The Radical Costume History Of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle - DIStory Dan Evolution Ep. 93

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Happy 40th Anniversary to the most radical dudes with 'tudes TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES. Who after years of toys, movies, tv shows and comics have had over 20 different costume meet and greet looks that you could find over the past 30 years!
My chapters on KZbin are broken and apparently can’t be fixed but here they are anyway. Leave me a 🍗 emoji in the comments if you used the chapters here:
00:00 - Intro
00:53 - Comic Turtles 1984
01:25 - Cartoon Series 1987
03:46 - Live Action Movies 1990, 1991, 1993
06:52 - Live Action Movie Red Carpet
09:09 - Blue Line Train Promo 1990
11:26 - Out Of Their Shell Tour 1990
16:16 - MGM Studios Disney 1990
19:36 - Turtle Sing A Long Songs 1994
20:57 - Toy Commercials of the 1990s
22:49 - The Next Mutation 1997
24:05 - Fox Animated Series 2003
25:25 - First CGI Movie 2007
25:48 - Nickelodeon's Cartoon Series 2012
27:04 - Live Action Micheal Bay Reboot 2012
28:12 - Rise of TMNT 2018
29:40 - Mutant Mayhem CGI Movie 2023
31:38 - Our Friend Power 5 1989
33:33 - Squarespace Ad
35:08 - Closing (With Credit Stinger)
#TMNT #Mascot #Cosplay
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Edited by @pleasestopvlogging

[@DistoryDan]

KZbin disabled my chapters for some bizarre reason they wont tell me so here you go: 00:00 - Intro 00:53 - Comic Turtles 1984 01:25 - Cartoon Series 1987 03:46 - Live Action Movies 1990, 1991, 1993 06:52 - Live Action Movie Red Carpet 09:09 - Blue Line Train Promo 1990 11:26 - Out Of Their Shell Tour 1990 16:16 - MGM Studios Disney 1990 19:36 - Turtle Sing A Long Songs 1994 20:57 - Toy Commercials of the 1990s 22:49 - The Next Mutation 1997 24:05 - Fox Animated Series 2003 25:25 - First CGI Movie 2007 25:48 - Nickelodeon's Cartoon Series 2012 27:04 - Live Action Micheal Bay Reboot 2012, 2016 28:12 - Rise of TMNT 2018 29:40 - Mutant Mayhem CGI Movie 2023 31:38 - Our Friend Power 5 1989 33:33 - Squarespace Ad 35:08 - Closing (With Credit Stinger)

[@vincentwilliams4343]

Are we ever going to get a helmet evolution of Power Rangers?

[@ryanwilkins2233]

​@@vincentwilliams4343request for Winnie the Pooh. 🍯🐻🐝

[@thenewtrainboy5755]

​@@ryanwilkins2233I requested Thomas Or Elmo from Sesame Street

[@TramiNguyen-oi3kp]

Awesome videos!

[@moonprincesst.s.h.4ever115]

his video bought back such fun memories and made me feel so incredibly old at the exact same time. 👩🏽‍🦳🐢🍕❤💙🧡💜 Thanks so much, Disney Dan! 💖

[@zacharymccoy7091]

The Ninja Turtles being characters that were actually at Disney World is something that will always be surreal.

[@gwenmloveskpopcecmore]

Ikr and Barbie

[@TheVideogirl9]

And the muppets too

[@BAM5636]

I remember those days well as I was the perfect age for both at the time.

[@montanajackson3713]

And Barbie too.

[@raynacarraway440]

For Rise of the TMNT the turtles are different species for the first time! Leo is a red-eared slider, Raph is a snapping, Donnie is a softshell, and Mikey is a box. The show + movie are really good (genuinely my fav iteration of the turtles), but man do the stylized designs look goofy translated to actual costumes 😅. Even as a kid the 2012 ones always felt off to me too tbh, Mutant Mayhem is def the best looking suits outside of the movie ones

[@chigginnuggie7681]

I love the fanart of realistic soft shell Donnie.

