live-action movie as a mutant from a parallel dimension who meets up with Leonardo, Raphael, Michaelangelo, and Donatello.
Although that film ultimately went unproduced, Eastman brought his work over to Saban Entertainment, the production company behind the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, to brainstorm a television program. At the last minute, FOX Kids President and CEO Margaret Loesch requested that the newest Turtle become female, revising the origins story to include an extra Turtle in the glass jar that Splinter neglects to pick up.
As a baby, this lone female Turtle floats down to Chinatown, where a Shaman adopts her with the name Mei Pieh Chi (Chinese for "Beautiful Turtle of Energy"). Together, they travel to Shanghai, where the girl Turtle trains in the internal arts of Shinobi mysticism for 17 years, until she finally learns of her American roots. Returning to the sewers of New York City, she joins the rest of the Turtles under a new alias, "Venus de Milo," using her powers of the mind and heart to battle against the dreadful Dragon Lord and his Rank Dragons.
Based on promotional material, which emphasizes the Turtles are not biologically related, it is thought that she would have developed into a love interest for one of the green teens had The Next Mutation continued for a second season.
One of the most controversial characters in the history of the franchise, Peter Laird, the other co-creator of the Turtles, has called Venus the epitome of "all that is stupid and shallow about Hollywood," and reportedly barred TMNT (2007) director Kevin Munroe from even acknowledging her existence.
Provenance: Acquired directly from Chiodo Brothers Productions, California; Hero Prop LLP, Nevada.
Michaelangelo’s Coming Out of Their Shells Tour Rhinestone-Encrusted Bandana Eye Star
This unassuming rhinestone-encrusted piece of fabric used to make up part of Michaelangelo's flashy outfit as seen in The Making of The Coming Out of Their Shells Tour (1990) direct-to-video mockumentary. It would have been glued onto Mikey's bandana (and, in fact, some residue still remains to this day). The bandana eye star can be seen when the Turtles perform outside on top of the marquee at Radio City Music Hall.
After Jim Henson’s Creature Shop decided not to make the Coming Out of Their Shells Tour costumes, the suits were quickly put together by another studio in five weeks' time. Later touring costumes ditched the eye star and used running shoes and spandex pads to help the actors move around during the two-hour-long live show. (The original costumes also had bulky shells, but were later replaced with light jean vests after rehearsals.)
In 1990, Pizza Hut put up $20 million of its own money to sponsor The Coming Out of Their Shells Tour, a 40-city concert that launched at Radio City Music Hall. Sweaty performers pretended to play instruments through exaggerated movements in their rubber suits to crowds of screaming Turtle fans. Over 2 million cassette tapes of the show’s soundtrack were sold that year with the purchase of a personal pan pizza at Pizza Hut.
The official Turtles Tour video made no attempt to hide that Pizza Hut was the real captain behind the wheel. Even Senior Vice President of Marketing for Pizza Hut, David Novack, appeared midway through to deliver a press statement on the pizza chain's behalf, gushing: "We're just absolutely thrilled to get the world's most famous pizza eaters to hook up with the number one pizza company in the world. Pizza Hut will launch the most aggressive promotion ever done in the record industry to support the Turtles' new music, which I'm sure all of America will love."
Acquired directly from the HMS Creative Productions Prop House Garage Sale, California; private collection, California.
Michaelangelo Fight Double's (Nick Palma) On-Set Water Bottle
This lime-green water bottle was used off-camera by Nick Palma, the fight double for Michaelangelo, on the set of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991).
“Nick” is written in faded marker on one side of the bottle, while the other side reads: “Michaelangelo.”
Water bottles such as this proved crucial in keeping the stuntmen inside the heavy, suffocating Turtle suits properly hydrated during the long hours of shooting.
According to a Good Morning America report filed in 1991, an average of 16 costumes were beaten up every day during shooting. The foam latex outfits acted like sponges in absorbing the actor's sweat, so they required time in saunas to dry off before the artists at Jim Henson's Creature Shop could make the necessary repairs.
Provenance: Acquired directly from a former EUE/Screen Gems Studios executive assistant, North Carolina.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) Department Manager Folder
This production-used department manager folder from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) is laid out similar to a press kit, but it was only given to crew members who worked on the film.
The folder, itself, has Kevin Eastman's classic Book II graphic novel cover printed on the front with the logo of the cartoon series and the subtitle "Heroes in a half shell!" The back provides Golden Harvest's head office and world sales contact information, and states that the folder was distributed through Golden Communications. One of the inside flaps lists the movie's credits, which at that time were "preliminary and contractual."
