The first trailer for the latest (and polarizing) animated series, Rise of the TMNT, is now available for your viewing pleasure. Check it out below!
Last weekend, toy manufacturers descended upon the Toy Fair with a plethora of new merchandise planned for 2018 and beyond. With a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon on the way, we knew that there would be some interesting revelations during this event. Sure enough, Pixel Dan was on hand to get as many details as possible about the new show. In addition to getting a walkthrough with a representative from Playmates Toys, he also managed to discover some information that had not yet been revealed by Nickelodeon. With that said, let’s take a look at some of the most interesting details revealed during Toy Fair 2018.
This Origami Ninja is apparently made out of paper by the Foot Lieutenants. Image Source: Playmates Toys.
Before we get into the information revealed about Rise of the TMNT, it is important to note that the Shredder figure announced by S.H. Figuarts two years ago has sadly been put on hold. Although the figure hasn’t been cancelled, the company is waiting to see what the market will look like in 2018 before continuing on with their plans for this collectible.
2. First Look at New Foot Soldiers
In addition to the turtles themselves, Playmates Toys has also made action figures for two of the foot soldiers in Rise of the TMNT. One of these characters is the Foot Lieutenant, and the other is an Origami Ninja. A Playmates Toys representative explained that the Foot Lieutenant actually creates the Origami Ninja out of paper in the new cartoon.
3. First Look at Meat Sweats
As we mentioned in an earlier article, they are adding a new character named Meat Sweats to Rise of the TMNT. This pig-like character uses a meat tenderizer for a weapon and actually sweats meat. We don’t yet know how that will look, but the action figure does give us an idea of what we can expect.
4. Baron Draxum Will Be Revealed at Kids Choice Awards
Although the action figure for this villain wasn’t available during Toy Fair, a Playmates Toys representative did explain that we could expect to see him revealed during the Kid’s Choice Awards. While discussing this new enemy, the representative said that “we’ll have to wait and see what happens with Shredder.”
5. The First Rise of the TMNT Toy Line is Coming October 1st
While talking turtles, a Playmates Toys representative revealed that we can expect this first line of toys to hit store shelves on October 1st, 2018. Considering that Nickelodeon plans on releasing the cartoon in September, I’m willing to bet that the toys will actually show up a little bit sooner than that.
6. This New Toy Line Will Include Oversized & Ninja Action Figures
As usual, Playmates Toys will be producing a line of TMNT action figures that are double the size of their typical products. In addition to this, they have also created a set of toys which says popular phrases while performing a special action. Although these aren’t exactly original ideas, it’s nice to see that they’re giving the fans something more than just a basic line of toys.
The new Turtle Van is actually called the Turtle Tank! Image Source: Playmates Toys, Nickelodeon.
In addition to all of the action figures they will produce, Playmates Toys is also creating a set of vehicles for the turtles to drive. Two of these vehicles will be motorcycles, but one of them is the new Turtle Van – now known as the “Turtle Tank.” The Turtle Tank will double as a play set that can fold out for more fun.
8. Two New Large Playsets Will Be Sold
Every new iteration of the turtles comes with a new Turtle Lair, prompting Playmates Toys to create a new playset. This time around, they’ve decided to make two sets which can be combined to create one massive play area for your TMNT toys. One of these playsets is The Hidden City, an area we will discuss in greater detail below.
9. The Hidden City is a New and Mystical Place
According to the Playmates Toys representative at Toy Fair 2018, The Hidden City is a new element and a “mystical place” in Rise of the TMNT. Considering that we’ve seen the turtles using weapons that glow, it’s a good bet that this might actually be the place where they find their new weaponry – but that’s just my assumption and not a confirmed fact.
The Turtle Lair playset is just one of two play areas which can be combined to create one massive set. Image Source: Playmates Toys, Nickelodeon.
While discussing the new playsets, a representative of Playmates Toys revealed that the Turtle Lair in the cartoon actually has a cylindrical shape. Although the lair does appear to be in a sewer, it would appear that this sewer lair is definitely circular. Ultimately, we’ll just have to wait and see what it actually looks like.
11. The TMNT May Get Their Traditional Weapons Eventually
According to a Playmates Toys representative, we may see the turtles “graduate” to their traditional equipment at a later date. This may have just been an off-handed comment about what he wanted to see in the new show, but it may also have been an important revelation. Sadly, we’ll have to wait until the show airs to find out exactly what’s going on.
12. Andy Suriano Thought Copying the 2k12 Series Would Be Disrespectful
When asked about some of the choices they have made with Rise of the TMNT, Co-Executive Producer Andy Suriano explained that he felt it would be disrespectful to borrow a lot of material from the 2k12 series. Although I’m sure we can all understand his concerns, it would appear that a lot of shellheads don’t like to see change.
13. Ant Ward Sought Advice From Fred Wolf
While being interviewed by Pixel Dan, Co-Executive Producer Ant Ward explained that he actually sought the advice of previous animators who had worked on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoons. Of all the people he contacted, only Fred Wolf responded. Fans will be familiar with Fred Wolf Films as the company behind the original animated series.
