Nickelodeon has unshelled the first official trailer for its all-new 2D animated series Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which follows the band of brothers as they discover new powers and encounter a mystical world hidden beneath the streets of New York City. The 26-episode show is set to debut later this year.
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reimagines the iconic series and breathes new life into the classic characters, with jagged-shelled Raphael as a snapping turtle, wielding twin tonfas as his weapons; Leonardo as a red-eared slider, using an ōdachi sword; Donatello as a soft-shell turtle, sporting a tech-bo staff; and Michelangelo as a box turtle, arming himself with a kusari-fundo. Along for the adventure is the Turtles’ most trusted ally, April O’Neil, a street savvy native New Yorker, and Splinter, father figure and sensei to the Turtles.
The Turtles also hold distinct personality traits and skills: Raphael (voiced by Omar Miller, of Ballers), as the oldest and biggest brother, is the leader full of enthusiasm and bravado; Leonardo (Ben Schwartz, Parks and Recreation), the self-professed coolest brother possesses irreverent charm and a rebel heart; Donatello (Josh Brener, Silicon Valley) is a mechanical genius and tech wizard whose ninja skills are second only to his coding; and Michelangelo (Brandon Mychal Smith, You’re the Worst), the youngest brother, is a skateboarder and artist who is wild and imaginative.
The voice cast also includes Kat Graham (The Vampire Diaries) as April, Eric Bauza (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) as Splinter, and WWE Superstar John Cena as the villainous Baron Draxum, an alchemist-warrior mutant who wants to mutate all humanity.
Rise is co-exec produced by Andy Suriano (character designer, Samurai Jack) and Ant Ward (supervising producer, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) at Nickelodeon in Burbank. Rob Paulsen is voice directing.