The first set of documents in the folder contains 11 photocopied news clippings and magazine articles touting the Turtles' growing success. The excerpts come from the following publications:
- People, April 18, 1988
- People, August 15, 1988
- Toy and Hobby World's Toy Hit Parade, December 1988
- The New York Times, December 25, 1988
- Variety, December 28, 1988
- The Hollywood Reporter, January 5, 1989
- The Hollywood Reporter, March 6, 1989
- South China Morning Post, March 17, 1989
- The Hollywood Reporter, March 30, 1989
- Los Angeles Daily News, April 21, 1989
- Billboard Top Kid Video Sales, June 10, 1989
A seven-page list of what appears to be every North American licensee up until that point, from Konami to Colorforms, follows.
An undated "fact sheet" is next, which continues to drum up praise for the Turtles: the cartoon is the highest Neilsen-rated cartoon in the States, over 550,000 comic books are being distributed on a monthly basis, and the toys are the #1 boys' action figure line. The motion picture was then slated for a Christmas 1989 release.
After that is a February 23, 1989 press release from Flaherty/Winters & Partners, which announces Jim Henson's Creature Shop coming on board.
A May 1989 "Turtle Talk" two-page newsletter from Renay and Mark Freedman is the last of the publicity pieces. The film has now been pushed to the summer of 1990. According to the write-up, the producers claimed to have received frantic calls from the likes of Bruce Willis, Mel Gibson, Roseanne Barr, Pete Rose, and Sammy Davis Jr. who all wanted to "'PUT ON THE SHELL' and get a part."
The focus now shifts entirely on the movie, beginning with Golden Harvest Group's typed bios of director Steve Barron, producer Simon Fields, and producer David Chan.
A studio map is provided, which points out the various stage and backlot locations, as well as where the Creature Shop is situated.
A six-page "Welcome to Wilmington" guide, dated June 9, 1989, reveals that the crew stayed at the Holiday Inn on Market Street. Nearby restaurants are ranked based upon price, from expensive to moderate and "good value," the last of which lists a delivery-only Domino's Pizza. The production company also felt it worth noting that "this is North Carolina and service is slow. The sushi bar... is especially slow." Not as slow: the nightclubs listed at the end.
A hole-punched memorandum sent to all department heads on June 15, 1989 notifies that the principal production meeting schedule has been changed and will take place in the front dining room of the studio commissary. The memo is signed by first assistant director Michael Grossman.
Another hole-punched memorandum from the same day contains the numbers of rented beepers in case a crew member needs to be reached.
The last piece of paperwork explains how to use various telephone call features.
Finally, the folder includes three 8" x 10" glossy photographs. The first shows a group shot of the cast and crew posing outside on the studio lot with some of the pre-mutation Turtle props.
The second gives an eerily empty glimpse of the sewer lair set.
And the last shows the full-size Splinter puppet with his paws around some crew members inside the Foot Warehouse; a P.O. Box address label of the film's stills photographer, Alan Markfield, is affixed to the back.
Provenance: Acquired directly from the prop master, North Carolina; private collection, Texas.
Continuity Polaroid Photographs
This is a lot of six original continuity Polaroids from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990). These pictures were used by the prop department to maintain continuity in the movie. They depict close-ups of the various Turtle weapons as well as scenes from outside on the farm, inside April O'Neil's place, and around the sewer lair. Most of the Polaroids contain scene numbers, timecodes, and/or other markered writing.
Provenance: Acquired directly from the prop master, North Carolina; private collection, Hawaii.
Jim Henson's Creature Shop Polaroids, Photographs, and Negatives
This is a lot of 55 original photographs, consisting of Polaroids, prints, and negatives, that were taken at Jim Henson's Creature Shop during the making of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991). The Henson artisans worked at an old former postal sorting facility at the Hampstead section of London to bring the Turtles to life. That workshop has since closed.
The Polaroids were used as reference shots for painting the Donatello suits (even decades later, they still have some paint remnants on them).
The other pictures show Tokka and Rahzar's costumes and accessories in various stages of development, as well as the Turtles' shells and completed heads before they were loaded and shipped over the Atlantic.
Approximately 12-16 body suits were built for each character as well as eight per stunt person. In total, 56 Turtle suits were made for the sequel as opposed to only 32 for the first movie.
Technicians fit 20 motors into the shell of each Turtle, which controlled mechanisms in the face and head.
After filming on the sequel wrapped, one of Tokka's costume dressers was taken to a small warehouse and assigned the task of shredding the Henson-made outfits in a giant bin using an electric kitchen knife, a grisly process that took over three days to complete.
