Leonardo's Voice

[Sage Ninja]

Has any one ever notice how much Leonardo's voice changes over the course of the series in the old toon. I've been watching my season three dvds alot and last night I decided to pop in my season two dvd and I was a bit shocked at how Leonardo sounded in this season compared to season three. He still had the teenager's high voice but it sound much more authoritive and deep and...well heroic!

I was amazed I even went back to watch some of season one and his voice is probably the most smooth and deep and commanding than in even season two! I don't get how I missed this but the change from season to season is so suble that i doidn't really notice it till now!!

which one do you like best

[themaxonline]

I always knew his voice to be deeper and more mature in the first season but never noticed a difference between the others after that. I liked the first season one, probably because it was indicative of the first season, lol.

[ThisSchemeCannotFail]

All of the characters had more depth in season one.

Leonardo was more deep and commanding and it was better, yet so too were the other turtles. Krang and Shredder appeared to be no-nonsense opponents at the time, rather than comical in later seasons. And the most compelling example of a character change was how Vernon Fenwick went from having an air of authority in season one to being a complete wimp from season three.

[Sage Ninja]

I always knew his voice to be deeper and more mature in the first season but never noticed a difference between the others after that. I liked the first season one, probably because it was indicative of the first season, lol.

there is a suble diffrence between Leonardo's voice between season one and season two. In season one he has a mature low toned voice. In season two his voice is a bit higher and has a sort of pre-puberty quality to it but it is still deep, firm and authrotive.

By season three his voice all but loses that firm authoritve quality and becomes softer and more high. And he has that cliche upward inflection in his voice when he talks...you know when it sounds like you are asking a question when your not. It makes him sound younger and innocent sounding.

[gobo]

His voice was serious and admirable in season 1. He sounds like Clifford, the Big Red Dog in season 3. And, Cam Clarke does Mack, not Clifford!

[Time Mistress]

Season one I guess. I always like the line at the end of episode 2 where he says, "Tomorrow we're going to find the Shredder and finish him." Classic OT Leo, imho.

[DrSpengler]

I always liked season 1 better because Cam Clarke is channeling his "Kaneda" voice (from Akira) and sound pretty badass.

He "wussified" the voice for the following seasons and Leonardo really lost that edge. In the first season, he SOUNDED like a leader. In the following seasons he sounded like a kid who THOUGHT he was leader.

[Sage Ninja]

to be honest I really like his first season voice because it is a very handsome and heroic voice, but since it isn't the voice that I remember him having though out the series it seems a little surreal to me and there for not very Leonardo-ish. Don't get me wrong I wish that this was the voice that Leonardo had through out the entire series but since it wasn't it makes me feel like I am watching a diffrent version of him (which I guess in a sence is true)

If I had to choose a voice of Leonardo's I think I would go with sesond season Leonardo. It is a combination of season one and all the seasons after it. It was kind of deep and had the strong "Leader" quailty and was still firm and authrotive, but had a bit of high, soft, "youngish" "quailty" to it that the actor later seemed to favor.

After season two Leonardo's voice became very young sounding and teenage like. In its self it wasn't a bad voice because the actor seemed more comfertable with it. But I think what fans didn't like was the whinny quality to it. If season three's voice was less whinny would you guys have liked it better?

However I don't know if its just me but it seemed Cam Clarke was more comfertable acting wise with the season three version of Leonardo's voice. In season three it seemed to have more range of emotion than in the previous other two seasons. There where a few times where the heroic comanding voice seemed a bit forced or wooden . Did any one else think this?

[Coola Yagami]

I also liked his deeper voice better, as well as Rocksteady's (same guy did both). Both of them sounded way too whiney and cartoony in the later seasons. I eventually got used to Leo's voice, but I never liked Rocksteady's whinier voice.

If you ever seen the episode 'Blast from the Past', you'll get a side-by-side comparison of Leo's light and deep voices from the actual episode and flashbacks to the season 1 eps.

[mikey2007]

I also liked his deeper voice better, as well as Rocksteady's (same guy did both). Both of them sounded way too whiney and cartoony in the later seasons. I eventually got used to Leo's voice, but I never liked Rocksteady's whinier voice.

If you ever seen the episode 'Blast from the Past', you'll get a side-by-side comparison of Leo's light and deep voices from the actual episode and flashbacks to the season 1 eps.

leo's original voice was great, whenever i heard him on some other show, i would go, "HEY ITS LEO'S voice" i liked that voice, but it did get to high which is why he was my least favorite turtle after season 1, he was the "coward" half the time, especially in the snake episode, i hate that one, it just....ok, before i go off on a tanget, i'll stop myself.

but i agree with u too on rocksteady's voice(as well as the characters of bebop and rocksteady who were not intimidating anymore after that first season)

[Sage Ninja]

I have always liked Leonardo's voice even when he he made it all go cartoony it still had an apealing quality to it that I just can't describe. Maybe I'm just weird.

