Some deserve to share the pizza, some do not. For this list, we’ll be looking at the most rotten and radical times where the heroes in the half shell met up with characters from other franchises or dimensions.
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00:00 - What?
00:01 - The green machine has gone clean!
00:04 - Thanks, Leonardo.
00:05 - Welcome to WatchMojo, and today,
00:08 we're counting down our picks for the top 10 best
00:11 and worst Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles crossovers.
00:15 - Let's stop Roz and Shredder.
00:17 Together.
00:20 - For this list, we'll be looking at the most rotten
00:23 and radical times where the heroes in a half-shell
00:26 met up with characters from other franchises or dimensions.
00:29 What's your favorite Turtle crossover of all time?
00:32 Let us know in the comments down below.
00:34 Number five worst, Fighting Rabbids.
00:39 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles smash up.
00:42 Prepare to lose.
00:43 - Pick up!
00:44 - Get ready to be taught a lesson.
00:45 - Your chances of winning are--
00:46 - Three, two, one, go!
00:49 - The TMNT franchise tried to create its own version
00:52 of the successful Super Smash Brothers series
00:55 with its own fighting game.
00:56 While opinions varied on the final results,
00:59 the aspect of the mashup that was universally despised
01:02 by everyone were the Rabbids.
01:04 These animal characters are infamous
01:07 for being ridiculously annoying on their own.
01:09 That certainly didn't change when they were placed
01:11 into this fighting game.
01:12 Although the three characters had different names
01:15 and move sets, they all were essentially the same fighter.
01:18 (dramatic music)
01:24 Fans were upset they took up a trio of spaces
01:27 that could have been saved
01:28 for beloved TMNT franchise characters.
01:31 While the presence of the Rabbids alone
01:33 didn't sink this fighter,
01:34 they definitely made the overall product look worse.
01:37 You should go home and train.
01:42 Number five best, teaming up against DC icons, Injustice 2.
01:47 - Anyway, we're the biggest heroes in our universe, right?
01:51 That's why Krang tried booting us to Dimension X,
01:55 to make way for his invasion.
01:57 - But instead we ended up on a different Earth,
02:00 way awesomer!
02:02 - When the sinister Krang sent the Ninja Turtles
02:04 into another dimension,
02:06 they decided to fight to stop the big bad brainiac
02:09 from capturing Earthlings.
02:10 Adding the Turtles to this acclaimed game
02:13 turned out to be a fantastic move.
02:15 - This fight's got me a little nervous.
02:18 - You got your hands plenty full with me.
02:21 - No one is invincible.
02:23 - Since players could be any member of the quartet,
02:26 they could try the four different signature weapons.
02:29 It was also satisfying to see the brothers come together
02:31 for an epic finishing move.
02:33 And since Injustice 2 also crossed over
02:35 with other franchises,
02:36 the Turtles could punch characters
02:38 like Sub-Zero in the face.
02:40 Thanks to great combat and a strong roster of opponents,
02:43 the Turtles were an awesome addition
02:45 to this epic fighting crossover.
02:47 - Plain English, we became Ultra Turtles.
02:51 - Krang didn't stand a chance.
02:53 - Number four worst, beating up Cowboys of Moo Mesa,
02:57 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
02:59 - We've been transported into some sort of battle scenario.
03:02 - That, or a Saturday morning cartoon.
03:05 - Years after the Turtles became household names,
03:08 a show centered around anthropomorphic cows
03:11 called Wild West Cowboys of Moo Mesa was greenlit.
03:14 While it didn't last nearly as long as its predecessor,
03:17 the program did have its fans.
03:19 But loyal viewers of Cowboys
03:21 were let down by a Turtle crossover.
03:23 - Most impressive, but now let's see
03:26 how you handle level two.
03:28 - After entering a hologram machine,
03:31 the Turtles end up in a simulation
03:33 of the anthropomorphic cow world.
03:35 A villain then forces everyone
03:37 to attack the heroes in a half shell.
03:39 None of the Cowboys get a single line in.
03:42 And due to behind the scenes issues,
03:44 no distinction was made between the bovine shows'
03:47 heroes or villains.
03:48 Bringing Cowboys in just to get beat up
03:50 by more successful heroes felt like the writers
03:53 were literally punching down.
03:55 - I love cow punching!
03:59 - Number four best, Standing Behind a Rabbit Ronin,
04:03 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
04:06 - Then what are these strange yokai?
04:08 - Strange?