Provenance: Acquired from a private sale.
Raphael Continuity Polaroid Photograph
This is an original Polaroid photograph of Raphael that was taken by a Turtle dresser during the production of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991). The picture was used for maintaining continuity in the movie.
Provenance: Acquired directly from a former EUE/Screen Gems Studios executive assistant, North Carolina.
Filming Polaroids and Photographs
This is a lot of 24 original Polaroids and photographs that were taken during the filming of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991). They pull back the curtain on the making of the movie magic and how much work was actually involved—from the highly advanced puppetry, the elaborate full-body costumes, to even the wrangling of live animals on the set.
Provenance: Acquired directly from the prop master, North Carolina; private collection, New York.
Set Photographs Featuring Vanilla Ice
This is a lot of 15 original photographs that were taken on the set of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991). These production images, which range in size from 3.5" x 5" to 4" x 6", offer a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse at the making of the 1991 sequel, including Vanilla Ice's involvement with the project, showing the Grammy-nominated Miami rapper preforming “Ninja Rap” as his personalized director's chair waits for him offstage.
Provenance: Acquired directly from the prop master, North Carolina; private collection, New York; ScreenUsed LLC, California.
Stunt Crew Photograph
The stunt crew poses for a photo together on the set of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991). The stunt coordinator on all three Ninja Turtles films, Pat Johnson, sits front and center.
Provenance: Acquired directly from Daniel Pesina.
Promotional Shoot Photograph
The four Ninja Turtles pose during a promotional shoot on the set of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991).
Provenance: Acquired directly from Daniel Pesina.
Daniel Pesina Photograph
Daniel Pesina and his fellow actors pose on the set of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991).
Provenance: Acquired directly from Daniel Pesina.
Subway Construction Photographs
These are two original behind-the-scenes subway construction photographs from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991).
This location was inspired by a real-life closed New York City subway station called City Hall station, which shut down in 1945. The film's actual subway and shaft sets were built and filmed at Screen Gems in Wilmington, North Carolina, and were later reused in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (1993) before being moved to Vancouver for the short-lived Fox Kids television series Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation (1997).
Provenance: Acquired from a private collection, Arkansas.
Production-Used Subway Shaft Plan Dyeline Blueprint
This is an original production-used 29.5" x 41.5" subway shaft plan dyeline blueprint from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991). Dyeline blueprints such as this would have been handed out to the art department and set construction crew.
The blueprint label reads as follows: "PRODUCTION DESIGNER: ROY FORGE SMITH / SET: SUBWAY SHAFT / LOCATION: STAGE 1 / DRAWING: SUBWAY SHAFT PLAN, ELEVATION, SECTION / DATE: 8-13-90 / SCALE: ½" = 1'0" / DRAWN BY: G.S.G. / SET: #17 / PAGE: #1701."
Roy Forge Smith was the production designer on all three live-action Ninja Turtle movies, as well as on Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure.
"G.S.G." are the initials of Geoffrey S. Grimsman, who's credited for being an art director on the film. Grimsman was also a set designer on Super Mario Bros. and the assistant art director on The Crow.
The blueprint shows detailed layouts of the interior of the subway shaft and the sidewalk vents where pedestrians would walk overhead.
After the Foot Clan destroyed their sewer home in the first movie, the Turtles and Splinter have been slumming with their reporter friend, April O'Neil, in her New York City apartment.
Having felt like they've overstayed their welcome (and maybe ordered one too many pizza deliveries), the Turtles enter an underground vent and search the subway shaft to scout for a new home.
"We got the Foot up there with the ooze, and we're down here playing Century 21!" complains Raphael.
"Guys, guys, guys," Michaelangelo chimes in. "I just got an idea. Two words that could solve all of our housing problems: time share."
Moments after making his joke, Mikey falls through the shaft and stumbles upon an abandoned subway station below. There, the Turtles clean up and redesign the station, turning it into their new subterranean headquarters and all-purpose Turtle pad.
Provenance: Acquired from a private collection, Arkansas.
Production Script
This is a production script of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991) written by Todd W. Langen. Langen also co-wrote the first movie and several episodes of The Wonder Years. The final draft is dated July 26, 1990. The blue pages are from August 13, 1990, and the pink, from August 15.
Provenance: Acquired from a private collection, New York.
Mall Fight Storyboards (#1 of 4)
These are the director-approved storyboards of the mall fight in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991). The 88 storyboard pages are illustrated by Michael Davis. This is marked #1 of 4, meaning that it is the first of the four major fight scenes in the film.