[@DistoryDan]

Like this comment if you understand why I choose this month to post the video. 🗓️

[@bigg46tv56]

April O’Neil

[@gracekim25]

Was it for their anniversary month?🤔

[@gwenmloveskpopcecmore]

April O’Neil? 40 years anniversary of TMNT?

[@bigg46tv56]

Actually the first comic came out in May 1984

[@grantwilliams4384]

Do Alvin and. The chipmunks next Dan.

[@batty.b]

Retroactively insanely upset that I never got to high five 2012 Mikey, I think that would've solved at least 3 of my problems

[@NathanSpies]

So if Jim Henson’s company did some of the ninja turtles costumes does that canonically make them muppets?

[@DistoryDan]

Absolutely

[@DaveysWondefulWorld2]

Hi Nathan

[@gracekim25]

Yep, I consider the bear in the big blue house characters muppets for that VERY reason 😎

[@TheVideogirl9]

@@gracekim25yeah I agree

[@AIIy3000]

But hey that’s just a theory a costume theory

[@nameillprobablyregret6533]

The reason 2018 Leonardo has red markings is because they are all different species of turtles. Michaelangelo is a box turtle, Donatello is a soft shell thats why he wears the Ghostbuster gear, Raphael is an alligator snapping turtle and Leonardo is a red eared slider so he has markings and the other turtles don't

[@hayleywaalen2612]

4 Turtles, 1 Rat and 1 Girl save the day by kicking Shredder's booty and have pizza at the end.

[@ktroberts1687]

The last ninja turtle movie that came out I over heard a child say to another child “ninja turtles are so cool because they’re brand new! Never been done before!” I then went over to that child and said “oh, they are not new, they’re older than me” and walked away. I think I was in a mood 😂 this video was great Dan.

[@tedioustotoro4885]

I was gonna make a comment about how Venus (the female turtle from The Next Mutation) was never seen again and was replaced with Jennika in the IDW comics but, apparently, about 30 or so issues after Jennika becomes a turtle and joins the team, Venus is introduced in the comics as a Frankenstein-like turtle made from the corpse of a Punk Frog, who accidentally gets sent to the future by Donatello.

[@gwenmloveskpopcecmore]

Yeah also I heard one of them was going to be on Rise

[@DistoryDan]

WHAT

[@gracekim25]

Amazing 😅

[@muppetsretrofan8873]

This was a wild ride, Dan. I can't decide which costume is the most cursed. The Mutant Mayhem Turtle costumes look amazing, though. Fun Fact: Will Vinton Studios, best known for The California Raisins and Domino's Pizza's The Noid, made a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles commercial for Crunchabunga Snacks. And the turtles look really cool in Will Vinton Claymation style! It would be so fun to see them interact with The Noid, although it wouldn't end well for one reason: The Noid ruins pizza and since the Turtles love pizza, they would attack The Noid. I also think it's funny that Domino's Pizza had an anthropomorphic domino mascot named Donny during the early 90s, and they also had TMNT tie ins in 1993/1994 with the toys. While I'd love to see you cover the history of The California Raisins costumes and the Domino's Pizza costumes, I'm also hoping you'll cover the Mr. Men/Little Miss costumes [including an 1985 musical that only has pictures and a soundtrack, but Mr. Happy's Home For Christmas is on par with Follow That Bird's I'm So Blue, as they are both very good sad songs].

[@shinyagumon7015]

Fun Fact: In Germany, the 80s version of the Turtles was known as the Teenage Mutant *Hero* Turtles because TV censors decided that Ninjas weren't appropriate for children. Which is truly bizarre. Not as bizarre as that one that banned turtles commercial though.

[@gwenmloveskpopcecmore]

It was in the UK as well as ninjas were seen as violent back then

[@DistoryDan]

That banned commercial. Holy carp.