He "wussified" the voice for the following seasons and Leonardo really lost that edge. In the first season, he SOUNDED like a leader. In the following seasons he sounded like a kid who THOUGHT he was leader.

I don't think "wussified" is a fair description of what Leonardo voice sounded like in season three on. I think just "cartoonified" (for lack of a better term) is a better way to describe it. And I agree he sort of lost that "Leaders edge" in season three and on. It could be argued that Dontello was more Leader like in season three than Leonardo.

All though I still think Keonardo still had that Leader's edge even in the season two, it was just not a mature sounding as season one. Here is examples of Leoanrdo's voice through the three seasons:

season one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTWEwzoDvtE

See how low toned and authoritve he sounds? I just love that smooth take no nonsense "we'll train when I say so" voice. I like how the turtles does what he says just because he says so.

season two:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2vMmiUZu-E

In season two his voice is definately higher but I think that it is still deep, firm and and commanding. Like some one whomis used to barking out orders. I think he still has that "strong leader" aura in this season that marks him as the leader instead of some one who is just trying to be the leader.

season three:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjvKt31nSXE

I'm sorry I tried finding a better example of season three but this the best that I could come up with. Leonardo doesn't talk to much at first so you'll have to watch a little more of it until he does. But by this time his voice is much softer and has lost all his command. He just seems like just one of the other team players at this point. Not that his is bad but its not as whinny as I've headr it but all the nice leadership quality is gone.

I hope the examples I picked out show cased Leoanrdo's voice tranformation well. There is suble diffrence in each example right?

[BigApple3AM]

I just popped in my volume 5 dvd for the first time today and I completely agree! I'm glad you started this thread. Blast from the past makes it really apparent, but his voice was cringe-worthy in beware the lotus blossom (so was the animation, ouch). I thought Shredder's was more noticeable for me though, you can tell it's uncle phil in season 3, but in season 1 he's so badass it's hard to tell. Leo has always had a higher voice, even in the original movies. I like the new movie voice though, though I'll wait and judge after I hear some more of his voice from it.

[Sage Ninja]

I just popped in my volume 5 dvd for the first time today and I completely agree! I'm glad you started this thread. Blast from the past makes it really apparent, but his voice was cringe-worthy in beware the lotus blossom (so was the animation, ouch).

I think as far as "highness" of Leoanrdo's voice goes, season three is tolerable. Despite having a distinct "I'm going through puberty" quality to it his voice in season three was still very grounded and convincing that he is a teenager. In some later seasons his voice not only gets high it gets squeaky and babish sounding. When I have a chance I'll post an example of what i mean about the extra squeakified and babish voice he sometimes uses in later season.

Leo has always had a higher voice, even in the original movies. I like the new movie voice though, though I'll wait and judge after I hear some more of his voice from it

I've noticed that too. Why do you think that is? That most mediums tend to give Leoanrdo a higher more teenager sounding voice? One that even the new movie seems to be captialising as well. You would think they would want to give him a more deep gravelly sounding voice that is more befitting that characteristcs of some one that is the leader. Like Galioth from Gargoyals and his deep voice, or Maufasa (spelling) from the lion King. Even in the new toon where Leonardo voice is more firm and serious sounding he still has a high young sounding voice, that also manges to sound soft and good natured and shows his gentle disposition. It offers a great paradox for his character. Most leoanrdo voices have been this way! I wonder if when Peter Laird and Keven Eastman where making Leonardo that they ever immagined that his voice would sopund like the ones that have been used in most mediums.

I thought Shredder's was more noticeable for me though, you can tell it's uncle phil in season 3, but in season 1 he's so badass it's hard to tell.

That is interesting that you say that. Because I thought Shredder's voice stayed pretty much the same through out the series. And I never heard Uncle Phil in Shredder's voice because Shredder had an all together much more harsher way of speaking than Uncle Phil did. I think the only diffrence between Shredder's voice in season one and season three was that in season one Shredder sounded more mean and threatening and in season three Shredder just sounds like an asshole with poor people skills.

