Turtles Forever

***Turtles Forever*** (also known as ***Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles Forever*** or ***TMNT: Turtles Forever***) is a 2009 animated movie that was produced by the TV company called 4Kids Entertainment in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles* franchise. The special aired on 4KidsTV in November of the same year. A DVD was released August 24, 2010.

The movie features the Turtles from 2003 TV series meeting up with the Turtles of the Murakami Wolf-Swenson 1987 TV series, along with several secondary characters in an adventure that spans multiple parallel universes. It also marks the true finale to the 2003 animated series. A rough, nearly finished version of the film premiered at the San Diego Comic Con in July 2009. On July 15, 2009, it was confirmed that completely newly designed versions of Tokka and Rahzar would also make an appearance. Voice actor Wayne Grayson had also hinted that the Mirage characters may appear. This was confirmed during the showing at SDCC 2009.

*Turtles Forever* was planned for release in theaters on Thursday October 29, 2009 for one night only. [1] But due to disputes by 4Kids Entertainment and Fathom this was later canceled.[2]

The CW4Kids debuted the film on November 21, 2009 after the 25th anniversary Top 10 Countdown. An encore showing aired from November 28 to December 12, split into three 23-minute episodes. A third showing of the movie aired on March 20 the following year. A fourth showing aired on May 29. The uncut version of film appeared on the CW4Kids's website on December 16 that included 8 minutes of footage cut from the version that aired on TV.[3] The movie was released on non-anamorphic widescreen DVD on August 24, 2010 from Nickelodeon/Paramount Pictures home entertainment. The DVD release contains the TV edit. On August 29, 2010, Nickelodeon aired the movie on the channel for the first time, then aired again on Thanksgiving Day of 2010.

## Plot

When a battle between the Purple Dragons and what appear to be the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles captured on film, the Turtles are quick to refute their master Splinter's accusations of carelessness. Breaking into the Purple Dragons' headquarters to get to the bottom of these mysterious doppelgängers, our Turtles discover that their "imposters" are, in fact, versions of them from another dimension.

The goofy other dimensional "1987 Turtles" prove to be a hassle for the more serious-minded "2003 Turtles", but they are soon able to discern that they were teleported into their world in a dimensional portal accident that has also brought their arch-enemies, the Shredder and Krang, and their battle fortress, the Technodrome, along with them. The eight Turtles head below the ground to track down the Technodrome, but their presence together only clues the Shredder in to the fact that there may be a version of himself on this world that he can ally with to take the Turtles down.

The Technodrome escapes following the Turtles fight with Rocksteady, Bebop, and the 80s Foot Soldiers. The Turtles resolve to create a portal device of their own so they can travel to the "1987 universe" and obtain the gear the 1987 Turtles usually use to take the Technodrome down. While the Turtles are occupied with this task, Oroku Saki uses the Technodrome's technology to locate his dimensional counterpart, the Utrom known as Ch'rell, still in frozen exile on an ice asteroid after his final defeat by the 2003 Turtles. Ch'rell is teleported to the Technodrome, but upon recovering from the powerful penetration, immediately overthrows his bumbling other-self and seizes control of the Technodrome, even when Karai shows up.

