"Rise of the TMNT" Voice Cast Announced

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With an article published by The Hollywood Reporter this morning, we now know the core voice cast of next year's "Rise of the TMNT" series, as well as a few more details about the show.

From left to right, Kat Graham is April O’Neil, Josh Brener is Donatello, Omar Miller is Raphael, Brandon Mychal Smith is Michelangelo and Ben Schwartz is Leonardo. Additional talent in the cast includes Eric Bauza as Splinter, and Omar Miller and Ben Schwartz in unnamed roles.

While April, Donatello, and Michelangelo are described familiarly to how we've seen them before, an interesting detail from the article is the statement that "Raphael, the oldest and physically biggest brother ... is now the Turtles' leader" and "Leonardo [is] the self-professed "coolest" brother."

We can expect to see 26 episodes of "Rise of the TMNT," which is described as a "reimagining that follows the band of brothers as they encounter new allies and villains and discover a mystical world they never knew existed beneath the streets of New York City." Chris Viscardi, senior vp production and development, animation, at Nickelodeon, adds, "We have reimagined the series to be filled with humor, loads of action and a dynamic look, and it's packed with all-new heroes, villains and cityscapes for the Turtles to explore."

One really neat detail provided is that Rob Paulsen, previously Raphael in the original cartoon and Donatello in the 2012 Nickelodeon series, will be directing this new series.

"Rise of the TMNT" is co-executive produced by Andy Suriano (character designer, Samurai Jack) and Ant Ward (supervising producer, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles).

Classic & Modern Ninja Turtles to Meet in March 27 Event

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In an event that has been hinted to us for quite a while now, the time is near for the ultimate TMNT crossover, featuring the 1980s Turtles and voice cast together with the 2012 Turtles and voice cast. The new episode will see the 2D Turtles from the 80s get the modern CGI treatment, while the CGI modern Turtles will also get the 2D animation treatment.

From a press release sent out yesterday:

Worlds collide as the voice cast of the 1980s Turtles, Cam Clarke, Rob Paulsen, Barry Gordon and Townsend Coleman joins forces as Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo, respectively, in “Trans-Dimensional Turtles,” a new episode of Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles debuting Sunday, March 27, at 11:00 a.m. (ET/PT). In this new half-hour episode, the Turtles are transported to another dimension where they meet their ‘80s alternate-reality counterparts. Actor Pat Fraley also reunites with the ‘80s cast for the first time since the original series premiered to reprise his role as Krang.

In “Trans-Dimensional Turtles,” all eight Turtles must battle to eliminate both the ‘80s Krang and Kraang Sub-Prime.  After meeting their ‘80s counterparts in a 2D-animation world, the entire clan moves back into a CG-animation dimension, giving their new retro friends a taste of their realm. Additionally, in another dimensional twist, the episode will offer a glimpse of the Turtles in a comic book world resembling Kevin Eastman’s Mirage Studios comic book series.

Left to Right: Barry Gordon, Pat Fraley, Cam Clarke, and Townsend Coleman

Rob Paulsen to Host Live TMNT-Themed Podcast

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Rob Paulsen's podcast, Talkin Toons, will be recording a laundry list of TMNT special guests. The show will be December 9 at 8pm at the Hollywood Improv.

Headlining the show is TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman. Also joining the show are Townsend Coleman, Cam Clarke, Barry Gordon, Pat Fraley, Renae Jacobs, Judith Hoag, Ciro Nieli, Brandon Auman, and more!

In addition to recording a live podcast, the event will also be raising money and toys for Toys for Tots. Tickets are a steal at $15/each, and if you bring in two toys to donate to Toys for Tots you'll be able to get autographs from everyone in attendance.

Get tickets now before they sell out! And watch Rob's Facebook page for daily updates to the lineup.

Kevin Eastman Voicing Ice Cream Kitty in TMNT Cartoon

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USA Today reports that none other than TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman will be heard as the voice of Ice Cream Kitty, who debuts in this Sunday's new episode, "Of Rats and Men." Ice Cream Kitty was first revealed at Comic-Con last July.

Kevin Eastman

Ice Cream Kitty

Also noted in the USA Today article is that Friday, March 14, will see the long-awaited episode that unites the current TMNT voice cast with the voice cast of the original cartoon. Townsend Coleman (Michaelangelo), Cam Clarke (Leonardo), Barry Gordon (Donatello), and Rob Paulsen (Raphael) will be reprising their roles in cameos in this special 1-hour episode. Of course, Rob Paulsen will be pulling double-duty as Donatello in the current cast. He is joined by Greg Cipes (Michelangelo), Sean Astin (Raphael), and Jason Biggs (Leonardo). This special episode will air at the special time of 7pm Eastern.

