Official T-Drome "Suggestions for Nickelodeon Cartoon" Thread
 

For the most part, the title says it all.

The holidays are over and I know that the buy-out got many of us bummed out, but I've also noticed that many fans have become extremely nostalgic and/or productive regarding discussion on these boards.

Between Mirage Studios' statement via Danny B that the Official Site would be turned over to Viacom (thus no updates for quite some time) and Playmates' decision to put any TMNT projects currently in the works on hiatus for at least another year, it really seems that very few goodies are going to be in the works for quite awhile, aside from the guaranteed four remaining issues of Tales and the Sideshow statues. So...

I would like a moderator to sticky this thread, and I would like some productive discussion regarding the sort of cartoon that all of you would like to see from Nick. Please remember that while you don't HAVE to like the '80's TMNT cartoon, old 'toon bashing isn't allowed on these forums (Krang and Shredder's rules, not mine). I would also ask that you don't waste your energy or the energy of your peers throwing out ideas that Nick won't realistically consider.

Ideally, it would be great if Nick sent a representative over to these boards to discuss new cartoon possibilities with us, and if anyone here has those kind of "connections," mention it, by all means. I have a lot of faith in us as a community, and I think it would be more productive if we started discussing the kind of cartoon we'd like to see from Nick rather than just gripe and complain about how it will probably suck.

- Continue with the 2k3 universe.

- Adapt Archie comic adventures.

Cartoons of today are not like cartoons of yester-year. Keep this is mind! Most cartoons now a days that are fun and goofy have some sort of plot. I would really love to see this new series have a fluid story. That sadly was missing (I believe) from the original TMNT cartoons. Yes there were times when there would be several episodes devoted to one topic, but nothing to the extent of current tv shows. I believe Super Hero Squad sets a nice standard for the new TMNT toon to follow. It is goofy and fun for both young and old. They take tons of characters at their disposal and have fun with them. If this is going to be a comedic show don't forget about it's origin and the universe itself. Tap into the Rat King, Krang, Shredder, Rocksteady, Beebop, and all the others. No not everyone enjoyed the cartoon but you have to admit the goons in the show were fun! :P

Super Hero Squad is too kiddy, but that's the demographic of the show. I have to remind myself the new series is going to be CG, and so far the only Nick shows I know of that is CG is goofy ones like Jimmy Neutron, Back at the Barnyard, Penguins of Madagascar. If they insist on staying with CG then I hope they invest the necessary time and money to develop impressive assets that will brink believable action and fluidity to the character's movements and give the Turtle's a nice look.

I've not watched Clone Wars on CN but I've seen plenty previews and the action in that series seems to be pretty top notch and the production quality is superb for a weekly series. The characters are a little pointy, but I suppose that makes producing toys easier?

Anyway, since CG is relatively cheaper to produce than traditional 2D animation then please spend the money and energy to give the show a high quality luster. You make assets once and use them for years, maybe updating textures every couple or so.

If Viacom and Nick want to go the goofy route, I'd like to see something similar to The Brave and the Bold on CN. It would allow the show to be goofy but also sport some really cool action scenes rather than being forced to resort to the slapstick of the middle seasons of the OT.

Again, is there any way I can get a moderator to sticky this thread?

I would like them to make this a newer version of the 80's cartoon. With great slapstick action scenes.

I wouldnt mind that. Just a little less goofy than the 80s. I would want a mash of the 2k3 series with the 80s toon. That would be sweet. With quality animation too.

For the most part (and I'm talking about those who are actually thinking about this realistically) the general consensus seems to be that we'd all be happy with a "hybrid" cartoon containing elements from the '80's and '90's as well as the 2K3 cartoon. I personally wouldn't mind seeing elements from Next Mutation incorporated, even Venus, so long as she was a more elusive character, not the long-lost sister who hangs around the sewer getting hit on by Mikey. :tconfuse:

What will be ok with me:

- Old toon characters and villains returning
- Show being more similar in tone to the original series
- 2k3 characters like Hun and Bishop appearing
- Archie and/or Mirage plotlines being adapted

What I do NOT want:

- Slapstick kiddie series. Let's face it, this is going to be CG, which makes us all worried. The original TMNT cartoon always had an adventure/action element to it, even if the plots were silly. That's what kept it a fun watch.

