This article is presented by Paramount Pictures.
So, naturally,TMNTco-creator Kevin Eastman would have something to say about it.
Can you give us a quick overview of the humble beginnings of the franchise?
We wanted to put everything we loved about comics into an idea.
So late one night, Peter and I were working on a couple of ideas.
I thought of a turtle.
Its going to be the next big thing with a big laugh.
We said, This is the dumbest thing weve ever seen.
This is the coolest thing weve ever seen.
Lets come up with a story that tells how these characters became the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
We spent the next several months creating a 40-page comic that told the origin story.
But we had big grins on our faces because wed done it.
We were bound and determined we were going to be comic book storytellers.
What has given them such timeless appeal?
And what makes new interpretations likeMutant Mayhemso vitally important?
So I think that there were a lot of familial elements.
Its all those things.
We just put things that we liked into it.
What we liked about ourselves… things that we wanted to see in the characters.
I think that made them special to us.
We werent writing for anybody else.
We never thought anybody else would actually buy the book [laughs].
Its become this fantastically humbling generational concept.
I think thats probably what I like about going to conventions, getting to meet these people.
When did you realize that you had something special on your hands?
It really did come in a series of milestones for us.
The first issue of the comic came out in May of 1984.
The first five episodes of the animated series ran around Christmas break in 1987.
The first toys shipped in June of 1988.
And it just continued to grow from there.
Then suddenly, we were presented with opportunities to develop a cartoon show and a toy line.
So when [the animated series and toys were first released], we hoped for the best.
She was watching TV one night, and the TMNT were a question onJeopardy.
She was very proud.
What is the one fundamental quality that is most important for each of the Turtles?
Raphael was the tough guy in school.
How isMutant Mayhemthe logical evolution of that for 2023 and this generations TMNT fans?
What immediately struck me aboutMutant Mayhemwas that the family aspect is really the core.
Its the love and appreciation.
You know what they say, You dont always like your family, but you always love your family.
That seems very prevalent.
They overtake each other, and theyre talking at the same time, and its going back and forth.
I think thats the core thats held them together throughout their entire history.
So when we brought in April, we immediately fell in love with her as a character.
Its almost like when you meet somebody new, and you already know youre gonna be good friends.
And I feel like thats the feeling [we had with April].
Thats the approach that we took to bringing April into the family.
What do you think of the way April is portrayed inMutant Mayhem?
Can you talk about Splinters evolution?
Peter and I, in the early days, were big fans of characters like Yoda and Mister Miyagi.
He was the father figure.
What about his portrayal inMutant Mayhem?
I love how inMutant Mayhem, they took it to even more of a protective level.
And I think its a very interesting character take for Jackie Chan as well.
I think fans are really going to love his version of Splinter.
Its quite endearing and polite.
Just about every version of theTMNTsince the first cartoon has built on the ooze and the mutants.
I like the fact that this movie doesnt feature just one bad guy.
Everyone gets their moment, and its pretty awesome.
Its called Mutant Mayhem for a reason.
What do you think about this voice cast?
Nothing felt like an afterthought; it was all done with great purpose.
And it comes across.
Seth Rogens voicing Bebop!Paul Rudddoing Mondo Gecko!
Ice Cube as Superfly!
Im looking at this stuff going, Oh my god, this is so awesome.
This is really good stuff.
I was watching some of the scenes with my jaw hanging open.
How would you describe the animation style?
It just felt good.
It keeps you engaged, and you forget everything else.
All you care about is where the director is taking us.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhemis out in theaters on August 2.