[@gracekim25]

Yeah calling them HERO turtles isn’t as catchy😂

[@SirAsdf]

Interesting fact about Venus, the Female Turtle: Her creation was a massive source of contention for the TMNT creators Eastman and Laird, and led to a falling out between the two.

[@EthanCrossMedia]

Wow, I'm familiar with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles costumes, though I've never seen these in person.

[@mindwarp42]

Fun fact: TMNT and Splinter share an origin with a Marvel Comics character. Tbe ooze that mutated the Turtle crew is implied to have ended up in the sewers after a certain failed Truck-kun attack that instead of isekai'ing a boy blinded him. Yes, the OG TMNT comics tied their origin in to Daredevil, albeit unofficially on the Marvel side. Fun fact 2: while the DLC is overpriced, you can give your avatar an TMNT costume in Street Fighter 6 (props to Aleks Le's singing debut doing the TMNT theme as Luke from Streets for this, with jazzy rock from Cap-Jams). Sadly, Capcom didn't have TMNT costumed performere at the Evo reveal, nor did WB have them pop by while Injustice 2 (where they were DLC) was played there. 😔

[@patmjr22]

My only experience with the TMNT costume characters was walking past Raphael and Michelangelo in the Barclays Center during Summerslam 2018. I’m sure it was a promotional thing but it was really weird seeing the turtles there

[@ryanwilkins2233]

Request by me, Winnie the Pooh evolution next ❤

[@clarktooncrossing3975]

WAIT A MINUTE! Dan, you mean to tell me a franchise called 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' is weird? Surely you jest! XP I love me the Turtles. The 2012 show got me into them and checking out the original comics and 2003 show is what made me forever a fan. Super eager for The Last Ronin film, the Mutant Mayhem show, and that Transformers crossover that IDW is gonna print someday. Seriously, how has that NOT happened yet? Imagine the Turtle Wagon as an Autobot! THINK OF THE TOY SALES!

[@gracekim25]

Ooo me too 😊

[@koopahfolf]

I would love to see another Muppet evolution. Rowlf

[@gwenmloveskpopcecmore]

Also Japan had their own anime movie of TMNT where they could transform into human like turtles

[@AlolaMasked_BettyRubbleFan]

Cowabunga, Dan!!!

[@DaveysWonderfulWorld]

I love the TMNT and I still find it strange that the ninja Turtles makes to find their way to Disney’s Hollywood Studios only because of Jim Henson since he helped design the animatronic costumes for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles live action movie my favorite ninja turtle would have to be Donatello, followed by Michaelangelo, Leonardo and Raphael

[@DepthTravel]

the TMNT tour was a guilty pleasure for me, it had some pretty good songs. so glad to see disney dan agrees here on how epic the TMNT tour is. also i can't believe that bert and ernie, snoopy, and leonardo all appeared in "jingle all the way".

[@adamturtle7842]

Ohio turtle fan has both the rock tour costumes as well as the version used in jingle all the way.

[@kylekeller3398]

Cowabunga! Do a Muppet evolution of Cookie Monster, please! 🍪👀💙

[@ClassicVA1800]

It’s about that time you did TMNT 🐢

[@ruairidhyoung4042]

I've loved the TMNT my whole life

[@tedioustotoro4885]

Damn, you didn’t mention that time that the 2012 Turtles zip lined down the side of The Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in the UK

[@DistoryDan]

I’m contractually forbidden from showing turtles flying in videos.

[@LuigiCollector]

2:47 Donnie had a TURTLE NECK 😂

[@yamario1219]

That turtle van is now located in the Volo auto museum in Illinois

[@TheRManProds]

CAN'T WAIT FOR THE THOMAS VIDEO!

[@twistoffate914]

The Coming out of our shell tour was a video tape you could get from Pizza Hut as well. I had that when I was a kid.

