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View Full Version : Do you think Rob Paulsen is a good choice to voice Donatello?


Brooke507
12-09-2014, 12:27 PM
I personally think he does a good job of voicing Donnie, but some of you might have other opinions. If you don't prefer Rob's voice for the purple masked ninja turtle and you had to choose another voice actor to voice him, who would you choose and why?

IndigoErth
12-09-2014, 12:36 PM
I think he's perfect for this version of Donnie. He lends a great tone/demeanor to the character when this bunch for once actually seem the age they are claimed to be.

CyberCubed
12-09-2014, 12:40 PM
He's perfect for Nick's Donnie. He doesn't even sound like OT Raph.

Gunpowder
12-09-2014, 01:11 PM
I didn't used to. As a matter of fact, that used to be one of my biggest gripes about the whole show.

Now it's quite the opposite. I couldn't think of anyone better-suited for this Donnie. Plus Rob is such a great guy. The amount of passion he pours into this franchise is beyond commendable.

snake
12-09-2014, 01:55 PM
PERFECT voice for this Donnie. His Donatello is the first voice for the character I can actually remember off the top of my head aside from 2k3 Donnie.

BubblyShell22
12-09-2014, 04:57 PM
Love this voice for Donnie. Rob nails it out of the park and is just so awesome at what he does. This is the first version of Donnie I've actually liked, so that's a plus.

TurtleTitan97
12-09-2014, 05:02 PM
Absolutely. He's a great Donnie.

FlogginMcMurryZombiePizza
12-09-2014, 05:22 PM
I really liked that guy who did the Out Of The Shadows Donnie, but that fit for that game... and the guy voicing him in the movie wasn't bad either... he didn't annoy me (either that or he didn't have enough dialog to be annoying with).

I think this version of Don that Rob does is perfect for him and he's well cast. It's very interesting he is able to play Raph and Don and still not sound too much like the other.

Jester
12-09-2014, 05:29 PM
Nope...Hate his stinkin' guts. ;)

Shark_Blade
12-09-2014, 05:29 PM
Yes, he brings a witty, sarcastic and loud Donatello. I never like Don that much in 2k3 because he's so mellow and easily walked all over like a doormat, so 2k12 is a huge improvement.

Thanks Rob!

Brooke507
12-09-2014, 06:01 PM
I agree Shark_Blade. I like how Rob gives Donnie a sense of confidence and even more wit.

pennydreadful
12-09-2014, 06:16 PM
Agreed - he's perfect for this version of Donnie.

blindturtle02
12-09-2014, 06:16 PM
Oh yeah, I think he nails it. I liked the performance the first time I heard it when I saw the premiere a week after it had aired. You can tell he's thrilled to be back doing Turtles again.

Luckyday
12-09-2014, 07:36 PM
Rob being Donnie adds a whole new dimension to his character and it's fantastic.
And now I want to see other unexpected people trying their hand at being one of the other turtles. Someone can catch you surprise but still manages to retain a little bit of the main element of the original ninja turtle.

I said it before and I'll say again. Neil Patrick Harris as Mikey. Nothing against Cipes because he is Michelangelo, but he is what we had come to expect from Mikey's voice.

Another would be Richard Steven Horvitz as Donatello. Somewhere between his natural voice and Zim so that we could maybe get the fun mad scientist vibe out of him.

pennydreadful
12-09-2014, 07:58 PM
I would love to see an AU episode in the Nick series where Donnie was a mad scientist. :tlol:

Bossa Nova
12-09-2014, 08:00 PM
I'll be honest, Rob's voice is like nails on a chalkboard to me. It has one of the qualities I just simply do not like and I wish anyone else had been chosen for Don. That's not to say Rob isn't very talented and obviously loves what he does, but for my personal taste, his actual voice itself is a no-go.

Warhorse
12-09-2014, 08:56 PM
He's OK, but I tend to not really care for the strung out Donnie. How he's always yelling and even sometimes outright mean spirited, like calling Mikey dummy. That shoud be totally Raph's thing. I still would have preferred Paulsen to have voiced Raph. I just think the two go hand in hand.

