Home News Nickelodeon Officially Cancels TMNT Series, Plans Replacement in 2018

Nickelodeon Officially Cancels TMNT Series, Plans Replacement in 2018

by Justin W
It looks like the current version of our heroes in a half shell will only be around for about 20 more episodes. Image Source: Nickelodeon

Although there have been rumors about the eventual demise of Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, nothing had been officially confirmed until now. In a tweet from the official TMNT account owned by Nickelodeon, they announced that there would be an entirely new TMNT series coming in 2018. After being pressed on the issue, they confirmed that Season 5 would be the final season for the current animated series, stating that there are still 20 episodes left which will air throughout 2017.

It’s definitely sad to hear that one of the greatest interpretations of our heroes in a half shell has been cancelled, but at least they have plans to replace it with something a little different. The initial tweet described a 2D cartoon which will replace the current CGI animated series, so we can probably expect a somewhat different look for the turtles. The current working title for this project is “Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” and it will be co-executive produced by Andy Suriano & Ant Ward.

Suriano is a well known name in the business, having worked on such shows as Samurai Jack, The Powerpuff Girls and The Fairly OddParents. Ward may be more familiar as a producer for none other than Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It’s clear that they are going to take an alternative approach to the TMNT, but we still don’t know exactly what that will look like. What we do know so far is that they have at least chosen two excellent creative minds to work on Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Unfortunately, Nickelodeon hasn’t provided any other details about their plans for the future of this franchise. As such, we are left wondering if any additional talent from the current animated series will be carried over into this cartoon. For a lot of fans, these voice actors have pretty much become the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, so it would be sad to see them replaced for the new 2D animated series. I’m sure most of us would also like to see the writers and creators behind Nick’s TMNT take on some kind of role with this project.

Sadly, we’ll just have to wait and see what happens next with Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. While we’re waiting, we still have 20 more episodes of the CGI animated series to watch. According to Playmates Toys, the last season will be split up into 4 story archs over the course of 2017. One of these “Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” has already begun with Super Shredder’s appearance. Additional plans include a samurai adventure including Usagi Yojimbo, a narrative where the turtles turn into classic monsters, and a short 3-episode story featuring Bebop and Rocksteady.

When I heard that Nickelodeon might cancel the current show, I was left wondering what they were thinking. Given the success of the series, it was confusing to hear such substantiated rumors about the potential cancellation of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Now that the truth has been revealed, it’s clear that they had a plan to continue working with this franchise all along. Needless to say, I’m very happy to see that the network didn’t just ditch one of their biggest properties!

Are you disappointed about the cancellation of Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? Are you excited about their new 2D animated series entitled Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? Share your thoughts either in the comments below or on Facebook/Twitter.

You may also like

54 comments

*NormalGamer* March 2, 2017 - 9:43 pm

I’ll wait til we see some concept art of the 2018 show to get an idea of what this next 2D iteration of TMNT is.

It seems TMNT 2012 had a good run while it lasted.

Supporter March 2, 2017 - 9:46 pm

“It’s definitely sad to hear that one of the greatest interpretations of our heroes in a half shell has been cancelled”

I never really clicked with this series and it got pretty weird for me after season one, so I’m always surprised/confused when people call it one of the greatest versions of the Turtles. It was just really silly with too many mutants and then went really dark and creepy so I’ve left out of the TMNT fun for years now.

With this new series, I’m happy that there might be a chance for me to get back into the Turtles. It sounds more light-hearted and humorous whereas I would like a gritter, more grounded series, but I’m up for this show if it’s good.

Some people are already comparing it to Teen Titans Go which I think is really jumping to conclusions with so little info. I remember when fans were fearful of Nickelodeon taking over and were say Turtles Forever was the last Turtles project before Nickelodeon would potentially ruin the brand.

At the very least, TMNT 2012 fans still have one more season to watch.

Jaros Bodytko March 3, 2017 - 6:29 pm

Maybe the Nick show meshes especially good with 80’s kids, myself being one of them. Much of the weirdness is exactly what appeals to our generation who grew up with movies like Gremlins or Big Trouble in Little China and Beetlejuice, to name a few. And I do think this is the best version so far. I just don’t like the 2003 Turtles for many reasons, no matter how dark they are. Anyways, sad to see this show end but I’m glad it ends on a high note instead of being dragged out too long.

