Share your esoteric knowledge

*ToTheNines* · 06-28-2025, 08:33 AM

What are some things you know, either behind the scenes or deep lore, that you don’t think the average fan knows? Not your typical trivia that casuals are unaware of, but stuff that even most Dromers might not know, or maybe forgot after all these years.

Here’s some off the top of my head:

Mirage:

- I seem to remember Murphy writing in his blog that he had major friction with a Mirage staffer that was very rightwing and harassed him over his lefty politics. He made it sound like everyone else brushed it off as harmless ball breaking, but he took it personally. I’m sure it wasn’t Kevin, Peter, Jim or Steve. Maybe Talbot or Brown? Gary Richardson? Any guesses?

- Peter Laird’s daughter had job at Playmates at some point. She was basically laid off when her manager got fired.

1987:

- When Fred Wolf read the first draft of Turtle Tracks, he thought “homeboy” was slang for “homosexual” (was this in the Turtledoc?)

- Fred Wolf sued Mirage for more royalties money. The case wasn’t dismissed until 2005! https://www.plainsite.org/dockets/2t...studios-et-al/

1990:

- Robin Williams urged Judith Hoag to take the role of April because he was a fan of the comics.

The Next Mutation:

The original concept art has Venus in a pink mask and Leo in yellow.

4kids:

- Hun’s name was Drako in preproduction. Ultimate Ninja’s name is Ue-sama.

- Michael Sinterniklaas recorded the audio anytime Michelangelo burped.

- 4kids Hamato Yoshi appears in a newly printed children’s book called “I Am Leonardo “ which is based on the 1987 cartoon. I assume the commissioned artist just did a Google image search and went with their first hit lol

2007:

- John DiMaggio was the voice of Winters before they brought in bigger stars. Casey, April and “narrator” were also voiced by different VAs but I don’t know who.

2012:

- Ciro almost got the Beastie Boys to do the theme song.

- Shredder is visually based on Sho Kosugi from the Ninja trilogy. Yoshi is based on Sonny Chiba. Xever is based on Jim Kelly. I feel like Bradford and Hun are too obvious.

- Both Kraang Prime voice actors got “cancelled” for popping off online.

Other:

- Kendrick Lamar has a song called “Sherane (Master Splinters daughter)”. It’s not actually a TMNT reference, he’s just calling the girl in the song a hoodrat lol.

- Walking Dead had an episode starring a character named Eastman that was one huge TMNT reference titled “Here’s Not Here”:

- Metalcore band August Burns Red used to sell a shirt with Shredder on it:

Spoiler:

06-28-2025, 08:33 AM	#1
ToTheNines Col. Stinkmeaner Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 19,337	Share your esoteric knowledge What are some things you know, either behind the scenes or deep lore, that you don’t think the average fan knows? Not your typical trivia that casuals are unaware of, but stuff that even most Dromers might not know, or maybe forgot after all these years. Here’s some off the top of my head: Mirage: - I seem to remember Murphy writing in his blog that he had major friction with a Mirage staffer that was very rightwing and harassed him over his lefty politics. He made it sound like everyone else brushed it off as harmless ball breaking, but he took it personally. I’m sure it wasn’t Kevin, Peter, Jim or Steve. Maybe Talbot or Brown? Gary Richardson? Any guesses? - Peter Laird’s daughter had job at Playmates at some point. She was basically laid off when her manager got fired. 1987: - When Fred Wolf read the first draft of Turtle Tracks, he thought “homeboy” was slang for “homosexual” (was this in the Turtledoc?) - Fred Wolf sued Mirage for more royalties money. The case wasn’t dismissed until 2005! https://www.plainsite.org/dockets/2t...studios-et-al/ 1990: - Robin Williams urged Judith Hoag to take the role of April because he was a fan of the comics. The Next Mutation: The original concept art has Venus in a pink mask and Leo in yellow. 4kids: - Hun’s name was Drako in preproduction. Ultimate Ninja’s name is Ue-sama. - Michael Sinterniklaas recorded the audio anytime Michelangelo burped. - 4kids Hamato Yoshi appears in a newly printed children’s book called “I Am Leonardo “ which is based on the 1987 cartoon. I assume the commissioned artist just did a Google image search and went with their first hit lol 2007: - John DiMaggio was the voice of Winters before they brought in bigger stars. Casey, April and “narrator” were also voiced by different VAs but I don’t know who. 2012: - Ciro almost got the Beastie Boys to do the theme song. - Shredder is visually based on Sho Kosugi from the Ninja trilogy. Yoshi is based on Sonny Chiba. Xever is based on Jim Kelly. I feel like Bradford and Hun are too obvious. - Both Kraang Prime voice actors got “cancelled” for popping off online. Other: - Kendrick Lamar has a song called “Sherane (Master Splinters daughter)”. It’s not actually a TMNT reference, he’s just calling the girl in the song a hoodrat lol. - Walking Dead had an episode starring a character named Eastman that was one huge TMNT reference titled “Here’s Not Here”: - Metalcore band August Burns Red used to sell a shirt with Shredder on it: Spoiler: