The Controversial Viral Ninja Reference That Nearly Altered TMNT Mutant Mayhem: What Really Happened

Summary

A viral music video titled "The Karate Rap" from 1986 was referenced in the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie.

The line "I'm a ninja" nearly got removed from the film, but it managed to be included in the final version. Its inclusion may have been influenced by the favorable reception it garnered during a screening in Burbank.

The bizarre viral ninja reference in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem has been clarified. In a scene from the newly released animated film, the turtles showcase their skills during a training montage, accompanied by the phrase "I'm a ninja" playing on the soundtrack. This phrase is taken from a viral music video called "The Karate Rap," created by David Seeger and Holly Whitstock Seeger in 1986 but only released in 2012. The humorous and cheesy song includes the line "I train in my car, I'm a ninja," which was sampled for the movie.

In an upcoming interview with Mutant Mayhem director Jeff Rowe, conducted by /Film, a snippet of the conversation was shared. Rowe discusses how the reference to the viral rap was nearly removed from the final version of the film. Despite mixed opinions, with some finding it amusing and others considering it "the dumbest thing," Rowe believes it remained in the movie because it received laughter during a screening in Burbank. Read the complete quote below:

At one stage, individuals would exclaim, "That is the most foolish thing. Why is it even included? You must remove it," and then eventually, we eliminated it, causing others to inquire, "What happened to 'I'm a ninja?' You must bring back 'I'm a ninja,' that was the best aspect." Eventually, we settled on "I'm a ninja," I reckon because it received a hearty laugh during a screening in Burbank.

More to come...

Source: /Film