What would your TMNT vision be?

[Monty Mole]

What would you do if you were given a 60 million dollar budget and a chance to do any TMNT project you wanted? You would have full say over everything and Viacom and Nickelodeon couldn't interfere at all.

It doesn't have to be a movie either.

[neatoman]

Well, I don't know if 60 million dollars would be enough but I actually have a 179 episode plan for a TMNT show that I'm trying to tweak to see if it could make into at least 200 episodes.

It would mostly be adaptations of Mirage with a whole bunch of extra context added. The show would start off with five episodes showing the whole Yoshi/Shen/Nagi love triangle in full alongside what Yoshi did in New York when he fled there. It would also expand each chapter of the Fugitoid one-shot into seven different episodes because the issue is divided into seven chapters. Then I would do things like tie the C.R.A.P story in with the DARPA story (though I might replace DARPA with the EPF). I would also re-contextualize Junkman, New Comic Book Day and Technofear as one long story also tied into DARPA.

The short explanation for what this show would be is essentially Mirage but with much more context and connective tissue. I would also move stuff around so it's a little less jarring.

If 60 million isn't enough, I'd just settle for making a movie adapting the space arc or maybe some Renet stories.

[Antoniocafe]

A sequel to the 2007 TMNT film?

[Mad Dog McMutt]

Whatever the storyline might be it would be awesome to have an action sequence with an updated version of the Neon Night Riders theme.

[Powder]

I still wanna see one that is purely feudal era, with mystical elements mixed in. Closest point of comparison would be Soul's Winter, & some of what IDW used to do.

[Prowler]

I'm not sure...

A hybrid mix of the best elements from Mirage, Fred Wolf and 2k3.

So, kinda like the 1990 movie but a full animated series instead of a live action movie.

I think journalist April, Bebop, Rocksteady, Krang, the Tecbodrome, Hun, Bishop, Turtles using their weapons in every episode, serious moments and comedy, etc. can all co-exist in the same series of done right.

As for comics, one with the art and tone of SNES Tournament Fighters would be so cool.

[Cowabung-Gal]

Well, my origin story for the turtles would be something like this:

Hamato Yoshi and his wife Shen tried having children but couldn’t due to Shen’s infertility, and in an attempt to cheer her up, Yoshi bought her four baby turtles. Shen grew to love those turtles dearly and treated them as though they were her own children. Tragically Shen suddenly dies and a heartbroken Yoshi moves from Japan to America and starts a dojo in New York City. Of course he brought Shen’s pet turtles with him.

His childhood friend and rival Oroku Saki also happens to live in the city and is working for a company called TCRI. Yoshi soon discovers a dark secret behind the company: human beings are being used as test subjects for mutation experiments and turned into humanoid animals. Before he could alert the authorities, Saki suddenly shows up and forcibly injects Yoshi with mutagen, which turns him into a mutant rat. Saki reveals that he has held a deep grudge against Yoshi for stealing Shen from him and the mutation was not only to keep Yoshi quiet, but it was also an act of revenge. Saki also reveals that he plans to create a mutant army and take over the entire city and eventually the whole world.

Now a mutant rat, Yoshi has no choice but to move into the sewers so that he wouldn’t be discovered by the public. He realizes that he can’t stop Saki or TCRI on his own and will need help. Fortunately, before he escaped from TCRI, he managed to steal a canister of mutagen, which he had planned to bring to the police for evidence before he got mutated. He then realizes that he can use it to mutate his pet turtles and make them into a band of ninja warriors, and one day the five of them will infiltrate TCRI and stop Saki’s diabolical plan. And so the four mutant turtles train under Yoshi, who now calls himself “Splinter”, until they are teenagers.