Classic Turtles to Join Nick Turtles in Season 2

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In an exclusive interview with USA Today, Nickelodeon Executive Producer Ciro Nieli has dropped some hints about what TMNT fans can expect with the remaining part of this season, as well as next season.

The big news coming from this interview is that next season there will be a one-hour special unites the Turtles voice actors from the original cartoon with their modern counterparts.

It'll be a story point, too, that brings classic and current Turtles together.

"We all have a nostalgia for these characters in all their incarnations, and any time we can serve it up, we take the chance," Nieli says. "The trick is finding a way to do it where it doesn't feel wedged in, where you don't even see it coming.

Townsend Coleman (Michaelangelo) hinted at the reunion earlier this week on Facebook when he changed his cover photo to a picture of the outside of Nickelodeon Studios in Burbank, CA.

The original TMNT voice actors are Coleman, Cam Clarke (Leonardo), Barry Gordon (Donatello), and Rob Paulsen (Raphael). Paulsen, of course, would be pulling double duty as he the current Donatello. The rest of the current cast is Greg Cipes (Michelangelo), Jason Biggs (Leonardo), and Sean Astin (Raphael).

According to the interview, one other blast from the past fans can expect is the return of Mutagen Man from the original cartoon and toy line.

New episodes of Nickelodeon's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles begin again this Friday, April 5, with Baxter's Gambit.

Rob Paulsen's Talkin' Toons with the 2012 TMNT Voice Cast

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Happy New Year, everyone! After a bit of an unintentional holiday break, let's catch up on the news!

If you haven't yet, check out the recording of the December 14th live edition of Rob Paulsen's Talkin' Toons podcast.

The podcast was recorded live at the Jon Levitz Comedy Club in Los Angeles. Participants included Sean Astin, Greg Cipes, Jason Biggs, Kevin Michael Richardson, and Mae Whitman.

Get it now!

Nickelodeon TMNT Cast to Appear Live Dec. 14

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Rob Paulsen will be hosting another special LIVE edition of his Talkin' Toons podcast on December 14 at the Jon Lovitz Comedy Club in Los Angeles.

Appearing for this special event will be members of the voice cast for Nickelodeon's current Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles CGI series, Sean Astin (Raphael), Greg Cipes (Michelangelo), Jason Biggs (Leonardo) who will be appearing via Skype, and Kevin Michael Richardson (Shredder).

Tickets for the event are $20, and can be purchase online right now!

Rob Paulsen's Talkin' Toons With Ciro Nieli

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In honor of the premiere of the new TMNT cartoon series, this week's episode of Talkin' Toons has Rob Paulsen (Donatello) chatting with Executive Producer Ciro Nieli.

Get it now over at RobPaulsenLive.com!

Original TMNT Cartoon Cast Reunion Podcast Now Online

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The audio recording of last week's original TMNT cartoon voice cast reunion extravaganza is now available to download as an episode of Rob Paulsen's Talkin' Toons Podcast.

Get it now over at RobPaulsenLive.com!

TMNT Original Cartoon Cast Reunites August 24

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A live recording of Rob Paulsen's Talkin' Toons podcast on August 24 will see the reunion of almost all of the lead voice actors from the original TMNT cartoon series. Currently scheduled to appear are Rob Paulsen (Raphael - duh), Barry Gordon (Donatello), Townsend Coleman (Michaelangelo), Cam Clarke (Leonardo), Peter Renaday (Splinter), and Renae Jacobs (April O'Neil).

The show will be at the Jon Lovitz Comedy Club in Los Angeles at 8pm, August 24. Buy tickets now!

Exclusive! Interview with the 2012 TMNT Voice Cast

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One of my highlights not just of this year's Comic-Con, but of all the 14 years I've attended Comic-Con, occurred this July 13, the day Nickelodeon was most heavily promoting the new TMNT CGI cartoon series. After spending a day full of talking to the press, including the TMNT panel in the morning and a lunchtime autograph signing, that Friday afternoon the brotherhood of Sean Astin, Greg Cipes, Jason Biggs, and Rob Paulsen were on the other side of a table talking to little ol' me.

It had been meant to be a shared roundtable experience, with other interviewers, but the way circumstances worked out I found myself going solo with them. I wasn't quite prepared for that! But luckily they bounced thoughts off of each other quite naturally, which brought out some fun conversation and interesting information.

I had to miss the IDW panel in order to make this appointment, but it was obviously well worth that sacrifice. I took the audio I recorded and produced it into the video below. Enjoy!