In this fight scene, the Turtles wind up battling burglars in a mall. The violence was scaled back in the sequel. A good example of that is during this fight, when Michaelangelo picks up sausage and chooses it as a comical weapon over his nunchaku.
However, these early storyboards show the thugs carrying knives, while others wield a cue stick and bowling pins.
Michaelangelo uses a yo-yo's string to trip a bad guy. Then, like a scene out of Home Alone, he breaks a gumball machine with said yo-yo to send the candy tumbling towards more foes. When a robber jumps him from behind, Mikey chews some of the gumballs and blows a bubble until it pops in the crook's face, blinding him.
Elsewhere, Leonardo tosses his katana up at the ceiling, and one of the blades falls on a criminal's head. Another guy approaches, but the other sword doesn't fall right away. Leo becomes impatient while waiting, and flips him in time for the second katana to drop down on the cocky Turtle's head as he's celebrating.
Meanwhile, one of the other Turtles waves tennis rackets like swords, while another throws a ball at a burglar, who then bounces off a trampoline and ends up going through a basketball net.
Mikey breaks from the action to take a big bite out of his “combat cold cuts.”
One Turtle uses a belt to flip a robber. A second Turtle is inspired to do the same but picks up a bra by mistake; he subsequently uses his shell as a quick shield to block an incoming knife.
A Turtle rides on a pogo stick, and a showdown with a thug on another pogo ensues. He chases the Turtle with a trash can lid before reaching a doorway, where he hits his head.
One particularly devilish Turtle squeezes pee from a baby doll onto a bad guy to distract him while another Turtle takes him down.
A Turtle is hurled into a display of high heels. This Turtle flings the shoes at his assailant, and the heels act like ninja stars, pinning him to the wall.
The last sequence has Donatello mimicking a kid's punching bag and dodging a bad guy's punches before headbutting him.
Provenance: Acquired from a private collection, New York.
TGRI Fight Storyboards (#2 of 4)
These are the director-approved storyboards of the TGRI fight in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991). The 32 storyboard pages are illustrated by Michael Davis. This is marked #2 of 4, meaning that it is the second of the four major fight scenes in the film.
“The past returns, my son,” Splinter says on the rooftop above April’s apartment when he reveals the TGRI canister that first transformed the Turtles into mutants. “It is time to seek our answers.”
When the Turtles enter the TGRI research facility in search for those answers, they discover that only one canister of mutagen ooze remains—and it's in the hands of The Foot!
These early storyboards depict more violence, with the Foot Soldiers firing darts at the Turtles and Michaelangelo throwing his nunchaku at Tatsu. The rest of the scene remains the same, except that Mikey "chair surfs" rather than Donatello.
Provenance: Acquired from a private collection, New York.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1989 Movie Licensing Style Guide Illustration
This 18" x 11.5" original licensing illustration was penciled by Steve Lavigne and inked by Ryan Brown for a Mirage Studios style guide circa 1989.
Modeled after the foam-latex costumes designed by Jim Henson's Creature Shop, this towering portrait of the Hollywood heroes in a half-shell was used to make the Starmakers Publishing Corp. cardboard stand-ups, posters, T-shirts, and Rolets pork rinds store display signs to promote the first live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie.
The film would go on to gross more than $200 million at the box office, becoming the most successful independent motion picture ever at the time.
Provenance: Acquired directly from Mirage Studios, Massachusetts; private collection, Missouri.
Turtles II Production Team Shirt
This is a production team shirt that was given only to the Jim Henson's Creature Shop crew during the making of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991). Look close enough, and you will see faint traces of green paint on the shirt, the very same that was used on the Turtle suits.
The humorous scene on the back shows poor Donatello being electrocuted as a result of Leonardo spritzing him with a spray bottle at the same time that Raphael plugs in a multi-way connector. An oblivious Michaelangelo sits at the Henson Performance Control System, a computer that allowed puppeteers control over the animatronics, while listening to some tunes and chowing down on a cheesy slice of pepperoni pizza. The cartoonish man assuring that “'Itsalright' we're in good order” is William Plant, the production supervisor at Jim Henson's Creature Shop.
Provenance: Acquired from a private sale.
Production Company Business Card
This is a business card from the film’s production company office, GT Productions. 1223 North 23rd Street Wilmington, North Carolina 28405 is the address of EUE/Studio Gems Studios LTD., then known as Carolco Studios, where the first two Ninja Turtle movies were shot.
Provenance: Acquired directly from a former EUE/Screen Gems Studios executive assistant, North Carolina.