[NeonTurtledude]

hmmm I'm thinking something kinda grungy, a good mix of serious stories and humour while retaining elements from some of the other iterations, so some of the mirage traits and stories but with some designs from fred wolf,2003 etc.

incorporating some references and continuity into the story and characters, expanding on some things, the general backstory for the turtles would be the same but their personality traits and interests would be a mix of ones from the cartoons and comics.

aesthetically probably like the 2012 or 2003 series with some aspects taken from turtles in time or shredders revenge with a consistent emotional tone.

maybe there could be a season or special for each character like how the rise movie focused on leo's character development.

I'd have to read the mirage comics and watch more of the 2003 series and other adaptions to figure the rest out.

[Anarchistguy]

Originally Posted by Prowler

I'm not sure...

A hybrid mix of the best elements from Mirage, Fred Wolf and 2k3.

So, kinda like the 1990 movie but a full animated series instead of a live action movie.

I think journalist April, Bebop, Rocksteady, Krang, the Tecbodrome, Hun, Bishop, Turtles using their weapons in every episode, serious moments and comedy, etc. can all co-exist in the same series of done right.

As for comics, one with the art and tone of SNES Tournament Fighters would be so cool.

This...this right here has my vote.

[oldmanwinters]

One that takes the character designs and backstories of the vintage toy line!

[Galactus]

Originally Posted by Cowabung-Gal

Well, my origin story for the turtles would be something like this:

Hamato Yoshi and his wife Shen tried having children but couldn’t due to Shen’s infertility, and in an attempt to cheer her up, Yoshi bought her four baby turtles. Shen grew to love those turtles dearly and treated them as though they were her own children. Tragically Shen suddenly dies and a heartbroken Yoshi moves from Japan to America and starts a dojo in New York City. Of course he brought Shen’s pet turtles with him.

His childhood friend and rival Oroku Saki also happens to live in the city and is working for a company called TCRI. Yoshi soon discovers a dark secret behind the company: human beings are being used as test subjects for mutation experiments and turned into humanoid animals. Before he could alert the authorities, Saki suddenly shows up and forcibly injects Yoshi with mutagen, which turns him into a mutant rat. Saki reveals that he has held a deep grudge against Yoshi for stealing Shen from him and the mutation was not only to keep Yoshi quiet, but it was also an act of revenge. Saki also reveals that he plans to create a mutant army and take over the entire city and eventually the whole world.

Now a mutant rat, Yoshi has no choice but to move into the sewers so that he wouldn’t be discovered by the public. He realizes that he can’t stop Saki or TCRI on his own and will need help. Fortunately, before he escaped from TCRI, he managed to steal a canister of mutagen, which he had planned to bring to the police for evidence before he got mutated. He then realizes that he can use it to mutate his pet turtles and make them into a band of ninja warriors, and one day the five of them will infiltrate TCRI and stop Saki’s diabolical plan. And so the four mutant turtles train under Yoshi, who now calls himself “Splinter”, until they are teenagers.

Sounds like you'd be right at home at the writers room for those Platinum Dunes TMNT movies.

[RetroReminiscence]

Originally Posted by Monty Mole

What would you do if you were given a 60 million dollar budget and a chance to do any TMNT project you wanted? You would have full say over everything and Viacom and Nickelodeon couldn't interfere at all.

It doesn't have to be a movie either.

I would literally make a sequel to the original movie. Like starting out right after the events from the 1st movie. Just continue the story with practical events and those awesome costumes. I always loved the OG costumes.

[Prowler]

Originally Posted by Anarchistguy

This...this right here has my vote.

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one with this kind of vision.

[Mad Dog McMutt]

I actually think that it would be awesome if they made a cartoon series involving all of the old school action figure characters and vehicles and have them appear for more than one episode. There was something very charming about all of the designs of those old toys and that made up world. It would have been nice to see Scratch, Scaletale, and all of those other interesting characters.

[Turo602]

I would do a more grown up revival of the 2k3 series as a mini-series for Paramount+ based around the Shredder Wars which was set in the Turtles' near future, making it the perfect conflict for a darker story with older and more mature Turtles and a big enough event to draw viewers in whether or not they watched the 2003 series. Almost like a Last Ronin type of situation that just drops you into a new status quo but with a gang war between each Shredder in a dystopian future.

