Peter Chung's TMNT designs [Archive] - The Technodrome Forums

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oldmanwinters

10-14-2021, 07:35 AM

Yep, "the Aeon Flux guy" is the reason the original TMNT intro and first season looked so cool:
https://www.instagram.com/peter_k_chung/

April O'Neil in Action!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CU_x7aFrtGA/
http://i.imgur.com/odoElZz.jpg (https://imgur.com/odoElZz)

Additional images SPOILER'd for large sizes:

Pre-Mutation Rocksteady and Bebop (unused concept)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CU_v54dLgr5/

http://i.imgur.com/Bfq1rOV.jpg (https://imgur.com/Bfq1rOV)

Splinter/HamatoYoshi
https://www.instagram.com/p/CU_w-JVLIw0/

http://i.imgur.com/IFlr7HP.jpg (https://imgur.com/IFlr7HP)

http://i.imgur.com/x4IGkug.jpg (https://imgur.com/x4IGkug)

http://i.imgur.com/aEQA6GZ.jpg (https://imgur.com/aEQA6GZ)

http://i.imgur.com/HiaqsZS.jpg (https://imgur.com/HiaqsZS)

Shredder/Saki
https://www.instagram.com/p/CU_xSjfLRbk/

http://i.imgur.com/QoJrXff.jpg (https://imgur.com/QoJrXff)

http://i.imgur.com/uk4EEE2.jpg (https://imgur.com/uk4EEE2)

http://i.imgur.com/t9ljWyE.jpg (https://imgur.com/t9ljWyE)

http://i.imgur.com/DHJdK8y.jpg (https://imgur.com/DHJdK8y)

oldmanwinters

10-14-2021, 07:47 AM

SPOILER'd for large images.

Turtles in Disguise
https://www.instagram.com/p/CU_wP9SLemR/

http://i.imgur.com/rQfJXZc.jpg (https://imgur.com/rQfJXZc)

The Punk who would become Scrag
https://www.instagram.com/p/CU_vqNYLcZd/

http://i.imgur.com/9HQTpID.jpg (https://imgur.com/9HQTpID)

Zak the Neutrino
https://www.instagram.com/p/CU_wGINLzZe/

http://i.imgur.com/DdXxhQb.jpg (https://imgur.com/DdXxhQb)

http://i.imgur.com/61Lc0jR.jpg (https://imgur.com/61Lc0jR)

April O'Neil's head turnarounds
https://www.instagram.com/p/CU_xxEwLdXm/

http://i.imgur.com/iqfU0Y9.jpg (https://imgur.com/iqfU0Y9)

http://i.imgur.com/tfFXCC4.jpg (https://imgur.com/tfFXCC4)

http://i.imgur.com/NHTbGkU.jpg (https://imgur.com/NHTbGkU)

April's expressions
https://www.instagram.com/p/CU_xluIrenR/

http://i.imgur.com/Fl49ZxN.jpg (https://imgur.com/Fl49ZxN)

http://i.imgur.com/rZF3O9m.jpg (https://imgur.com/rZF3O9m)

http://i.imgur.com/8H4tPn8.jpg (https://imgur.com/8H4tPn8)

frank_one

10-14-2021, 07:50 AM

Wow, thank you for sharing! I would be curious to see even more of his turtles drawings.

MrPliggins

10-14-2021, 09:29 AM

Cool to know that he was the art director of the original series. The art also reminds me of the original coloring books.

sdp

10-14-2021, 09:31 AM

I also thought "isn't that the Aenflux guy?" I'd definitely love to see a TMNT short made by him. It'd be all kinds of crazy.

MrPliggins

10-14-2021, 09:34 AM

Neat to know that he designed Krang's body as a joke, not knowing the series would get so popular.

oldmanwinters

10-14-2021, 09:37 AM

Cool to know that he was the art director of the original series. The art also reminds me of the original coloring books.

Yes, definitely. The Random House books followed these designs very closely, especially the first two books by Fernando Fernandez.

IMJ

10-14-2021, 10:04 AM

What a great post....
I love Aeon Flux too.