Unproduced Hallmark TV Miniseries Leonardo Concept Drawing
This original 8.25" by 11.5" Leonardo marker concept drawing by UK artist and writer Brendan McCarthy was made for the unproduced live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Hallmark television miniseries from the early 2000s.
McCarthy, who had previously storyboarded the landmark 1990 comic book film and helped to design the Turtles with Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, reconvened with the same original creative team under the helm of director Steve Barron to once again conceptualize the look of the Half-Shell Heroes.
"The Ninja Turtles miniseries that Hallmark and I are developing will be a darker, more streetwise view of the characters," Barron told The Hollywood Reporter in 2001. "Taking its tone from the original comics, it will be an atmospheric and spectacular reinvention of the franchise using today's CGI technology to leap into the 21st century."
Maquettes of the Turtles were sculpted and painted to fine-tune their appearance.
"The two-night, four-hour program will blend CGI Turtles with live actors, replacing the prosthetics of past Turtles films and live-action TV series," The Hollywood Reporter article went on to say. "The yet-to-be-greenlighted mini may air on the Hallmark Channel between May 2003 and May 2004."
Ninja Turtles co-creator Peter Laird held meetings with Barron in Northampton, Massachusetts to discuss the project. A script was also shown to him. He would later approve the sculpts of the Turtles and publicly rave about a five-minute proof-of-concept test shoot that he saw of the Splinter costume in action.
"It was freakin' EERIE. Splinter (portrayed by a short actor within the rough suit) was shown gesturing, walking around, climbing ladders and stairs, and fighting... and it looked AMAZING. As much as I loved the work the Henson group did on Splinter in the first two TMNT movies, I think this one is going to blow that one away."
Ultimately, however, the miniseries never got off the ground. As McCarthy put it, "Anyway, that's showbiz."
Provenance: Acquired from Albert Moy comic art dealer, New York; private collection, Texas.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1988 Group Licensing Style Guide Illustration
This 11” x 17” original licensing illustration was penciled by Steve Lavigne and inked by Ryan Brown for a Mirage Studios style guide circa 1988.
The iconic image of the toony Turtle team has been used by dozens of companies over the years (including Thermos, Colorforms, and Mello Smello) for such licensed consumer products as toys, lunch boxes, POGs, stickers, bed sheets, curtains, towels, shirts, pajamas, hats, wrist cuffs, sketchbooks, and much more.
The artwork was later made into a limited print in 2005 to help raise relief funds for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Provenance: Acquired directly from the artist, Massachusetts; Anthony's Comic Book Art LLC, New Jersey.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1988 Raphael Licensing Style Guide Illustration
This 8.5" x 12" original licensing illustration of Raphael springing into action was penciled by Steve Lavigne and inked by Ryan Brown for a Mirage Studios style guide circa 1988.
Inspired by the gritty and imposing “Kiss your butt goodbye!!” splash page from the second issue of Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Volume 1, the more marketing-friendly toonified take proved to be popular with many licensees like Topps, Rose Art, and Milton Bradley, appearing on trading card wax wrappers, dinnerware, bicycle streamers, ice skates, roller skates, Shrinky Dinks, paint-by-number panels, iron-on transfers, Velcro wallets, pinback buttons, raincoats, beach towels, miniature colored pencil pouches, address books, air fresheners, vinyl decals, and other consumer products from companies seeking to cash in on the Turtlemania of the day.
The time-tested design returned to store shelves decades later on retro-inspired merchandise in the form of pencil cases, embroidered patches, glassware, T-shirts, boxer shorts, caps, footed pajamas, rubber bracelets, stickers, playing cards, wall calendars, posters, cell phone stands, pizza cookbooks, and more.
Provenance: Acquired directly from the artist, Massachusetts; private collection, California.
Helm Toy Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1989 Inflatable Bop Bag Concept Drawing
This 6" x 17" original concept drawing of Helm Toy's 1989 Michaelangelo inflatable bop bag was accomplished in mixed media, primarily marker, and applied on board with fist and logo cut-out stats. The final produced toy mirrored the Turtle's pose, changed the bandanna to orange, and moved the brickwork background over to the packaging.
Vinyl bop bags have been a toy store staple since the mid-1960s, giving children a safe way to burn off excess energy and, in the case of the Turtles, work on their ninjutsu training.
On his Cowabunga Cartoon Classics! blog, Mirage Studios licensing artist Ryan Brown wrote this about the piece: "Now this is the stuff we saw nearly every day. Concept art coming through the approval pipeline. Usually done with markers and mounted on Bristol board, this is the first glimpse of what the product would look like."