It would serve as a proper closure for the series with the intent of renewing interest in this specific incarnation of TMNT with the same VAs and improved animation that captures the designs and spirit of the first 5 seasons. Same as it Never Was is easily the most talked about episode of this series and was used to parallel the events of Exodus and what could be if the Shredder wins. So naturally, this will have similar parallels, but with the Turtles experiencing the conflict in real-time.

Splinter will have died by the start of the series, making Leo and Raph bitter rivals without Splinter's guidance. Donatello would be the only one who recognizes what is unfolding right before him, traumatizing him and making him completely obsessed with winning the war without the help of Leo or Raph to ground him, forcing Michelangelo to become the most focused and level-headed Turtle, mirroring the events of SAINW with shades of Last Ronin.

Specific things I would like addressed in a mini-series like this would be character fates. For instance, Karai settling down with Chaplin and being permanent allies with the Turtles. Hun's revenge on the Turtles for mutating him that would ultimately lead to his demise. Flashbacks to how Splinter died and how the Shredder Wars came to be. Bishop and Stockman would form a temporary alliance with the Turtles but their fates will still be the same as it was in Fast Forward.

Which speaking of, is something I want constantly looming in the background. The Shredder Wars is only the near future, but Fast Forward is where this series is truly heading, and so I want lots of seeds planted that hint or set up the proper developments for Fast Forward to occur. Like the establishment of O'Neil Tech, Casey and April having a kid, and so on. That way, it won't be all doom and gloom as there will always be glimmers of hope sprinkled throughout reminding us that there is indeed a happy ending awaiting the Turtles.

[Ninjinister]

Something I was happy with, that would make money to appease the corporate masters enough to let me continue, and one that was mostly faithful to the franchise as a whole while trying something new a bit.

[Andrew NDB]

A "modernized" version (as in, in the world of 2022 and not 1984 and what that means) of Mirage with new elements. I think there is potential to incorporating the reincarnation aspect of IDW but I don't imagine I'd borrow a single other thing or character from any other universe. I'd probably start them out with black bandannas and give some in-story explanation for why they'd adopt the all-red ones. I don't like Oroku Saki as an Utrom but I think it'd be neat if there were a lot more "secret" Utroms out there, a little bit like in the 2012 show. If we're talking comic books I'd go bigger with outer space -- like, let's have them spend a year in space and not two issues. I'd map out a 10+ year plan for sure.

[AquaParade]

Part of me would just want to let Steve Baron do his thing, but without any of the interference he faced before. I think he completely nailed it the first time around, aside from the goofy music and lightening up that the studio forced upon the film.

I mean, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so I’d want more creative input, but if I were just producing the product or in charge of dictating how the money is spent, that’s where I’d put it.

Granted, it’s not the most exciting idea, 30 years on past his original film, but it’s still the greatest non-comic TMNT product/story imo, making it a pretty exciting if safe choice.

I just can’t get over how close to perfect an adaption that film is, the more I watch it. Again, I’d turn up the violence and drama, and play down the comedy, when it comes to the action scenes - I don’t like the tension being underplayed like that, but aside from that, it’s hard to criticize.
The characters have never felt more real than they did in this movie, and the grainy, gritty, dimly-lit aesthetic is just perfect.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by AquaParade

Part of me would just want to let Steve Baron do his thing

But he's "only" a director. It'd be like asking the conductor of a symphony to just do their thing because you loved the way they directed a particular performance of Beethoven. They didn't write Beethoven.

Now, put him in to direct a new TMNT thing with a bang up script? YES!

[AquaParade]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

But he's "only" a director. It'd be like asking the conductor of a symphony to just do their thing because you loved the way they directed a particular performance of Beethoven. They didn't write Beethoven.

Now, put him in to direct a new TMNT thing with a bang up script? YES!

That’s essentially what I mean, yeah. After all, he was the guy to point to the comics and say “this is the story”, even if he didn’t write it himself.