Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fan creates brutal Raphael fight scene

Jon Likens released a two-minute test footage featuring Raphael from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles that surpasses all his previous work in scope and detail. The animator has spent years creating short animations with the Turtles, gradually approaching a darker and more realistic vision of the franchise – this new scene became the longest and most elaborate piece he's done since his Donatello and Leonardo projects.

The action unfolds in a grimy subway station, where Raphael bursts into frame without any buildup and immediately engages a squad of heavily armed Foot Clan soldiers. Bullets ricochet off his shell – a subtle nod to the turtles' genetic superiority that doesn't look ridiculous or over-the-top.

Raphael is in his element: blocking swords before unleashing powerful kicks and throws on his opponents. One throw clearly references the 90s film, after which the turtle completely loses it – in the best possible way.

Visually, Likens uses dynamic angles – the camera smoothly descends to ground level, emphasizing the turtle's speed while capturing close-ups of his face to showcase emotions. For model creation, the animator employed a combination of Cinema 4D, Maya and Blender, achieving sharp and detailed imagery in all the right aspects.

Likens has deep knowledge of TMNT and worked on visual effects for Deadpool and Wolverine, making this brief Raphael moment his calling card for the industry.