The TCA (Television Critics Association) press tour can be a rather stuffy affair, which was why it was extra amusing to have the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in attendance for the final day of the two-week event today. No, not just the producers and voice cast from Nickelodeon’s new animated series, but the four Turtles themselves were present as costumed characters – making a brief appearance onstage, before the press began asking questions.
Executive Producer Ciro Nieli noted the challenges of being the third big animated take on TMNT, considering the Turtles now have multiple generations of fans – yet this series has to be appealing for kids. “What we tried to do is get this long view on what it’s been and what you think the public really wants and try to boil it down and do the best thing for the franchise.” He said it was very important to, “Keep that comedy element, which is a really big aspect from the original [1987 animated series].” On the other hand, the more recent animated series (from 2003), “really focused on action,” and Nieli said he felt they “had a pretty decent blend of both” in the new TMNT.
Nieli, who said he was personally also a big fan of the first live-action Turtles film, said finding the balance between all the previous Turtles iterations was “the trickiest thing,” while noting the original animated show especially has a ton of nostalgia surrounding it and was “like lightening in a bottle.”
April O’Neil is a teenager in this version, and Nieli said that came from an overall desire to focus on the word Teenage in the title. Nieli felt, “In all the other iterations, that was either glanced over or completely betrayed,” noting in the 2003 series, the Turtles were “very muscular and seemed like they were in their mid-20.”
Nieli joked about feeling the previous TMNT stories always had April “on her way to work and she seemed kind of frustrated [with the Turtles].” Making her a teenager was a way to “make her more active” and a contemporary to the Turtles.
He also felt April was, “The above-sewer counterpart to Splinter.” The new series begins with the Turtles having never really been exposed to anything outside the sewers and Nieli remarked, “When they finally come above ground, they need this hip, cool, energetic person,” as they discover, “This world above ground in NYC is so amazing!” Added Mae Whitman (Arrested Development, Parenthood, Avatar: The Last Airbender), “She loves pizza now!”
I asked about Casey Jones on the series, and Nieli replied, “Casey Jones will show up in the second season,” noting he didn’t want to give too much away, but that, “We’ll take our time introducing him.” Casey will also be a high school student, but “Maybe a couple years older – he got held back.”
Baxter Stockman will be introduced fairly early on, while Fugitoid may show up later. Nieli said he wanted the first season to focus on the Turtles themselves more than a constant introduction of familiar characters from previous versions. In coming season though, “We’ll get into other mutations,” with the plan being to later get to “science fiction and outer space” and other elements previous Turtles stories have explored.
As to his approach to the villains on the series, Nieli said his philosophy on a show like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was, “”If the characters aren’t having fun, it’s not worth a damn.”
He wants TMNT to be, “A real worls with dangerous stakes and weird characters having fun.” Nieli said balance was key and that while they wanted the villains to have weight, “If Shredder does something that truly is villainous and vile, that we react or cut it appropriately [with something more lighthearted] so it has that balance for kids.” Still, he felt the new Turtles, “can also age up for an older audience. It’s about how you do it. It’s a hard question to answer. It’s subtle. And every case is unique.”
When it comes to the actions of characters like Krang and Shredder, things can “Ramp up for this horrifying moment and then suddenly it becomes very funny, very quickly. It’s compression and release, compression and release. “
A big factor in the success of the original animated series was the cast, Nieli felt, and he said he worked hard to recapture that with the new cast, wanting the group to feel like brothers – and a sister, with April.
The voice cast said they felt they achieved that camaraderie, with Sean Astin (Raphael) saying, “We really didn’t fight for it - it was just there.” Some of the cast, like Rob Paulsen (Donatello) and Greg Cipes (Michelangelo), are prolific voice actors, and Jason Biggs (Leonardo) said, “All of these voices compliment each other. I don’t do a voice. I’m just bringing my [natural] voice to the table.” Biggs added, “When we first saw the footage, it really blew us away. It really worked. It’s very exciting.”
Everyone laughed that the eccentric Cipes essentially was Michelangelo, while there was high praise for veteran Paulsen – the original voice of Raphael in the 1980s series, which Biggs was a big fan of. Paulsen said he was very excited to, “Get another crack at one of the top three or four franchises in history.”
When it came to the fighting on the show, Nieli said, “The violence never goes to a place that’s excessive. The Turtles are acting in the greater good, but they’re justified. This is a kids show. It’s not that violent.” Astin, a parent himself, said he felt Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was, “Fun and age-appropriate and I’m totally comfortable with my kids experiencing it.”
On the other hand, Nieli did want to note this was, “the first Nina Turtles incarnation where they actually use their weapons, instead of throwing them at the wall!” He laughed about scenes on the original series, where Leonardo would leap forward holding his swords, but just kick his feet – only using his sword when he threw it at a light bulb. “That would drive me crazy, so that’s not happening.” That being said, “We’re not chopping sentient, actual thinking beings in half.”
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles premieres September 20th on Nickelodeon.
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