The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been a beloved franchise since their creation in 1984 by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. We’ll touch on the voice actors from the original series, along with the recently announced voice talent for the new ‘TMNT: Mutant Mayhem’.
Put Your Voice Over Skills to Work
Create a free profile and start getting invited to jobs. Over 5,000 jobs posted monthly.
In this article
- Origin and Evolution of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
- Impact and Popularity of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
- Who Invented This New Take on TMNT? Who Created the Original?
- The Original Creators: Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird
- The New Perspective: Creators of the Latest Adaptation
- Who Are the Voice Actors in the Original TMNT Movies?
- Voices Behind The Turtles: The Original Cast
- Who Are the Voice Actors in The New ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem’?
- New Turtles on the Block: Main Cast of ‘TMNT: Mutant Mayhem’
- Fresh Voices on the Cast of ‘TMNT: Mutant Mayhem’
Origin and Evolution of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles began as a comical sketch between friends Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird way back in 1983, inspired by their love for ninjas seen in Frank Miller comics, as well as various 70s action movies.
Over the years, these beloved characters have undergone many transformations across different media platforms such as comic books, animated TV shows, and film!
This evolution has led to more personalized designs for the turtles and even introduced new species in more recent series, like ‘Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’.
From their humble beginnings as black-and-white drawings; Michelangelo, Leonardo, Donatello, and Raphael have genuinely become cultural icons.
With each iteration of TMNT comes fresh interpretation – striking a balance between gritty action with lighthearted humor. This duality is what makes it appealing to fans both young and old alike, as a series that has truly stood the test of time.
Impact and Popularity of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
The original TV series that premiered in 1987 catapulted Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo to unparalleled fame, making them household names.
The heroes’ timeless appeal transcends mere nostalgia; it also lies in its fresh adaptations for new audiences over the years. Whether you have fond memories of playing with TMNT action figures or taking part in heated playground debates about which turtle was best – it is undeniable that these pizza-loving superheroes have left an indelible mark on popular culture.
Who Invented This New Take on TMNT? Who Created the Original?
Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird were the original creators of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, while the latest adaptation is made by a completely different team.
The Original Creators: Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird
The imaginative minds behind the wildly popular Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise belong to Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, who conceived the characters during a late-night brainstorming session in 1983.
The first run of official TMNT comics were published through Mirage Studios in 1984. Four short years later, those copies had already skyrocketed in price.
At the time, Eastman and Laird were struggling artists living in Northampton, Massachusetts.
Eastman and Laird’s original story was darker and edgier than its later adaptations for younger audiences. As their creation gained traction throughout the mid-1980s to early 1990s, various iterations of TMNT emerged with lighter tones while still retaining the core elements of humor and action.
The New Perspective: Creators of the Latest Adaptation
The latest adaptation of ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem’ boasts a pretty impressive collaboration between Nickelodeon Movies and Point Grey Pictures, with distribution handled by Paramount Pictures.
Bringing the iconic turtles to life in a new way are creators Jeff Rowe (director), Brendan O’Brien (screenwriter), and producers Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and James Weaver. Seth Rogen was actually the one who spilled the beans on the voice actors, but more on that later.
Seth Rogen himself made the announcement at the Kids’ Choice Awards. A passionate fan of TMNT since early childhood, Rogen brings his comedic expertise and knowledge of the franchise to please both old fans and new alike.
Who Are the Voice Actors in the Original TMNT Movies?
The original voice cast for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies included Judith Hoag as April O’Neil, Elias Koteas as Casey Jones, and Brian Tochi as Leonardo.
Voices Behind The Turtles: The Original Cast
The original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies featured an impressive voice cast that helped bring the lovable turtles and their friends (or enemies) to life. Often, people like myself distinctly associate the characters with the voice actors from the original movies.
Cam Clarke voiced Leonardo, Barry Gordon portrayed Donatello, Rob Paulsen played Raphael, and Townsend Coleman brought Michelangelo to life.
These talented voice actors imbued fictional characters (turtles, no less) with a certain magic that helped make the TMNT franchise so popular.
In addition to the four turtles, several other notable voice actors were involved in the films. Tony Jay lent his powerful voice to baddie Shredder, while Pat Fraley played both Casey Jones and Krang. Overall, the success of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles can be attributed in large part to its talented voice cast.
Who Are the Voice Actors in The New ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem’?
The upcoming ‘TMNT: Mutant Mayhem’ includes some truly big names like Jackie Chan as Splinter and John Cena as Rocksteady.
The teenage voice talent of the turtles will feature Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Nicolas Cantu, and Brady Noon as Donatello, Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Raphael respectively.
New Turtles on the Block: Main Cast of ‘TMNT: Mutant Mayhem’
The latest installment of the franchise boasts a star-studded cast. Nicolas Cantu,” voices the leader of the turtles, Leonardo.
Joining him is Jackie Chan as Master Splinter, John Cena as Baron Draxum, Ice Cube as Casey Jones, and Seth Rogen as Meat Sweats.
While some fans were initially skeptical of the new casting choices, the announcement has garnered excitement from both longtime TMNT followers and newcomers to the franchise, especially with the addition of legend Jackie Chan.
Other characters voiced by the immediately recognizable Hannibal Buress and Paul Rudd are sure to deliver some memorable dialogue.
Fresh Voices on the Cast of ‘TMNT: Mutant Mayhem’
In addition to the main cast of ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem’, there are also some notable supporting voice actors lending their talents to the film.
The character of Donatello will be voiced by Micah Abbey, who is a newcomer to the TMNT franchise. Micah Abbey made his television debut on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ back in 2017, and later went on to earn a recurring role as Leaf in the television show ‘Cousins for Life’.
With such a star-studded cast, it’s clear that Mutant Mayhem promises to be an exciting new take on TMNT. Fans of all ages can look forward to hearing these fresh voices bring beloved characters to life once again on screen.
Leave a Reply