Ninja Turtles co-creator Peter Laird also commented, "This stuff is cool to see, but I have to say it also gives me a little bit of the heebie-jeebies, as I think back to those days when there was just an absolute flood of this kind of stuff coming into Mirage for approval. As I recall, it was very nearly overwhelming. Yow!"
Provenance: Acquired from a private sale.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Michaelangelo 1980s Backpack Merchandising Proposal Drawing
This 9.5" x 16.75" original pencil drawing from the late 1980s shows a young boy sporting a Michaelangelo backpack. Attached to the backpack is a 4.5" x 7" piece of paper with an original marker rendering and a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles logo stat.
The concept piece represents just one of the many merchandising proposals sent in to Mirage Studios during the height of the Turtles craze, when the sewer-dwelling mutants peddled everything from bubble bath bottles to cheese cracker toppers.
Provenance: Acquired from a private sale.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Cereal 1989 Instant Win Playmates Toys Promotion Box Comprehensive Layout Drawing
This original advertising comprehensive layout drawing was used as a design blueprint for the back of a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Cereal box in 1989 to promote a Playmates Toys instant giveaway.
Hand-inked by Hinkle and Company for CheckMark, the in-house agency at Ralston Purina, the comp depicts such kid-coveted prizes as a Michaelangelo plush doll, Bebop and Rocksteady action figures, the Turtle Blimp and Cheapskate play vehicles, and a Raphael Turtle Battle Fun Dress-up Set. During the contest, 100 lucky winners could take home a complete set of Ninja Turtle toys.
The bottom of the artwork features three prototype trading card images, the final versions of which were handled by Mirage Studios artists. Other than the photostat logos, these pasted-in illustrations are also hand-drawn. As you may have noticed, though, there is an error with the first example: Raphael is portrayed holding a nunchaku instead of his trademark sai.
Provenance: Acquired directly from the owner of Hinkle and Company, Missouri.
Playmates Toys Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mondo Gecko Action Figure Design Concept Drawing
“The rip roarin', skateboardin' reptile!”
This original concept drawing was accomplished in ink on paper by Anaglyph Sculpture designer and sculptor David Arshawsky for the development of the 1990 Playmates Toys Mondo Gecko action figure.
Model and Toy Collector Magazine published the piece in its special Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1991 buying guide issue, and the illustration appeared again in Arshawsky's 2009 self-published sketchbook, Turtle Soup: Designs from the Classic TMNT Years.
Initially a character devised by Mirage Studios artist Ryan Brown, Arshawsky put his own spin on the lizard skateboarder, mutating him into a freakish hodgepodge of zits and braces, spikes and scales, in the twisted style of Ed "Big Daddy" Roth.
After graduating from the Otis/Parsons Art Institute in Los Angeles, where he learned how to sculpt from the contemporary netsuke carver Bradford Blakely, Arshawsky manned a booth at the San Diego Comic-Con to sell some of his macabre creations when he caught the attention of Scott Hensey, who hired him on the spot to make toys under contract at Anaglyph Sculpture.
Once there in the studio, Arshawsky was soon tasked with embellishing and molding the more oddball figures in the Ninja Turtles line, the likes of which included Mondo Gecko, Pizzaface, Ray Fillet, Groundchuck, Wingnut, Needlenose, Killer Bee, Muckman, Mutagen Man, Scale Tail, Wyrm, and the many mini “sidekick buddy” accessories. His provocative contributions helped shape the signature crude-yet-captivating look of the series, netting Playmates Toys half a billion dollars in sales in 1990 alone.
He would go on to creatively tackle the Hong Kong company's other licenses, such as Toxic Crusaders, Earthworm Jim, Skeleton Warriors, Turok, and Star Trek: The Next Generation, before returning to the Turtles toys in the lead-up to the 2003 4Kids Entertainment reboot.
Provenance: Acquired directly from the artist, California.
Playmates Toys Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Krang Action Figure Accessories Concept Drawing
"The bodiless burbling brain behind the Foot Clan."
This 8.5" x 11" original concept drawing was accomplished in pencil and ink on paper by Playmates Toys freelance artist Errol McCarthy for the development of the 1989 Playmates Toys Krang action figure accessories.
The artwork depicts the Dimension X alien's Mobile Life-Support System, referred to as the “Life Support Pack” here, his Mechanized Arms, called “Plug-in Arms,” and his dreaded Brain-Drain Gun, which “fits onto Turtle's head” and plugs into his “Brain Case.”
In addition to Krang, McCarthy also designed Bebop, Rocksteady, Baxter Stockman, the Technodrome, and the Turtle Blimp toys.
