Nickelodeon will premiere TMNT in 2012 and Leonardo Voice Actor Revealed

[tone-master21]

Nickelodeon Builds on Animation Legacy by Adding Unprecedented 450 Episodes of New Animated Programming to Schedule Over the Next Three Years

Network Greenlights New CG-Animated Series Robot & Monster and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Saturday-Morning Animation Block Gets Super-Charged with Celebrity Guests, New Content
NEW YORK, March 10, 2011 - Nickelodeon , the global leader in television animation, will introduce 450 episodes of new animation programming over the next three years, with nearly 200 episodes rolling out on Saturday mornings in 2012. Representing the largest amount of animation production in the network's history, the new roster includes current hits like SpongeBob SquarePants, The Penguins of Madagascar, Fanboy and Chum Chum , T.U.F.F. Puppy , and the brand-new series The Last Airbender: Legend of Korra --a spinoff of Avatar: The Last Airbender; Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness --Nick's latest partnership with DreamWorks Animation; a new CG series, Robot & Monster ; and the Italian import Winx Club . And in fourth quarter 2012, Nickelodeon will premiere a new CG-animated version of the wildly popular franchise, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles .

"For 20 years animation has been a comic mainstay of the Nickelodeon DNA," said Brown Johnson, President, Animation, Nickelodeon and MTVN Kids and Family Group. "Smart characters and great stories have made our shows number one for kids, and these pick-ups exemplify the continuing evolution of our animated programming. They complement our successful live-action offerings perfectly."

Further cementing its leadership position in television animation, Nickelodeon will elevate its powerhouse Saturday-morning animation block this spring with a vibrant new look, including never-before-seen program content, original animated shorts, animated music mash-ups and celebrity guests. The block will originate from the Nickelodeon Animation Studios in Burbank, Calif., allowing viewers to experience the process of how animation is made today, as well as see the celebrity voice talent who come to the studio. Viewers will also be able to engage with the block's interactive features like online games, trivia challenges and watch-and-win opportunities. Nickelodeon's Saturday morning lineup (8 a.m.-12 p.m. ET/PT) has been the number-one destination for kids 2-11 for 11 consecutive seasons and currently delivers 3.2 million total viewers each week. On Saturdays at 10:30 a.m., SpongeBob SquarePants is the number-one program on all of TV with kids 2-11 (Source: NMR, Live + 7 Day data 12/27/10-2/20/11, Live + Same Day data 2/21/11-3/6/11, Sat 8 a.m.-12 p.m. time period).

New Series:

* Based on the iconic hit franchise, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has been greenlit for 26 episodes and will be executive produced by Ciro Nieli, Joshua Sternin and Jeffrey Ventimilia. This half-hour CG-animated action-comedy series breathes new life into the wildly popular band of reptile brothers. The new series begins as the turtles emerge from their hidden lair in the sewers for the very first time, ready to confront the wondrous and hostile world of New York City and face enemies more dangerous and pizza more delicious than anything they could have imagined. Funnier and ninja-ier than ever before, the show will explore the camaraderie of four teenage brothers learning to rely on themselves and one another as they unravel the mystery of their existence and grow to become the heroes they are destined to be.


* Created by Dave Pressler, Joshua Sternin and Jeffrey Ventimilia, Robot & Monster has been picked up for 26 episodes. The animated buddy comedy is set in a unique world where gangs of Howling Cyber Monkeys roam the streets at night, everybody loves bacon, and robots and monsters live side by side, but typically don't get along. A self-proclaimed genius and amateur inventor, Robot is convinced he is capable of great things, an opinion that is shared by absolutely no one else except Monster. Monster believes good things happen to good people and that all people are good. Together, they prove you can handle anything with your best friend at your side.


* Winx Club (52 episodes) is an animated action and fantasy series set in the mystical dimension of Magix, where three schools educate modern fairies, witches and supernatural warriors from all over the universe. Bloom, a young fairy in training from Earth, and five of her schoolmates form the Winx Club to combat their arch enemies. Winx Club first debuted in Italy six years ago and quickly became a hit that has generated international popularity, as well as a CG feature film.


* Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness has been picked up for 26 additional episodes (for a total of 52) and will debut later this year. Nickelodeon's second collaboration with DreamWorks Animation, the series chronicles the further adventures of Po, the energetic, enthusiastic, always hungry martial arts panda as he protects the Valley of Peace from threats of all kind. Based on DreamWorks Animation's hit feature film Kung Fu Panda , the Nick animated series is executive produced by Peter Hastings.


* From Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, creators of Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Last Airbender: Legend of Korra (picked up for 14 more episodes for a total of 26) continues the evolution of the animated franchise and its mythology. The Legend of Korra takes place 70 years after the events of Avatar: The Last Airbender and follows the adventures of the Avatar after Aang – a passionate, rebellious, and fearless teenaged girl from the Southern Water Tribe named Korra.