[mikey2007]

That is interesting that you say that. Because I thought Shredder's voice stayed pretty much the same through out the series. And I never heard Uncle Phil in Shredder's voice because Shredder had an all together much more harsher way of speaking than Uncle Phil did. I think the only diffrence between Shredder's voice in season one and season three was that in season one Shredder sounded more mean and threatening and in season three Shredder just sounds like an asshole with poor people skills.

:lol: you need to watch the fresh prince more:) next time u watch it, when Uncle Phil is going to start yelling at will or someone(which happens a lot haha) turn around(so your not watching), he sounds exactly the same as shredder does, the only time he didn't sound like the shredder when he was talking normal/calm

[Sage Ninja]

Iave and it I still don't hear Uncle Phil in Shredder;s voice ofr Shredder in Uncle Phil even when he is screaming a Will. The only time i thought Uncle Phil sounded like Shredder was in this one episode where he started laughing manically at Will. Then I was like "Damn thats shredder!"

I'm still trying to find a decent sound clip of Leoanrdo's voice in season four and five but I can't find any. Which kinda sucks. I guess youtube is cracking down on copy right laws.

For those of you who care for Leoanrdo's voice in later seasons do you feel the same way about new Toon Leoanrdo's voice? I notice his voice is a bit high but I never really hear any one saying they don't like his voice.

[TMNTserbia]

First season.

[dj mav]

also, i never noticed as a kid, but im pretty sure it's his voice that sings the opening song. you know,

"They're the world's most fearsome fighting team!"

those lines.

[jenna]

also, i never noticed as a kid, but im pretty sure it's his voice that sings the opening song. you know,

"They're the world's most fearsome fighting team!"

those lines.

Yeah, I thought that too.

[Scandia]

Season 2 or 3. The first one just did not sound like him and would lead to a lot of mistyping. It sounded WAY too bossy. He's still a teenager with a lot of growing up to do.

[SassyGal]

I never really realised just how different his voice was by the end of the show, but I have to go with the majority & say the season 1 voice was the best & I think that pretty much goes for all the good and bad guys :)

[AquaParade]

:( Season 1 was just too enjoable for the good of the later seasons.

[Sage Ninja]

Leonardo's first season voice was totally bad ass. It was smooth, and deep and dareI say sexy as well. Season one voice still sounded like a teenager to me just one that was more assured of him self. And didn't come nearly as so bossy as he sounded in later seasons.

I will always love Cam Clarke's voice for Leonardo but I think around season four he got a little out of control with the higher pitched sound of his voice. Episodes like Leonardo Vs. Tempestra, Leonardo Lightens Up, and Unidentified Flying Leoanrdo where almost cringe-worthy on how high and squeaky he made.

also, i never noticed as a kid, but im pretty sure it's his voice that sings the opening song. you know,

"They're the world's most fearsome fighting team!"

those lines.

I thought this too at first because the singer does sound like Cam Clarke, but it isn't actually him that sings the song. Its too bad they never incorporated Came Clarke's singing abilty into Leonardo character. He has a nice singing voice and it would have been cool to hear him sing as Leonardo.

[OrangeMike]

I never noticed it when I was younger, but I was watching my DVD's of the Ninja Turtles and yes I do notice. His voice was deep in season one and two, but in season 3 and later, his voice was just plain high pitched.

I think they should of kept him with the deep voice. I don't know why they changed it or Cam Clarke changed it.

[tone-master21]

I agree, Leo's voice in the 1st Season was the best.

[Sage Ninja]

I never noticed it when I was younger, but I was watching my DVD's of the Ninja Turtles and yes I do notice. His voice was deep in season one and two, but in season 3 and later, his voice was just plain high pitched.

I think they should of kept him with the deep voice. I don't know why they changed it or Cam Clarke changed it.

I have no idea why Cam Clarke changed his pitch in Leonardo's voice. It might have been his decision to do on his own so that he could have a more comfertable voice to work with, or maybe the dialogue directer had him pitch his voice higher as the seasons went on to the fit the more cartoonified way the series was going in.

Tell me for those of you that have seen Red Sky recently, did Leonardo's voice change to the way it was in earlier seasons to match the more serious tone of the series, or did it remain the same?

[OrangeMike]

I think it remained the same with the high-pitched voice.:ohwell:

Here is an example. It's the last episode:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYodwl7FgsI

[Revan]

I really enjoyed listening to his voice throughout the series except for season 4. Ugh! It was way too deep and a bit too authoritve.

[fastforwarddregg]

I noticed the same thing too. Like in the later seasons his voice sounded like a wimp. his voice was more serious in the first couple seasons. well its because a lot of the later seasons had a more cartoony feel.