04:09 Look who's talking, a giant samurai rabbit.
04:12 - During the very same year audience
04:14 met the heroes in a half shell,
04:15 a samurai rabbit named Usagi rose to fame.
04:19 While the two franchises have met numerous times,
04:21 their best collaboration arguably came in the 2012 series.
04:25 A three part crossover kicks off
04:27 when the Turtles are brainwashed to fight Usagi
04:30 in a wonderfully animated battle.
04:32 Once they shake off their mental domination,
04:35 the heroes jump fully into the samurai's
04:37 exciting and danger filled world.
04:39 - We need to find out what his plan is for the boy.
04:42 But how can we get close enough to hear them?
04:45 We're ninja, we're experts at getting close to people.
04:48 - The crossover features horseback fights,
04:51 excellent fight choreography, and fantastic antagonists.
04:54 Setting it entirely in Usagi's world
04:57 also gave the hero more time to shine in his element.
05:00 By the end of the crossover,
05:02 every fan wanted to see the rabbit team up
05:04 with the Turtles again.
05:06 Goodbye, Usagi-san.
05:08 - Farewell, my brother.
05:09 - Number three worst, The Turtles Land in Riverdale.
05:14 Teenage mutant ninja turtles meet Archie, number one.
05:17 - Yeah, but I wanna be down there.
05:19 - You sit your ugly self down there,
05:20 you'd have people running for their lives.
05:22 - A trans-dimensional cow named Cuddly
05:25 once decided to split heroes who had master fighting
05:28 into the relatively mundane town of Riverdale.
05:31 And that's not the most bizarre part of the story.
05:34 - In case you haven't noticed, I'm weird.
05:37 I'm a weirdo.
05:38 - Since the comic versions of the teens in Riverdale
05:41 didn't often fight ninjas and anthropomorphic animals,
05:44 the writers forced a kidnapping plot into the story
05:47 to give the Turtles something to do.
05:49 After dozens of pages of buildup,
05:51 the heroes in a half shell take on two villains
05:53 and defeat them almost instantly.
05:55 But even a great fight
05:56 wouldn't have justified this crossover.
05:59 The Turtles don't really have great chemistry
06:01 with any of the Archie characters.
06:02 And while they hang out with the humans often,
06:05 they just felt out of place
06:06 in this relatively grounded world.
06:08 - There's nothing you could have done to stop it.
06:12 Do not let this setback distract you.
06:15 - Number three best,
06:17 a morphonomical mashup with the Power Rangers.
06:20 Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
06:23 This is epic!
06:25 (fighting sounds)
06:28 Upon finding out that his friend has joined the Foot Clan,
06:34 Green Ranger Tommy Oliver goes undercover
06:36 with the evil group to save his buddy.
06:38 The heroes' quest get complicated
06:40 when his team and the Ninja Turtles get involved.
06:43 During this crossover,
06:44 both teenage teams get a great chance
06:46 to showcase what makes them valuable.
06:48 Since the Rangers and Turtles gel so well together,
06:51 they keep us entertained
06:53 whether they're chatting or fighting.
06:55 (fighting sounds)
06:57 - I think I broke my brain.
07:01 - And their first crossover leads to the moment
07:03 where the Turtles and Rangers share a giant robot
07:06 to fight off the strong Dragonzord.
07:08 Their adventure's made for a nostalgic story
07:11 that definitely satisfied casual readers.
07:14 It also went above and beyond to thrill the 90s kids
07:17 who grew up with both franchises.
07:19 (fighting sounds)
07:22 - Number two worst,
07:26 dragging Michelangelo into a PSA.
07:28 Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue.
07:31 - Cowabunga, dude!
07:33 How did you ever get so totally cool?
07:36 - What am I doing down here?
07:37 - We get why adults use popular animated characters
07:40 to warn young people about the dangers of illegal substances.
07:43 Unfortunately, the good intentions of the filmmakers
07:46 were lost in a confusing mess of a special.
07:49 Throughout the short film,
07:50 a series of animated characters are paraded out
07:53 to try and convince a kid named Michael
07:55 to stay above the influence.
07:57 The boy eventually ends up face to face
07:59 with a very judgmental Michelangelo.
08:02 - You could have avoided it, but you weren't thinking.
08:04 Come to think of it, that's a lot of your problem.
08:07 - What problem?
08:09 - Drugs, bud.
08:10 Your brain must be like really messed up.
08:13 - Seeing the typically lax and easygoing turtle
08:15 turn into a preachy caricature felt awkward.
