The CONFIRMED New Season

[Fledermaus]

Originally Posted by Courk

Why are sharp edges cheaper to produce than curves?

Same reason why most people find squares easier to draw than circles. Also, it's not sharp edges versus curves. It is simple shapes (contours) versus complex shapes/contours. Powerpuff girls design is filled with curves, for example. It's just very simplistic and basic in its geometry.

If a shape is closer to something universal, it will be easier to draw. If there is extra baggage (detailing) hanging off, it has to be animated and that takes time. Strip it away down to the bare minimals. Get rid of those extra muscles, the grooves in the shell. Either it will take longer to draw on paper or it will take longer to render on the computer.

[Drtooth]

If this stupid writer's strike happens, this may not make it for a while. Let's hope they can settle their dispute and get to work on this show right away. That is, unless they already wrote the 13 scripts...

[Janus Prospero]

Wow, I step away for a few days and the whole place goes nuts.

Just saw the new design and I have to say, it's not bad. I could roll with this. Of course I will miss the detail/curves of the original 2k3 style, but I won't be losing any sleep over it. I'm just glad that we're back to the rich deep colors. In Fast Forward the turtles' skin were like..."fluorescent." And of course I'm grateful that we're back to the present. Can not wait to see the other brothers! I'm kinda hoping they make them distinct in shape and size.

You know, this style kinda reminds me of *KriStALKaLEi's turtle design as seen here. Of course, sans the spots and stripes and stuff.

[CyberCubed]

Originally Posted by Drtooth

If this stupid writer's strike happens, this may not make it for a while. Let's hope they can settle their dispute and get to work on this show right away. That is, unless they already wrote the 13 scripts...

What writer's strike? Obviously all three partners agreed to this new direction which is why things are finally being done.

[Splinter's Iroonna]

Mr. M. says that the show will not be affected by a writer's strike. Which, thank goodness, this coming season has seen enough delay.

[TerranigmaFreak]

Probably the weakest part for me are the legs, actually. You get those sharp angles of the muscles and cut to those thinner ankles and it almost looks like the legs are deformed. That's something that will improve when they're in motion, but still.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed this. Luckily, this is still work in progress, so there's still time to fix it up a bit more. Really, all they have to do is make the faces a little wider, and a bit of touch up on the legs should satisfy most people. They only need to do minor tweaks.

Also, I'm glad they were willing to show off the new designs so quickly. This is a very smart move on their part. The whole idea of different style had the entire fandom up in arms, and showing off the new look sooner allows more time for people to adjust to it. The design's fine other than the little tweaks mentioned above.

[Ra]

*nods* Agreed. Just the eyes and legs. I'm sure the designs will be polished up by the time the new season airs.

[odupianist]

I figured out how they're going to cheapen the animation ... they're going to use the artists from the video games who did the wonderful cut scenes

[Scandia]

I just noticed the three-way comparison now.

The new season's art is better than FF, but not quite as good as 2k3. But if they made a lot of the angles to be curves, it would be perfectly cool with me.

And I find curves easier to draw than polygons and straight lines. Getting them to be symmetrical is another story.

[CJStyles]

The designs look cool, but not as cool as the 2K3 but I'll settle for now

[Courk]

I like the new artwork better than the original prelim art. That was way to bulky. Yes, it was curved, but it looks like Turtles on Steroids.

[Brodie]

You guys are acting like the turtles haven't looked like **** since 2003.

News flash: They have.

[gobo]

When have the Turtles ever resembled feces? O_o

[ToTheNines]

Originally Posted by Brodie

You guys are acting like the turtles haven't looked like **** since 2003.

News flash: They have.

News flash: no one agrees with you.

[Poweranimals]

Good thing this doesn't start until fall 2008.

[Ra]

Originally Posted by Brodie

You guys are acting like the turtles haven't looked like **** since 2003.

News flash: They have.

Originally Posted by ToTheNines

News flash: no one agrees with you.

News flash: I agree with him.

True, we all love our old 2k3 style, but styles change. Sheesh, some people haven't even given this a chance yet. Look at me. I gave Fast Forward many chances, yet it didn't grow on me. And hopefully some of you guys know how much I hate it to pieces.

Honestly, right now I don't care. As long as it's TMNT with good animation and a good story with the same feel the 2k3 brought about, I'm happy. I'm sure I'm not alone when I say this.

[Peanut]

Originally Posted by ToTheNines

News flash: no one agrees with you.

I agree with him. Their designs have been terrible, both in animated and comic form, since this whole resurgence happened.

[Brodie]

Originally Posted by ToTheNines

News flash: no one agrees with you.

I'm sorry, I seem to remember liking the Ninja Turtles....Not superheroes with angular bodies in ninja turtle suits. And when I was younger, the turtles didn't have down syndrome....or whatever mental handicap they have:




Love,
Brodie

[Drtooth]

Originally Posted by Brodie

I'm sorry, I seem to remember liking the Ninja Turtles....Not superheroes with angular bodies in ninja turtle suits. And when I was younger, the turtles didn't have down syndrome....or whatever mental handicap they have:

That's just someone's pathetic attempt to make them look psycho cool. but hey, I'll take the 2k3 designs anyday over them looking like Mickey Mouse or something.

Let's just wait till the show airs and pick on the substance, not the initial designs. I'm not a fan of them either, but we don't have much to break dwon with one lousy picture.

[Fledermaus]

So much love. Geeze...

I thought Michael Dooney's artwork for 2k3 TMNT was actually quite decent. For the most part, the show stuck well to the character models. I don't deny that there were several episodes where the animators failed to faithfully adhere to the designs. I cite one of my favorite episodes, Return to New York pt. 3. If you can recall, after the big fight the TMNT suddenly look like cabbage patch kids. Then, season four sees a sudden drop in part two starting with the episode "Ancient One." Everything starts becoming more angular. (The Lost Season returned somewhat to better design, though the coloring was tasteless).

And don't get me started on the FF design. While I think the scripts, stories, storyboarding, visual pacing and whatnot certainly improved to the point of being enjoyable later into the season, it doesn't cover up the fact that the design (but moreso the unnatural coloring) sucked hairy camel balls.

Originally Posted by DrTooth

That's just someone's pathetic attempt to make them look psycho cool. but hey, I'll take the 2k3 designs anyday over them looking like Mickey Mouse or something.

Also, those are the cheap-ass action figures for 2k3, which hardly resembled their cartoon counterparts (they're actually modified from the OT toys). The only piece of official 3d merchandise that resembles the actual cartoon design is the Leonardo Hallmark Christmas ornament.



So, yes -- there have been moments when the TMNT 2k3 design didn't look so great, but I don't think anyone's advocating the FF design or those stupid action figures you brought up.

Though I have to agree about the overbuilt superhero look. Probably the one thing that bothered me about the 2k3 design. Really takes the "teenage" out of the title.

Still, if I had to choose between the Superbuilt Mutant Ninja Turtles and the Teenage Mutant Squishy Turtles look, I would go with the former. But that's just me.