CyberCubed

10-14-2021, 11:41 AM

Rocksteady’s human design was going to be a flaming homosexual? That’s a gay character design if I ever saw one.

IndigoErth

10-14-2021, 11:57 AM

Neat! Thanks for posting them!

But that one pair of images of April though... lol Calm down, Ariel, it's just a spoon.

Rocksteady’s human design was going to be a flaming homosexual? That’s a gay character design if I ever saw one.
I see someone is too young to remember anything of the 80s punk era.

Sumac

10-14-2021, 12:31 PM

Amazing.

Funny how Rocksteady design has completely changed between this and cartoon itself.

Shredder looks more like Mirage incarnation. I wish there were some sketches of Krang and some other characters.

Also, I've read there was another character designer, before Chung was brought to the series. Is there any more additional information about that?

Original TMNT Cartoon Fan

10-14-2021, 01:25 PM

I think I've seen the final Shredder design somewhere else.

DarkFell

10-15-2021, 03:44 AM

Thanks for sharing these images. The alternate Bebop & Rocksteady designs might have worked if they were ever approved.

It would appear that Chung liked the design for April O' Neil.

Original TMNT Cartoon Fan

10-15-2021, 04:42 AM

Thanks for sharing these images. The alternate Bebop & Rocksteady designs might have worked if they were ever approved.

It would appear that Chung liked the design for April O' Neil.

I don't mind the Human designs Bebop and Rocksteady much. Once Shredder sprays the mutagen on them in Enter the Shredder, it is all over.

AquaParade

10-15-2021, 06:24 AM

Very cool. I really dig Aeon Flux because it is so dang bizarre and otherwordly. It's cool to see his take on TMNT. If only he could do more with the brand.

MrPliggins

10-15-2021, 07:25 AM

Cool to see that he storyboarded the original opening theme as well. Still the best theme in my opinion.

AquaParade

10-15-2021, 10:04 AM

Cool to see that he storyboarded the original opening theme as well. Still the best theme in my opinion.

I'd take that opening intro over pretty much the entire series, for the animation quality. I find it to be gorgeous looking. I agree, it's really cool to learn he was behind it.

oldmanwinters

10-15-2021, 10:59 AM

I'll include the other turnaround photos of April here with links to the original posts, to make them easier to find for future reference.

April facing front
https://www.instagram.com/p/CU_yqjwLhCq/

http://i.imgur.com/mwuDwHU.jpg (https://imgur.com/mwuDwHU)

April side profile
https://www.instagram.com/p/CU_yTtVriXR/

http://i.imgur.com/Gb1vqDZ.jpg (https://imgur.com/Gb1vqDZ)

April's backside
https://www.instagram.com/p/CU_yIu1LtLD/

http://i.imgur.com/0Fq3P9Y.jpg (https://imgur.com/0Fq3P9Y)

April in Action (higher resolution)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CU_x7aFrtGA/

http://i.imgur.com/HBvYWm2.jpg (https://imgur.com/HBvYWm2)

Chung also comments about his design on Krang's Android body (https://www.instagram.com/p/CU_yqjwLhCq/):
Sometimes I forget I drew this. I was art director on the first run of TMNT episodes in 1987. They gave me license to come up with new versions of the characters from the comics.

My design for Krang's robot was not liked by Kevin Eastman (too goofy), but it was approved. Honestly the design was a joke, which tells you I had no idea this show was going to be so huge. I'll post it if I can find it.

oldmanwinters

11-09-2021, 09:39 AM

Peter Chung posted his original storyboards for the opening sequence!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CWCv5o4L6Qy/

http://i.imgur.com/YhYr2Hi.jpg (https://imgur.com/YhYr2Hi)

http://i.imgur.com/zHvjsa2.jpg (https://imgur.com/zHvjsa2)

http://i.imgur.com/7pM78nV.jpg (https://imgur.com/7pM78nV)

http://i.imgur.com/eylBWMd.jpg (https://imgur.com/eylBWMd)

http://i.imgur.com/KJbNzXb.jpg (https://imgur.com/KJbNzXb)

