TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: CHROME ALONE 2 - LOST IN NEW JERSY First Look - The Turtles Get Stranded Across the River

The heroes in a half shell are back, but this time, they’ve traded the familiar sewers of New York for the unpredictable streets of New Jersey.

The upcoming animated short Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Chrome Alone 2 - Lost in New Jersey, directed by Kent Seki, throws the turtles into new territory, delivering a wild mix of slapstick comedy, stylized animation, and a surprising dose of heart.

The story kicks off when a mysterious toy company starts exploiting the turtles’ rising fame. Following the clues leads Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael across the Hudson, and into a mystery that’s bigger than they expect.

“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.”

Chrome Alone 2 - Lost in New Jersey carries on the spirit of what fans love about the franchise with high-energy martial arts action and goofy, self-aware humor, while adding a fresh twist. According to Seki, the tone pays tribute to the chaotic fun of 1990s family comedies but stays grounded for modern audiences.

“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’s worked in both live action and animation, said this short gave him a chance to bring his own sensibilities into the world of TMNT while keeping everything fans adore intact.

“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.”

I love the visual style of this Ninja Turtles franchise. The characters are drawn with exaggerated style and attitude, set against gritty, photorealistic backdrops.

“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,” Seki explained.

While this is a short film, Seki hints it could lead to more unexpected adventures. “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.”

I’ll be looking foward to wathing this!