- Do not **** with the origins. Keep things similar to the comics. I don't mind Splinter being Hamato Yoshi rather than his pet rat. I get the feeling Shredder will be human, and not an Utrom too.

- New lame villains. While some new villains are expected, Nick has a backlog of villains from the old toon, Archie, Mirage and 2k3 series to use.

Respect the multiverse. Mirage and 4Kids spent a lot of time making hints at it, and now it may end up the way of a Travis Touchdown save. I'm not saying have crossovers and such frequent in the new material, just that it play some sort of a role, even just as a Tales #58-style cameo.

Also: make it good.

That's all I ask.

They have a bajillion characters at their disposal, they ought to be used. I don't oppose new villains at all, as long as they arent past the uber rediculous boundary, or corny. I never like touch & go, thought they were dumb. Alot of the 0T wannabe villains like the dude who played the keyboard to make people zombies, & the pirate dude after mona lisa... ugh. WACK.

They BETTER use cudley the cowlick. Ya dig?


...Segwaying into the use of the mighty mutanimals :D


Also, mirage characters.


They really should make a nod to the comic by refering to krang as an utrom rather then a bodiless blob brain thingy.

But Krang wasn't an Oot. He was merely based on them.

He could be an exiled criminal in the new show though, much like Ch'rell was in 2k3.

This is my point.

He was a brain like creature, with only tentacles, eyes and a mouth, yet he wasn't an utrom. He should be.. in the new series. As far as the whole exiled criminal thing goes, that works perfectly fine being that he was exactly that in the OT. It's a perfect blend.

Tell you what though, he better have a good voice.

Oh yeah! If Pat can't reprise the role then perhaps the new Krang VO could. Except I didn't like the way he burped. He needs to work on his Krang croaks.

Remember when they showed what Krang looked like with the body? I forgot who they were, his lieutenants or something, but they were these giant dinosaur bodied Krang-headed guys.

Man, I gotta get the OT series on DVD!

Personally I think they should use me if pat fraley isnt available. I do a mean krang. No lie.

But yeah I do remember that episode. The 'krang's looked reaalllly weird... I did enjoy seeing various colored versions of him though lmfao some voiced in the style of vernon etc it was a kick.

They were his clones.

Yeah, see... it's that slapstick thing I don't want. All the rest of the goofy jokes and personalities aren't a problem. I would just like to see legitimate exciting action scenes... like The Brave and the Bold.

Something akin to the quality storytelling found in "Avatar: The Last Airbender" would not go amiss.

Great world building.
Amazing characters.
Solid plots.

Actual character development.
It can be done, Nick. You've done it before!

Something similar to Spectacular Spider-man would be pretty cool. I believe they should just start fresh though, combing the 80's, 2k3, and Archie. Definitely needs an overall plot too, a creative, well thought out one though.

I wondering if we should have a disclaimer in this thread saying that any and all ideas discussed in this thread we forfeit to Nickelodeon? Probably doesn't matter either way.

You really think anyone from Nick is reading this thread? Or the fact that anyone from Nick would actually take any ideas from this thread?

Most likely not.

What do you think of a show with Alex Deligiannis driving the art direction? He is already involved with Nick's The Fairly Oddparents (never seen it personally). Still, he has a great love for the property and provides an interesting and modern take on the Old Cartoon's style:
http://www.alexdeligiannis.com/search/label/TMNT

A Nick artist who reads the comics? I find that a pretty cool sign for the future cartoons.

I have always love Fairly Odd parents, that show has some funny lines thrown here and their.

Here's some suggestions

1. Make it like "Wolverine and the X-men"

2. Base it loosely on the comics but don't jerk them off. Bad comic adaptations do no one any good.

3. Don't be afraid to pull from the old toon but don't go buck wild with the idea either. Turtles works as an action comedy, keep it that way.

4. CGI is horrible, avoid it.

5. Have character development. Also have storyline that connect and build to something. Villain of the week might sell toys but it will ward off any long term viewers.

6. Realize that making things "dark" does not make them good. The idea that something is "dark" and "gritty" sounds cool in concept but that doesn't add to the maturity of something. In fact often times it does the exact opposite or makes for laughably bad dialogue. Like when Leo was all "angry" in season 4.

7. Shredder is not the only villain. Kill him early or use him sparingly. He's a lot more interesting when he's not around every episode.