Provenance: Acquired directly from the artist, California; private collection, New Jersey.
Playmates Toys 1990 Donatello Giant Turtles Head Wax Sculpture
"Now you’re playing with the big mutants."
Anaglyph Sculpture designed many of the original Playmates Ninja Turtles toys, including the 13" Giant Turtles in 1990. Scott T. Hensey of Anaglyph sculpted this Donatello Giant Turtles head by hand out of wax. He also designed several of the other figures in the vintage toy line such as Bebop, Casey Jones, and Leatherhead.
Provenance: Acquired directly from the artist, California.
Playmates Toys 1992 Rock 'N Roll Mondo Gecko Painted Hardcopy
"The Peace-lovin' Lounge Lizard!"
This is the one and only urethane cast prototype of the 1992 figure Rock 'N Roll Mondo Gecko, hand-painted by Scott T. Hensey of Anaglyph Sculpture. The artist would apply as many paint ops as he wanted, and then Playmates in Hong Kong would simplify the paint job to get under the price point in order to make the toy "kid-affordable."
Provenance: Acquired directly from the artist, California.
Playmates Toys 1993 Mutations Mutatin' Foot Soldier Test Shot
"Evil Mutations twistedly transform from nasty ninja baddies to shell-smashing super-villains!"
Playmates reused the original 1993 Mutations Mutatin' Foot Soldier head and body in this translucent green test shot of the 2K3 series action figure. The head was later changed to the newer Foot Tech/Foot Soldier design for the production run.
Test shots are created to test the production molds for the first time, and are often cast in a variety of assorted colors.
Provenance: Acquired from a private collection, Hong Kong.
Playmates Toys 2002 Shredder Test Shot
"Businessman by day, assassin by night!"
The Shredder appears even more menacing dressed in black in this test shot of the 2K3 series action figure.
Test shots are created to test the production molds for the first time, and are often cast in a variety of assorted colors.
Provenance: Acquired from a private collection, Hong Kong.
Playmates Toys 2003 Casey Jones Test Shot
"Judge, jury and enforcer!"
Casey's head and hands are drenched in a dark ooze-green in this test shot of the 2K3 series action figure.
Test shots are created to test the production molds for the first time, and are often cast in a variety of assorted colors.
Provenance: Acquired from a private collection, Hong Kong.
1987 Playmates Toys Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pilot Show Sewer Lair Background Color Key Painting
This 11" x 9" original background color key painting, accomplished in watercolor, was one of the first-ever renderings of the Turtles' sewer lair home for the original cartoon series, serving as a visual guide in the making of the very first episode. In pencil, underneath the production number, is written the pilot show's episode code, 9030-001. The back of the board is rubber-stamped © 1987 Playmates Toys, Inc.
The artwork shows the four bedrooms of the Turtles, giving us a glimpse into their distinct personalities. Raphael's messy abode has posters of reptiles strewn all over the wall, including one titillating terrapin who is identified as "Miss September." Swords, daggers, and a meticulously assembled model of a ship decorate Leonardo's quarters. Donatello's pad is plane crazy, with jets and diagrams everywhere. Michaelangelo's space emphasizes his sporty side through all manner of playthings, from baseballs to bowling pins and even swimming flippers.
It is in this bedroom hallway where April O'Neil learns the origin story of how the Turtles and Splinter came to be mutant ninjas living in the underground tunnels of New York City.
Provenance: Acquired from a private collection, California.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles "Hot Rodding Teenagers" VHS Home Video Preliminary Cover
This 9 3/4" x 16 1/2" original drawing, accomplished in pencil on board, by prolific illustrator Greg Martin was used as a preliminary design for the front cover of the 1988 home video release "Hot Rodding Teenagers," the second volume of the wildly popular Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon series.
The action-packed group shot shows the Turtles in their natural sewer habitat, with Leonardo leading the charge.
Provenance: Acquired directly from the artist, California.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Michaelangelo: The Haunted House 1993 Young Yearling Paperback Book Cover
This 11" x 14" original illustration drawn and painted by Mirage Studios artist Steve Lavigne was used for the cover of a Young Yearling children's book published in August 1993 called Michaelangelo: The Haunted House.
The 84-page junior novel, which was written by Stephen Murphy, tells the story of how Michaelangelo discovers skateboarding for the first time during a visit to Coney Island. After fixing up a trashed skateboard that he finds under the boardwalk, the Turtle meets up with "Razz" and "Little D," two extreme boarders who ride with him around the amusement park, teach him the art of dude-speak, and buy him grape soda. When the kids enter a closed-down haunted house attraction but never come out, Michaelangelo faces his fears by going in after them.
