TL;DR – Not only is this a delightful return to these characters, but it is also one of the best and pointed explorations of the hollowness of AI in a way that I think their target audience will completely get.   

Post-Credit Scene – There is no post-credit scene.

Disclosure – I was invited to a press screening of this short film.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Chrome Alone 2 – Lost in New Jersey Review Introduction –

Back in 2023, I witnessed a rare event: we got a new outing in a long-running franchise that felt both entirely respectful in the way it approached the franchise, but was also not afraid to change things up for a new generation completely. It took strength, it took artistry, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem was also a bunch of fun in the process. Well, I am glad to see that we get to have a new story in this world as we return to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

So, to set the scene, it has been some time since Mutant Mayhem, and Michelangelo (Shamon Brown Jr.), Leonardo (Nicolas Cantu), Raphael (Brady Noon) and Donatello (Micah Abbey) are out shopping for Christmas presents for Splinter. This is the first time they have been able to do this out in the open, so it is a bit of a thrill. However, their joy is turned to horror when they witness an advertisement for a toy line that is clearly them, if the person making them only heard about the turtles third hand and went with it. Well, this will not stand! And the Turtles must do something about it! Only problem is that this will mean taking a trip to … … … New Jersey … … …!

Team Energy

One of the joys of this short film was how it felt like it was a seamless addition to the first film. It feels like a family with the overlapping conversations, the inside jokes, and the gentle ribbing. Part of that comes from the art style that perfectly captures the energy of a bunch of teens barely able to contain the zoomies energy of dogs. The other strength comes from the cast, who fit into these roles like they were born for it. You need that level of camaraderie to make a film like this work, because that bond is at the heart of everything.    

AI Discussion

The one thing I found truly interesting was how the film decided to critiques AI’s role in art by highlighting its hollow imitations. There is a particular sequence that lampoons just about every mainline franchise out there at the moment, which was such a bundle of laughs. But at the core was an interesting discussion about the artistic merit of AI and what our engagement with the tool should be. This alone would be an interesting discussion, but it is pitched in a way that I think the generation that most needs to hear it. Which is essential as it becomes the core of their narrative.

Recommendation

In the end, do we recommend Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Chrome Alone 2 – Lost in New Jersey? Yes, yes, we do. It does more in fifteen minutes than some animated films do in their entire run time. A bunch of fun, and a delight to boot.

Have you watched Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Chrome Alone 2? Let us know what you thought in the comments below. If you liked Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, we would recommend The Bad Guys: Little Lies and Alibis to you because it also makes the most of its cast in a short timeframe.

By Brian MacNamara: You can follow Brian on Bluesky at @Tldrmovrev, when he’s not chatting about Movies and TV, he’ll be talking about International Relations, or the Solar System.

Feel free to share this review on social media and check out all our past reviews and articles Here, and have a happy day. 

Credits – All images were created by the cast, crew, and production companies of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Chrome Alone 2 – Lost in New Jersey
Directed by – Kent Seki
Written by – Andrew Joustra,
Based on – The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters created by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman & Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem by Brendan O’Brien, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Jeff Rowe, Dan Hernandez & Benji Samit
Cinematography by – Christopher Batty
Edited by – Myra Owyang
Production/Distribution Companies – Point Grey Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies & Paramount Pictures
Starring – Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Nicolas Cantu, Brady Noon & Beck Bennett
Rating – United States: PG