Using Dimension X technology and Utrom science to create a new robotic exoskeleton for himself, Ch'rell began doing a makeover of the Technodrome where he had some components replaced, engineered the mutagen samples obtained by Hun to turn some Cyber Foots into Mutant Foot Soldiers (two of which resembled Tokka and Rahzar), and has the Cyber Techs created to succeed the clumsy Foot Soldiers of his 80s counterpart. He then dispatches his right-hand man Hun (who has been mutated into a monstrous mutant turtle himself after being doused with mutagen from the 1987 universe in the earlier battle) to track the Turtles down. With the aid of Bebop and Rocksteady, Hun finds and attacks the Turtles' lair, but the eight reptiles complete a dimensional portal stick (conceived by the 1987 Donatello) and escape to the 1987 universe. Unfortunately, Splinter is captured by Hun and brought before Ch'rell to serve as bait in a trap.
The 2003 Turtles meet the 1987 universe versions of April O'Neil and Splinter, and then return to the 2003 universe with the 1987 Turtles vehicles: the Turtle Van and Turtle Blimp. However, they discover that in their absence, Ch'rell has fused the sciences of the Utroms and Dimension X and rebuilt the Technodrome as a truly terrifying war machine, filled with legions of improved robotic Foot Techs and Mutant Foot Soldiers. Entering the fortress to recover Splinter, the Turtles are defeated, and Ch'rell then reveals his master plan: While using Saki's equipment to survey the Multiverse in his plan to conquer it, he has discovered that there are not just the Turtles of the 1987 world and the 2003 world, but hundreds of them. He then shows the turtles the other worlds, with their alternate selves there. Knowing that the turtles of those dimensions would stand in his way to conquer those worlds, Ch'rell decided to destroy them all by eliminating the original "Prime" universe.
Ch'rell scans the eight Turtles to locate the base similarities between them that will pinpoint the location of "Turtle Prime," and the brothers apparently do not survive the process. Once Ch'rell has teleported the Technodrome away across the dimensions to Turtle Prime, however, the Turtles reappear, having been saved by Karai, who has realized that Ch'rell's mad ambition would also cause their own destruction.

Their world begins to be erased around them and Ch'rell's plan goes into motion. 1987 Shredder and Krang order Ch'rell to destroy the turtles before they reach their destination but he sends them both flying. He then orders Bebop and Rocksteady who are now serving him to restrain them. The Turtles break into Purple Dragon headquarters again to appropriate some of the tech the criminals stole, in order to upgrade their dimensional portal stick and follow Ch'rell to Turtle Prime. With the aid of a repentant Hun, they accomplish their task and are whisked away to the grim, gritty and monochrome world from whence all Turtle realities sprang. They are attacked by the native "Mirage Turtles," but eventually manage to convince their ferocious progenitors that they need their help to save all of creation.

The twelve Turtles, with the aid of Splinter, Karai, and even the 1987 Shredder and Krang, engage Ch'rell in battle, but he grows to massive height using molecular amplification technology from Dimension X. When Ch'rell is accidentally clipped by the energy beam from the Technodrome, however, his armor is damaged, and the Turtles all try to force him into the beam ... before it is abruptly cut off when Rocksteady trips over the power cable and unplugs it. Ch'rell takes this opportunity to grab the four Mirage Turtles and begins crushing them. At the last minute, the 1987 Turtles throw explosive throwing stars at him, causing him to trip and drop the Mirage Turtles. Ch'rell then resumes his attack- until Bebop plugs the beam power cable back in and thus inadvertently obliterates Ch'rell.

With their foe defeated, the Turtles watch as their respective realities restore themselves. The 1987 Turtles take the Technodrome and return to their homeworld, while the 2003 Turtles use the portal stick to return to theirs. The Mirage Turtles decide to go get some pizza to eat... as somewhere else, across time and space, Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman put the finishing touches on the first issue of *Eastman and Laird's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles*, expressing the hope that the book will sell well.

## Characters

### **1987 series characters**

* April O'Neil (Rebecca Soler)
* Bebop (Bradford Cameron)
* Bebop (human form, cameo)
* Donatello (Anthony Haden Salerno)
* Foot Soldiers
* Irma (cameo, non-speaking)
* Krang (Bradford Cameron)
* Leonardo (Dan Green)
* Leprechauns
* Living bowling balls
* Michelangelo (Johnny Castro)
* Mutant bananas
* Mutant pizza
* Raphael (Sebastian Arcelus)
* Rocksteady (Johnny Castro)
* Rocksteady (human form, cameo)
* Scrag (cameo, non-speaking)
* Shredder (Load Williams)
* Splinter (David Wills)
* Grunt (cameo, non-speaking)