Supporter March 3, 2017 - 8:08 pm

Well, thanks for your opinion. The weirdness of the 80s never appealed to me and I like the focus on the ninja aspects and adaptations of the comic stories in TMNT 2003 over the mutants and aliens that seem to get more focus in TMNT 2012.

TigerClaw305 March 2, 2017 - 10:25 pm

The new series is gonna have more humor and be more lighthearted, and will appeal to younger viewers

Tao Jones T.jones March 5, 2017 - 2:27 pm

So pandering and insulting their intelligence? If that is the case, I sadly woiunldn’t surprise considering half the cartoons that are being shown right now.

vgiannell5 March 2, 2017 - 11:23 pm

Would’ve been better if this new series is a sequel to the 2012 series with a mix of both 2d and 3d just like
Transformers Prime and the 2015 Robots in Disguise.

Erik Larsen June 7, 2017 - 7:21 am

i loved the shit out of transformers prime it was amazing but the animation for robots in disguise isnt that great

Spyda-Man March 2, 2017 - 11:54 pm

Say what!!!!!?

A.T. Rips August 28, 2017 - 8:03 pm

Say heeeeeey!

Fabiano Da Costa Höltz March 3, 2017 - 6:58 am

I’m sad…One of the greatest cartoons of all time, one of the best interpretations of the turtles it’s finished!! Damm it!!!!

Erik Larsen June 7, 2017 - 7:18 am

im glad i dont watch nick anymore or cartoon network cause quality on both networks have gone down hill and went up shit creek

Frank November 12, 2017 - 5:36 pm

Fuck you this series was great

Erik Larsen November 28, 2017 - 5:57 am

dude i loved the 2012 series of tmnt i dont hate it dumbass i just hate how both networks arent getting great shows anymore like cartoon network is doing worse than nick right now all they mostly show is teen titans no

Sam March 3, 2017 - 1:35 pm

I’m crying,….. I don’t want the show to end,…. WHYYYYY NICKELODEON!!!!!

Donovan David Dietzman March 3, 2017 - 3:02 pm

Thats a bummer but since it is a great series even though hard to follow since you never know when new episodes are going to be on due to starting and stopping throughout the season

Ian Manning March 3, 2017 - 3:55 pm

I’ll miss this series, it actually brought back my faith in the franchise, especially after Saban and 4Kids raped the franchise. Honestly though, I don’t see the ‘new 2D’ show as any better because the reboot just seems to remind me of the Powerpuff Girls reboot and the Teen Titans reboot…TERRIBLE. So I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed for the 2012 series and hope for the best for the team who worked on the show. I was actually hoping for Jim Cummings to voice a famous villain, or Dregg to return and make a scene like he did in the old 80’s series. Hell, I was hoping for a surprise like Monica Rial or Christopher R. Sabat, but disappointment trends. Maybe the 2012 team will consider TMNT theatrical films? I would LOVE to see them attempt to make a turtle film to rival Batman: Mask of the Phantasm and Disney’s Beauty & the Beast (90’s).

Supporter March 3, 2017 - 8:15 pm

I hope this new series brings back my faith in the franchise the same way the current show did for you. I really enjoyed the action-packed adventures of the 4Kids series with the awesome comic adaptations as well. The new show isn’t for me and a few other fans I’ve seen so hopefully we can come back and fans of the current show don’t feel left out like I have over the past few years.

As for the new show being a reboot, I think it’s just the next instalment of a TMNT show the same way TMNT 2012 could be seen as a reboot of TMNT 2003 or TMNT 2003 could be seen as a reboot of the 1987 series.

The immediate comparison to Teen Titans Go people have made seem judgement based on very little information. There’s almost always fears of a new show instead of optimism. We’ll see how it turns out. If it’s like the TMNT Half-Shell Heroes: Blast to the Past special, I won’t mind.

