Costume Michelangelo (Mikey) – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows
My costume is Michelangelo (Mikey) from the CGI film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows. My goal was to recreate the character as accurately as possible while maintaining a realistic, lifelike appearance rather than a cartoon-like look.
The bodysuit was constructed from scratch, beginning with a base suit to which individually carved, muscle-shaped pieces of upholstery foam were added. Each foam piece was enclosed in a fabric pocket and sewn onto the suit to create the character’s muscular physique. Once the muscles were in place, a second, thinner bodysuit was fitted over the entire structure to provide a surface for the skin-texturing process.
To create the realistic reptilian skin, I applied silicone mixed with small amounts of acrylic paint in three different shades of green. Because the silicone cured quickly once mixed with the paint, the application had to be completed in small sections. The first layer was applied in approximately four-inch sections, and reptilian skin patterns were carefully scored into the surface. The additional shades of green were then incorporated to create depth, variation, and contrast. This same technique was used to create the mask and hands, ensuring a consistent skin texture and colour throughout the costume.
The mask was built around a helmet and a Halloween mask, which served as the underlying framework. Thin layers of carved upholstery foam were added to develop the shape and structure. Fabric was then sewn over the foam, carefully shaped, and hand-stitched into place to achieve the character’s facial features and overall appearance.
The chest shell was constructed using layered EVA foam. For the back shell, I repurposed a baby bathtub to form the initial framework. The structure was covered in expanding spray foam, which was carved and shaped to achieve the desired contours. A layer of papier-mâché was then applied, followed by additional carving, painting, and sealing with marine varnish for a durable finish.
The clothing was created using repurposed garments, adapted to match the character’s appearance in the film. To replicate Mikey’s distinctive footwear, I used two pairs of actual Converse sneakers, cutting and re-sewing the shoes to recreate the unusual half-sneaker design seen on the character in the movie.
The finishing accessories—including the sunglasses, necklace, backpack, CB radio, and nunchucks—were purchased separately to complete the look.
Overall, this costume combined foam carving, sewing, silicone application, texturing, sculpting, painting, and repurposed materials to bring Mikey to life. Each element was carefully considered to capture the character’s distinctive design while achieving a realistic, three-dimensional appearance inspired by the film.
https://youtu.be/-8_OpX5Ww_Q?is=bZ6lWxgfJ5P5zdfI
https://youtube.com/shorts/bVY9E_HpwM0?is=DoEXAv0eoDTWoX7r
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