In order to work well as a team, Splinter chooses Leonardo as their leader, they are able to save April but not Kirby and become friends regardless.

On October 21, 2009, a press release was made indicating that Viacom had bought the complete rights of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise from Peter Laird for $60 million.

The images showed the designs of all four Turtles, Shredder, Splinter, a teenage April O'Neil and the Kraang, an alien race that combines elements of both Krang and the Utroms.

Later, wanting to spend time with April, Donatello accompanies her in investigating the disappearance of Dr. Tyler Rockwell, a neuroscientist presumably kidnapped by the Kraang.

The Turtles and April capture the monkey, realizing that he is actually a mutated Rockwell, who has developed psychic powers from his experiments on the mutagen.