In a report recently release by IGN, there is going to be a crossover between the Fred Wolf 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Nickelodeon 2012 TMNT groups in the upcoming episode titled “Trans-Dimensional Turtles” which will air on Nickelodeon’s channel on Sunday, March 27th at 11:00am ET/PT.
While this is not the first time there has been a crossover between TMNT groups, nor is it the first time the 1987 TMNT group has appeared on the 2012 TMNT series, this is the first time both groups will interact and travel between their respective worlds.
The episode, “Trans-Dimensional Turtles,” will feature an appearance by the 1980s animated versions of the TMNT characters, with the original voice cast reprising their roles.
In the episode, the modern Turtles — Seth Green as Leonardo, Sean Astin as Raphael, Rob Paulsen as Donatello and Greg Cipes as Michelangelo — are transported to another dimension where they meet their ‘80s alternate-reality counterparts, once more voiced by Cam Clarke, Rob Paulsen (who’s been a part of both series!), Barry Gordon and Townsend Coleman as Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo, respectively.
All eight Turtles will team up to eliminate both the 1980s animated Krang (A returning Pat Fraley, the original voice of Krang) and the current TMNT villain, Kraang Sub-Prime (Voiced by Gilbert Gottfried). The episode will feature different types of animation as well, as the modern Turtles go into their 1980s counterparts’ 2D world, before both teams travel back into the modern show’s CG-animated environment.
On top of that, look for an appearance into a third world resembling Kevin Eastman’s Mirage Studios Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book series.
Take a look at the preview clip below
Personally I’m not too sure what to think about this. I’m a huge fan of the 1987 animated series and I’m enjoying the 2012 version a lot too. However I find the animation for the 1987 world looks a lot like a really bad Flash animation than the style of the original series. Plus seeing the 1987 Turtles in 3D really is a bit of mental whiplash. They look good, but it’s such a jarring shock to a long term fan like myself that I’m stunned as to what to think.
But hey, we get the reunion of all the 1987 animated series voice actors, something that was not done in the last crossover event: Turtles Forever.
While the Turtles Forever movie got the looks of the represented series (2003, 1987 & Original Comic) spot on, they didn’t bring any of the original voice actors for the 1987 series back to provide the voices. Now we have the opposite, we get the voice actors but the animation isn’t good… Maybe one day we’ll get that 1987 animated series reunion that we deserve, except without poor James Avery, may he rest in peace (We miss you Shredder/Uncle Phil!)
Regardless, I hope people tune into this episode and give it a watch. I would like to see the 1987 CGI designed used in a video game or something… You listening Activision!? Give us these Turtles in a video game like you did the 1983 Transformers!