08:18 On top of that, the film is filled
08:20 with so much terrifying imagery
08:22 that we're not sure kids even made it to this cameo.
08:25 We're sure Michelangelo himself would prefer fans
08:28 to forget he ever starred in this bogus crossover.
08:31 - When your pal says, "Bitch, get rekt!"
08:33 - I'll strap that shot for his back!
08:35 - Go on, push, eject, protect yourself,
08:37 get out that door!
08:39 - Number two best, soaring beside the Dark Knight,
08:43 Batman versus Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
08:46 - Impressive form.
08:47 Your father taught you well.
08:50 - Shortly after Shredder makes an unholy alliance
08:53 with DC villain Ra's al Ghul,
08:54 the Turtles team up with the Bat family
08:56 to stop the antagonist.
08:58 Seeing the heroes in a half shell in the Batcave
09:00 would be worth the price of a mission alone.
09:02 The novelty of this team up is supported by sharp writing
09:05 and self-aware humor.
09:07 - The Turtles are going home.
09:09 - What?
09:10 Come on, we know your secret identity now.
09:13 Our team up has been cemented.
09:15 - Additionally, every fight scene is crafted with care
09:18 and lots of attention to detail.
09:20 But the most impressive part of the story
09:23 is the fact that multiple characters across the franchises
09:26 get deep and emotional character development.
09:28 What could have been just a silly mashup
09:31 became a terrific trip to Gotham
09:33 that showcased the best sides of heroic icons.
09:37 - Your father will be very proud.
09:39 - Thank you.
09:40 Although I'm sure he'll have some harsh words
09:42 about us being gone from the city this long.
09:44 Number one worst, Shell Shocked Rangers.
09:48 Power Rangers in space.
09:49 - It's time for some shell shock.
09:51 What are those things?
09:53 I can't believe it, but I think they're--
09:55 - It's the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
09:57 - How do you upset the fans of two different franchises?
10:01 First, take the live action Ninja Turtles
10:03 from the critically reviled new mutation show.
10:06 Next, throw them into a collaboration
10:08 where they're brainwashed into being villains
10:10 for the Power Rangers for 75% of the runtime.
10:13 Add cheap effects and truly cringe worthy dialogue
10:17 and you've got the recipe for a reviled crossover.
10:20 - The green machine has gone clean.
10:23 - Thanks Leonardo, I believe you this time.
10:26 - The infamous Shell Shock episode
10:28 wrote the characters so poorly
10:30 that they all came off as cheap characters
10:32 of the heroes they were supposed to be.
10:34 Instead of coming off as cool,
10:36 everyone involved felt grossly incompetent.
10:39 If you're looking for a great collaboration
10:41 between the Turtles and Power Rangers,
10:43 go to the comics before watching a second of this disaster.
10:46 - Well, if you guys ever come to space, please stop by.
10:50 - Yeah, and if you're ever in New York,
10:53 hey, why don't you pop your head in our sewer?
10:56 - Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel
10:59 and ring the bell to get notified about our latest videos.
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11:11 - Number one best, Transdimensional Turtles,
11:15 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
11:17 - Whoa.
11:19 - They're us?
11:21 - No way.
11:22 He's got a blaster, get him.
11:26 - There's been several times
11:27 where the heroes in a half shell have teamed up
11:29 with alternate versions of themselves.
11:31 Turtles forever made for a solid multiverse adventure.
11:35 However, an episode from the 2012 series
11:38 stood out by stuffing the story to the brim with homages.
11:42 The narrative follows a 21st century version of the quartet
11:45 and 80s turtles working to stop Crane.
11:48 During the special, the classic team was voiced
11:50 by their original actors.
11:52 Both sets of turtles often leaned on the fourth wall
11:55 to reward longtime fans.
11:57 - You guys don't even fight with your weapons.
11:59 What's up with the initials on your belts?
12:01 Blame.
12:02 - And the constantly shifting art styles
12:04 made the story into a visual feast for the eyes.
12:07 A combination of solid storytelling,
12:09 nostalgic touches and tremendous effort
12:12 made this turtle crossover into a must see for any fan.
12:17 - Leonardo, thanks for everything.
12:20 - No, thank you.
12:22 Without your help, all of our realities would be doomed.
12:26 Did you enjoy this video?
12:27 Check out these other clips from WatchMojo
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12:34 (upbeat music)
12:38 (air whooshing)
12:41 (upbeat music)
12:43 (gentle music)