Why were there so many voice actor changes/substitutions during the 1987 show/films?

[jignat]

TMNT 1987 had alot of substitutions during its run and so did the first 3 live action movies from 1990-1993.



I know Corey Feldman entered rehab so he couldnt do Secret of the Ooze. But Raph had a different voice actor each film.

But have any other reasons been given for all these changes?

[Prowler]

I'm gonna guess Rob Paulsen was busy doing other cartoons at the time such as The Animaniacs. He must have had a really tight schedule, meaning he had to miss some episodes.

James Avery was busy with Fresh Prince at some point, so maybe that's why around season 7 or so he began slowly fading away from the show.

No idea about Donatello's VA. Or Krang's.

I mean, come on now, it was a long af show. 10 seasons from 1987 to 1996. Not many Americans cartoons went on for that long or longer.

If anything, I'm surprised Cam Clarke and Townsend Coleman didn't miss a single episode. April's VA didn't either, but then again April O'Neil wasn't in a few episodes. Well, like less than 5, one of them being Turtle Trek in season 8 already, but still very impressive. I dunno how many cartoons those three worked in, but I'm pretty sure that at least Cam Clarke was a ready popular VA back then, so I'm sure he had a tight schedule too.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

I'm gonna guess Rob Paulsen was busy doing other cartoons at the time such as The Animaniacs.

Animaniacs debuted in September 1993, so it wouldn't affect most of his alternate voices for most seasons.

[pferreira]

TMNT 1987 had alot of substitutions during its run and so did the first 3 live action movies from 1990-1993.



I know Corey Feldman entered rehab so he couldnt do Secret of the Ooze. But Raph had a different voice actor each film.

But have any other reasons been given for all these changes?On the 80s cartoon it was to do with availability or people getting ill.

Not 100% sure about the movies but I know Josh Pais really hated filming in the suit and since he also did the voice he probably turned down returning. The Raph voice for he sequel was a Henson employee I believe so when Henson didn't do the third movie he didn't voice Raph. Same goes with Kevin Clash and Splinter.

[Leo656]

Regarding Feldman, I don't know for sure but I suspect that his payoff for the first movie (or lack thereof) was also a factor.

He was by far the biggest "star" attached to the first movie in any way, but they fast-talked him into taking only a couple grand, saying "It's just a tiny little independent film, nobody's gonna make any money", so at the end of the day he took home by far the least amount of money out of everyone. And he was furious when he found out that they'd swindled him.

Obviously things were smoothed over by Part III, but I suspect that his paycheck had a few more zeroes in it the second time out.

To what degree it was a factor in him skipping the second movie, I can't say, but it had to have been PART of the reason.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

On the 80s cartoon it was to do with availability or people getting ill.

Weren't all voices recorded together in Los Angeles, I guess?

[pferreira]

Weren't all voices recorded together in Los Angeles, I guess?Yeah but you have to factor in if Rob was committed to another series somewhere else. James Avery was also unavailable at times due to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. They weren't allowed to re-book the group voice over sessions because it would mess with the schedule. If someone didn't show up they'd have to find a quick replacement. Not ideal but that was the schedule they had.

[FredWolfLeonardo]

I heard from somewhere that Fred Wolf wanted to ensure that the voice over sessions were done by all the cast members in the same room together, so that caused many conflicting schedules and thus, substitutions.

[Prowler]

I heard from somewhere that Fred Wolf wanted to ensure that the voice over sessions were done by all the cast members in the same room together, so that caused many conflicting schedules and thus, substitutions.

But on the other hand, that made their chemistry phenomenal. Seriously, this is one of the cartoon series wit the best chemistry between VAs ever. Whenever the characters threw jabs at each others it always felt real to me. Like the actors improvised on the spot. Like two friends secretly taking the piss out of each other.

[FredWolfLeonardo]

But on the other hand, that made their chemistry phenomenal. Seriously, this is one of the cartoon series wit the best chemistry between VAs ever. Whenever the characters threw jabs at each others it always felt real to me. Like the actors improvised on the spot. Like two friends secretly taking the piss out of each other.

Exactly.

Episodes varied in quality when it came to animation and story, but the voice acting (excluding some of the substitutes) was consistently great, and the best in any tmnt show in my opinion.

I'd gladly take the bad substitute actors now and then, if it means that the originals have such great chemistry.

Plus, most of the substitutes weren't "that" bad, and you could argue even add variety to the show.

Jim Cummings, Dorian Harewood, Townsend Coleman and Bill Martin did good Shredders.

The guy who did took over for Raphael in season 10 was pretty serviceable.

Townsend Coleman as Krang was horrific, but in a way that was downright hilarious.

However, I couldn't stand Raphael's alternate voice in the European Vacation, and some episodes of season 3.

[Prowler]

Exactly.

Episodes varied in quality when it came to animation and story, but the voice acting (excluding some of the substitutes) was consistently great, and the best in any tmnt show in my opinion.

I'd gladly take the bad substitute actors now and then, if it means that the originals have such great chemistry.
Tbh the only episode where a substitute VA really grinded my gears was in that episode where the Turtles buy Splinter a sword. It was the first episode where Raphael got a replacement VA. He sounded quite awkward.

[MikeandRaph87]

Regarding Feldman, I don't know for sure but I suspect that his payoff for the first movie (or lack thereof) was also a factor.

He was by far the biggest "star" attached to the first movie in any way, but they fast-talked him into taking only a couple grand, saying "It's just a tiny little independent film, nobody's gonna make any money", so at the end of the day he took home by far the least amount of money out of everyone. And he was furious when he found out that they'd swindled him.

Obviously things were smoothed over by Part III, but I suspect that his paycheck had a few more zeroes in it the second time out.

To what degree it was a factor in him skipping the second movie, I can't say, but it had to have been PART of the reason.

I read that he was in drug rehab during the recording session for the second film thus unavailable.

[pferreira]

I heard from somewhere that Fred Wolf wanted to ensure that the voice over sessions were done by all the cast members in the same room together, so that caused many conflicting schedules and thus, substitutions.I think that's absolutely true. Wolf always tried to get them together to record.

Jim Cummings, Dorian Harewood, Townsend Coleman and Bill Martin did good Shredders.Wasn't a fan of Dorian Harewood or Townsend Coleman's Shredder voices. I've always felt the best substitute was Jim Cummings.