Nickelodeon revamps and reimagines the classic characters for a new 26-episode 2D series set to debut later this year.
Nickelodeon is bringing back an old favorite with a new series titled 'Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.'
BURBANK, CALIF. -- Nickelodeon has revealed a first-look at the characters in its new animated series Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a 2D-animated series that debuts later this year on Nickelodeon.
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reimagines the classic characters in a new way, featuring jagged-shelled Raphael as a snapping turtle, wielding twin tonfas as his weapons; Leonardo as a red-eared slider, using an ōdachi sword; Donatello as a soft-shell turtle, sporting a tech-bo staff; and Michelangelo as a box turtle, arming himself with a kusari-fundo. Along for the adventure is the Turtles’ most trusted ally, April O’Neil, a street savvy native New Yorker and Splinter, father figure and sensei to the turtles.
The series stars the voice talent of Omar Miller (Ballers) as Raphael, Ben Schwartz (Parks and Recreation) as Leonardo, Josh Brener (Silicon Valley) as Donatello, Brandon Mychal Smith (You’re The Worst) as Michelangelo, Kat Graham (The Vampire Diaries) as April O’Neil and Eric Bauza (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) as Splinter. WWE Superstar John Cena lends his voice as villain, Baron Draxum, an alchemist warrior mutant who seeks to turn all of humanity into mutants.
The new 26-episode series is co-executive produced by Andy Suriano (character designer, Samurai Jack) and Ant Ward (supervising producer, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) at Nickelodeon in Burbank. Veteran animation industry voice actor Rob Paulsen is voice directing the series.
Considered one of the most popular kids’ television programs of the 1980s, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a classic, global property created in 1984 by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. It first debuted as a successful comic book series and then became a hit animated TV show, a live-action television series and later spawned numerous blockbuster theatrical releases. The property is a global consumer products powerhouse, winning in every category that has hit shelves to date -- with toys, apparel, video games, DVDs and more -- and generating billions of dollars at retail. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has been the No. 1 action figure for the past three years and the franchise is a previous recipient of the Toy Industry Association’s top honor for Property of the Year at the TOTY Awards.
Source: Nickelodeon
Tom McLean has been writing for years about animation from a secret base in Los Angeles.
