Interviews w/ Ninja Turtles Administrators

Choosing a favorite incarnation of the Turtles is a very very hard question for me since I love each version for a reason.  The original cartoon series for introducing me to the characters, the humor with the plots and the light heart stories for all ages.  The Mirage comics for the depths of serious situations the Turtles get into, the different art styles and the most realistic version of the Shredder.  The 4Kids series has the character growth that was seen in most of the series, trying to reach out to the adult fans by adapting the Mirage comics into the series, and Turtles Forever.  I can go on with each series like this, including the movies, the Next Mutation, and even the concerts.  Every version has something strong that pulls me to them.  Which is why I can not just choose one.

Who is your favorite Ninja Turtle and villain?

My favorite Turtle is Michaelangelo/Michelangelo.  In all but one version he pulled me with his personality.  He’s fun, creative, active and caring.  He’s smarter than he lets on.  Over all Mikey is a well grown character who I feel I can connect with.   My favorite villain is Dr. Quease from the Next Mutation series.  Seems like a strange answer, but I saw so much more room for growth with his character than he got.  With only a handful of episodes they were able to introduce him, show how evil he can be and get him to realize that he may want more from Donatello than he originally thought.  If the series went on, I would have loved to see if Quease himself grew in how he treated Don, wanting Donatello to be working with him.  That may be why I like him so much, a strong introduction with no solid path on where he went, only imagination on where he could go.

What inspired you to create a website based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?

Cowabunga Corner was started after I went through so many interviews for TV shows, newspapers, and radio.  Bits and pieces of who I was, got out to the world.  Some covered in lies.  I wanted to share my real story.  With old video footage of TMNT events long forgotten.  It started as just a youtube blog, though we decided to make a website for it.  Where reviews could be shared and more.  Really what I want most out of the site is sharing different stories from the creative teams behind the Ninja Turtles to the fans, new and old.  Everyone’s story deserves to be out there.  Which is why every season of the blog has guests and fan interviews.

What are your thoughts on current production on the 2014 film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?

My biggest disappointment with the new film is one many have stated, which is the fact that they are not going with costumes but motion capture.  I think it looses something to this.  Other than that I am trying not to judge, I did not read the script that was leaked, I never believed that they were going to be aliens, and I don’t really know who most of these actors being brought onto the film are.  Which is how I like it, I did not know who Paige Turco, Judith Hoag, Lief Tilden or even Ernie Reyes Jr. was till I saw the original TMNT Movies.  I am going into the movie with an open mind, I am excited that they are filming in New York City, and I think the closer we get the movies release date the more excited I’ll be about the movie over all.  Personally I did not think the TMNT 2007 movie was the best film ever, though it did not destroy the TMNT name for me or any other fan that I know.  So I do not think this movie will hurt Ninja Turtles, even if it’s not the best film.  Let’s just go for the ride and have fun.  Right now IDW and Nickelodeon new series has my attention as those are truly the current things out there for the fans.

If you can request one story idea for future TMNT films/shows, what would it be? Maybe something you’ve been waiting to see, imagine if you were speaking directly to Ciro Nieli or Jonathan Liebesman.

There are so many different stories that the Ninja Turtles could do.  One I would like that could make a fun episode for a tv series is an entire episode spent with the Turtles at New York City Comic Con.  With Mikey geeking out, with being costume characters.  This idea was lightly touched in the Back to the Sewers season from 4Kids.  Where the episode started at the Comic Convention.  Though there are so many great stories that can come from an event like this. One story would be a successful Martial Artist is at the convention as a guest for stunt work he’s done on movies.  Michelangelo knows his work well from films he saw and wants to meet him for an autograph.  When in line Mike witnesses as Foot Ninjas come to kidnap this star.  Mike is not able to act fast enough, without getting the attention of everyone in this area of the convention, the Foot is able to get away with the actor.  In research Leonardo and Donatello realize that he was Chris Bradford’s best student for many years, but left the Bradford Dojo’s two years ago for unknown reasons.  The Foot’s real reason for taking this actor is because they need more good fighters and Chris is planning to mutate his old student, so he can not say no. With the actor being held some where in the convention center and the police having the place on lock down, it is up to the Turtles to find and stop the Foot.