The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles aren’t ones to stay out of the spotlight for long. With their CG-animated series ended after five seasons, Nickelodeon is rebooting the heroes in a half shell this year with Rise of the Teenage Ninja Turtles that promises to shake up canon. Today, the cable network debuted the first art for the 2D-animated series, giving fans an idea of what to expect.
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In Rise of the Teenage Ninja Mutant Turtles, the four brothers are each a different reptile, and possess a very different weapon from what we’re used to. The cool but crude Raphael is now team leader, the position previously held by Leonardo. Not only that, he’ll be a snapping turtle who’s ditched his iconic sais for twin tonfas. Leonardo, now a red-eared slider full of charm and “rebel heart,” will be wield an ōdachi sword; Donatello is a soft-shell turtle with a tech bo staff and master coder; and Michelangelo is a box turtle rocking a kusari-fundo with the personality of an artist.
Nickelodeon’s Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Along with the new personalities and weapons, the Turtles will find themselves with magical powers they’ll use to save New York and the mystical city that lies beneath it. Trusty human friend April O’Neil will offer help, although for the first time in series history, she’ll be a young black woman. Together with Master Splinter, the heroes will work to defeat mutant alchemist Baron Draxum.
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Premiering later this year, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles stars Omar Miller as Raphael, Ben Schwartz as Leonardo, Josh Brener as Donatello, Brandon Mychal Smith as Michelangelo, Kat Graham as April O’Neil, Eric Bauza as Master Splinter, and John Cena as Baron Draxum.