Luckyday
12-09-2014, 09:05 PM
I'll be honest, Rob's voice is like nails on a chalkboard to me. It has one of the qualities I just simply do not like and I wish anyone else had been chosen for Don. That's not to say Rob isn't very talented and obviously loves what he does, but for my personal taste, his actual voice itself is a no-go.

Hmm well it can be a little bit over the top and sound shrill at times but it suppose to sound shrilly because Donnie in this version is suppose to sound like the most uncomfortable man in this known universe.

But at least Rob can dial back unlike the 2k3's Michelangelo voice actor whose every line of dialogue sounds like it has to end in a exclamation point.:tgrumble:

Coola Yagami
12-09-2014, 09:19 PM
He fits this version of Donnie to a T. They all do, except for Leo.

pannoni1
12-09-2014, 09:20 PM
I actually feel that of all the Turtles' voices, I like Don's the best, as Paulsen provides an energetic yet empirical slant on his persona, and like many modern geeks, seemingly can play a good range of emotions from excitement to bewilder to frustration. While I still hear Barry Gordon's Donatello as "the voice" when I think of him due to the geeky in a more retro sense, compared to Nick's Raph which delivers pretty well, a somewhat more mellow Rob can do wonders with a somewhat cooler tempered dude compared to his rowdy OT Raph at times.

Luckyday
12-09-2014, 09:30 PM
I actually feel that of all the Turtles' voices, I like Don's the best, as Paulsen provides an energetic yet empirical slant on his persona, and like many modern geeks, seemingly can play a good range of emotions from excitement to bewilder to frustration. While I still hear Barry Gordon's Donatello as "the voice" when I think of him due to the geeky in a more retro sense, compared to Nick's Raph which delivers pretty well, a somewhat more mellow Rob can do wonders with a somewhat cooler tempered dude compared to his rowdy OT Raph at times.

I also like that this Raph have a cheeky side to him. He not all about being broody and piss off at the world. On some days, all he wants to do is to bust heads with a sadistic smile on his face. :lol:

ssjup81
12-09-2014, 09:31 PM
I think Rob is perfect for this version of Donnie. Donatello is very sarcastic and has that dry-witted sense of humor, which Rob has always been good with. I couldn't imagine him voicing Raph for this incarnation at all. OT Raph was a cynical, sarcastic, crude smart ass jokester which was great for Rob, which this Raph really isn't (but is occasionally sarcastic). So yeah, that's why I just can't imagine Rob voicing this version of Raph. I think Astin is a great fit for him.

Oh and besides, he's also good at being over the top insane in the goofy sense. He did voice The Mask, after all and that Demon Donnie ep recently really showcased that with Rob. Screw what happened in the ep, I want to bet that the staff wrote that just to have an excuse to have Rob go all out. :lol:

FlogginMcMurryZombiePizza
12-09-2014, 11:28 PM
He's OK, but I tend to not really care for the strung out Donnie. How he's always yelling and even sometimes outright mean spirited, like calling Mikey dummy. That shoud be totally Raph's thing. I still would have preferred Paulsen to have voiced Raph. I just think the two go hand in hand.
I think if he voiced Raph now it be too much a throwback to to OT. I loved Workquake's "alternate dimension" look back, that was awesome.
But I cant imagine Rob pulling off Nick's angry turtle when I'm so familiar with him being a snarky smartass. Sean plays him well enough I enjoy, my fav Raph still being from the first movie.

He fits this version of Donnie to a T. They all do, except for Leo.

Biggs or Green?

LeotheLateBloomer
12-10-2014, 01:04 AM
He's no Sam Regal or Barry Gordon but he does a great job as Donnie. The way I see it, the fact that he voiced a turtle but an altered version of that turtle still felt like a miscast. At least now we know what turtle he probably would have voiced if the staff behind the 80s cartoon hadn't changed Raphael. I personally would have been annoyed if he was casted as Raph again because as FlogginMcMurry said, it would be too much of throwback to the OT.