14. Andy Suriano Doesn’t Want Fans to Panic
This Co-Executive Producer of Rise of the TMNT had a fairly positive message for fans: “Be patient, it’s all gonna make sense, and it’s gonna be okay…it’s still respectful to the franchise.” Although I’m sure that some of you won’t be persuaded by this message, it’s definitely nice to know that Suriano at least understands the concerns of some fans and he wants to reassure them that this new cartoon won’t ruin anything about their heroes in a half shell.
If you want to see more from Toy Fair 2018, check out Pixel Dan’s Youtube channel for dozens of videos from the convention floor.
What do you think about all of this information? Are you more excited for Rise of the TMNT or more worried about the new cartoon? Share your thoughts and feelings either in the comments below or on Facebook/Twitter.
There were a lot of interesting revelations during the Toy Fair this weekend, but this may in fact be the most surprising and hilarious announcement of them all. While Playmates Toys was unveiling a new toy line for Rise of the TMNT, they inadvertently revealed the name and basic design for a new character by the name of Meat Sweats. Although there aren’t many details about him just yet, one look at the action figure will speak volumes.
According to a representative of Playmates Toys, Meat Sweats is a large mutated pig that actually sweats meat. As you can see from the action figure, he appears to have a mutated arm and a meat tenderizer for a weapon. Although we don’t know if this is a new villain, he definitely doesn’t look like a friend to our heroes in a half shell. I could be wrong about that, but I’m willing to bet that Meat Sweats is not a good guy.
Regardless of his purpose in the show, I think we can all agree that this is one of the most ridiculous and humorous new characters we have seen in any version of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in a long time. Even though the 2k12 series included several awesome new characters, I can’t think of any that literally made me laugh out loud when I heard their name. Even if you’re worried about Rise of the TMNT, you have to admit that this is an interesting twist.
In addition to revealing Meat Sweats and his action figure, Playmates Toys also unveiled their first full toy line for Rise of the TMNT. Despite the fact that there were a lot of awesome toys on display, we felt it prudent to give a little more focus to this new character reveal before getting carried away. With that said, you can expect even more updates regarding awesome new toys that were announced during the Toy Fair in the coming weeks.
What do you think about this new character in Rise of the TMNT? Are you excited to see Meat Sweats in action? Does the very idea of this character make you laugh? Share your thoughts and opinions either in the comments below or on Facebook/Twitter.
April O’Neil may look a bit different, but she still knows how to handle herself! Image Source: Nickelodeon.
April O’Neil is Black – Although the character has traditionally been depicted as a redhead, Nickelodeon has decided to give her a slightly different background this time around. Although this will probably change some of her mannerisms, April will still be a friend of the turtles who supports their efforts through thick and thin.
April Has a Bat – According to the creators of this cartoon, April not only has a baseball bat, but she also knows how to use it. In previous TMNT cartoons, April slowly developed into a stronger character. It would appear that we can expect her to start off much stronger than usual in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Raphael is the New Leader – For the first time in the history of the franchise, Raphael is going to be the leader of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He will still be a “meathead,” but the creators of this new cartoon indicate that his brothers have a lot of respect for his leadership.
Raph looks ready to lead in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Image Source: Nickelodeon.
Raphael is a Snapping Turtle – In this iteration of the TMNT, all four turtles are a different breed. Raphael will be a snapping turtle, a species which is noted for being very aggressive when caught. These turtles are typically at the top of the food chain wherever they live, which is a perfect way to describe Raph!
Donatello Has a Fleet of Battle-shells – The original animated series said it best: “Donatello does machines.” Donnie won’t be changing much in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but he will apparently create a fleet of “battle-shells” to help the turtles beat their foes.
Donnie is wearing a lot more tech than usual in this iteration of the TMNT. Image Source: Nickelodeon.
Donatello is a Softshell Turtle – Donnie’s breed is far different than that of his brothers, but it fits with his character. Softshell turtles have a more leathery shell which is flexible at the edges. It makes sense for a turtle with this vulnerability to use technology to protect himself, and it would appear that Donatello has done just that.
Leonardo is Very Smart – Now that he’s not the leader, Leo is free to let more of his personality shine. The creators of Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles indicate that this iteration of Leonardo will be much more intelligent – and slightly arrogant about it.
Leonardo Will Create Catchphrases – In Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Michelangelo was always coming up with different names for their enemies. It would appear that Leo may take over in this role and create some different catchphrases for the group to use.
Leo has a much bigger sword this time around. Image Source: Nickelodeon.
Leonardo is a Red-Eared Slider – Shellheads are probably very familiar with this breed, as the red-eared slider became one of the most popular pet turtles after the creation of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the 80’s. These turtles have red marks near their eyes which look remarkably like the masks worn by our heroes in a half shell.
