Say goodbye to 3D animated turtles, on TV at least. Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will be a return to the traditional 2D animation style. But that doesn’t mean that this is going to look like the classic series.
Nickelodeon’s new run of the show will feature executive producer Andy Suriano, who worked on the critically acclaimed Samurai Jack series. Like many of the classic franchises returning to traditional animation, there’s definitely a more modern sensibility to the design choices, with harder, more angular lines and vibrant expressions. Here’s the official synopsis of the show:
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.
In terms of cast, there are a lot of fun additions from various TV shows. There’s Omar Miller as Raphael, Ben Schwartz as Leonardo, Josh Brener as Donatello, Brandon Mychal Smith as Michelangelo, Kat Graham as April O’Neil and Eric Bauza as Splinter. Most of the characters have remained the same, though April O’Neil is no longer a journalist but a young “street savvy” (Nickelodeon’s words, not mine) African-American teen.
There’s no footage just yet, just the single still you see above, but one can only hope that Nickelodeon will continue the excellent legacy of the shows that came before it.
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will premiere sometime in 2018.
