The heroes in a half shell are back — but this time, they’re stranded across the river.
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| TMNT - Chrome Alone 2 - Lost in New Jersey | Paramount Pictures |
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Chrome Alone 2 — Lost in New Jersey, directed by Kent Seki, takes the beloved characters out of their comfort zone and drops them into an unlikely setting. Mixing slapstick humor, gritty animation and unexpected heart, the short film follows the turtles as they attempt to navigate the Garden State after a mishap sends them far from their New York roots.
The animated short film’s premise adds a twist of intrigue: When a mysterious toy company exploits the turtles’ newfound fame with the Tubular Tortoise Karate Warriors, the brothers follow the clues to New Jersey, where they stumble upon a shocking discovery.
“We wanted to honor the Ninja Turtles’ history while asking what would happen if we put them somewhere completely unfamiliar,” Seki told Variety. “New Jersey became the perfect backdrop because it’s so close to New York, yet has its own energy and quirks that challenge the turtles in new ways.”
At its core, Chrome Alone 2 — Lost in New Jersey continues the franchise’s tradition of balancing martial arts action with outlandish comedy. Seki said the tone intentionally recalls the chaotic spirit of 1990s family movies while still appealing to a modern audience.
“I grew up loving both Home Alone and the Ninja Turtles, and this project became a way to smash those influences together,” he said. “The turtles are constantly in survival mode — but here, survival means figuring out the Jersey Turnpike.”
Seki, who has worked across both live action and animation, said directing a TMNT short allowed him to infuse personal touches while respecting the loyal fan base. “Whenever you work with characters as iconic as the turtles, you have to give fans the personalities they love — Leonardo’s discipline, Michelangelo’s humor, Donatello’s tech obsession, Raphael’s temper — but then ask, ‘How do we surprise people?’ For me, the surprise came from the setting and the way we used the animation style to heighten those contrasts.”
The animation combines stylized character design with photorealistic backgrounds, creating a world that feels both heightened and lived in. Seki credits his team of artists with pushing the medium forward: “It was about making the turtles pop against an environment that feels almost too real, so every pizza slice and sewer lid becomes a character in its own right.”
Chrome Alone 2 is already making a bit of history. The film has been selected for Variety’s Pixels and Pencils, becoming the first animated short to be invited to the panel. The program highlights the year’s most innovative animated films, culminating in a directors roundtable discussion.
Though Chrome Alone 2 — Lost in New Jersey is a short film, Seki hints it may serve as a springboard for more stories that push the turtles into unexpected corners of the world. “I think audiences are hungry for new ways to experience these characters,” he said. “We’ll always love seeing them in New York, but throwing them somewhere unexpected opens the door to new humor, new stakes and new visual possibilities. If people connect with this one, I’d love to keep exploring that.”
With its inventive visuals, offbeat humor and affectionate nods to the franchise’s lore, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Chrome Alone 2 — Lost in New Jersey is poised to carve its own place in the turtles’ history — even if it has to take the long way back to New York to get there.
Fans can see Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Chrome Alone 2 — Lost in New Jersey in theaters from Friday, December 19, where it'll play with The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants.
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| TMNT - Chrome Alone 2 - Lost in New Jersey | Paramount Pictures |
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES CHROME ALONE 2: LOST IN NEW JERSEY
Release Date: In Theatres: Dec 19th, 2025
Synopsis: When a mysterious toy company seeks to profit off the turtles’ new hero status, the brothers follow the clues to New Jersey and make a shocking discovery in this all new original short.
Director: Kent Seki
Cast: Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Nicolas Cantu, Brady Noon, Beck Bennett, Zach Woods
Legal: ©2025 Paramount Pictures. All Right Reserved.
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Originally published: October 10, 2025 at 00:28 BST.
