TMNT deserve another shot at anime adaptation, do you agree?

Jan 13, 9:14 PM

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Jan 2010

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Look, I know the OVA didn't have the highest reputation amongst TMNT and the anime fandom. But this came out in 1996, and let say back then, this OVA came out:

Just one year before Pokemon anime debuted in Japan (and 2 years before the Pokemon anime came to the US in 1998).
One year before Cartoon Network created Toonami.
5 years before Ghibli/Miyazaki's Spirited Away came out in Japan (and would later win an Oscar for Best Animated Picture category at the 2003 Academy Awards)
Before anime and manga became mainstream in the US and elsewhere outside of Asia.

So yeah the environment back in 1996 was different from today. After seeing anime successes with The Animatrix, Batman: Gotham Knight, Halo Legends, Super Crooks, Star Wars: Vision, and probably other anime adaptation of western IPs out there. But yeah, I think this is the right time for TMNT to be given a 2nd chance when it comes to anime adaptation, and I can say this:

Anime and manga are more mainstream in the US/internationally compared to back in 1996 thanks to streaming, mainstream acceptance of anime, and social media.
The crossover of TMNT and Naruto in a comic from IDW Publishing.
Recent TMNT animated series started to adapt anime tropes and homages to anime particularly Studio Trigger's work. Look at the video below.

If you're going to go full anime, then why not give TMNT the 2nd anime treatment this time. I'm not alone, a Screen Rant article I've read has agreed that it's about time TMNT should be given an anime treatment given these recent stuff I just mentioned.

I mean TMNT and anime make sense from a marketing and franchise point of view. I mean TMNT already has already 5 different animated series in the US, 5 live-action films, 3 animated films (as of now), lots of toys, and bunch of variation of comic series like the original Mirage comic, Image Comic, Archie's series, and the current IDW run. Beside the one-off OVA, there has never been an attempt to give TMNT another anime treatment, I mean could you imagine how much reception TMNT could get in Japan if you gave TMNT another anime adaptation?

We already saw how many US-Japan anime collaboration that has been going on for the last few years, let's add TMNT to the list.

I want TMNT anime to be an anime anthology in the style of Halo Legends, and Star Wars: Vision because I think a lot of anime studio that would want to jump in on the project. And I know a lot of studios in Japan that could give our 4 turtles the proper anime look/makeover and each studio would give an interesting story that could add to the TMNT universe. So here's my list of anime studio that could do the TMNT anime anthology:

Studio Pierrot: studio responsible for Naruto, Bleach, Yu Yu Hakusho, Black Clover, Flame of Recca

Past experience with ninja in anime from this studio: Naruto (duh!!!), Bleach (2 characters are trained kunoichi), Flame of Recca

Given Naruto has officially crossed over with TMNT, and Pierrot does Naruto. I thought why not, they have many years of experience doing ninja anime and give Pierrot to join the list of studio that adapt famous western IP into anime. They have many years of experience doing ninja anime thanks to their past catalog, I would trust them to do a segment in the TMNT anime anthology.

J.C Staff: Azumanga Daioh, A Certain franchise (Index, and Railgun), Slayers series, Familiar of Zero, Shakugan No Shana, Hi Score Girl

Past experience with ninja in anime from this studio: Nabari no Ou, Yōtōden/Wrath of the Ninja

Believe it or not despite doing Shakugan No Shana, and other anime that has a lot of action. They have done ninja anime believe it or not. One of the first project J.C Staff did was a ninja anime OVA called Yotoden or Wrath of the Ninja in the US. They also have done Nabari no Ou, another ninja anime. I liked J.C Staff's animation design including their character design, I think their animation style and design can fit well for TMNT.

Studio Trigger: studio behind Kill la Kill, Darling in the Franxx. I don't need to tell you anymore about Trigger.

Past experience with ninja in anime from this studio: Ninja Slayer

This is the most heavily requested studio from TMNT fans online whether it's Reddit, Technodrome forum, or elsewhere. The result is that if TMNT ever become an anime, Studio Trigger is the one that is the most well-liked from TMNT fans. And I can see why. They're high pace animation, and their stylized character design would fit the turtle. I mean if you watch Rise of the TMNT, you can tell the animator was influenced by Studio Trigger. Also, Trigger does have an experience doing a ninja anime:

So yeah, if the TMNT fans heavily favored Studio Trigger, then who am I to say no.

I mean I got a lot more Japanese studio that want to do TMNT, these are some selected list of anime studio I think would do the TMNT anime anthology. Let me know what you think.

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TMNT deserve another shot at anime adaptation, do you agree?

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