[@FatFiber8096]

My dad was a huge fan of the ninja turtles he really wanted to see the out of their shells tour my grandma told him they were sold out but really it was too expensive

[@JDPlaysMoth]

"I don't know why Ghostbusters gear keeps resurfacing" This year is the 40 year anniversary of Ghostbusters. Ghostbusters has crossed over with Ninja Turtles in the comics for the 30th and 35th anniversaries. Ghostbusters was at Universal Studios multiple times, and there's a Ghostbusters section of a Sony water park. The universe is telling you to do a Ghostbusters video

[@rankapetrovic-ru3oe]

You should do a Power Rangers evolution

[@Rylanimations]

This is the most RADICAL evolution you've done!

[@Oieboie]

I love the mutant mayhem costumes!! I grew up with the 2003 turtles and worked on the new tales of the TMNT show and I really can’t get enough of these designs. So fun!!

[@TheRManProds]

THE TMNT FLOATS IN THE MACY'S PARADE WERE COOL!

[@spiderdorf7849]

Foam rubber looks a lot more like skin that regular latex rubber, but the air whipped into it for volume causes faster degradation of the costume, usually lasts about 4-5 years without a good clear coat.

[@daniexists6]

It is still wild to me that a Disney park had the Ninja Turtles, Ace Ventura and Tom and Jerry in it all in the 90s. EDIT: yeah, the reason they got all these weird licenses is because Eisner wanted to make a Universal style park before Universal got there, so while Roger Rabbit was sort of the face of Disney MGM studios for a while, they also got stuff in there like the aforementioned pet detective and cat and mouse for advertising purposes. And they indeed had to get Jim's help to get the Turtles.

[@DistoryDan]

It was a wild time then.

[@xenothrope13]

Surprised there was no mention of the Turtle Cookies mascot costume lol he looked like a big plushie.

[@TramiNguyen-oi3kp]

Ninja Turtles are superheroes!

[@PMJohnson81]

you missed the time the "Toxic Turtles" made there one and only in ring debut in the WWF at the time.

[@ThatNerdyKidOfficial]

I met the mutant mayhem turtles at NYCC! They were so cool in person!

[@thenewtrainboy5755]

You have to do an evolution of Thomas or Elmo this is my request

[@DistoryDan]

July & September. Come back for them around then!

[@Bartman7173]

Do a evolution of Goku please

[@GlowyWolfEdgeyEdits]

awesome Dan I love TMNT My favorite is Donny and Mikey

[@FUWAFUWAM0CHI]

Oh I'm living for this costume evo vid~ Extra special in my heart since the creator of TMNT is from the town I grew up in most of my life + I got to me him at a Free Comic Book Day once! Keep up the great costume work, Dan!

[@ryanwilkins2233]

TMNT DAN, Dan power! ❤

[@moonprincesst.s.h.4ever115]

This video bought back such fun memories and made me feel so incredibly old at the exact same time. 🐢🍕❤🧡💙💜👩🏽‍🦳 Thanks so much, Disney Dan! 🤣❤

[@gracekim25]

Love the ninja cosplay😊 I do love history 🥳

[@jwood4508]

This is my favorite of your videos so far. And that's saying a lot, because you and Kenny are incredible content creators.

[@Tactical_Hotdog]

The PKE meter itself was found in a prop house, which is kinda nuts.

[@TheRManProds]

There were 3 TMNT Floats in the Macy's Parade: 2012, 2018, & 2023!

[@BHStudios01]

Dude… best turtle in the thumbnail, you KNOW I had to jump in on this! XD I remember going to see the first movie at the theater when I was a kidling, and the LINES… the LINES wrapped clear around the theater, and it was AMAZING. Same for Secret of the Ooze! The Coming Out of their Shells concert tour? Cool thing that happened to me. I didn’t get to go to the concert, HOWEVER… the storage unit place my dad had a unit at… this place was one of the storage places used for the concert tour. My little brother and I were wandering around the property, and we came across their trucks, and saw one of Mikeys concert heads. Located in New Jersey. And yes, I had the concert tour on vhs, as well as the making of the concert tour… and YES, I wore that vhs tape out. 🤣💚 Freaking LOVE the music from that show! Pizza Power, Cowabunga, Skippin’ Stones, and You Can Count On Us… my jam!