Erik Larsen June 7, 2017 - 7:19 am

dude the 2003 series was amazing i loved the story it had

Jay Nicolosi September 10, 2017 - 10:28 am

4Kids RAPED the franchise?!? Dafuq you smoking bruh

Totaldrama Icequeen March 3, 2017 - 4:11 pm

I’m upset that the turtles I’ve grown up with is ending. But I personally hope that the 2018 series won’t be like Teen Titans Go, and that the cast reprises their roles

Erik Larsen June 7, 2017 - 7:16 am

i bet it will be a teen titans no cause they do this shit all the time

NUMBER ONE TMNT FAN March 3, 2017 - 10:37 pm

DANG! I didnt think we would get any info like this for awhile! And that reboot is coming super fast! Boy, am i happy about that! i was sure it would end after season 5. But i was sure we would have to go through a few sad years before we ever saw the next generation. 2K12 was truly the greatest iteration, and it has been quite an amazing ride. I hope it goes out with a bang! TURTLE POWAAAAAAHHHH!!!!

Peach Bubbles March 3, 2017 - 11:37 pm

OH MY POOR SENSITIVE AND SQUISHY HEART!!!!
ONE OF THE GREATEST SHOWS WITH BEAUTIFUL EMOTIONAL STORIES ABOUT FAMILY INCLUDING EPIC BATTLES, JUST FREAKING ENDING! *cries in the corner* oh this can’t be happening!
I’m just hoping that the next series is as similar as the last one that i adore and love with all my heart from it’s animation to the talented voice actors! I’m just hoping…. ;-;

Matthew Chow March 3, 2017 - 11:46 pm

It’s really sad that they’re cancelling this great series and that I can’t imagine what the 2D version is going to look like. Hoping to see more of this series more.

Janusz Bolbotowski November 8, 2017 - 7:26 pm

You know, I would like to see the 2018 series, but I hope there could be the revival of the 2012 series.

Peach Bubbles March 3, 2017 - 11:53 pm

w-what if it’s like one of those reboots that don’t make any sense like t-t-TEEN TITANS GO!?!? *Crying even harder*
Though I don’t think that will actually happen
IT’S TMNT PEOPLE! No one would ruin tmnt like they did with the teen titans

TMNTBravestDolphinAlexis September 10, 2017 - 10:22 am

YAH I AGREE. WHY. WHY. MUST THEY DO THIS!

Jay Nicolosi March 4, 2017 - 7:48 am

New cast please *fingers crossed* 🐢

TMNTBravestDolphinAlexis September 10, 2017 - 10:23 am

Why would ya want a new cast

Jay Nicolosi September 10, 2017 - 10:27 am

Because I do. Each incarnation must be its own thing. Pull from the original comics but be its own thing. Also Eric Bauza needs to be the Shredder

TMNTBravestDolphinAlexis September 10, 2017 - 10:29 am

…But I like the cast……………………….

Jay Nicolosi September 10, 2017 - 10:31 am

And? There have been arguably 8 different casts for these characters. This show was fun (well…after it figured out what it was doing) but it’s ending. No más.

TMNTBravestDolphinAlexis September 10, 2017 - 6:37 pm

You just made me even more sad😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Jay Nicolosi October 9, 2017 - 10:07 pm

Are you sad every time someone new plays Batman? Or Spider-Man? Way more people have been recast for those two…

TMNTBravestDolphinAlexis October 10, 2017 - 5:26 pm

First off I don’t like Spider-Man but yes I am very disappointed that some of the really good Batman’s aren’t the Batman’s now.

notsosmartguy March 9, 2017 - 5:23 am

That’s a shame as I kinda was hoping we’d get another season in the tales of the tmnt style. I really hope its a continuation of the current show.

Jay Nicolosi September 10, 2017 - 10:32 am

Handle checks out.

Erik Larsen June 7, 2017 - 7:15 am

no this is horrible now i have lost faith in nick now thyere ruining the tmnt series now im done with nick since they cancelled the 2012 series so im done with them

Francisco Sanchez Mercado June 16, 2017 - 1:26 am

I think that its cancelled, cuz for innapropiate content for the network, requiem and owari for example.