### **2003 series characters**

* April O'Neil (Veronica Taylor)
* Casey Jones (Marc Thompson)
* Cyber Foot
* Cyber Foot Techs
* Donatello (Sam Riegel)
* General Hedd
* Karai (Karen Neil)
* Officer Frank (police officer)
* Leonardo (Michael Sinterniklaas)
* Michelangelo (Wayne Grayson)
* Mutant Foot Soldiers
	+ Rahzar
	+ Tokka
* Officer Sarge (police officer)
	+ Purple Dragons
		- Hun (Greg Carey)
		- Bam Bam
		- Claw
		- Dagger
		- Mohawk
		- Spike
		- Waxer
	+ Raphael (John Campbell)
	+ Splinter (Darren Dunstan)
	+ Utrom Shredder (Scottie Ray)

### **Mirage characters**

* Donatello (Pete Capella)
* Leonardo (Jason Griffith)
* Michelangelo (Bradford Cameron)
* Raphael (Sean Schemmel)
* Shredder (David Wills)

### **Miscellaneous**

* Kevin Eastman (off-screen, voiced by himself)
* Peter Laird (off-screen, voiced by himself)

## Casting problems/Licensing music

None of the voice actors from the 1987 series reprised their roles, as the original actors are LA Union voice over actors from California and so it became too expensive, and they would require a contract due to the logistics of 4Kids residing in New York City and the actors residing in Los Angeles. 4Kids is unable to hire union actors, stated by some reports, since they cannot afford them and the actors could only work in union projects.

The original music from the 1987 series also couldn't be used due to Lionsgate owning the rights to the Fred-Wolf cartoon music library and 4Kids would have had to pay a licensing fee to use it. An in-house composer was used to create a music score reminiscent of the 1987 series' soundtrack.

