What’s with the lame Rocksteady and Bebop designs?

shinefra · 07-06-2014, 11:29 PM

Hi, guys just wanted to ask if somebody knows why classic Bebop and Rocksteady aren't more accurate to the cartoons series?

I mean look at this merchandise they look pretty crappy, is there a Copy rights issue of some kind with the Fred Wolf series?

*Powder* · 07-06-2014, 11:32 PM

It's not a copyright issue. Those are the Mutatin' action figure designs, & the art itself replicates art from the early 90's of the exact same style. I agree that it's kinda lame, though.

*Candy Kappa* · 07-07-2014, 03:03 AM

If only the toys at least looked like the artwork, they would at least be more consistent with the Classics Turtles figures.

Alas, I don't think Playmates care about consistency or representation when making figures for the Classics line.

*Wildcat* · 07-07-2014, 04:16 AM

They look ok just a bit more stylized to fit with the artwork.

The Mech versions look more accurate in that group T-shirt. Maybe they wanted to differentiate them.

Spidergreg · 07-07-2014, 10:18 AM

Who is that leopard guy above rat king?

rickwj324 · 07-07-2014, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spidergreg

Who is that leopard guy above rat king?

I believe he is Jagwar from the Archie Comics and a part of the Mutanimals.

shinefra · 07-07-2014, 11:29 AM

So they just don't give a rats ass?, pardon me Splinter fans

Man, when I saw the green t-shirt on my friend, I wanted to buy it instantly, until I noticed Bebop and Rocksteady looked nothing like the toons.

Are we ever going to get a Shredder, Krang, Bebop and Rocksteady figures just like in the show?

*Ninjinister* · 07-07-2014, 01:14 PM

I want that top shirt so bad. So bitchin'.

The-Shredder · 07-07-2014, 11:57 PM

Yeah, why don't they just use the same stock art that was used in the 90s? The first Lionsgate DVD did a good job with that. Viacom didn't have to go out of their way just to redraw the characters and add gold rings to the Turtle's belt buckles and what not. Even their head shapes are somewhat off-putting.

*ProactiveMan* · 07-10-2014, 12:00 AM

Looks like they're doing the Monkey. Also, Bebop appears to be wearing nanna glasses - The placement of his ponytail makes it look like a spectacle chain.

TurtleGuy · 07-10-2014, 02:17 AM

Krang on the shirt in the 3rd pic looks kinda awesome, though.

I kinda like Rocksteady, too in the 3rd pic.

Metropoliskid41 · 07-10-2014, 10:52 AM

These shirts are simply using the stock art from the era. Every character has that "close but not quite toon accurate" look. That isn't unique to just Bebop and Rocksteady, and it isn't unique to these recent shirts. That is literally almost identical to the stock art from the late 80's and early 90's. The turtles in that top shirt aren't toon accurate either, but they are identical to the design the turtles had on 99% of the merchandise released when the original toon was on the air. Just look at the member Wildcat's avatar (he posted above). That is an image from the late 80's, while it is definitely pseudo-OT looking, it is not Toon accurate. The stock art is just a little less detailed and more simple looking in design. The shirt is just using the existing stock art designs, and personally I love it!

The-Shredder · 07-10-2014, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metropoliskid41

These shirts are simply using the stock art from the era. Every character has that "close but not quite toon accurate" look. That isn't unique to just Bebop and Rocksteady, and it isn't unique to these recent shirts. That is literally almost identical to the stock art from the late 80's and early 90's. The turtles in that top shirt aren't toon accurate either, but they are identical to the design the turtles had on 99% of the merchandise released when the original toon was on the air. Just look at the member Wildcat's avatar (he posted above). That is an image from the late 80's, while it is definitely pseudo-OT looking, it is not Toon accurate. The stock art is just a little less detailed and more simple looking in design. The shirt is just using the existing stock art designs, and personally I love it!

Oh, okay. I was thinking of the Family Home Entertainment VHS cover art, which I think are much better drawn than what we have now. https://web.archive.org/web/20120306...hs_classic.htm

Metropoliskid41 · 07-10-2014, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The-Shredder

Oh, okay. I was thinking of the Family Home Entertainment VHS cover art, which I think are much better drawn than what we have now. https://web.archive.org/web/20120306...hs_classic.htm

Its probably easiest to just look at examples side by side for a comparison, below are 4 pretty popular TMNT stock art images that were used on pretty much every TMNT items in the late 80s and 90s:

Metropoliskid41 · 07-10-2014, 02:13 PM

Compared to actual screen caps of the cartoon from the same time period:

And you see that while the stock art resembles the cartoon look it is still distinctly different. The stock art turtles have different shaped heads, and shorter, puffier, and less defined limbs.

mexichrist83 · 07-12-2014, 05:08 PM

I'm not particularly fond that artist's TMNT artwork which sucks because it's used on A LOT of "retro" TMNT merch these days and it's really crappy. I much prefer the TMNT artwork below:

http://www.teesforall.com/images/TMN...Gray_Shirt.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5TT4qUh7xw...0/IM000295.JPG

http://nerdexp.com/wp-content/upload.../05/TMNT-2.jpg

Does anyone know who the artist is for this TMNT art?

*Powder* · 07-12-2014, 07:35 PM

I believe they're all done by Ryan Brown.

*Xav* · 07-12-2014, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metropoliskid41

Its probably easiest to just look at examples side by side for a comparison, below are 4 pretty popular TMNT stock art images that were used on pretty much every TMNT items in the late 80s and 90s:
http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/...ps65aae5d1.jpg

http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/...ps73b8fead.jpg

http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/...ps35656f3b.jpg
http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/...psad7c2cc1.jpg

What the **** is with that second image? The Turtles colors are all messed up.