A.T. Rips August 28, 2017 - 8:03 pm

first of all, there was not anything inappropriate regarding those episodes.
2- if there was, care to elaborate

TMNTBravestDolphinAlexis September 10, 2017 - 9:58 am

Why are they doin this a lot of people and kids love this show. I love the show.
This show showed me stuff that I have never seen be for.
This show is my passion.
There are so many possibilities thus show can cast. The person who plays raph I love, the person that plays Leo I love, the person that plays Donnie I love, and the person that plays Mikester I love. The creators that made these turtles exist have made have so many personalities.

I….I just can’t Handel….that they are going to make a brand new show of this, when there are so and when I mean so I mean soooooooo my possibilities that the show could never end.

Now I will miss the show but I just want ta say I love all the people that are in the show. But I’m not very happy that are quittin the show.

Well see ya. GOODBYE!😀

TMNTBravestDolphinAlexis September 10, 2017 - 10:20 am

Oh and by the way Raphael is the best tmnt creator! You need to make him look really cute in the new version!

Austyn September 25, 2017 - 11:53 pm

I’m disappointed by this. Especially with how disappointing season 5 has been. The fact that they killed Splinter and Shredder in the previous season made this season something to look forward to. I was looking forward to seeing how the gang moved on. Not just The Turtles, but the rest too. How did Karai/Miwa deal with losing the father she’d just found? Who would train April? How do the turtles mesh now that Splinter’s not there to hold them together? Raph frequently challenged Leo’s leadership in the past. Would he continue to do so, maybe even going further now that Splinter isn’t there to guide him?

What eps we have gotten feel like nothing but filler. First a 4-parter that teased but (thank goodness) didn’t bring Splinter back.

Then a 2-perter that set up a lot of new stories with Bishop and Mona Lisa, that will evidently never pay off.

The 3 Usagi episodes were great, but didn’t advance the story an, and felt disjointed.

The flashback episode was cool, but again, didn’t advance anything.

The 3-part episode in the future was the worst. The only thing they did that wasn’t predictable was not having them go back in time to stop everything. The whole thing played out like a lame mashup of Mad Max and Water World with Ninja Turtles characters. I’d also like to know what happened to April in this future. Because of her status as a human/kraaang hybrid, she’d have been imune to the mutagen bomb and thus the only remaining “human” in New York. Also, what happened to the rest of the world? One mutagen bomb going off in New York wouldn’t wipe out all of humanity. Even if there were multiple mutagen bombs, or if this one covered the earth, then April’s story would be more important as she’d be the last “human” on earth.

The last things it looks like we’ll be getting are a couple more crossovers. First with a couple classic movie monsters, then with the 80s turtles. (Which has already been done with the 2000s series and then lamely ripped off by this one. Not that I dislike this series other than that episode and this season)

All in all, this is shaping up to be a pretty disappointing finish to an otherwise awesome series. (Also, what ever happened to teh mighty mutanimals series we were supposed to get?)

Francisco Sanchez Mercado January 15, 2018 - 10:56 pm

i agree with you

Keal November 13, 2017 - 10:08 am

oh thank goodness. I hated it compared to 2003. The only improvement was the turtles looked different from each other. Hopefully the next version will have less “new” mutants and less teenage crushes. Lets get back to awesome ninja turtle basics!!!

Matthew Cashel December 12, 2017 - 11:23 pm

i just want to buy all the image tmnt comics by gary carlson without going broke.

Brian Carraway January 6, 2018 - 12:01 pm

I am going to miss it. My daughter got hooked on these turtles when she was two and is still a huge fan almost three years later. It was kind of our thing to watch this show together as I really dug it as much as she did(I was a fan of the original Eastman and Laird comics in the mid-eighties so this was very nolstalgic for me). The series finale was fantastic even though it was aired out of order.

Francisco Sanchez Mercado January 15, 2018 - 10:56 pm

It was cancelled because of more violence level and requiem

Richard Henry January 19, 2018 - 10:01 pm

Best turtles ever loved that series they had i think the best back story made way more sense then the 80s

zid February 3, 2018 - 1:38 pm

A year later and it turns out the new look is garbage. Way to go, Nick /s

Paul B February 5, 2018 - 4:37 pm

Worse than garbage.
I’m not watching it.
Did the return of the Zombie Shredder even air?
I don’t remember seeing it.

Comments are closed.