Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles co-creator reflects on their birth ahead of Teenage Years release (video)

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a creation of enthusiasts in a late-night artistic delirium”, explains Kevin Eastman.

In 1984, the first drawing of Ninja Turtles appeared in the comic book of the same name. Created by peter laird And Kevin Eastman, the quartet of reptiles crossed the generations until arriving, 39 years later, to an (umpteenth) film based on their story. On the occasion of this new feature film, Teenage Years (carried out by Jeff Rowe And Kyler Spears), Kevin Eastman returned to the birth of these characters in a video released by Paramount Pictures on Tuesday.

“Originally, the Ninja Turtles were created by enthusiasts in a late-night artistic delirium. I drew a masked turtle, on its two legs, armed with nunchucks. I passed it to Peter and said, ‘Here’s our next big thing: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’”he explains.

First conceived as a single tome, the turtles caused such a stir that the authors eventually published a long series of issues. Result : “I’m 61 and I still draw comics. Turtles every day!” (…) We wanted to create and tell stories, and we did. It’s a dream come true”continues the designer.

Moreover, the entire team of Teenage Years claims to have grown up with these famous stories. “We are all crazy about Ninja Turtles”launch in particular the producers James Weaver And Evan Goldberg (also screenwriter) in the video.

Seth Rogenscreenwriter, producer and voice of Bebop in the feature film, particularly remembers the very first animated series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Scale Knightsbroadcast on television in 1987. “I was five years old”, he explains. In 1990, the first film was released in cinemas. “I was right in the target audience. (…) I started karate, my father gave me nunchakus in reference to the Ninja Turtles”, adds Rogen.

Since then, many other films about green characters have emerged: between 1991 and 2022, there are five films and three animated films. Also, Ninja Turtles quickly become a perfect consumer product, between children’s toys and other goodies.

“I was four years old, and I collected toys”explains in particular Jeff Rowe, who was fascinated by small figurines “fun, bizarre and immersive. This is the first universe of which I became a fan”, he specifies.

Ninja Turtles: Teenage Years, the tenth feature film in the franchise, this time focuses on the adolescence of the four brothers. Aided by April O’Neil, they set out to win the hearts of New Yorkers and gain acceptance through their heroic deeds. The film stands out in particular for its inimitable look: “The style sticks to the project. It almost looks like indie comics, it reminds me of our original concepts with Peter.” approves Kevin Eastman at the end of the video.

The film will be released in theaters this Wednesday, August 9.

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