Everything You Need To Know About “Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”

Will it work?

This Friday Night @ 930pm ET/PT, there will be a sneak peek episode of the upcoming Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In the 10 years in which Nickelodeon has held on to the one time lethal comic book franchise, the company has been unable to produce any quality content despite the franchise’s illustrious history, mostly during the 1980’s. From multiple failed TV shows, to countless crap films, Nickelodeon has consistently failed at delivering a proper Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This Friday Night, they try again, with a sneak peek of a new 26- episode series and we’re breaking down what we know about the series into a primer so you are just as prepared as anyone else when it comes to what to expect for Friday’s sneak.

Premise:

The Heroes

April O’Neil (Kat Graham)

By far the most notable switch from past incarnations of April O’Neil, a street savvy native New Yorker. In past versions of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, April is produced as a white Irish-American woman whom is also a reporter that would use her powers as a journalist to help undermine NYC’s criminal underbelly. This time around, she gets a look more indicative of NYC nowadays, a mixed-racial take on the character that wields a mystical baseball bat presumably to join up with the mutated brothers in taking down the Foot Clan.

Michelangelo (Brandon Mychal Smith )

Michelangelo, the youngest brother,is a skateboarder and artist who is wild and imaginative. Past incarnations of the character typically wielded nun-chucks, however, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles sees him wielding a kusari-fundo. No word yet if his obsession with NYC pizza carries over, however, we do know that “Mikey” is a box turtle.

Splinter (Eric Bauza)

Splinter, a father figure and sensei to the Turtles, is portrayed as more of a fattie this time around, and way more combative than previous depictions of the character that were usually more wise and pragmatic. This time around, Splinter looks ready to fight, and doesn’t even begin training the turtles until much later in the series.

Leonardo (Ben Schwartz)

Leonardo, the self-professed ‘coolest’ brother possesses irreverent charm and a rebel heart while taking the back seat to Raphael as the leader in this go-round. Typically seen with twin katanas, Leonardo is a red-eared slider, using an ōdachi sword.

Donatello (Josh Brener)

Probably the character that is closest to his origins, Donatello, a mechanical genius and tech wizard whose ninja skills are second only to his coding. Donatello is a soft-shell turtle, sporting a tech-bo staff which helps indicate that he keeps his mantra of being more of a “nerd” take on the character that is good with technology in both self defense and in operation.

Raphael (Omar Miller)

In prior depictions, Raphael was presented as the most hot-headed of the bunch, trying to muscle his way in and out of trouble, this time around, Raphael is the oldest and biggest brother, he is the leader full of enthusiasm and bravado. The jagged-shelled Raphael is a snapping turtle, wielding twin tonfas as his weapons as opposed to the sais he used to wield in past lives.

The Villains

Baron Draxum (John Cena)

WWE Superstar John Cena lends his voice as villain, Baron Draxum, an alchemist warrior mutant who seeks to turn all of humanity into mutants. Baron also leads the Foot Clan (unlike the Shredder in past series and isn’t even in this show) whom are given additional abilities of their own other than martial arts. For example, the Foot Clan can teleport through hidden doorways and can create and use origami ninjas in battle.

Meat Sweats (John Rotten Lydon )

A celebrity chef and a mutant pig, he can use his arms to create tendrils (similar to Spider-Man’s “Venom”) that can absorb mutant powers. John Rotten Lydon provides the voice.

Albearto (Tom Kenny)

A living mechanical bear from a pizza restaurant ala Chuck E. from Chuck E. Cheese’s voiced by Tom Kenny.

Hypno-Potamus

A one-time magician who is mutated and out for vengeance against the Turtles. Voiced by Rhys Darby.

Warren Stone (John Michael Higgins)

John Michael Higgins voices a one-time news reporter who was mutated into an earth worm.

Huginn (Tim Simons)

Voiced by Tim Simons.

Ghost Bear (Jorge Gutierrez)

Voiced by Jorge Gutierrez

Munnin (Sam Richardson)

Voiced by Sam Richardson.

Big Mama (Lena Heady)

Voiced by Lena Heady.

Technical

The new 26-episode series is co-executive produced by Andy Suriano (character designer, Samurai Jack) and Ant Ward (supervising producer, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) at Nickelodeon in Burbank. Veteran animation industry voice actor Rob Paulsen is voice directing the 2D-animated series. The show will be presented with two 11-minute episodes per half hour that will feature elements that build out an overall arc as the season progresses.

The Opening Credits

The lyrics for the song are relatively unchanged, however, the theme song is modernized for a new generation. Music is being composed by Matt Mahaffey.

Official Teaser

Official Trailer