SpongeBob SquarePants , Fanboy and Chum Chum , T.U.F.F. Puppy , Robot & Monster, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and The Last Airbender: Legend of Korra are produced at the Nickelodeon Animation Studios in Burbank, Calif. The Penguins of Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness are co-productions with Nickelodeon and DreamWorks Animation SKG and also produced at the Nickelodeon Animation Studios. Winx Club is a co-production with Rainbow S.p.A. and Nickelodeon, and it is produced in Italy.

Nickelodeon, now in its 31st year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 16 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).

http://cabletvtalk.com/showthread.php?t=5231

[PizzaPower]

this is awesome news!!! i cant wait for the new show.

[sdp]

Fall 2012 premier confirmed, thats a shame but oh well I can deal with it, 2k3 just ended after all, I mean if Nick hadn't bought the tutles who knows how long before a new show would have been made. 26 episodes are nice, I can see this show lasting the 150 episodes Cybercubed wants

Out of the other shows I'm only interested in Avatar The Last Airbender: Legend of Korra. Wonder why they don't mention the new Voltron Force show, thats a potential big property as well, definitely more important than Winx Club, maybe because the show premiers this year? Also no mention of Power Rangers but I guess since its live action it doesn't cont.

[tone-master21]

Apparently Jason Biggs will be the voice of Leonardo.

The presentation also featured the first-ever sneak peek of footage from the brand-new, CG-animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, revealed by actor Jason Biggs, who will portray the voice of Leonardo in the series. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is currently in production at the Nick Animation Studios in Burbank, Calif., and bows in 2012.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Topran....html?x=0&.v=1

[gobo]

26 EPS?!? SHA-WIIIIING.

Originally Posted by sdp

Wonder why they don't mention the new Voltron Force show, thats a potential big property as well

Not animated 'in-house' might have something to do with it.

[Utromshredderhater]

2012 noooooooooooooooooooo by that time some of us will be too old. Bull!!!!!

[Jephael]

Jason Biggs as Leo? Boy, that's going to be interesting.

[Ninjinister]

Originally Posted by tone-master21

Apparently Jason Biggs will be the voice of Leonardo.

Had to look up who it was. Not too familiar with his work (I've only seen part of one movie he was in), so for now my status is:



I'll wait until I actually hear something from him to judge, though.

[PizzaPower]

who is jason biggs?

[sdp]

Originally Posted by gobo

26 EPS?!? SHA-WIIIIING.

Not animated 'in-house' might have something to do with it.

Kung-Fu Panda is being animated in house? What about Winx Club, thats just re-runs of an older french cartoon.

[plastroncafe]

The part of me that never really liked Leo is really tickled by the fact that the guy famous for having his way with a pie on the big screen will be playing him.

Which is about as entertaining as being equated with Dean Venture.

[Jephael]

Originally Posted by plastroncafe

The part of me that never really liked Leo is really tickled by the fact that the guy famous for having his way with a pie on the big screen will be playing him.

I know, kinda ironic.

[ToTheNines]

Originally Posted by PizzaPower

who is jason biggs?

American Pie.

[ssjup81]

Sorry, I just started laughing by head off. I don't want to think of American Pie when I think of Turtles! Poor Leo...being voiced by a guy whose character couldn't get laid and had to resort to warm apple pie. ><, lol

[Jephael]

For those of you who never saw American Pie, you may know Jason from a new series he's starring in a new show on CBS called Mad Love. The show also stars the actress who played Elliot on Scrubs and the dude who played Sock on CW's short-lived Reaper.

[discordiatookie]

ninja-ier

Heh. Here's hoping!

[Raph's Girl]

Originally Posted by tone-master21

Apparently Jason Biggs will be the voice of Leonardo.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Topran....html?x=0&.v=1

I'd love to see the footage! But Jason Biggs as Leo? Eh... I dunno. I've never seen anything he's in. I guess I'll watch Mad Love on Monday (that's the new CBS show he's in with Sarah Chalke).

[Ninjinister]

Originally Posted by Jephael

For those of you who never saw American Pie, you may know Jason from a new series he's starring in a new show on CBS called Mad Love. The show also stars the actress who played Elliot on Scrubs and the dude who played Sock on CW's short-lived Reaper.

Oh. I've seen that, and didn't realize that's who that was.

Status still stands, though.

[TheCanadiandrome]

26 episodes, yes! and i know this will air in Canada as well, so can't wait!

[plastroncafe]

I caught him in an off Broadway production of "The Graduate" opposite Kathleen Turner and I think Alicia Silverstone. He was quite good in that. I have hope he'll be a good Leo.

It's just...I can't help but imagine a meta comic where all four turtles are sitting around reviewing the news as it comes out. And Leo not being able to hear the end of this.