The CONFIRMED New Season

[ZariusTwo]

Originally Posted by Drtooth

As I posted earlier, I hope they don't look like this:

"I dont know if they can see this, but I'm doing it as hard as I can"

[Fledermaus]

Thank you Zarius for the (at last) REAL news. *reads*

Originally Posted by Murphy

The animation style will also be a bit more streamlined or stylized (depending on your point of view) in order to bring the per episode budget down a bit... but it won't be as low as these Mii avatars. I hope.

Ah crap.

Does he mean more stylized than 2k3 or more stylized than FF? Either way this news pisses me off. I respect shows that have excellent visual design (and animation). Part of why 2k3 hooked me at the beginning was because of its design (playing off of night/shadow and stark lighting themes). I only hope that the second revamp compensates its animation with good (and more dignified) characters and stories.

Originally Posted by Murphy

Not only are Casey and April back and ready to bust some bad guy butt, but a brand new, super advanced Turtle Lair is under construction (thanks to some hi-tech know-how Donatello garnered from the future), and, of course, there are all sorts of new heavy duty Turtle vehicles gearing up to roar down the streets of NYC and give the Foot a taste of some serious Turtle firepower!

... I seriously hope there's more to the revamp than this. It's teenage MUTANT NINJA turtles, not robo-gundam let's fight with our powerful futuristic electronic weapons turtles. Sorry, I don't find this enticing. If they're gonna go for a sci-fi edge, I prefer one that has something to do with the mutant-y side of the turtles. (Part of why I liked Agent Bishop as a villain.)

I'm also disappointed that the lair is being changed again. I really admired the design of the season 4 lair (underground -- I could care less for the sugarland castle above ground) -- it contributed to a darker, more serious mood, and most importantly characterized the "Sewer" feel that was definitely missing in the bright orange and turquoise blue of the Y'lintean lair. I was hoping the series pitches would recognize the good ideas and build on them.

EDIT: Okay, having read Murphy's comments to other people's comments on his blog... my impression is that this won't be as thoughtless as the Fast Forward concept.

I'm still not clear on whether the show will "get back to basics" ... seems like it will definitely have a technology bent to it. Can still go either way. So long as they get the stories, scripts, characters, action and tone right, whatever technological, nano, alien, save-the-digital-world schtick this series tries to pull should be nevertheless enjoyable.

[Lady R. Santi]

Sounds alright. Just wish they'd let me design the new look

Seriously, I'm concerned about the budget's bearing on the animation. Even a great character design can be ruined by shoddy animation.

[BubblyShell22]

I'm not too worried about the animation, to be honest. All I care about is that the season is confirmed and that the Turtles will indeed be back in the present. Now, all we can do is wait and see what happens.

[Spitfire]

Don't worry about the animation guys, I bet you anything the show will look like or similar to season 5, which was pretty low budget.

I'm happy to hear their bringing back the seriousness of the series, FF is great, had it continued I would be happy, but if they refuse to go that way then I'd rather a return to serious turtles then a jump into something like that baby idea. And I hope to god they steer away from comic adaptations unless their going to do them right.

For villains they still have Bishop, Baxter, Rat King, Garbageman, Hun, Karai could always reform*I know tiresome*, Savanti, I wouldn't mind some comic baddies if they'd give them either new stories or stick very closely to their comic stories.

[Scandia]

Season 5 looked great to me. I have absolutely no complaints about it.

They could show some healing of Leo's shell, if that is possible.

[Spitfire]

Originally Posted by Scandia

Season 5 looked great to me. I have absolutely no complaints about it.

Watch it again, there's a pretty obvious drop in quality, mainly in the backgrounds. The last few episodes show it the most.

They could show some healing of Leo's shell, if that is possible.

I think they just decided to pretend that never happened...

[Drtooth]

Apparently I hear they're only going to have 13 episodes instead of 26. This could mean one of 3 things.

A) If the Turtles are to have a season 9, then this is just a temporary series until they can think of another gimick in which all parties will be happy.

B ) Not going the same route they did with Fast Forward, and only doing one season at a time. If it's successful, then another season is guaranteed. if not, they'll end the series earlier with some sort of closure, which FF didn't have.

C) This is the last of TMNT we'll ever see. At least, until the next 5 years pass.

[gobo]

I'm surprised they went with such low-gimickery, but I'm sure it won't turn out to be as perfect as it sounds. I have a feeling this idea was decided upon out of weariness. I think it's a great idea, but I halfway expect the exhausted spirits to show in the eps.

[ZariusTwo]

Originally Posted by Drtooth

Apparently I hear they're only going to have 13 episodes instead of 26. This could mean one of 3 things.

A) If the Turtles are to have a season 9, then this is just a temporary series until they can think of another gimick in which all parties will be happy.

B ) Not going the same route they did with Fast Forward, and only doing one season at a time. If it's successful, then another season is guaranteed. if not, they'll end the series earlier with some sort of closure, which FF didn't have.

C) This is the last of TMNT we'll ever see. At least, until the next 5 years pass.

I agree, the recent conflicts, and the fact it took three attempts to even gurantee a new season, means that it's going to be harder pitching things for the next few seasons. Once you start thinking about how you can sell the series diffferently than what had come before, that's when the episode length gets shorter and shorter so they can prepare the next toyline.

We're seeing the trust and stability of these three companies slowly disintergrate, and it's causing us to panic more

[Mandi-chan]

I'll check it out, but I'm not getting my hopes up for this new "season"...I don't want to get disappointed again like I was with the "Fast Forward" stuff.

[Drtooth]

Originally Posted by ZariusTwo

We're seeing the trust and stability of these three companies slowly disintergrate, and it's causing us to panic more

Honestly, if this is the last TMNT series we see by 4Kids, their Kid's WB line up is going to be interresting. I don't know if it's rumor or fact, but Japanese entertainment companies don't trust them anymore. They have no money to make their own shows. And I do not think they'll be able to keep Spiderman and Legion of Superheroes on that long with their budget.

4Kids needs TMNT. That's pretty much the only non-pokemon success they had.

[ToTheNines]

Sounds decent, the only thing that peeves me is the animation sacrifice.

[Masked Ninja]

I'm reserving judgement until I see it, but news of more art style corner-cutting is worrisome for me. There are some designs that will not animate well, no matter how talented the animators are. I'm just hoping that if it is simplified even more, it's in a way that will let it move well onscreen.

And back to the dark alleyways, please?

I wouldn't count out the kid Turtles entirely, as it's still Overload, just reworked (from what I understand). Hopefully it'll be better though. I miss getting up Saturdays to watch the Turtles.

[Spitfire]

I though tout sourcing was cheap? I'm surprised they don't just do that. It's hard to believe Dong Woo was so expensive they couldn't afford to use it anymore.

Laird funded season 5 didn't he? I think he could pay for half of this new series and get the show some good animation.

[ZariusTwo]

The profits from the movie merchandise would easily help.

[Spitfire]

Exactly what I'm thinking, I mean he has to be making some kind of money off this. Unless he has some unknown debts to pay off.

[VaughnMichael]

Originally Posted by Spitfire666xXxXx

Exactly what I'm thinking, I mean he has to be making some kind of money off this. Unless he has some unknown debts to pay off.

Yes he's got a family and a daughter in college

[Roseangelo]

Honestly... the animation factor doesn't concern me. All I really want is good, solid writing.

[Splinter's Iroonna]

I am with you with the writing-- but I would love to see the 2K3 animation as well-- but I know I'm not gonna get it--


But on the OTHER hand, I do NOT share the "OMG end of the series" views of others. Sue me, I'm an optimist.