A huge hand of thanks to everyone at Nickelodeon, especially the entire voice cast!

TMNT Panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2012

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At this year's San Diego Comic-Con, Nickelodeon hosted a panel that gave fans a sneak preview of the new series, as well as a chance to see and hear the new voice actors. After all the panelists were brought out, Executive Producer Ciro Nieli showed us "The Pitch" he had presented to Nickelodeon, which ended up getting him the job. We were also shown an early test clip of animation.

After Ciro's time was up, the new voice cast for the show answered questions from moderator Rich Magallanes, Senior Vice President of Nickelodeon Animation. As we've known, the cast includes Jason Biggs (Leonardo), Sean Astin (Raphael), Greg Cipes (Michelangelo), Rob Paulsen (Donatello), Hoon Lee (Master Splinter), Mae Whitman (April O'Neil), and Kevin Michael Richardson (Shredder).

Below is a collection of all the video clips I personally recorded during this panel. I've also inserted some of the animation clips we were shown during the panel. Convention rules didn't allow the recording of these clips during the panel, but Nickelodeon released them online later that day.


Nickelodeon also released online their own recording of the panel, although it's in the wrong aspect ratio and doesn't feature the same awesome handheld qualities as the above video. ;)

TMNT Panel Planned for Comic-Con

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It's been assumed that Nickelodeon would have a strong TMNT presence at San Diego Comic-Con to advertise the upcoming new TV series, and now we've seen a first glimpse at exactly what it is they have planned.

As reported by Variety, a panel for the show will be held on Friday of the convention. Panelists will include the four Turtles voice actors from the show - Jason Biggs (Leonardo), Sean Astin (Raphael), Rob Paulsen (Donatello), and Greg Cipes (Michelangelo) - as well as executive producer Ciro Nieli.

Additionally, the Nickelodeon booth in the exhibitor hall will have visits from TMNT costumed characters, and possibly autograph signings.

Be sure to stay tuned to Ninja Pizza for more Comic-Con details as the show draws near! And, if you can't make it to the Con, Ninja Pizza will have full coverage of everything TMNT throughout Comic-Con weekend, July 11-15.

Video Flashback: Operation Blue Line

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After a rainy-day visit to Circuit City's store closing clearance sale, I now have the much-anticipated ability to capture video from my VHS collection onto my computer. With this useful new ability I am launching the Ninja Pizza YouTube Channel. The inaugural video for this new channel is called "Operation Blue Line" (and had I scanned the video cover earlier in the night than I did, it wouldn't have rabbit teeth marks in it).

"Operation Blue Line" is a promotional video that was produced to advertise a new light rail system that runs between Long Beach and Los Angeles. As incredibly cheesy as this 10-minute video is, it surprisingly holds some weight as all four Turtle voice actors from the original cartoon--Townsend Coleman, Barry Gordon, Rob Paulsen, and Cam Clarke--are featured in their respective roles.

So enjoy, and watch this space, 'cause there's lots more to come!




UPDATE! Edward Langer, who worked in the SCRTD marketing department and helped in the production of this video, has written in with some additional information.

I was the original project manager on this video. The SCRTD marketing dept. under Tony Fortuno and Alice Wiggins wanted to create a video to be distributed free through a local supermarket chain to all residents along the route. Additional copies were sent to large businesses, too. I assembled my team and we each contacted different companies to see if they would provide funding and some kind of theme or character for the video. One team member, Sherry, hit pay dirt at one of the local TV stations and got permission to use the Turtles. Since Sherry had made the contact, she took over the project. I was reassigned to the ride share program where I made use of the video to promote public transit. That is the USC Marching Band at the end of the video. The USC band has been most generous in allowing the SCRTD to use them in their promotion of public transit. Also, if you watch carefully, you will see Sherry in the film as a couple having a picnic.

We had borrowed the turtle costumes, but they had to have them back for a promotion. Sherry had picked them up and had to get them dry cleaned over a weekend. Not something easy to accomplish. I forget how she did it, but they were clean on Monday. All [of the] main actors were professionals: April, Gridlock, and the Turtles. Everyone else is an unpaid volunteer from the SCRTD. The little girl near the end of the film was some kind of spokesperson for the SCRTD, but I forget why. I think she was a model or actress who gave us support. I believe I had worked with her in a promotion in Long Beach, but that was a long time ago. As I was not the project manager of this program my name is way back in the credits. Basically, all employees of the marketing department are in the credits.

The story is kind of dumb, but it worked. Many of my ride share companies played it in their cafeterias to alert their employees. Ridership did take off.