[@KatAct]

COWABUNGA!

[@KatAct]

Omg @distorydan you found photos of me I didn’t have! 😍

[@DGCpicturesEntertainment]

Please Evolution of Godzilla next.

[@michaelflaherty3202]

1:47 Don Shelby! This is the guy I got my news from growing up in Minnesota.

[@DistoryDan]

HIS NAME IS SHELLby!???

[@zekelinderman3970]

I met all 4 of them once at the defunct Nickelodeon Suites Resort in August 2013.

[@alliekuma4234]

Donnie is my fave ❤❤❤ Love Ninja Turtles! I was an 89 baby so I also missed out on the tour. 2007 and 2012 Turtles are so good!!! Thanks for the vid dude!!

[@montanajackson3713]

The 2003 show introduced me to the TMNT franchise as a whole back in the day. 💙💜❤️🧡 I’d also love to see another muppet evolution.

[@naadeiashie6053]

My brother and I loved the 2003 and the 2012 series. And...was that Alan Thicke on the turtle van?

[@caitlinabbott7895]

10:04 Man I love Rob Paulson

[@birchwwolf]

A buddy of mine got to be in one of the 2012 suits. SPOILERS: the hands have long gloves that end where the elbow pad does. Same with the feet, they're actually giant boots that end at the kneepads. They used to have static hands but those got replaced so the performer could move the fingers. Also, the front and back click-locked into each other, with the side fabric velcro-ing in to hide the clips. You were very much locked into those suits, much like the movie suits, probably the 2023 suits too. But OH MAN did i scream with joy when i got to meet them at the Mall of America. The 2012 and 2023 suits really make you feel like they are living and breathing creatures when you're in their presence. They're so well designed and made.

[@shawn445]

I remember seeing the musical stage show as a kid. My dad even got me the cassette tape of the soundtrack. It was so terribly wonderful.

[@bendurocher]

That's Broadway star Sherie Rene Scott as April in the concert tour. (You know her from Aida, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and The Little Mermaid and more on Broadway)

[@gwenmloveskpopcecmore]

Yeah Rise Donny was very Tech-savy and made a lot of tech in the show itself

[@SonicMoon1]

Had to add something here.. The Coming Out Of Our Shells tour actually kicked off in Rhode Island. Where they had several preview shows before the national tour began.

[@BAM5636]

Probably one of my favorites of your costume breakdowns.

[@joellebyce2787]

As someone who grew up on this show, my older brother who passed in 2012 was a huge fan so thank you Dan ❤️

[@TMNTFAN2009]

As a die hard tmnt fan, this is great, the tmnt have been in my life since i was 3 and i cant wait to celebrate the 40th anniversary

[@Halloween-Spiritboy_419.]

I LOVE IT.

[@_FriendlyNeighborhoodSpidey_]

THANK YOU DAN! Wish granted!

[@theprodigiousspiderstarTM]

I wasn’t around for turtle mania, but I heard about turtle mania. I think it was TPMvids where I heard about the turtles were at Highwood Studios back in the day and through both honest trailers and nostalgia critic, I heard about the turtles on tour and all the absurd things they did with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Seeing Dan bring up all this history and knowledge felt very wild and making me go “ Oh yea “ 😂. The only thing missing was the go ninja go ninja go

[@michelleneal6860]

Hi Kenny! You must have had fun with this one! Great editing as always. Meow!

[@Thefilmsisters1209]

I love you and this.

[@markthomas6236]

I love what you do

[@swoonerlg]

I love the cheese shredder shredder

[@DistoryDan]

It works too!