Provenance: Acquired directly from the artist, Massachusetts.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Family Computer Prototype
Despite the Family Computer case, this prototype does not contain the Japanese version of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but rather the U.S. Nintendo Entertainment System game. That is because Konami/Ultra Games used to internally develop all of its Nintendo Entertainment System adaptations in-house on Japanese hardware, which would explain why an English version of the game is housed in a Family Computer cartridge. Reportedly, employees from Konami/Ultra Games in Elk Grove, Illinois used to exchange prototypes with the folks at nearby Sunsoft in Wood Dale, IL (the two companies were about 20 miles apart from each other in the suburbs outside of Chicago).
After comparing every last room, sewer, and pizza slice with the retail version, as well as the text and tile graphics, only one significant change was found in the prototype: If you hold down A when you press Start at the title screen, you are taken to a special numbered list menu not seen in any released version of the game. Each number represents a level. That means, if you select “6,” you are transported immediately inside of the Technodrome with all of your Turtles and continues fully intact.
Provenance: Acquired directly from a former Sunsoft employee, Illinois; former Tips & Tricks senior editor, Tennessee.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Nintendo Entertainment System Sample
This is allegedly the copy that Nintendo Power played when the magazine reviewed the game back in 1989. The popular video game publication later awarded Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Game of the Year after 4 million cartridges had been sold. The heroes in green drove up such demand that retailers couldn't keep them stocked on store shelves for the holidays, causing parents to scramble for months to find a game-pak to place under the tree in time for Christmas.
Based loosely on the 1987 cartoon, developer and publisher Konami didn't seem concerned about faithfully adapting the show into a video game, instead creating a side-scrolling adventure world of its own bizarre making—a crazier New York City where a Hudson River dam is threatened by submerged ticking time bombs and Fifth Avenue/Greenwich Village is transformed into a labyrinth of mazes, teeming not with rich yuppies, but ceiling creatures called Roof Leapers, bare-chested lumberjacks, and self-engulfing pyromaniacs straight out of a Pink Floyd album cover.
This review copy came from a former Nintendo of America employee who worked at the company's headquarters in Redmond, Washington between 1987 to 2007 until he left to become a consultant for video game publishers on launching new titles. The game is contained on an official Nintendo prototype board (NES-SKEPROM-01).
Provenance: Acquired directly from a Nintendo of America employee, Washington; Seattle-area estate liquidation company, Washington.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game Nintendo Entertainment System Sample
Konami/Ultra Games would have sent this Nintendo Entertainment System sample to magazines for reviewing purposes. The same RD031 marking and 8/2 date on the cartridge’s front label are found on the stickers on the CHR and PRG (written as “PROG”) EPROM chips, too. You can also see some Japanese characters written below that translate to "sample." Bossa nova! The NTSC region coded sample is on an NES-TLROM-02 board that has been modified to accept EPROMs.
This thing has more soldering and wiring than a Turtle Comm! The game, itself, is essentially the same except for only one difference: The build ID in the retail version is MAST900801, while in this sample, it's SAMP900802. That means the sample was actually made one day after the final game!
Provenance: Acquired directly from a former Tips & Tricks senior editor, Tennessee.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time Super Nintendo Prototype
A popular home console port of the arcade classic Konami beat ‘em up, this prototype shows several interesting (and funny) changes, including a special level select option, the name of another Konami title in the game code (Ganbare Goemon, otherwise known as The Legend of the Mystical Ninja), lots of Engrish, and many more totally radical differences!
Provenance: Acquired directly from a former Tips & Tricks senior editor, Tennessee.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters Super Nintendo Sample
A quirky and colorful Super Nintendo one-on-one fighting game in the style of Street Fighter II, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters stars a wonderfully esoteric cast from the Archie Comics series, including Armaggon the evil cyborg shark and a man-sized bat with metal glider wings named Wingnut. The only thing better than being a Turtle is beating one up.
A file comparison with the released North American version revealed that just four bytes in the internal header were different.
Provenance: Acquired directly from a former Tips & Tricks senior editor, Tennessee.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Radical Rescue Game Boy Sample
Konami used to assign its gaming samples with ID numbers. This one is tagged “RF134.” The front label shows a date of September 14, 1993.
There is another label on the back of the cartridge with Konami of America’s old Buffalo Grove, Illinois address. It is specifically addressed to the marketing department, signifying that this game was most likely sent to the press. After backing up the data, only one byte was discovered to be different.
Provenance: Acquired directly from a former Tips & Tricks senior editor, Tennessee.
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