Ninja Turtles – Characters, Films & Collectibles
The most useful thing before buying: which turtle wears which mask. Plus a detail few people know – in the original comic they were all red.
Techbox, Thessaloniki
Which turtle is which
Each has his own mask, his own weapon and his own personality. The child knows this perfectly:
Twin swords. The leader – the most responsible and disciplined.
Twin sai. The angry, impulsive one – often the favourite.
A wooden staff. The team's inventor – he builds everything.
Nunchaku. The funny one – and the one obsessed with pizza.
If you do not know which they want: Leonardo (blue) is the safest as leader, but Raphael (red) is often the children's favourite.
Why they were all red at first
In the original 1984 comic, by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, all four turtles wore red masks.
It was a black-and-white comic. There was no reason for them to differ.
The different colours came later, with the animated series and the toy line – so that children could tell them apart on the shelf.
It was purely a commercial decision. And it became so fundamental that nobody today pictures the turtles without their colours.
The others
- Splinter – the rat who is both their master and their father. In the 2023 film he is voiced by Jackie Chan.
- April O'Neil – their human friend, an aspiring journalist.
- Shredder – the great antagonist, in his distinctive bladed armour.
What is coming
The 2023 film Mutant Mayhem took $181 million on a budget of just $70 million – a real success for the studio, and it revived the franchise.
Note the date carefully
The sequel, Mutant Mayhem 2, has moved twice: originally October 2026, then September 2027, and now 13 August 2027.
The cause is delays in animation production. Jeff Rowe directs again, and the antagonist will be Shredder.
A live-action hybrid film has also been announced for 17 November 2028 – the first with real actors since 2016.
In between there is the series "Tales of the TMNT" on Paramount+, with two completed seasons.
What to choose
- Figures: from classic play figures to collector pieces for adults.
- Funko POP: all four turtles, plus Splinter and Shredder.
- Plush: for younger ages.
- Apparel: t-shirts – the four-mask design works for adults too.
- Gifts: mugs, keyrings, posters, school gear.
Gift guide
Leonardo (blue) or Raphael (red).
Children want all four – ask which one is missing.
A collector figure or t-shirt – the franchise carries forty years of nostalgia.
Keyrings, mugs, small figures.
Frequently asked questions
- Which turtle wears which mask?
- Leonardo blue with twin swords, Raphael red with the sai, Donatello purple with the staff, Michelangelo orange with the nunchaku.
- Why were they all red in the comic?
- The original 1984 comic was black and white, and all four wore the same red mask. The different colours arrived with the animated series and the toy line, so that children could tell them apart.
- When is the next film out?
- Mutant Mayhem 2 is scheduled for 13 August 2027. The date has moved twice due to production delays. A live-action hybrid film follows in November 2028.
- What age are they for?
- Play figures from around 4. The series has fight scenes but no blood or cruelty – it is aimed at a broad children's audience, while collectibles are bought by adults.
- Where can I find TMNT products in Thessaloniki?
- At the Techbox store (Al. Papanastasiou 100) and online at techbox.com.gr. You can order online and collect from the store with no shipping cost.
