Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
The Ninja Turtle float shows off its Turtle Power in 2013. (Photo: Macy's, Inc.)
Years active	2012-2017
Sponsor	Nickelodeon
Designer	Jennifer Palmer
Type	Float

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
The "Rise" float as it appeared in 2019. (Photo: Walter Milani)
Years active	2018-2020
Sponsor	Nickelodeon
Designer	Joseph Ammons
Type	Float

Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
The Mutant Mayhem float unleashes mayhem during its debut. (Photo: Macy's, Inc.)
Years active	2023-present
Sponsors	Nickelodeon / Paramount
Designer	Eric Hudspeth
Type	Float

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (commonly abbreviated as TMNT) is a media franchise that follows four turtle brothers—Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michaelangelo—who emerge from their sewer lair in New York City to fight evil while attempting to remain hidden from society. The Turtles gained their human-like intelligence when they were exposed to radioactive ooze as babies, and were trained in the art of ninjutsu by their rat sensei, Splinter.

Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird created the characters for their 1984 comic book, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The comic was a surprise success, leading to an animated series and ancillary toy line. Since then, the Turtles franchise has generated over $17.4 billion in sales through merchandise, feature films, video games, and commercial tie-ins.

History with the Macy's Parade

Costumed Characters (1990-1991, 2005)

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles first appeared in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1990, amid the Coming Out of Their Shells tour that began earlier that fall. Blasting down the Parade route in the Euclid Beach Rocket Car, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Band performed songs from the tour, including a performance of the show’s finale, “Count on Us,” for their NBC appearance.

In 1991, the Heroes in a Half-Shell returned with their more traditional appearance, wearing Santa hats and riding in red 1961 Cadillac Convertibles. Michelangelo and Leonardo rode in one vehicle, while Donatello and Raphael rode in the other.

The Turtles appeared on foot in the 2005 Parade courtesy of 4Kids Entertainment, fighting crime alongside the Keystone Kops & Robbers as they greeted fans.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012-2017)

The first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles float debuted in the 2012 Parade, promoting the new animated series that premiered on Nickelodeon that fall. The float features a dark cityscape befitting for the Turtles to execute their ninja precision, climb up light poles, race over window ledges, and zipline on telephone wires in pursuit of evil villains.

Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michaelangelo leap across fire escapes while a dole of Turtle Kids protects their sewer lair below with a spyglass that peeks to the streets above. New York City citizens including Firefighters, Police Officers, Crossing Guards, Tourists, and Journalists escort the float and round out the bustling metropolis.

Following the series finale in 2017, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles float was retired. The eyes from the underground spyglass were the only known part of the float saved and are displayed at Macy’s Studios.

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2018-2020)

In 2018, a float based on Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles debuted, inspired by the series’ “bold and dramatic aesthetic.” The multi-tiered float gave viewers a look at the Turtle’s underground lair punctuated with lighting and fog effects.

Each Turtle’s distinct personality was represented on the float. Raph trained in an area that, very much like himself, was covered in bandages; Mikey showed his young and wild side by tagging the lair with graffiti; Donnie flexed his tech wiz muscles in his very own lab; and Leo kicked back with the Turtles’ favorite food, pizza. Other features included a subway car-turned-video arcade, Master Splinter’s chair, and an above-ground cityscape talent area.

The Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles float made three consecutive appearances and was retired after the 2020 Parade.

Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2023-present)

The third and most recent Ninja Turtles float debuted in 2023, based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem film to celebrate the 40th anniversary in 2024. The action-packed float evokes the Ooze-filled cityscape seen in the movie, with Bebop and Rocksteady crashing through the side of a building and making their grand getaway on a motorcycle, accented with a spinning wheel, smoke, and flashing lights. Leo, Raph, Donnie, and Mikey leap over the rooftops, taking on Superfly and the other mutants.

Making up the typical New York City block are apartment buildings, skyscrapers, a skate shop, a pizzeria, and a sewer system overflowing with Ooze. A specially-wrapped, graffiti-tagged Ram Truck towed the float in its inaugural appearance.

In 2024, the float was themed to the Paramount+ original series Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Guest Stars

Listed below are the guest stars that have appeared/performed on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles floats, alongside the respective songs which they sang during the NBC Parade telecast.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

• 2012 - Neon Trees, sang "Everybody Talks"
• 2013 - Fall Out Boy, sang "Alone Together"
• 2014 - MKTO, sang "Classic"
• 2015 - Panic! At The Disco, sang "Victorious"
• 2016 - Jacob Whitesides, sang "Lovesick"
• 2017 - Kat Graham, sang "Magic"

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

• 2018 - Jack & Jack, sang "Rise," featuring Westchester Dance Artists
• 2019 - Ciara, sang "Rise" / "Level Up"
• 2020 - CNCO, sang " Tan Enamorados"

Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

• 2023 - Bell Biv DeVoe, sang "Poison" / "Act Like You Know," featuring Boss Kids

Trivia

• The Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles float was the first element designed by Joseph "Joey" Ammons, who would eventually become the Studios' lead designer.
• The Mutant Mayhem float includes 11 hidden hinges that allow the float to fold up for its journey through the Lincoln Tunnel on Thanksgiving Eve.

See also

• Nickelodeon