Coola Yagami
12-10-2014, 01:06 AM
I think if he voiced Raph now it be too much a throwback to to OT. I loved Workquake's "alternate dimension" look back, that was awesome.
But I cant imagine Rob pulling off Nick's angry turtle when I'm so familiar with him being a snarky smartass. Sean plays him well enough I enjoy, my fav Raph still being from the first movie.



Biggs or Green?

I like Biggs and he should have stayed for the sake of consistency. Or at least keep that other guy that was getting better at imitating Biggs Leo.

Green just throws me off. He should have either imitate Biggs or at least sound like a deeper version of Biggs. Him suddenly having an all-new voice just takes me out of the show everyone every time he opens his mouth.

MsMarvelDuckie
12-10-2014, 01:52 AM
Rob being Donnie adds a whole new dimension to his character and it's fantastic.
And now I want to see other unexpected people trying their hand at being one of the other turtles. Someone can catch you surprise but still manages to retain a little bit of the main element of the original ninja turtle.

I said it before and I'll say again. Neil Patrick Harris as Mikey. Nothing against Cipes because he is Michelangelo, but he is what we had come to expect from Mikey's voice.

....we could maybe get the fun mad scientist vibe out of him.


Ditto to all of this. And I would LOVE NPH as Mikey!! And isn't Donnie ALREADY sort of a mad scientist?

Luckyday
12-10-2014, 07:28 AM
Ditto to all of this. And I would LOVE NPH as Mikey!! And isn't Donnie ALREADY sort of a mad scientist?

Yup, NPH would being out different type of personality. One that is more charismatic and charming which would make sense since Mikey is the people person of the group instead of being the usual hyperactive pinkie pie wild card.

Jeremy Shada would another great choice if they were trying to go for a more authentic sound of a teenage boy but it wouldn't really be any different then Cipes.

I don't see the Donnie in this as the mad scientist. His inventions are always very practical and created to help someone whether that be the entire team or just a friend. A mad scientist is someone who creates either out of purely self-fulfilment or seek answers to life most burning question no matter how controversial the topic might be. Princess Bubblegum would more of a mad scientist in this respect since in one of her experiments or just one that we know of (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/YouDoNOTWantToKnow) we see her cutting the legs off the tiny candy person that she was observing in her bedroom because of...well she was really bored that day.:lol:

Netkeeper
12-10-2014, 07:49 AM
My hatred for this version of Donatello aside, Rob Paulsen was a good casting choice. He's a good voice actor, I'm generally a fan of his work, and while the changes to Donatello's characterisation make me want to throw things, Rob Paulsen does a great job with the material he's working with.

LeotheLateBloomer
12-10-2014, 08:21 AM
If Cam, Townsend, or Barry were asked to voice in a new incarnation of the turtles, they'd likely reprise their roles. For Rob's case, it's different. He voiced an altered version of Raphael which wouldn't work these days. He fits Donatello more than he would Raphael. And he's more than content that he's apart of TMNT again. Just like Jason David Frank is happy to be part of Power Rangers again.

DarthRaphael
12-10-2014, 01:44 PM
I think his style fits Donnie perfectly. I thought it would be weird when the series first started knowing that he was Raph before, but it is natural now.

Leofan26
12-10-2014, 07:44 PM
Rob's perfect as every character, I've never complained about any work I've heard him in :D

Brooke507
12-10-2014, 08:55 PM
Rob's perfect as every character, I've never complained about any work I've heard him in :D

He's a great voice actor.

lindz247
12-15-2014, 07:12 PM
Love Rob, his voice definitely suits Donnie! I follow him on Vine too :D

Warhorse
12-16-2014, 10:01 PM
If Cam, Townsend, or Barry were asked to voice in a new incarnation of the turtles, they'd likely reprise their roles. For Rob's case, it's different. He voiced an altered version of Raphael which wouldn't work these days. He fits Donatello more than he would Raphael. And he's more than content that he's apart of TMNT again. Just like Jason David Frank is happy to be part of Power Rangers again.

