NECA TMNT
Question
How can a classic cartoon line evolve with new characters that still feel true to its original world?
Solution
Invisible Element partnered with NECA to help expand the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon action figure line—designing new characters and creating package illustrations that celebrate the series’ classic aesthetic while giving collectors something new to discover.
Client: NECA
Creative Director: Randy Falk / Trevor Zammit
Services: Product Design, Illustration
Discovery
NECA’s TMNT cartoon line has a passionate collector base that values authenticity and consistency. Every new release has to feel like it could have aired in the original cartoon. Working closely with Brand Director Trevor Zammit and NECA’s design team, Invisible Element explored ways to expand the universe through new “what-if” scenarios—figures that fit seamlessly alongside fan-favorite characters while keeping the sense of nostalgia intact.
We also recognized the importance of packaging as part of the collector experience. For many fans, the box art is as much a part of the product as the figure inside. Our goal was to design illustrations and layouts that honor that connection.
Process
Character & Toy Design
When the line began expanding beyond the original cartoon in 2019, Invisible Element contributed concept design and development for all-new figures that imagined where these characters might go next. This collaborative “what-if” approach allowed us to build new stories within the TMNT world while keeping them visually and tonally true to the source material.
Dark Leonardo
Developed with Brand Director Trevor Zammit, Dark Leonardo explores an alternate storyline where Shredder has gained control over Leonardo, turning him to the dark side. The design blended influences from the original cartoon with 1980s punk aesthetics, refining Trevor’s initial concept into a figure that clearly evolved from sketch to final sculpt.
When NECA and IDW later partnered to bring Dark Leonardo into the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures comic, the character took on a new life beyond the toy line—written by Erik Burnham, illustrated by Sarah Myer, and edited by Thea Cheuk, who also happens to be Jason’s cousin. NECA celebrated the reveal at New York Comic Con 2024, where Jason was invited as a special guest at their booth.
Space Adventure Donatello & Samurai Michelangelo
This two-pack introduced the first official figures from NECA’s “expanded cartoon” universe. Each design imagined the Turtles on different adventures—Donatello in space gear, Michelangelo in samurai armor—blending inspiration from classic episodes and vintage toys.
Initial sketches pulled references from multiple points in the series to ensure both designs felt grounded in the original show’s world. Beyond visuals, the design process also considered articulation, paint applications, and materials, resulting in figures engineered for both play and display. Accessories, easter eggs, and swappable parts gave collectors extra flexibility—and, of course, Jason made sure to grab four sets to complete the brothers in their adventure costumes.
Results
Invisible Element’s work helped expand NECA’s TMNT cartoon line in ways that feel natural to the universe—new characters, stories, and illustrations that carry the same spirit as the originals. The packaging became an extension of that storytelling, with expressive artwork and dynamic poses that capture each character’s personality.
For collectors, the experience goes beyond what’s inside the box—it’s about presentation, nostalgia, and the story that ties it all together.