http://i.imgur.com/RqxLweA.jpg (https://imgur.com/RqxLweA)

http://i.imgur.com/QLCvPz9.jpg (https://imgur.com/QLCvPz9)

http://i.imgur.com/6Cs34yk.jpg (https://imgur.com/6Cs34yk)

http://i.imgur.com/mAEbqqO.jpg (https://imgur.com/mAEbqqO)

http://i.imgur.com/YgDErcc.jpg (https://imgur.com/YgDErcc)

oldmanwinters

11-09-2021, 09:40 AM

https://www.instagram.com/p/CWCvqjGLW4z/

http://i.imgur.com/a1J4on4.jpg (https://imgur.com/a1J4on4)

http://i.imgur.com/kfCpCCT.jpg (https://imgur.com/kfCpCCT)

http://i.imgur.com/0r2qpUB.jpg (https://imgur.com/0r2qpUB)

http://i.imgur.com/yDCKAzo.jpg (https://imgur.com/yDCKAzo)

http://i.imgur.com/9hv5a9s.jpg (https://imgur.com/9hv5a9s)

http://i.imgur.com/pgbaUbS.jpg (https://imgur.com/pgbaUbS)

http://i.imgur.com/Jg5qdWW.jpg (https://imgur.com/Jg5qdWW)

http://i.imgur.com/H6Abg70.jpg (https://imgur.com/H6Abg70)

http://i.imgur.com/a6wkEFZ.jpg (https://imgur.com/a6wkEFZ)

http://i.imgur.com/gbYjBpx.jpg (https://imgur.com/gbYjBpx)

oldmanwinters

11-09-2021, 09:41 AM

These are some of my favorites, as there are some humorous differences between the concept and what became the final animation. "Leonardo Leads" is lampooned by the fact that the other three turtles appear to be running from a giant robot (Krang's Android?). And Michelangelo's "Party Dude" dance seems to show him in a padded asylum room rather than a Disco-Fever dance floor.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CWCvRQ5rTJt/

http://i.imgur.com/WYCH5Se.jpg (https://imgur.com/WYCH5Se)

http://i.imgur.com/vTQ8BTq.jpg (https://imgur.com/vTQ8BTq)

http://i.imgur.com/YQVoHAc.jpg (https://imgur.com/YQVoHAc)

http://i.imgur.com/63fvu8Q.jpg (https://imgur.com/63fvu8Q)

http://i.imgur.com/6P89amg.jpg (https://imgur.com/6P89amg)

http://i.imgur.com/PxcrRxE.jpg (https://imgur.com/PxcrRxE)

http://i.imgur.com/F4pmvvi.jpg (https://imgur.com/F4pmvvi)

http://i.imgur.com/eDI1jWm.jpg (https://imgur.com/eDI1jWm)

http://i.imgur.com/S6zvwoA.jpg (https://imgur.com/S6zvwoA)

http://i.imgur.com/0A3f0yr.jpg (https://imgur.com/0A3f0yr)

AquaParade

11-09-2021, 09:53 AM

oldmanwinters

11-09-2021, 10:38 AM

I love this so much. Get this man back on TMNT.

Heh, can you imagine a respectably-budgeted direct-to-video TMNT feature produced by Chung in an unashamedly "anime" style? That would be epic.

AquaParade

11-09-2021, 12:35 PM

Heh, can you imagine a respectably-budgeted direct-to-video TMNT feature produced by Chung in an unashamedly "anime" style? That would be epic.

It'd be so cool. I can imagine Netflix wanting something like that. I think there is a ray of hope we may get something interesting there, seeing as they are working with Nickelodeon and have shown a strong interest in adult animation. Not holding my breath, but maybe they say "Rise of the TMNT didn't work out so well, but we've been having a lot of success with our animation aimed at teens/adults."