[ToTheNines]

I didn't mind Leo's changing voice in the OT, but what really bugged me was Townsend Coleman giving Mikey a tweaked voice (I think he started in season 5). He reminds of Beast Boy...

[Sage Ninja]

:-?

Huh, I never noticed Townsend tweaking Michaelango's voice to make it sound diffrent :ohwell: . I did think that on the first season of the series that the "surfer" aspect of Michaelangelo's voice and persona was a bit less prominent, before the writters stero-typed the turtles. But season one I thought it remained pretty consistent. To me Michaelangelo's voice has always been the most consistent of all the turtles because he never had a stand in Voice actor, and unlike Leonardo his performance as Michaelangelo never changed. Can you be a little more specific and elaborate more on that ToTheNines?

[ToTheNines]

I'm positive that in season 7 and onwards (could have been earlier tho) Townsend made Mike sound alot more boyish, and yet a bit more serious. It wasn't really off, as in it's definantly Michelangelo, it was just a slight difference. It wasn't as drastic as Leo's change, but it was certainly there. All season 7 episodes are on youtube, so refer to one of those and you'll see what I mean.

[Sage Ninja]

ok I just finnished watching all of season five and I have to agree that Townsend did tweak Michaelangelo's voice a little. Its suble but its there. Actually I think a rather like the change. I think he softened Michaelangelo's voice and made his voice sound a lot less characteric and garbled. He sounds a bit more like a normal teenager (so I guess boyish as you said) rather than sterotypical surfer wanna-be, even though the surfer slang is still prominet. Actually I think it gave his character more range of emotion instead of the "whoa dude" expressions he had earlier on and made his moments of actual emotion seem less...er forced I guess. Notice that there are some voices that just don't come off right while serious? Well I think Townsend fixed that and became more comfertable with the voice.

But where are you getting the Beast Boy refrence from? :-? I've heard beast boy talk and he has a rather scratchy breathless sounding voice, which I don;t think is similar to how Michaelangelo voice sounds in the OT. :ohwell:

I haven't watched the season seven episodes so I can't judge if it changed even more after that though.

[TheUltimateShredhead]

His voice is infact deeper and more masculine in the first season, and it gets more teenage cartoonish after that. But im gonna stick with the voice in the later seasons, probably cause it's the voice im used to:ohwell: .

[ToTheNines]

I've been watching through season 4, and I've noticed Leo reverting back to his season one voice for a line or two (The only example I can think of is at the very beggining of Were-rats from Channel 6).

[ferret]

I liked the first season. I really think that this was the best Leonardo voice ever before it started getting all whiny.:ohwell: It suits the first season, which was a lot more serious then the later ones.

[Sage Ninja]

Has any one noticed that most mediums tend to give Leoanrdo a higher more teenager sounding voice? One that even the new movie seems to be captialising as well. You would think they would want to give him a more deep gravelly sounding voice that is more befitting that characteristcs of some one that is the leader. Like Galioth from Gargoyals and his deep voice, or Maufasa (spelling) from the lion King. Even in the new toon where Leonardo voice is more firm and serious sounding he still has a high young sounding voice, that also manges to sound soft and good natured and shows his gentle disposition. It offers a great paradox for his character. Most leoanrdo voices have been this way! I wonder if when Peter Laird and Keven Eastman where making Leonardo that they ever immagined that his voice would sopund like the ones that have been used in most mediums.

[syd]

well why can't i just vote them three at once dude XDDDD
leo's CVs r all nice,they do have a li'l changes but not so distinguish to shock me,i mean,like raph's,which is a wise and shocking change,even if the hothead's been growing both in physiology and,err,mind.
anyway i vote the 3rd,and dude im surprised the 1st one got a such superior to the other 2,oh no no,not such overwhelming...i don't expect that...well maybe just the prejudice of 1st impression or something...whatever.

[Sage Ninja]

I think the first one got the most votes because that is arguably the most badass version of OT Leonardo's voice. He actually sounded like a authoritive leader in that season instead of a teacher's pet.

If Hell ever freazes over and they make a straight to dvd new season of old toon turtles, I would want Leonardo to sound like his first season voice rather than the other seasons.

[shuriken]

Season one for sure.

[Mutated Leo]

I never really realised just how different his voice was by the end of the show, but I have to go with the majority & say the season 1 voice was the best & I think that pretty much goes for all the good and bad guys :)

I think the voice acting in general is better in season one. So my vote goes without sayin. I did like his voice in the new movie as well.

[mk.2]

I've never noticed that his voice had changed between seasons. :ohwell: They all sound the same to me.