Newton Gimmick · 07-14-2014, 12:32 AM

Rocksteady and Bebop have been depicted like this for years on some random merchandise. I never quite understood why they didn't look a bit more like their figures or cartoon counterparts, but it's no big conspiracy. Just a case of slightly off artwork that was used for licensing.

I actually really like the Rocksteady design.

*Whatswiththeheadbands?* · 07-14-2014, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xav

What the **** is with that second image? The Turtles colors are all messed up.

Mikey is the only one they got right.

07-06-2014, 11:29 PM	#1
shinefra Hench Mutant Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: México Posts: 273	What’s with the lame Rocksteady and Bebop designs? Hi, guys just wanted to ask if somebody knows why classic Bebop and Rocksteady aren't more accurate to the cartoons series? I mean look at this merchandise they look pretty crappy, is there a Copy rights issue of some kind with the Fred Wolf series?

07-07-2014, 03:03 AM	#3
Candy Kappa The Agenda of Existing Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vikingland Posts: 14,596	If only the toys at least looked like the artwork, they would at least be more consistent with the Classics Turtles figures. Alas, I don't think Playmates care about consistency or representation when making figures for the Classics line. __________________ devianArt Instagram Youtube Tumblr Art Blog Patreon

07-07-2014, 04:16 AM	#4
Wildcat Foot Elite Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: AZ Posts: 3,513	They look ok just a bit more stylized to fit with the artwork. The Mech versions look more accurate in that group T-shirt. Maybe they wanted to differentiate them. __________________ Nothing can survive the will to stay alive, cause if you try, you can do anything.

07-07-2014, 01:14 PM	#8
Ninjinister 無問題 Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Moesko Island, WA Posts: 14,348	I want that top shirt so bad. So bitchin'. __________________

07-10-2014, 12:00 AM	#10
ProactiveMan Spooky ghost Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Western Australia Posts: 2,266	Looks like they're doing the Monkey. Also, Bebop appears to be wearing nanna glasses - The placement of his ponytail makes it look like a spectacle chain. __________________ ProactiveMan!

07-06-2014, 11:32 PM	#2
Powder 40 Years of TMNT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Shell-Ri-La Posts: 26,954	It's not a copyright issue. Those are the Mutatin' action figure designs, & the art itself replicates art from the early 90's of the exact same style. I agree that it's kinda lame, though.

07-07-2014, 10:18 AM	#5
Spidergreg Mad Scientist Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Tokyo, Japan Posts: 1,423	Who is that leopard guy above rat king?

07-07-2014, 11:29 AM	#7
shinefra Hench Mutant Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: México Posts: 273	So they just don't give a rats ass?, pardon me Splinter fans Man, when I saw the green t-shirt on my friend, I wanted to buy it instantly, until I noticed Bebop and Rocksteady looked nothing like the toons. Are we ever going to get a Shredder, Krang, Bebop and Rocksteady figures just like in the show?

07-07-2014, 11:57 PM	#9
The-Shredder Hench Mutant Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 458	Yeah, why don't they just use the same stock art that was used in the 90s? The first Lionsgate DVD did a good job with that. Viacom didn't have to go out of their way just to redraw the characters and add gold rings to the Turtle's belt buckles and what not. Even their head shapes are somewhat off-putting.

07-10-2014, 02:17 AM	#11
TurtleGuy Foot Soldier Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 231	Krang on the shirt in the 3rd pic looks kinda awesome, though. I kinda like Rocksteady, too in the 3rd pic.

07-10-2014, 10:52 AM	#12
Metropoliskid41 Stone Warrior Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Tundra Posts: 886	These shirts are simply using the stock art from the era. Every character has that "close but not quite toon accurate" look. That isn't unique to just Bebop and Rocksteady, and it isn't unique to these recent shirts. That is literally almost identical to the stock art from the late 80's and early 90's. The turtles in that top shirt aren't toon accurate either, but they are identical to the design the turtles had on 99% of the merchandise released when the original toon was on the air. Just look at the member Wildcat's avatar (he posted above). That is an image from the late 80's, while it is definitely pseudo-OT looking, it is not Toon accurate. The stock art is just a little less detailed and more simple looking in design. The shirt is just using the existing stock art designs, and personally I love it! __________________ -------------------

07-10-2014, 02:13 PM	#15
Metropoliskid41 Stone Warrior Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Tundra Posts: 886	Compared to actual screen caps of the cartoon from the same time period: And you see that while the stock art resembles the cartoon look it is still distinctly different. The stock art turtles have different shaped heads, and shorter, puffier, and less defined limbs. __________________ -------------------

07-12-2014, 05:08 PM	#16
mexichrist83 Hench Mutant Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 273	I'm not particularly fond that artist's TMNT artwork which sucks because it's used on A LOT of "retro" TMNT merch these days and it's really crappy. I much prefer the TMNT artwork below: http://www.teesforall.com/images/TMN...Gray_Shirt.jpg http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5TT4qUh7xw...0/IM000295.JPG http://nerdexp.com/wp-content/upload.../05/TMNT-2.jpg Does anyone know who the artist is for this TMNT art?

07-12-2014, 07:35 PM	#17
Powder 40 Years of TMNT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Shell-Ri-La Posts: 26,954	I believe they're all done by Ryan Brown.

07-14-2014, 12:32 AM	#19
Newton Gimmick Mad Scientist Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 1,154	Rocksteady and Bebop have been depicted like this for years on some random merchandise. I never quite understood why they didn't look a bit more like their figures or cartoon counterparts, but it's no big conspiracy. Just a case of slightly off artwork that was used for licensing. I actually really like the Rocksteady design.