## Nods and references

* When the Turtles arrive in the "1987 dimension", the camera briefly shows "Ninja Pizza". In this restaurant, owned by the Foot, the Turtles and April first go to eat in the pilot episode for the 1987 animated series.
* The human forms of Bebop and Rocksteady make a cameo appearance when the 2003 Turtles arrive in the 1987 universe. The other members of their former punk gang also appear, including the ones later mutated into a lizard, bear, and bat in the episode "Hot Rodding Teenagers from Dimension X".
* 1984 Leonardo's narration quotes the comics quite a bit, with ones like "Donatello takes out a third with his staff." and "Raph loves this stuff.", although there is an error in the second one, as it was Raphael's full name in the comic.
* Once the Shredder is defeated, 1984 Leonardo says, "The Shredder has been shredded." This is a direct quote from the comics.
* 1984 Leonardo's ending narrative for the movie parallels the ending narrative for TMNT Issue #1.
* When the Turtles are captured by The Shredder, he shows them almost every universe, such as the live-action films, anime, 2007 movie, and even ones within the 2003 show, as well as other continuities entirely.
* When Hun has been mutated, he bears resemblance to Slash, a character from the 1987 incarnation and Archie's TMNT comics.
* In a self-parody, the 1980s Turtles openly walk in public, as they did in later seasons of the original series, although they scare the humans in the 2003 universe.
* The 1984 Shredder enters almost exactly the same way he did in the comics, to the same exact taunts.
* The 1984 Shredder is easily defeated, possibly in reference to the fact that he was killed in the very first issue.
* There are three instances where 1987 Raphael breaks the fourth wall with a joke as he does in the 1987 series. This prompts 2003 Raphael and Hun to look at the camera and ask who he's talking to.
* When 2003 Donatello points out the 1984 Turtles when first arriving in "Turtle Prime", they are shown in a similar pose to the cover of TMNT Issue #1.
* When 1984 Donatello asks, "What's with the multicolored headbands?", this is a reference to the fact that the original 1984 Turtles all wear red bandannas. The other Turtles are called "Sellouts" by the originals as well, possibly referencing sentiments of Mirage comics fans in the late 1980's after the debut of the more child-friendly Saturday morning cartoon and the subsequent marketing of the Turtles in nearly every way possible.
* When the camera pans on the 1988 dimension street, several characters make brief cameos; Irma, the gang members that chased April into the sewers, and people the Turtles encountered on the street in the first episode.
* When 2003 Raphael says "Geez, it's like having five Mikeys now!" after hearing 2003 Michelangelo and the 1988 Turtles yell "Cowabunga!", it's a reference to the way he kept on stopping 2003 Michelangelo from saying the 1987 catchphrases.
* The fly that was accidentally mutated before the 2003 Turtles rescues their 1988 counterparts was possibly a nod to the 1987 Baxter Stockman.
* The device Bebop, Rocksteady, and Hun use to track the team was first seen in 1987 series episode "Beware the Lotus".
	+ When 1987 Leonardo says, "Uh oh, the boys in blue", when the police arrive at the pizza parlor, this is a reference in the 1987 series where the Turtles often refer to the police as "the boys in blue" whenever they appear.
	+ During the fight scene right before the Technodrome teleports to Turtle Prime, two of the mutated soldiers are modeled after Tokka and Rahzar from the second live-action movie.
	+ Whenever Mikey sees the initials on the 80's Turtles' belts, he notes that they are like superheroes. This could be a nod to his run-ins with superheroes in both the 80's and 2003 series.'
	+ The exploding throwing stars were once used in the 1987 series to blow up the side of the Technodrome in the season 2 finale "Return of the Technodrome".
	+ After the 2003 Turtles save the 1988 Turtles from the Purple Dragons, Mikey quotes Dot Warner from *Animaniacs* by saying, "We can't help it, We were born that way!"[4] It could be because Rob Paulsen, who voiced Raph in the 80's series, also voiced Yakko Warner in *Animaniacs*.
	+ After the 2003 Turtles, 1988 Turtles and 2003 Splinter defeated Hun's mutated man who became an anthropomorphic dog, when the 2003 Leonardo addressed the 2003 Splinter as father, the 1988 Leonardo was shocked. This is probably due to the difference in the relationship between the 2003 Turtles and 1988 Turtles with their respective Splinter.
	+ When both the 2003 and 1988 Turtles arrived in the dimension of the 1988 Turtles, one of the 1988 Turtles said they save their April every day. This is probably a reference to how the 1988 Turtles have to save their April in many episodes.
	+ While talking to Hun about the 1987 Shredder, 1988 Raphael says "A mind like a steel trap this one", this is similar to what he said about April in "Turtle Tracks".

