TMNT Mutant Mayhem's 16 Easter Eggs & References

Dec 20, 2023

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is full of TMNT references and Easter eggs, and here is every one that has been found so far.

Warning: Spoilers for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem!Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is a love letter to the TMNT franchise, and here are all 16 Easter eggs and references that can be found in the movie. The film is full of classic TMNT characters and storylines, bringing the best of TMNT into the new animated series. However, eagle-eyed viewers may have caught some deep-cut TMNT references, as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is full of them.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is the most recent installment in the TMNT franchise, bringing the heroes in a half-shell back to the big screen for the first time since Michael Bay's live-action movies. The film sees the young turtles take on Superfly and his band of villainous mutants, with the criminals hoping to wipe out humanity and create a new world of ooze-infested animals. The story and characters of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem are exciting enough, but these 16 references and Easter eggs make the film even better.

Related: TMNT Mutant Mayhem Ending & Future Set Up Explained

Cynthia Utrom is one of the first characters introduced in the film, with her being the head of the TCRI. Cynthia is an original character first introduced in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, but she actually hides a major TMNT reference. Cynthia's last name is a nod to the Utrom, the alien race that TMNT's Krang belongs to. Utroms frequently disguise themselves as human androids, so it wouldn't be surprising if Cynthia is revealed to be an Utrom in the sequel.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is a comedic film, but the Turtles' intro is a reference to their comic book origins. Their first appearance features a comic-accurate design, with their masks having completely whited-out eyes. On top of that, the Turtles are portrayed as grounded and gritty when they are first introduced, mocking the tone of the original TMNT comics.

The Techno-Cosmic Research Institute (or TCRI) is a major presence in TMNT: Mutant Mayhem, with them being the paramilitary organization that hunts down Baxter Stockman's mutants. However, legacy TMNT fans know that the TCRI is a much bigger presence in the franchise at large. Not only is the TCRI at the center of tons of TMNT stories, but the organization is actually eventually revealed to be run by the Utroms and Shredder, something teased in the post-credits scene.

Throughout Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, several trucks can be seen that feature orange triceratops on the side. This is actually a reference to Triceratons, a creation of Mirage Studios that actually pre-dates TMNT. However, the Triceratons have been folded into the TMNT franchise, being portrayed as villains in several TV shows and comic series.

At one point in TMNT: Mutant Mayhem, the Turtles make fun of Leonardo for being too serious, comparing his attitude to that of Batman. This is more than just a pop culture reference though, as there have been multiple crossovers between TMNT and Batman. The most famous of these is the Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic series as well as the 2019 film Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Throughout the film, the Turtles can be seen eating pizza, with the boxes sporting the Pizza Hut logo. This is actually a nod to a real-life marketing campaign, with Pizza Hut advertising TMNT: Mutant Mayhem in real life. This wasn't the first time that the two brands have teamed up, as Pizza Hut actually released a Mutagen Ranch pizza in 2021. Although marketing campaigns are common, seeing the brand actually appear in the film that it is advertising is much rarer.

Several TMNT series have appeared on Nickelodeon, with Nickelodeon Movies even being the production company behind TMNT: Mutant Mayhem. This makes the references to Nickelodeon properties more interesting, with the Turtles namedropping Hey Arnold! in the film. On top of that, a SpongeBob SquarePants costume can be seen in Times Square, nodding towards Nickelodeon's most iconic property.

Related: How Much TMNT Mutant Mayhem Cost To Make & What Box Office It Needs

Shortly before the film was released, it was revealed that YouTuber Mr. Beast would have a voice cameo in TMNT: Mutant Mayhem. Mr. Beast's cameo actually occurs during the flashback scene, with him voicing a character that pulls on Splinter's ears, thinking that his face is a mask.

Although TMNT: Mutant Mayhem is full of pop culture references, the nod to Ferris Bueller's Day Off is bigger than most. Early in the film, the Turtles go to a park to see a screening of a movie. The film that is on is Ferris Bueller's Day Off, with TMNT: Mutant Mayhem actually showing the film's parade scene.

Vanilla Ice made the song "Ninja Rap" for the 1991 film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze, and it has since become a staple of the TMNT franchise. The iconic song actually appears in TMNT: Mutant Mayhem, with it coming on the radio after one of the Turtles accidentally turns it on in a car.

Related: TMNT Mutant Mayhem Soundtrack Guide - Every Song In The Movie & When They Play

The Turtle Van (also called the Party Wagon) is the Turtles' iconic vehicle. While The Turtle Van doesn't appear in the film, it is actually teased at two different points. The Turtles are first in a van when they're escaping from Superfly's gang, with Donatello driving as he frequently does. This tease gets even more obvious later in the film when the Turtles drive a yellow pizza van that is similar in appearance to the Turtle Van.

After Superfly finally catches the Turtles, he strangely says "Six in the morning, police at my door." While this may seem random to some viewers, Superfly is actually reciting the opening lyrics to Ice Cube's 1987 song "6 in the Mornin'." Ice Cube voices Superfly, with the quote being a nod to the real-life actor behind the villain.

While dropping the anti-mutagen canister into Superfly's blowhole in TMNT: Mutant Mayhem's climactic battle, one of the Turtles yells "Kowabunga!" in slow motion. This is an obvious Easter egg, with "Kowabunga!" being the iconic catchphrase of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles since the original animated series.

The credits for TMNT: Mutant Mayhem are full of drawings of the film's characters. However, many of these are actually stylized drawings of old TMNT designs. References to past versions of all four Turtles, Splinter, Mondo Gecko, and more can be seen throughout the credits, with the images being a visual feast.

Related: When Will TMNT Mutant Mayhem Release On Streaming?

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem's mid-credits scene gives a look at Shredder, teasing his involvement in the sequel. Shredder is the main antagonist of the TMNT franchise, making the mid-credits set up the exciting beginning of a future TMNT: Mutant Mayhem storyline.

While TMNT: Mutant Mayhem is full of references to the franchise and the people behind the film, there are plenty of non-TMNT references as well. Throughout the film, Family Guy, Avengers: Endgame, Despicable Me, Megamind, Attack on Titan, Shrek, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, and GEICO are all name-dropped or given visual nods. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is an exciting film, with the movie being chock-full of references for both longtime and newcomer TMNT fans.

Robert Pitman is a Movies/TV features writer for ScreenRant and loves all things nerdy. He has had experience with editing and SEO in his time working at WVUA 90.7 FM, the University of Alabama's official student radio station. Robert is currently a junior at the University of Alabama and is doing a double major in Creative Media and General Business. Robert has been working with ScreenRant since January 2022, and in his time with the outlet has gone on to publish several articles that have found great success. At ScreenRant, Robert is currently a self-publishing Senior Core Features writer, with him covering a variety of topics. Robert mostly writes about perennial TV and movies, theatrical releases, and streaming releases, although he occasionally writes about other topics that he is knowledgeable about.