Top 10 Darkest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Moments Ever

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Darkest Moments on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. For this list, we’ll be looking at scenes from the “Turtles” TV shows and movies where the pizzas and cowabungas took a backseat to something more menacing. This means a few spoilers, dudes. Our countdown includes a defeat, Master Splinter's kidnapping, turtle injuries and more! What do you think is the darkest “Ninja Turtles” moment? Let us know in the comments!

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#TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles #TMNT #Leonardo #Michaelangelo #Raphael #Donatello #Splinter #NinjaTurtles

[WatchMojo]

What do you think is the darkest “Ninja Turtles” moment? Let us know in the comments!

[projectdolph]

I grew up with the 2012 series, and it remains as my favorite show of all time. I recently got the dvds that I didn’t have and watched it all in order. Still gives me shivers when I see these dark moments from a show that I used to watch when I was still in my single digits. Don’t understand how 6-7 year old me enjoyed mutant turtles’ suffering.

[TheCommenterDragon]

I always hated that Master Splinter dies, especially in the 2012 series, but passing on the sensei role to Leonardo was good development on his part, and even after the spirits from the Nether World invaded Splinter's ghost was still on the turtles side which meant even in death Hamato Yoshi is still one of the best characters in the TMNT franchise!

[michaelgualtieri]

The 2012 series was without a doubt my favorite TMNT cartoon. It was dark, funny, action packed, and just pure awesome.
However, the reason I see this as the best is simple: source materials. This cartoon took different aspects of different parts of the TMNT franchise weather be comics, other shows, movies or video games and found away to incorporate it into the series. Such as when they included Bebop and Rocksteady, after only appearing in the 80's cartoon. Same when they turned Shredder into the Super Shredder. It also did it's own path, such as not only have Splinter be Hamato Yoshi instead of his pet, but also be the birth father of Karai.
And when it went dark, it got really dark! Splinter's Death, Donnie exploding to atoms, the freaking Mutant Apocalypse series finale!
All these reasons and more are why I find the 2012 series the best incarnation of the Turtles ever.

[XJIcequeen]

I grew up with the 2012 series and seeing all those dark moments still makes my heart skip a beat. Personally, I’m surprised that TMNT 2012 beat TMNT 2003 for the most dark moments on this list. Actually, anyone else more surprised that an episode of the 1987 series made the list?

[erict]

I still think the season 4 of the 2003 show is the most disturbing non-comic TMNT content to date. Don getting turned into a monster, Leo’s depression arc, the Baxter stockman episode that got pulled from airing in the US, Casey getting ptsd of the purple dragons killing his dad

4kids literally had to step in because the show at that point was becoming too mature and dark for the younger audience they were targeting

[ahlethescout]

Splinter’s death in 2017 was also very graphic.
When splinter literally stabs him from behind we literally not only get an impact and reaction shot we legit see the blade protruding through splinters body. Legit one of the darkest things I have ever seen in animation, adult or not.

[TheImaginator]

The darkest moment I won't never forget is the 2012 TV Series when Super Shredder has killed Master Splinter and the episode from the 2003 TV Series when Donatello sent into the future.

[jessicagreenfield]

Splinter's death in the 2012 series made me bawled all day when the season 4 episode Requiem premiered. I know he died in the season 3 finale but his actual death made me bawled all day. It was the darkest episode ever and destroyed me. I felt so bad for the turtles especially Leonardo 💔💔

[justapeacefulmanwhosbornin]

TMNT (2003 -2009).
TMNT (2012-2017).

We still 💚 both versions equally.

[meg]

I love that this list was mostly the 2003 and 2012 series

[donovan]

Regarding the 2012, honestly wish we would’ve seen Alopex a bit more. She seemed very interesting with her backstory and abilities.

[waheedabdullah]

If this was a Top 20 video, we would get more dark 2012 TMNT moments in this video like Parasitic Wasp, Squirrelanoid, all mutations, & the Black Hole Generator activates

[goodestNoodle]

I grew up with the '03 version.
Growing up, I hated Baxter Stockman with a burning passion. Watching as an adult, I just feel sorry for him. His story hits different once you actually see the "Baxter's Body" episode. It literally goes over all the trauma he's suffered in his life, and at the end of all of it, all he wanted was death

[MrObasilawrence]

2012 series is my favorite of all time TMNT story.. just a perfect storyline of the turtles. It had it all for me.. bittersweet Origins and endings done to perfection for all the characters .

[spinjitzumasterfalcon]

I grew up with the 2012 series and a lot of moments really hit me hard. The Mutant Apocalypse arc is one that I dread on revisiting because of how dark and painful it is. It hurts a lot to know what happened. Same with the Rise Movie. Thankfully in the 2012 series, that was in a separate timeline. But Splinter's death always leaves a pain in my heart.

[RealCFZ]

2012 and 2003 series will always be my TMNT. Though, I like 80s Turtles as well.

[antoniolayton]

“Splinters death is the darkest moment in TMNT history”

TMNT Last Ronin: “Hold my slice”

[Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

Poor Splinter just cannot catch a break. He's like the Kenny McCormick of the franchise.

[TheImaginator]

I love Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2003 TV Series when I was so little, and I really felt pity for Baxter Stockman when he didn't deserve his punishment by losing his entire body.