## Continuity errors

* The 1987 Turtles explained that they arrived in the 2003 universe the following way: by invading the Technodrome and trying to send it back to Dimension X, but it was damaged, causing it to send them to the 2003 universe instead. However, this does not account for how the 1987 Turtles got out of the Technodrome after entering the 2003 universe. They simply say "They woke up here" and started fighting bad guys.
* Bebop and Rocksteady are in their mutated form throughout the movie. Yet when the Turtles arrive in the 1987 universe the human versions of Bebop and Rocksteady are seen walking the streets.
* While scanning the universe, 1987 Shredder mentions that there is no "Krang" in the 2003 dimension. This is not true as an Utrom named Krang had a short cameo in the "Secret Origins" three-part episode.
	+ Granted, that was done as a throwaway gag. Also, the Utrom Krang was only a cameo and never did anything of importance in the series. He may not have been worthy to note by the scanners. Since the scanner also doesn't pick up the Tengu or Cyber Shredders it means it is probably searching for the "exact match" which Utrom Krang might not have been.
* The 1987 Turtles have no problems with revealing themselves to the public. But in the original series, they wore disguises to hide their identities (usually with trench coats, fedora hats, and masks).
	+ In the third season, however, the Ninja Turtles became known and loved by the public for their heroics, as such, they frequently visited pizzerias in the open during that period and appeared a popular television news show in "Turtles on Trial". Though in the Red Sky era, Lord Dregg turned the public against them causing the Turtles to revert back to wearing disguises.
* 1987 Michelangelo uses nunchakus. From season 4 of the original series until the end of its run in 1996, Michelangelo used a grappling hook because of censorship issues with nunchakus in some main regions within Europe, such as the United Kingdom.
* The 1987 Turtles constantly say "Cowabunga!", but in the original classic series, Michelangelo was the only one who said that and the other Turtles sometimes said "Go Green Machine!", and "Turtle Power!".
* It is not explained in the television cut of the film how Karai learned that Ch'rell was back on Earth and imprisoned in the Technodrome underground.
	+ It was, however, explained in the director's cut of the movie that Karai maintained a "vigil" on her father by keeping her scanners on him in his frozen prison. When he was moved against her wishes (by 1987 Shredder and Krang) she scanned for him and found him in the Technodrome.
* Some fans take issue with Karai aiding Ch'rell (a.k.a. 2003 Shredder); arguing that it goes against her resolution to move on at the end of The Lost Episodes. The *Back to the Sewer* season also seems to confirm her intentions to move on, as she does not aid, and in fact opposes Cyber Shredder, despite him being explained as a digital clone of the Utrom Shredder in the event of the latter's departure.
	+ The director's cut explains Karai's intentions a little better: *she was making sure her father never moved from his frozen prison.* The fact that she never saved him herself shows some resolve to not involve herself with him. Yet, when Shredder and Krang moved him, she had gone to the Technodrome to find out why he was removed. Even if she moved on in her heart, she would need to make sure something terrible wasn't being done to/by him. She may have been overcome by finally seeing her true father once again and agreed to help him again. The fact that she betrays him again when his evil becomes clearer shows she reaffirmed her original resolution.
		- 2003 Donatello says a dimensional portal in a stick is "silly", forgetting that he and Michelangelo were banished into alternate universes when Ultimate Drako used the Time Scepter against them back in "Reality Check".
			* However, the Time Scepter was a magical device, whereas what 1987 Donatello maybe was suggesting was a portable technological alternative to far larger and much more complex devices such as the time window. This may account for the 2003 Donatello's trepidation.
		- During the 2K3 Turtles' rescue of the '87 Turtles, 2K3 Leonardo says "Raph, look out!", prompting both Raphaels to dodge the laser, causing them both to reply "Thanks, bro!". However, it is 2K3 Raphael and '87 Michelangelo that dodge the laser.
		- The 1987 Turtles behave out of character throughout this film: they constantly yell "Cowabunga!" (Although only Michelangelo said it in the 1987 series), Leonardo and Donatello act puerile and gormless rather than their usual calm, contemplative selves and the 1987 universe is frequently misrepresented in the form of parody and uncharacteristic foolishness from its respective characters.
			* The 1987 Turtles have few serious moments throughout the special, such as the flashback when they were fighting the 1987 Shredder in their own home world and when they were explaining to the 2003 Turtles and Splinter on how they got to their dimension.
		- While the Turtles are looking at the Technodrome just when it's about to leave, 1987 Leonardo is seen together with 2003 Leonardo and Michelangelo, but when the Technodrome launches a laser to open a hole to escape, '87 Leonardo's mask and gear color changes to red.
			* This may be a reference to the occasional color errors in the 80's cartoon that constantly happen.

## Trivia

* *Turtles Forever* was originally going to be a 2-part episode during the *Back to the Sewer* season before it was decided to be made into a stand-alone DTV movie.
* During the credits, the voice of Donatello was credited as "Sam Regal" instead of "Sam Riegel".
* The ending theme is an edited version of a rejected opening theme for the 2003 series.
* This is the first TMNT movie to be released on DVD by Nickelodeon.
* Several scenes were cut from the movie before it aired on television, which is the version seen on the DVD release.
* The 2003 Turtles' eyes don't have pupils (when they are wearing their masks) unlike in *Back to the Sewer.*
* The TMNT from the 1990s films, the 2007 film, and several "Guest Era" comics were seen as some of the dimensions of the multiverse.
	+ The *Next Mutation* is the only TMNT universe not shown during the multiverse scene.