<P> Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a 1990 American martial arts superhero comedy film directed by Steve Barron . Based on the fictional superhero team of the same name, the story follows Splinter and the turtles, their meeting April O'Neil and Casey Jones, and their confrontation with Shredder and his Foot Clan . It stars Judith Hoag, Elias Koteas, and the voices of Brian Tochi, Robbie Rist, Corey Feldman, and Josh Pais . </P> <P> The film is an adaptation of the early Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics, with several elements taken from the animated TV series airing at the time . The turtle costumes were developed by Jim Henson's Creature Shop, one of Henson's last projects before his death shortly after the premiere . </P> <P> Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles became the highest - grossing independent film at the time, the ninth - highest - grossing film worldwide of 1990, and the highest - grossing film in the series until the 2014 reboot . It was followed by two sequels, The Secret of the Ooze in 1991 and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III in 1993 . </P> <P> As a crime wave rises in New York City, reporter April O'Neil covers the mysterious ninja Foot Clan . The Shredder, the Foot leader, orders April silenced . She is attacked by the Foot in a subway and knocked unconscious . Raphael, one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, emerges from the shadows, defeats the Foot, and carries her to the turtles' hideout, unaware that one of the Foot is following him . Splinter, their rat master, explains to April that he and the turtles were once ordinary animals, but were mutated into intelligent creatures by toxic waste . After the turtles escort April home, they find their hideout ransacked and Splinter kidnapped . They return to April's apartment and spend the night there . </P>

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