Rise of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles debuts later this year on Nickelodeon from director Rob Paulsen (TMNT Royalty) and executive producer Andy Suriano (Samurai Jack). The series stars the voice talents of Omar Miller, Ben Schwartz, Josh Brener, Brandon Mychal Smith, Kat Graham, John Cena and Eric Bauza.
Deep in the sewers of New York City, Raphael, Leonardo, Donatello, and Michelangelo are four mutant turtle brothers who go on adventures where they end up “tapping into mystic ninja powers they never knew existed”, while “learning” to work together as a team and navigate the perils of the modern age and hidden realms in order to fulfill their destiny to become a team of heroes”.
Look. I was one of those guys who complained about the new look the Ninja Turtles were getting on this upcoming 2-D series. I love the 2012 show and consider it to be the best incarnation of TMNT that there has ever been. Period. Following up on something I love so much – is already a big task and I’m sure that I’m not alone when it comes to that opinion. I want to like this new show. I like the oldschool references and I’m curious about the new villains (I think it’s time for new badguys to be honest) but I just… Can’t get over the look. It seems off.
I don’t know if that’s the influence of Samurai Jack creator Andy Suriano, but it makes for some blocky aesthetics that looks strange physically on Donatello or Raphael. Even in motion – I’m not convinced quite yet that this series will have that level of action that a beloved classic like Samurai Jack had. The voice acting feels OK aside from Leo – the decision to make him a rebel still puzzles me. I’m still on the fence, but my kids love the look and the new direction that Nickelodeon is taking TMNT – so maybe this is for them and it’s sadly no longer for us.