Shredder's Mom

Shredder's Mom is an episode from season 4 (1990) of the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon series. The episode was produced by Kara Vallow and written by Ted Pederson & Francis Moss. The episode deals with global warming, an issue which gained less attention back in 1990 compared to today (as of 2012).

Plot synopsis


Krang and the Shredder demand to the governments of all the countries on the Earth surrender to them. When the governments reject, Krang and the Shredder set up a massive orbiting mirror in Dimension X to bath the Earth in a steaming heat. The extensive heat causes the polar ice to melt and also starts to evaporate the world's water supply.

When the Shredder's mother Miyoko hears about her son's plans from her retired home for villains, she decides to join him.

The Ninja Turtles get help from General Yogure and together board a space shuttle to go to Dimension X to stop Krang and the Shredder. Before they leave, Splinter gives Donatello an abacus because the computers on board the shuttle may not work. In Dimension X, the TMNT end up in the radiation beam which disables the computers on board the ship. However, Donatello manages to determine an escape route with the abacus Splinter handed him.

When they finally arrive at the Technodrome, Miyoko had set up obstacles in the form of cardboard signs; one of which says it leads to the control room, but actually leads to a garbage compactor. Eventually, the Turtles find their way into the real control room, where Miyoko traps them in a force field. Donatello tries to contact General Yogure to help them, but he ends up captured by Bebop and Rocksteady. Learning from Donatello that Miyoko seems to be infatuated with him, Yogure distracts her by seducing her and trapping her in a force field. This gives the TMNT time enough to destroy the massive orbiting mirror. The TMNT and general Yogure then leave Dimension X and return home to Earth just as the dimensional portal closes.

The Shredder gets tired of his mother because she treats him like a baby, so he transports her back to the retirement home. Back in the sewers, Splinter gives the Turtles a lesson about how faulty modern technology can be.

Character voices

 * Leonardo (Cam Clarke)
 * Donatello (Barry Gordon)
 * Raphael (Rob Paulsen)
 * Michelangelo  (Townsend Coleman)
 * Splinter (Peter Renaday)
 * April O'Neil (Renae Jacobs)
 * Shredder (James Avery)
 * Krang (Pat Fraley)
 * Bebop (Barry Gordon)
 * Rocksteady (Cam Clarke)
 * Miyoko Saki (Jennifer Darling)
 * General Yogure (Pat Fraley)
 * Fort Lauderdale Guard (Peter Renaday)
 * Professor Higgins
 * United World Plaza Ambassador (Barry Gordon)

Breaking the fourth wall
This episode breaks the fourth wall when Michaelangelo asks, "Didn't we do this in another episode?" as the Turtles are about to be crushed.

Pop culture references

 * The trash compactor that the Turtles are trapped in partly mimmicks the trash compactor scene from "Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope" with even Donatello jimmying the walls shut like Han Solo did in the movie.

Errors

 * Raphael is missing one of his sais from his belt when he's talking to Leonardo before the Turtles head into the garbage crushing room, and happens again in one shot after they enter it.
 * When Miyoko said the Techndrome was a dump the top of Bebop's mohawk was coloured brown.
 * Raphael's letter on his belt is coloured white after the Turtles crouch on the floor and trip Bebop and Rocksteady over through the door.
 * When Miyoko said "What a dump!" the top of Bebop's mowhawk was coloured brown.

Locations

 * Turtle Lair
 * Technodrome
 * Dimension X asteroid
 * Fort Lauderdale Home For Retired Villains