8. There's a huge stock pile of TMNT villains, use them. The last thing we need is someone inventing new and extremely unimaginative villains.

9. Stop making Mikey annoying. Yeah he's the "funny guy" but he's not a complete moron. Give the character some depth. He was quite mature in the comics.

10. Make it like "Wolverine and the X-men"

Take note of the successful action cartoons that are based on comics with longstanding history and many characters while focusing on story and character development and continuity: Wolverine and the X-Men, Spectacular Spider-man, Batman TAS, The Batman(a good example of rebranding the series while introducing past incarnations(Harley Quinn), Batman The Brave and the Bold, JLU...i could go on and on, but keep TMNT with these and less like classic nick toons who go more outrageous and slapstick.

As for what to put in the show? Everything! Dan posted a synopsis for Ultimate TMNT and it sounds perfect!
original TMNT
TMNT comic
Archie
Next Mutation
2k3
movie verse
Where they have to decide on is characters who appeared differently within the mythos. Shredder, Splinter,casey, april, Krang,Stockman, Karai, Leatherhead, Ratking would be the main ones.
Just because they introduce a character does not mean they need to have a huge role in the series, like in Avatar or JLU or Batman Brave and the Bold, some characters were reoccurring, while there were many important one shots. Yet, I wouldnt recommend a Tales series. Something more connected. Dragon King,Bishop, Winters, Tokka and Razzar, Armaggon can star in one episode while still getting respect.

As for characters, it does seem overwhelming that there are so many characters but I think it could work, season one introduces you to heroes and villians, the season fanalie or season 2 focusing on team ups really. TMNT has always been about family.

Id love for it to be treated like Wolverine and the X-men or JLU rather than the batman or Spectacular spider-man, we don't necessarily need origin stories for everyone.

Id like to see Ninjara, Venus, Klunk, Mutananimals, Fugitoid, Traximus, Leatherhead, Karai, Irma, Bishop, Tiger Lilly, Winters. It is a hard balance between paying tribute and copying.

Tiger Lilly? Don't you mean Lotus? Tiger Lilly is from Peter Pan... :tconfuse:

They should really put Armaggon in it. He's one of my favorite mutants that never appeared outside the Archie run except for in Tournament Fighters for SNES.

C'mon, he's a shark mutant from the future, what's not to love?

Ka-boom! That's the biggest one for me.

haha yes, Lotus, i knew it was some type of flower

Another reason the X-men format would be killer. The future turtles and the present day turtles working from different time periods. That or just plain have episodes that take place int he future. The Archie future in general is wildly awesome and would make me orgasm in my pants if ever adapted to the screen.

Thank you for that image.

Would you all still want Archie stuff if it's done in a different style? I doubt it'd be exactly like Allan's art, if they did it that is. Would it deter you from it?

It wouldn't deter me. Lawson did some of the art near the end, and Talbot inked it (Archie series). I always like seeing how different artists handle the same characters.

1. Hire these guys to work on the show Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko, Greg Johnson, Chris Yost and Craig Kyle. Oh and Sifu Kisu of the Harmonious Fist Chinese Athletic Association as a martial arts consultant just like he was on Avatar the Last Airbender.

2. Dump CGI I'm sure its not to late to change that direction. TV CGI just looks ugly and outside of Beast Wars and Reboot never works.

3. No goofy ass comedy like in the 80's. Why buy an action property and turn it into a comdey. Goofy slapstick is all over the network theres no point in spending money on something and turning it into the same thing thats on the network.

4. Use alot of elements from the Archie comic its pretty much the 80's toon but grown up and thats what this show needs to be. Not to mention you got tons of characters to use in the Archie comic that would also work well as toys. Hell if the show is popular you can give a spinoff maybe that Mutanimals spinoff could finally happen.

All I really got to 'suggest' is... Don't Do CGI.

Uh, Clone Wars?

We could only hope to be that lucky. Those designs are awesome. Although really, unless they really step up the budget, any traditional animation is going to be better in action than CGI.

I mean, CGI can work. But I've never seen anything halfway decent come out of Nick.

Also, suggestion: If it's going to be a standard action cartoon, give the Turtles a respectable group of super villains. Throw in some Slash, some Viral, and some Complete Carnage if you have to.

Have you seen Fanboy and Chum Chum?

I love that show! And their are good/bad CGI in it.