[@Bartman7173]

😂

[@swoonerlg]

@@DistoryDan where can I get one

[@Maswartz226]

I am so happy you brought up Our Friend Power 5.

[@DefaultNPC14]

My fav out of all of these is definetly the toy ones from the train one

[@mathieuleader8601]

the brightness of the turtles teeth in the Christmas special where they sing in NYC look like they have vaneers

[@happy15907]

Cool!

[@TheAnchorArmsChad]

*LOOK ALIVE, YE LOLLY-GAGGERS! WADE AND EMBER HAVE FINALLY ARRIVED AT THE DISNEY PARKS FOR PIXAR FEST!*

[@ModelsExInferis]

For those interested, the name of the female turtle from The Next Mutation is Venus, After the Venus De Milo statue. Don't know why Dan didn't mention it after specifying she existed. Also, the Rise turtles are all meant to be different turtle species, that's why they look so distinctive. The only one I remember is Raph being a snapping turtle. I tried to watch it but it's crap, don't waste your time, even TNM is better than this steaming pile. And we just don't talk about the Bayverse turtles, he did to them what he did with Transformers, Goddess only knows why whomever was in charge of the franchise back then let him near them!

[@princess_of_heck]

Glad to be of service 🫡

[@DistoryDan]

MY PRINCESS.

[@chigginnuggie7681]

Rise Leonardo is a red eared slider. Rise Raph is an alligator snapping turtle. Rise Mikey is a box turtle. And Rise Donatello is a soft shell.

[@ArtfullyGifted]

Not the cheese shredder on your desk. 😂

[@emilyhogan4973]

You should do a Transformers costume evolution because that franchise is also turning 40 this year.

[@shaungreen2928]

I feel like during the 2000's was that dark and edgy era with the turtles, along with other show's/ franchises following suit. definitley an era but it was fun to grow up with, espeacially the 2007 film.

[@That_guy_thing_stuf]

Hey DisneyDan! If Paddington 3 comes out this year, would you make a Paddington Bear costume evolution?🐻

[@johnfeliciano585]

What about evolution of Cinderella's Stepfamily costumes in Disney parks?

[@Coco12769]

Who else loves this?

[@ArielRamirez1]

Hey Dan you should do a documentary about the coming out of the shells tour, it would be awesome ;)

[@mathieuleader8601]

the toy costume for Don is screaming internally

[@RainbowRanger-147]

My biggest request , as a BIG Hanna-Barbera fan , I was wondering if you could cover the evolution of the characters in the theme parks soon.

[@sasamichan]

I was at a live stage show. the costumes were no oy or cartoon quality, closer to movie but not movie either I have no pictures and this was shortly after the 1st movie. it was basically 4 guys in costume slow kicking ninja while some one narrated.

[@Mario-dg2bh]

Nice 👍🏻

[@muppetsretrofan8873]

Super fun video! I like the Mutant Mayhem costumes, but the cursed ones are just super hilarious. Will Vinton Studios, best known for The Califronia Raisins and Domino's Pizza The Noid, made a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ad for Crunchabunga Snacks and I personally think that's neat. Funny, as the Turtles were made around the same time as The California Raisins and The Noid. Also, did you know The California Raisins are still being used in Japan? Albeit it's the more generic costume and not the original characters.

[@DistoryDan]

Wow I REALLY love that commercial thanks for calling it out!!

[@tanjiro_lemon]

pov temu existed in the 90s BUY NOW !!!! midlife monster samurai lizard figurine toys

[@samantharobinson6235]

Disney Dan: Infamous movies s Me: You tread carefully now, Dan. Disney Dan: I love these movies. Me: Darn right, Dan! These movies feature my favorite screen versions of the turtles and I absolutely love the fun chaos they hold.

[@gracekim25]

Woooo 🥳 turtle time 🥹

[@k1zm3t]

i've met the 2012 nick turtles at blackpool pleasure beach