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There's A New 'Ninja Turtles' Cartoon Coming, And They've Made Some Big Changes
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been around for decades now, but every few years they try to bring it back and change it up. Of course, there is nothing that will ever beat the original, but given the world's current obsession with reboots it was only a matter of time before they tried something new.
There has been a 3D style television show running for a while, but now Nickelodeon is going back to basics with a 2D animated series! Similar in style to to the recent DuckTales revival, they are reverting to the classic 2D animation that we all grew up watching.
The new series will be called Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and will premiere in 2018, but we have finally learned a little bit more about what the new plan is, including the cast!
The show's synopsis has been released by Nickelodeon and they have made a few changes to the story we know and love.
"Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles follows Raphael, Leonardo, Donatello and Michelangelo on all-new adventures as they seek to unlock the mystical secrets of New York City. From the tallest skyscraper to the dankest sewer drain, the Turtles will encounter absurd new mutants and battle bizarre creatures all while enjoying their favorite slice of pizza. Tapping into mystic, ninja powers they never knew existed, the four brothers must learn to work together and navigate the perils of the modern age and hidden realms in order to fulfill their destiny to become a team of heroes."
So while it sounds pretty much like every other Ninja Turtle show, they are going to have some new "ninja powers" that are a little more mystical and magical. The other big change is who will be the leader of the group!
The group dynamics have shifted a little bit. This is what Nickelodeon has said about the characters.
"Raphael, as the oldest and physically biggest brother, he is now the leader and his enthusiasm and bravado puts him front and center for most of their bizarre adventures." Raphael will be voiced by Omar Miller.
"Leonardo, the self-professed ‘coolest’ brother possesses irreverent charm and a rebel heart." Leonardo will be voiced by DuckTales reboot alum, Ben Schwartz.
"Donatello, an unflappable mechanical genius and tech wizard whose ninja skills are second only to his coding." Donatello will be voiced by Josh Brener.
"Michelangelo, the youngest brother, an artist and awesome skateboarder with a wild colorful, and imaginative personality." Michelangelo will be voiced by Brandon Mychal Smith.
"April O’Neil, a street savvy native New Yorker who is always ready to join in the fun." April will be voiced by Kat Graham.
Splinter will still be there too, and will be voiced by Eric Bauza.
Cyma Zarghami, President, Nickelodeon Group is excited for the project, saying that “[The Ninja Turtles are] a property that has reinvention in its DNA, which keeps it fresh and relevant to every new generation while satisfying the demand from its adult fans. [The Ninja Turtles have] been an incredibly important franchise for us since we reignited it five years ago, and we’re excited for the new series to take the characters in a different direction with more humor, a younger and lighter feel and all-new dimensions to explore.”