Cowa

11-15-2021, 09:15 PM

Ok, I can't possibly be the only one thinking this looks bad... right? o.o

Sumac

11-15-2021, 11:34 PM

AquaParade

11-16-2021, 09:11 AM

The beauty is in the storyboarding and the cinematic nature of it. The perspectives or the way the "camera" behaves. There is a great sense of motion in both the linework and the camera movement.

oldmanwinters

11-16-2021, 08:21 PM

Ok, I can't possibly be the only one thinking this looks bad... right? o.o

So far you are the only one.

Also, keep in mind - those are supposed to be rough draft, they are not supposed to look super good or polished.

And if anything, those storyboards remind me very much how Turtles looked in some Mirage comic books.

The beauty is in the storyboarding and the cinematic nature of it. The perspectives or the way the "camera" behaves. There is a great sense of motion in both the linework and the camera movement.

Chung also wrote in a recent post (his post on the Rugrats intro (https://www.instagram.com/p/CWG2Mw5gKMw/?hl=en)) that when he was in charge of directing an animation sequence himself, he would usually do the storyboards way rougher (not "polished") than if he was handing the job off to another team.

Leo656

11-17-2021, 12:39 PM

The beauty is in the storyboarding and the cinematic nature of it. The perspectives or the way the "camera" behaves. There is a great sense of motion in both the linework and the camera movement.

Right on. It's purposely rough, but very dynamic.

oldmanwinters

01-10-2022, 07:52 AM

Some more TMNT development treasures shared on Instagram from Peter Chung!

Krang's Android:
Krang's robot body. Kevin Eastman complained about this design. Fred Wolf, who mostly did not want to cause delays that would cost money, stood firmly behind my work (I was truly surprised this went through, I expected to have to redo it) while agreeing to add robotic elements- the metallic suspenders and visor which are in the final version. My own view was that the robot was such an advanced machine, that it would not fit our own idea of what a robot looks like.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CYdUv5DudLb/

http://i.imgur.com/Owg559m.jpg (https://imgur.com/Owg559m)

http://i.imgur.com/jJDNVQq.jpg (https://imgur.com/jJDNVQq)

http://i.imgur.com/ts8wzWT.jpg (https://imgur.com/ts8wzWT)

http://i.imgur.com/XMQU1ka.jpg (https://imgur.com/XMQU1ka)

http://i.imgur.com/cREQEXb.jpg (https://imgur.com/cREQEXb)

http://i.imgur.com/3jsnXBu.jpg (https://imgur.com/3jsnXBu)

Additional comments:
Q cartoonistaaron: Did you design Krang too or was that pre-existing? Were there any toy designs you had to work from?

A: Krang was already designed. I can't remember if it came from the toy company or the Eastman and Laird. I adapted it for animation. The vehicles like the turtle van and flyer came from the toy company. Others like Krang's robot were drawn by me first, then turned into toys.

Q therealgrimbot: Plus the story has Krang be its designer so it gotta feel alien which the final reflects nicely.

BTW, ever seen Peter Laird's sketches for it? https://imgur.com/M9Es4It
Needless to say - YOU knocked it out of the park. :D

A: Thanks. No, I had not seen those. They look good. I'm surprised that he didn't get to have his way. I'm sure if the cartoon was made using his design, that version would be considered a classic and mine would be seen as deserving rejection.

oldmanwinters

01-10-2022, 07:54 AM

April O'Neil Exploration
"All these are from 1987"
https://www.instagram.com/p/CYdaSonOXDp/

http://i.imgur.com/Bhzelvb.jpg (https://imgur.com/Bhzelvb)

http://i.imgur.com/l6t4cZA.jpg (https://imgur.com/l6t4cZA)

http://i.imgur.com/1PZFi6y.jpg (https://imgur.com/1PZFi6y)

http://i.imgur.com/qnQ6tkl.jpg (https://imgur.com/qnQ6tkl)

http://i.imgur.com/DIXRaSk.jpg (https://imgur.com/DIXRaSk)

http://i.imgur.com/4katUCc.jpg (https://imgur.com/4katUCc)

http://i.imgur.com/VZP3pRn.jpg (https://imgur.com/VZP3pRn)

http://i.imgur.com/uEJyP57.jpg (https://imgur.com/uEJyP57)

http://i.imgur.com/t1QGlWv.jpg (https://imgur.com/t1QGlWv)

http://i.imgur.com/GBOM5bN.jpg (https://imgur.com/GBOM5bN)

Sumac

01-10-2022, 08:15 AM

Thanks for posting it here.
I can see rational behind Android's design, even if its still look goofy. Suspenders and visor certainly add to his image, he'd be looking rather plain without them.

