To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT), the beloved characters are coming to Melbourne in an exhibition that opens on Friday 8 November at the District Docklands.
The TMNT: Heroes in a Half Shell Exhibition is an immersive experience that boasts five individual galleries that take visitors on a journey through the rich history of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise.
Director of Licensing and Consumer Products at Paramount Australia, Christie Scandura, said: “Celebrating the 40th anniversary of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an important milestone for us, and we are thrilled to present an exhibition that not only honours their rich history but also showcases their evolution as cultural icons.”
“This immersive experience promises to engage fans of all ages and remind us all why the Turtles have remained in our hearts for four decades,” she said.
Exhibition highlights include:
- Projection gallery: An immersive cinematic experience featuring a 30+ minute show that explores the evolution of TMNT storytelling through archival footage, character exploration, and fan perspectives.
- Art gallery: Featuring 40 new artworks from 20 creatives, celebrating TMNT‘s enduring legacy through a skate-themed art display.
- Vintage memorabilia gallery: Showcasing a treasure trove of TMNT collectibles thanks to Melbourne’s Lobos Collectables, including original action figures and rare memorabilia, providing insights into the franchise’s cultural impact.
- Arcade zone: A nostalgic space filled with classic TMNT arcade games from the 1980s and 1990s, allowing visitors to play iconic games. Also showcased is the newest console release Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed from Outright Games.
- Pizza-rama gift shop: A fully immersive merchandise store styled as a pizza shop, offering TMNT products, including limited edition prints, stickers, T-shirts and toys, with rotating merchandise throughout the exhibition period run by Pop Cultcha.
Curator Eddie Zammit said: “This exhibition is a unique opportunity to delve into Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ evolution from its comic book origins to its now iconic place in pop culture.”
“We have created an experience that combines nostalgia with fresh innovation, letting visitors explore the Turtles’ influence on art, gaming, and storytelling. I’m thrilled for fans to immerse themselves in the creativity and passion woven into every part of this showcase.”
Melbourning was given a sneak peek of the exhibition on Wednesday night. One Gen X older sister took her Elder Millennial younger brother along and they instantly reverted to childhood roles: he loved everything Ninja Turtles and she complained about the Ninja Turtles (until she was sidetracked by the nostalgic TNMT pinball machine, that is).
Our verdict: definitely one for the fans – and luckily there are plenty of hardcore TNMT devotees out there, past, present and emerging.
TMNT: Heroes in a Half Shell Exhibition is presented by Paramount Consumer Products & Experiences. You can see it at The District Docklands – 440 Docklands Drive, Docklands – from Friday 8 November until Sunday 22 December 2024. Tickets available here.
