Check Out This Cool TMNT Test Animation

*Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fans like myself have been left wondering what the next live-action incarnation of the Heroes-In-A-Half-Shell will look like. There is a certain occupational hazard to rendering these inherently cartoony characters in a more realistic art style, and sadly there are more examples of them not *working than working.

Take TMNT III, for instance. Or The Next Mutation. Or the Bay movies.

There have been plenty of unofficial TMNT fan videos that try to translate the Turtles from cartoons and comics into a more real-life setting, including a few from Emmy Award-winning director, designer, and animator John Likens. Some of you might recognize his work on the epic title sequence from Deadpool & Wolverine, as well as other projects like Eternals, Iron Man 3, and What We Do In The Shadows.

Over the past few years, John Likens has put out some impressive TMNT test animations featuring each of the brothers in their natural element. So far he has made clips of Leo and Donnie, each one seamlessly blending impressive graphics and smooth fight choreography.

Raph Is Cool But Rude In This Awesome TMNT Animation From John Likens

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP77IrZEn7c

Most recently, John Likens posted his latest TMNT video on social media, this one centered around the red bandana-wearing hothead of the team, Raphael. A squad of Foot Ninja robots tries to follow Raph into the subway tunnels beneath New York City, and things go about as well for them as you’d expect.

The resulting animation is as well-done as Likens’s past work, with Raph’s temper and brutality on full display. I especially like the part where he stabs an unlucky Foot Ninja before wiping his Sai across his arm samurai-style.

If we ever do get a more grounded TMNT movie, I hope it looks similar to this. Meanwhile, John Likens still has one more Turtle to do… assuming he doesn’t then decide to move on to other characters like Casey Jones or Alopex or Jennika or whatever.