TMNT Theme
TMNT (abbreviated from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) is a 2007 animated superhero film written and directed by Kevin Munroe in his feature directorial debut and based on the characters created by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman. The first animated film in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film series,[9] it features the voices of Chris Evans, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Mako, Kevin Smith, Patrick Stewart, and Ziyi Zhang with narration by Laurence Fishburne. In the film, after having grown apart following the final defeat of their arch-enemy, the Shredder, the four Turtles — Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo (voiced respectively by James Arnold Taylor, Nolan North, Mitchell Whitfield, and Mikey Kelley) — are set to reunite and overcome their faults to save the world from evil ancient creatures. Development and pre-production for TMNT began in June 2005 at Imagi's Los Angeles facility and the animation was produced in Hong Kong, followed by post-production in Hollywood. Munroe chose to produce the film in CGI animation as opposed to live-action like the prior Turtles films, in an effort to make it easier for audiences to suspend their disbelief. When writing the film, Munroe wanted to divert away from the lighthearted elements of the franchise and put a heavier emphasis on the darker tone of the original comics. The animators that worked on the fight sequences were inspired by Hong Kong action films. TMNT premiered at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on March 17, 2007, and was released theatrically in the United States on March 23, by Warner Bros. Pictures. It was released in Hong Kong on March 29 by Golden Scene, and internationally distributed by The Weinstein Company. The film received mixed reviews from critics, but was a small commercial success, grossing $95.8 million worldwide against a $34 million production budget. Planned sequels were cancelled after Nickelodeon acquired the franchise in 2009, rebooting the film series with a live-action film in 2014. In ancient times, a warlord named Yaotl opens a portal into a parallel universe that grants him immortality and petrifies his four generals. The portal also releases thirteen immortal monsters that destroy his army and his enemies while becoming famous mythical monsters as centuries pass. In the present, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles grow apart after defeating the Shredder. For training, Master Splinter sends Leonardo to Central America, where he becomes the protector of a village, to which the villagers refer to him as the "Ghost of the Jungle". Donatello works as an IT specialist, Michelangelo works as a birthday party entertainer named "Cowabunga Carl", and Raphael continues to fight crime as a masked vigilante known as the "Nightwatcher", which he keeps a secret. The Turtles' old friend April O'Neil now operates a shipping company that acquires relics for collectors, assisted by her boyfriend, Casey Jones. After traveling to Central America for work, April tells Leo his brothers have drifted apart. She then returns to New York City with a statue for wealthy tycoon Max Winters. Winters hires Shredder's former second-in-command, Karai and her ninja Foot Clan to search the city for the thirteen monsters before the portal opens again. Casey figures out Raph's double identity and joins him in hunting criminals. Winters, who is actually Yaotl, reanimates his four stone generals using technology created by his company. Leo returns to the Turtles' lair, where Splinter forbids crime-fighting until they can work as a team. During training, they disobey Splinter and engage Bigfoot, one of thirteen beasts, clashing with the Foot Clan in the process. Bigfoot is ultimately captured by Yaotl's generals. Splinter scolds the Turtles the next day as the Foot and generals capture more monsters. Later, Raphael and Casey encounter the Vampire Succubor but are spotted during its capture. Despite escaping, Raph is knocked unconscious. Casey and April care for him and alert the others, leading to the discovery of Yaotl's identity. Revived, Raph urges action, but Leo insists on Splinter's permission. Frustrated, Raph decides to investigate alone. Donnie learns the next portal will open at Winters' tower, and Splinter urges Leonardo to find Raphael. Yaotl reveals his plan to break the curse and restore his generals to humanity, but the generals plot to betray him and remain immortal. As the Nightwatcher, Raph battles the Jersey Devil and drives it off. Mistaking Raph for a thug, Leo pursues him, leading to a fight where Leo learns Nightwatcher is his brother. Raph nearly kills Leo in anger but flees in guilt. The generals capture the weakened Leo to replace the thirteenth beast, prompting a remorseful Raph to rescue him. As the portal opens, Yaotl discovers his generals' betrayal. Splinter, the Turtles, Casey, and April fight through the Foot Clan to reach the tower and uncover Yaotl's true intentions. Refusing to betray Yaotl, Karai and the Foot Clan join forces with April and Casey to locate the final monster, the Sea Monster, while the Turtles battle the generals. Splinter and Yaotl fend off monsters emerging from the portal. April, Casey, and Karai bring the Sea Monster to the tower, where it collides with the generals. Yaotl saves the Turtles, dragging the generals into the portal and turning them human before it closes. Karai warns the Turtles to savor their victory, hinting at the Shredder's return, before vanishing. A mortal Yaotl thanks the heroes and fades into the afterlife. His helmet joins Splinter's trophy collection alongside Raph's Nightwatcher helmet and Mikey's Cowabunga Carl mask. Returning to their roles as New York's protectors, Raph reaffirms that the Turtles will always be brothers.
