In the 1990 live-action film, which quartet of anthropomorphic crime-fighters, trained in ninjutsu by their rat sensei, Splinter, must save New York City from the Shredder and his Foot Clan?

In the 1990 live-action film, the crime-fighting quartet described are indeed the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Review). These four anthropomorphic turtles, named Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael, were mutated into intelligent, bipedal beings by a mysterious chemical ooze and trained in the art of ninjutsu by their rat sensei, Splinter. Their mission in the film is to protect New York City from the nefarious Shredder and his Foot Clan, who are recruiting troubled teenagers to commit crimes across the city.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise began as a black-and-white comic book created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird in 1984. Originally intended as a one-shot parody of popular superhero comics, its unexpected success led to an ongoing series and quickly branched out into animated television shows, toys, and films. The 1990 movie was a significant success, becoming one of the highest-grossing independent films of its time.

A notable aspect of the 1990 film was its reliance on practical effects, with Jim Henson's Creature Shop developing the intricate turtle costumes that allowed actors to embody the characters. These suits, while advanced for their time, were heavy and physically demanding for the performers, contributing to the film's grounded and somewhat darker tone, which was closer to the original comics than the often more lighthearted animated series. The enduring appeal of the Turtles lies in their distinct personalities, their strong bond as brothers, and their blend of martial arts action with humor.