TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES - POP N°1972 - Donatello (Ooze Canister)

This Funko POP! Animation No. 1972 figurine depicts Donatello, one of the four heroes of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, in a scene directly inspired by the mutagen that created the famous Ninja Turtles. Dubbed ‘Ooze Canister’, this version places Donatello inside a large container filled with green mutagenic substance. Funko states that it stands approximately 14 cm tall.

The design stands out from classic POP! figures thanks to its integrated setting. Donatello appears suspended inside a transparent cylindrical tank filled with a fluorescent green liquid, whilst the top and base replicate the industrial look of a mutagen tank. The figurine retains the character’s distinctive features, notably his purple mask and green skin.

This design directly references the ‘ooze’, the mutagenic substance inextricably linked to the origin of the Ninja Turtles. In various adaptations of the franchise, this mysterious liquid causes the mutations that transform ordinary turtles into humanoid heroes. Nickelodeon, in particular, described the origin story of its 2012 series as Splinter and his four turtles coming into contact with a mysterious green mutagenic substance.

With its more elaborate design than a standard POP! figure and its display base forming an integral part of the figure, this ‘Ooze Canister’ version is particularly well-suited to display. It can be displayed alongside the other Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from the same series, as Funko also offers Leonardo, Michelangelo and the other team members in similar presentations.

Technical specifications

• Manufacturer: Funko
• Range / Collection: POP! Animation
• Number: No. 1972
• Licence: Nickelodeon
• Sub-licence: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
• Character: Donatello
• Variant: Ooze Canister
• Type: Collectible POP! figure with integrated display
• Height: approx. 14 cm
• Design: Donatello suspended in a green mutagen canister
• Main colours: green, purple, grey and clear
• Funko reference: 93152
• EAN: 0889698931526

Character background and lore

Donatello, often nicknamed Donnie, is one of the four Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles brothers, alongside Leonardo, Raphael and Michelangelo. He is distinguished primarily by his intelligence, his talent for mechanics and technology, and his analytical mind. Nickelodeon describes him as brilliant and inventive, capable of anticipating problems and putting his knowledge to good use for the benefit of his team.

His signature colour is purple and his weapon of choice is the bō, a long staff which he wields as a combat weapon. Throughout the various incarnations of TMNT, Donatello is regularly portrayed as the group’s inventor, building or repairing the equipment used by his brothers.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird and first appeared in a comic book published in May 1984. The franchise has since expanded to include numerous animated series, films, video games and merchandise.

The choice of the ‘Ooze Canister’ for this figurine is a direct reference to the mutagen, which plays a central role in the Turtles’ story. In the 2012 Nickelodeon series, Splinter and his four turtles come into contact with a mysterious green substance that causes their mutation; other episodes also feature containers of mutagen scattered across New York, capable of creating new mutants. This POP! figurine thus transforms one of the founding elements of the TMNT mythology into a backdrop surrounding Donatello.