Michelangelo Will Say Cowabunga – Although Leo will be creating new catchphrases, the creators of Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have revealed that Mikey will indeed be using the term “cowabunga” instead of “booyakasha.” The more things change, the more they stay the same!
No need to worry, Mikey will be using his classic catchphrase! Image Source: Nickelodeon.
Eric Bauza Will Play Splinter – If you watched Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, you’ll be familiar with Eric Bauza as the voice of the villain Tiger Claw. In Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Bauza will take on the role of none other than Master Splinter. According to Bauza, Splinter may be a bit more comedic this time around.
Rob Paulsen is the Voice Director – Long time fans will remember Paulsen as the voice of Raphael in the original animated series. He also played Donatello in Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This time around, Paulsen will be providing direction for the voice actors, ensuring that they get the characters right.
Rob Paulsen and Maurice LaMarche Will Play Villains – In addition to directing, Paulsen will also take on at least one role as a villain in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Maurice LaMarche, who once played the Brain to his Pinky, will also be providing the voice of a villain in this series.
Splinter may look different, but he’ll still be an excellent teacher. Image Source: Nickelodeon.
Andy Suriano and Ant Ward are Creating the Cartoon – Both Andy Suriano and Ant Ward will be leading the charge behind the creation of Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Both creators have worked with the TMNT before, and both have a lot of experience in animation with cartoons such as Samurai Jack, The Powerpuff Girls and Camp Lazlo.
Rise of the TMNT Will Hit the Air in Fall of 2018 – Believe it or not, we’re only about 8 months away from the release of Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It won’t be long before our heroes in a half shell are back on our television screens!
What do you think about these various details? Are you excited about Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? Are you disappointed about any of the changes they have made? Share your thoughts and feelings either in the comments below or on Facebook/Twitter.
Ever since Nickelodeon announced that their Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series would be coming to an end, fans have been eagerly awaiting a glimpse at the next iteration of our heroes in a half shell. Although we have learned a lot about Rise of the TMNT in the last few months, details on the actual character designs were sparse. That all changed today when Nick decided to host an awesome live event unveiling the first official character art from the new cartoon.
As you can see, the creators behind Rise of the TMNT have chosen to go with a very stylized approach. Sharp-eyed fans may note a bit of a nod to the artistic style that most viewers are familiar seeing from shows like Samurai Jack. Each character has very angular features with sharp and defined outlines. Although there are a few differences here and there, these turtles look very much like the heroes we remember from past cartoons, comic books and movies.
Leo is looking good as a red-eared slider! Image Source: Nickelodeon.
Donatello will let his technology speak for itself – perhaps literally! Image Source: Nickelodeon.
During the event, creators Andy Suriano and Ant Ward joined with Rob Paulsen to reveal key details about Rise of the TMNT. One of the most interesting revelations came when they announced that all four turtles would be a different breed. As Suriano pointed out, this allows them to give specific characteristics to each turtle which reflect the actions and behaviors of the breed they represent. For instance, Michelangelo is going to be a box turtle with the ability to hide his body in his shell.
In addition to the turtles, we also got the chance to see both April O’Neil and Master Splinter. Although the fans had questions about April’s bat, I’m personally very happy to see a version of her that is ready to kick butt from the get go. When it comes to Splinter, it’s clear that they’ve taken an entirely different approach with the character. During the live event, Eric Bauza provided a taste of what his Splinter sounds like to go with the artwork. All I can say is he had me in stitches with just one off-the-cuff line.
Mikey looks like he's ready to have some fun and kick some butt. Image Source: Nickelodeon.
Raphael is the new leader of this group, and he's looking pretty good! Image Source: Nickelodeon.
If you’re still feeling unsure about Rise of the TMNT, just know that you are not alone. Although there was a lot of positive feedback throughout the live reveal, several fans were either frustrated or unhappy with what they were seeing. Ultimately, I feel like we need to wait this one out and see what Nickelodeon produces later this fall. Everyone attached to this show is incredibly talented, and I’ve got to believe that they know what they are doing.
This may be a wildly different take on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but there’s nothing inherently wrong with that. If past iterations have taught us anything, it is that there are several different versions of the turtles spread across several different dimensions. In other words, there is no one “correct” version of our half-shelled heroes, and this is just what they happen to look like in one specific dimension. By the way, this also means that there’s always a chance we’ll see previous versions of the turtles make a comeback in a crossover episode!
April O'Neil has a new look and a new weapon! Hopefully we'll get to see her use that bat to take down a few bad guys! Image Source: Nickelodeon.
Splinter may be a bit smaller than usual, but he could definitely pull a Yoda and reveal a surprising amount of strength. Image Source: Nickelodeon.
Say what you will, but I am personally very impressed with this character art. I’m also impressed that our own Machelle Noel managed to answer one of the toughest trivia questions asked during the event! Even though she was a bit nervous during some of the games they played, Machelle definitely held her own and we’re proud to count her as one of the crew. If you want to see what she was up to with Andre Meadows of Black Nerd Comedy, make sure to go back and watch the full event on Facebook while it’s still available!