The first trailer for Nickelodeon's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is now out and there are a few things that stand out.
The new cartoon is geared towards younger kids. I am not against that decision; it will be great to get a new crop of Turtles fans. At the same time, it is too bad because that will probably be the reason why I will not be watching. I did enjoy the 4Kids 2003 incarnation for a few seasons because it was a more violent as a cartoon and was heavily inspired by the Mirage comic book stories. I think that iteration was more suited to old and new fans alike. Kevin Eastman has stated that while April O’Neil does not appear in the first trailer, she is in the new series and will be 16 years old; definitely geared towards children.
I did like some of the animation at the beginning of the trailer; it looked like a comic book coming to life. The rest of the trailer does not have the same stylization, which leads me to believe the comic book effect is just for the opening sequence. The Turtles look alright. I do not like seeing their pupils; I prefer the white eyes like in the comics and the 4Kids series, but it gives them a kinder feel ideal for children.
And finally, the new catchphrase: “Booyakasha!” Nickelodeon does need to differentiate themselves with this version and “Cowabunga!” is a bit dated but the nostalgia factor of “Cowabunga!” would have been the easier way to go. If Casey Jones is part of this cartoon, I hope they do not change his “Goongala!”
All in all, anytime the Turtles get some attention it is a good thing. It's a great time to be a Turtles fan, we have the IDW comics which are getting better with each issue, we have the Nickelodeon cartoon due out this September, and we have a movie in the works that is generating so much buzz.
Check it out for yourself and let us know what you think in the comments.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neexNjauRZA