Splinter’s New Origin In TMNT Mutant Mayhem Explained (& Why It Was Changed) – Armessa Movie News

In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Splinter gains a new origin story that reframes him as a relatable character. First created in 1984, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) follows the story of four crime-fighting mutant turtles named Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael, guided by their adoptive father Splinter (also called Master Splinter or Hamato Yoshi). The supervillain Shredder and his criminal clan The Foot serve as the primary nemesis of this crime-fighting family. Though it started as a comic, TMNT was converted into numerous popular TV shows and movies.

At the official 2023 San Diego Comic-Con TMNT panel, video footage was shown of the upcoming movie Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Unlike the most recent TMNT movies, Mutant Mayhem is computer-animated and possesses a more comedic tone. They return to the bumbling teen personalities of the turtles from the original animated TV show. However, based on the 20-minute clip shared at the panel, they drastically change the origin and personality of Splinter for the film. This strategic choice will allow audiences to connect with him better than in previous iterations.

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Splinter’s New Origin In TMNT: Mutant Mayhem Explained

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem makes Splinter into an abused and neglected animal whose only connection before the turtles was a cockroach named Kevin. He’s an ordinary rat living in NYC. In a flashback, Splinter finds the ooze-covered turtles in the sewer and decides to care for them because they were the first thing that didn’t try to kill or eat him. The ooze turned the turtles and Splinter into mutants. At this point, Splinter doesn’t know any martial arts.

The turtles become obsessed with human life and culture. When Splinter takes the turtles into Time Square, he and the turtles get attacked, nearly dying in the process. Due to the cruelty of humans and the attack on his family, Splinter decides he needs to learn to protect the turtles and proceeds to watch YouTube videos in order to learn martial arts. He eventually teaches the turtles to fight and defend themselves as well. By turning their bodies into weapons, Splinter and the turtles are capable of protecting themselves and others in New York City.

Related: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Origin Story Revealed In New Mutant Mayhem Video

How Splinter’s Mutant Mayhem Origin Compares To Previous Adaptations

In the original TMNT comics, Splinter’s origin proves he’s actually a villain. Splinter was originally a rat consumed with rage and vengeance for his human master’s murder. Rather than training the turtles for altruistic or compassionate reasons, he trains them to kill Shredder, the man who killed his martial arts master. He did not love the turtles, only seeing them as a means to an end. Splinter coerces them into doing his bidding under the guise of protecting people.

This origin story changes in the 1987 animated series. Splinter is also a rat with martial arts skills prior to meeting the turtles. However, in this case, he’s a fugitive on the run after being framed for the murder of his master. The Foot Clan comes after him, rather than him seeking out Shredder for revenge. Shredder cares for the turtles like pets, rather than treating them as pawns. He and the turtles are shown as having a student-teacher relationship once the turtles start doing ninjutsu, rather than him treating the turtles as pawns. This depiction is also different from the father-son relationship shown in the Mutant Mayhem clip from the San Diego Comic-Con TMNT panel.

Most recently, the Rise of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series showed Splinter as a martial arts-trained rat who left to pursue a career as a martial arts film star. He adopts the turtles, treating them as his sons. Splinter strives to protect them himself, refraining from teaching them ninjutsu until after he learns the Foot Clan are coming after them. At this point, he takes an active role in training them to fight in hand-to-hand combat.

Related: Every Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movie & Series (In Chronological Order)

Why Splinter’s Origin Was Changed For Mutant Mayhem

As of the 2023 San Diego Comic-Con, the Mutant Mayhem creators haven’t confirmed a reason for the change in Splinter’s origin. However, they likely altered him to be a more relatable character for older viewers. Many parents taking their kids to see this movie will be old enough to have read the comics or watched the original animated series when they were young. These viewers first saw him as a manipulative teacher who really functioned as a villain. Alternatively, if a parent started out with the 2003 animated series, they saw a more parental depiction, but still a relatively distant character.

Rather than portraying him as a bad or distant character, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle: Mutant Mayhem taps into the common parental instinct to do anything for kids. Splinter learns martial arts in order to protect the turtles, rather than knowing the skill to begin with. Despite his fear of humans, he still takes the turtles into Time Square, putting their desires and interests first. Splinter’s motivations will likely feel authentic and relatable to the parents in the audience.