Other variants though are better, IMO. Especially one from a 3rd sketch.

Laird's versions, IMO, look pretty goofy as well.

IndigoErth

01-10-2022, 02:18 PM

Neat! Thanks for sharing.

Though I can't unsee the Shrekdroid, even if the concept art is many years older...

oldmanwinters

01-14-2022, 02:15 PM

Hooray for early Turtle Van designs (alongside some of Chung's early Turtle art too):
https://www.instagram.com/p/CYqQKyqL6bW/

http://i.imgur.com/nBOBQKe.jpg (https://imgur.com/nBOBQKe)

http://i.imgur.com/K7AHACX.jpg (https://imgur.com/K7AHACX)

http://i.imgur.com/t2aDcBn.jpg (https://imgur.com/t2aDcBn)

http://i.imgur.com/zxyw6zw.jpg (https://imgur.com/zxyw6zw)

oldmanwinters

01-25-2022, 09:13 AM

Chung posted some more Neutrinos concept artwork last week. And then he posted some (https://www.instagram.com/p/CY8zr8Or9mg/) more (https://www.instagram.com/p/CY8zYehLnXm/) storyboards (https://www.instagram.com/p/CY8zLKRrwSX/) from his work on the Rugrats opening sequence, and now I can't help but think the Rugrats and Neutrinos are cousins due to the stylistic similarity!

Zak
https://www.instagram.com/p/CY3HEzPLfOm/
http://i.imgur.com/6ztzqMr.jpg (https://imgur.com/6ztzqMr)

http://i.imgur.com/PEzc9VL.jpg (https://imgur.com/PEzc9VL)

http://i.imgur.com/8VTbXBs.jpg (https://imgur.com/8VTbXBs)

http://i.imgur.com/zSdFxpT.jpg (https://imgur.com/zSdFxpT)

http://i.imgur.com/axtuaif.jpg (https://imgur.com/axtuaif)

http://i.imgur.com/C2YvBYF.jpg (https://imgur.com/C2YvBYF)

http://i.imgur.com/WmgFxkQ.jpg (https://imgur.com/WmgFxkQ)

Kala
https://www.instagram.com/p/CY3HUfXL_uU/
http://i.imgur.com/RzlPKuj.jpg (https://imgur.com/RzlPKuj)

http://i.imgur.com/BHicwxX.jpg (https://imgur.com/BHicwxX)

http://i.imgur.com/63hhOSF.jpg (https://imgur.com/63hhOSF)

oldmanwinters

01-25-2022, 09:15 AM

Dask
https://www.instagram.com/p/CY3IY4_rt2x/

http://i.imgur.com/sHsRpbl.jpg (https://imgur.com/sHsRpbl)

http://i.imgur.com/NkXoXZZ.jpg (https://imgur.com/NkXoXZZ)

http://i.imgur.com/3rtZ7x3.jpg (https://imgur.com/3rtZ7x3)

http://i.imgur.com/0k4PN9e.jpg (https://imgur.com/0k4PN9e)

http://i.imgur.com/HSO8lpf.jpg (https://imgur.com/HSO8lpf)

Presumably a keychain figure, which were sold in Japan with trading cards (but I don't recall any neutrino packs, off the top of my head)
http://i.imgur.com/zlVMhGm.jpg (https://imgur.com/zlVMhGm)

Q: "Did you do all the designs of The Neutrinos by yourself or the writers came up with it?"
Chung: "I don't remember the descriptions of the characters in the script. Visually I had free reign."

oldmanwinters

04-26-2022, 02:56 PM

All these months later and we finally get a "news" article on the social media posts:
https://www.cbr.com/animator-peter-chung-unveils-ninja-turtles-art/

Better late than never, I guess?