The Vibe: After the dark grit of the first film and the neon-soaked "Secret of the Ooze," the third installment takes a sharp turn into historical fantasy. It’s a "fish-out-of-water" story that swaps the sewers of NYC for the feudal landscape of 16th-century Japan. The Plot: Turtles in Time
Raph gets the most emotional heavy lifting here. He forms a bond with a young boy named Yoshi, making him realize that he might actually prefer the quiet, respected life of a warrior in ancient Japan over being a "monster" in a New York sewer. Las Tortugas Ninja 3
The Turtles—Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael—must travel back in time to rescue April and retrieve the scepter before the "space-time window" closes forever. Once they arrive in the past, they find themselves caught in the middle of a civil war between a ruthless Daimyo (Lord Norinaga) and a group of village rebels. The Vibe: After the dark grit of the
Although set in Japan, the movie was actually filmed in Astoria, Oregon , using the rainy Pacific Northwest to stand in for the Japanese countryside. The Verdict He forms a bond with a young boy
Las Tortugas Ninja III is often seen as the "black sheep" of the original trilogy because it lacks the Shredder and the urban atmosphere fans loved. However, it’s a fun, campy adventure that leans hard into the "Teenage" aspect of the characters. It's a nostalgic trip for anyone who grew up with a Sega Genesis and a bowl of cereal on Saturday mornings.
Jim Henson’s Creature Shop (which did the first two films) did not return for this one. The animatronics were handled by All Effects, which resulted in a noticeably different, more "cartoony" look for the Turtles' faces.
The story kicks off when April O'Neil buys an ancient Japanese scepter as a gift for Splinter. Unbeknownst to her, the scepter is a magical time-travel device. When she activates it, she inadvertently swaps places with Prince Kenshin from 1603 Japan.