TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES - POP N° 1974 - Leonardo (Ooze Canister)

This Funko POP! Animation No. 1974 figurine depicts Leonardo, the iconic leader of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, in an ‘Ooze Canister’ scene. The shell-clad hero is depicted suspended inside a large container filled with green mutagen, an element directly associated with the origins and numerous adventures of the Ninja Turtles. 

The design differs from a classic POP! figure in its integrated setting. Leonardo is positioned inside a translucent cylindrical tank filled with a fluorescent green substance, whilst the top and bottom sections replicate the industrial look of a mutagen container. The figure retains the key features that make the character instantly recognisable, notably his green skin and his famous blue mask.

This design makes a direct reference to the ‘ooze’, the mutagen that plays a fundamental role in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles universe. In the 2012 Nickelodeon animated series, Splinter and his four turtles are transformed after being exposed to a mysterious green substance. The second series also features numerous containers of mutagen scattered across New York, which the heroes must track down before they cause further mutations.

With its integrated setting and a height of approximately 14 cm, this Ooze Canister version offers a more elaborate presentation than a standard POP! figure. It can be displayed on its own or alongside the other Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles figures released by Funko in this series dedicated to the mutagen.

Technical specifications

• Manufacturer: Funko
• Range / Collection: POP! Animation
• Number: No. 1974
• Licence: Nickelodeon
• Sub-licence: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
• Character: Leonardo
• Variant: Ooze Canister
• Type: Collectible POP! figurine with integrated display
• Height: approx. 14 cm
• Material: PVC
• Design: Leonardo suspended in a green mutagen container
• Main colours: green, blue, grey and clear
• Funko reference: 93151
• EAN: 0889698931519

Character background and lore

Leonardo, usually known as Leo, is one of the four Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles brothers, alongside Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo. He traditionally acts as the team’s leader and is characterised by his seriousness, discipline and devotion to the teachings of their master, Splinter. Nickelodeon describes him as the brother who devises the plans and constantly seeks to protect his family.

His signature colour is blue and his weapons of choice are katanas. Leonardo is also portrayed as a particularly disciplined fighter and an excellent strategist, qualities that naturally make him the group’s leader in most incarnations of the franchise. His first name pays homage to Leonardo da Vinci, in keeping with the tradition of naming the four Ninja Turtles after great Renaissance artists.

The origin of the Ninja Turtles is closely linked to the mutagen depicted in this figurine. In the 2012 Nickelodeon adaptation, Splinter comes into contact with a mysterious green substance whilst he is still living with his four turtles. Exposure to the mutagen transforms Splinter into a humanoid rat and Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo into humanoid turtles. He then raises them in the sewers of New York and trains them in the ways of the ninja.

The ‘Ooze Canister’ concept of this POP! figure therefore links Leonardo to one of the founding elements of the entire TMNT mythology. The container filled with green liquid is not merely a prop: it directly evokes the substance responsible for the heroes’ mutation and the many storylines in which the mutagen becomes a threat to the people of New York.