Well, personally, I actually liked the voice work Nolan North did with Raph in the 2007 movie, and I do miss Raph's Brooklyn accent, so the fact that Nolan North does cameos as the Kraang from time to time, also makes me wonder why they didn't cast him to voice Raph originally instead of Astin. Right now, Raph is used so little in the show, I'm like, what was the point of hiring a a well known actor if they weren't going to use him the their fullest advantage. They did with Biggs.

LeotheLateBloomer
12-17-2014, 04:47 AM
You would think that they would do. He could be voicing numerous characters in this show since it's freaking NOLAN NORTH! I question the people behind this show.

Jester
12-17-2014, 04:54 AM
I think I like all 4 Turtles voices (Biggs as Leo that is. I'm still on the fence about Seth Green.)

I think Greg and Rob are perfect...but then again it's their job. They're "professional voice actors". I dig Sean Astin's Raph. It may not have the "Brooklyn" sound, but it's got the snarky loner feel....and it's probably the youngest Raph's sounded since Paulsen did it the first time.

Luckyday
12-17-2014, 06:47 AM
Have you notice that Nick's Donnie has more a new york accent?

evan2000
12-17-2014, 06:58 AM
So we've heard Rob Paulsen voice Raphael and Donatello and they fit perfectly for their respective incarnations. I wonder what his rendition of Mikey/Leo would have sounded like. I know during the last NYCC he did try to impersonate Mikey and Leo for a brief moment, but it was only done for laughs. If he had to do it professionally what would have turned out? Will we get a Pinky Mikey? Or Dr. Otto Leo? Or something totally new?

LeotheLateBloomer
12-17-2014, 09:14 AM
I don't think he'd pull off Leo at all. And he tried doing a Mikey impersonation and it was forced. I think sticking to Don is best.

Gunstar_Red
12-18-2014, 11:42 PM
I personally think Paulson is the best Donatello. I like how he sounds more confident and active than previous incarnations. I also like that he doesn't sound annoying or too snarky (my biggest problem with the 2007 film's).

One of the reasons why I didn't like Donnie in the past is that he seems too plain and/or pacifistic and his voice reflected that. He didn't seem like he can hold his own and was the most likely to get killed or captured first.

So we've heard Rob Paulsen voice Raphael and Donatello and they fit perfectly for their respective incarnations. I wonder what his rendition of Mikey/Leo would have sounded like. I know during the last NYCC he did try to impersonate Mikey and Leo for a brief moment, but it was only done for laughs. If he had to do it professionally what would have turned out? Will we get a Pinky Mikey? Or Dr. Otto Leo? Or something totally new?

That reminds me of a joke he once said at a panel or interview. Give him another 20 years or so and he'll voice each of the four Turtles at some point in his career. :P

Luckyday
12-18-2014, 11:45 PM
I personally think Paulson is the best Donatello. I like how he sounds more confident and active than previous incarnations. I also like that he doesn't sound annoying or too snarky (my biggest problem with the 2007 film's).

One of the reasons why I didn't like Donnie in the past is that he seems too plain and/or pacifistic and his voice reflected that. He didn't seem like he can hold his own and was the most likely to get killed or captured first.



That reminds me of a joke he once said at a panel or interview. Give him another 20 years or so and he'll voice each of the four Turtles at some point in his career. :P

Maybe he'll play Mikey next.:P

LeotheLateBloomer
12-21-2014, 10:56 AM
Hearing Rob voice a new turtle is actual kind of refreshing. It will be nice to look back at Rob as not only the voice of Raph but the voice of Don. And I think out of all four turtles, he is the most well casted.

TrickOrTreater
12-21-2014, 11:24 AM
Yep, he's great as Donnie.