The Look of the Turtles

[Poni_Boy]

But... all the Marvel character went through aesthetic changes for their feature film debuts. All of them. Some minor (Black Widow, Hawkeye) some significant (Cap, Iron Man). Staying true to the source is absolutely important, but equally important is making sure the designs translate fluidly on screen. It's not like some guy drew this design for the Turtles and they ran with it. It's a safe bet they had dozens of designs, from concept art all the way to CG rendering. Since this is the design they chose to go with at the very least wait to see it in action before crying foul.

 

[Fanged-Hunter]

I don't compare everything to Marvel...you lost me right then

How very open minded to discussion of you.

 

[Fanged-Hunter]

But... all the Marvel character went through aesthetic changes for their feature film debuts. All of them. Some minor (Black Widow, Hawkeye) some significant (Cap, Iron Man). Staying true to the source is absolutely important, but equally important is making sure the designs translate fluidly on screen. It's not like some guy drew this design for the Turtles and they ran with it. It's a safe bet they had dozens of designs, from concept art all the way to CG rendering. Since this is the design they chose to go with at the very least wait to see it in action before crying foul.

None of them actually went through much of an aesthetic change to the Ultimate Universe, really. The movies draw heavily from those for visual inspiration.

But to be fair, Kal-El.9859 and I can totally disagree on the look of the turtles and whether or not updating to this vs keeping it traditional was the better way to go. That's fine, opinions can differ.

But I will stand by my first point.

It's ridiculous that our first glimpse is from a crappy costume rather than a trailer or promotional images.

 

[Kal-El.9859]

How very open minded to discussion of you.

If you'd read the thread youd see I'm very open to discussion, but when people try to compare all comic book movies to Marvel and how Marvel does this and Marvel does that it just makes me sick. Marvel is not the end all be all of comic book movies and all comic book movies do not need to follow the Marvel blueprint. Simple as that

 

[Poni_Boy]

They absolutely did adapt them differently. Thor's costume is different (not to mention they dropped the Don Blake persona) and all of Cap's costumes are different. Try to find a Cap costume in the pre-movies comics that looks exactly like any that he wears on film. Iron Man's armors went through major changes. They became much busier from head to toe. Hulk looks different as well. Aside from Nick Fury, all the Avengers look different from their comics counterparts. That's just how it is. It's what looks good on screen, and how it fits to the story. Look at the Transformers too. Major changes to make them look better in motion.

It's not like I defend outlandish, unnecessary changes. I loathe the new RoboCop design. the GI Joe costumes were boring. Even the Batman suit in TDK/TDKR wasn't my thing. But regarding this movie, we have nothing substantial to base anything on. A kid's costume? None of those look like their movie counterparts. They're cheap, streamlined and mass produced. If you need proof of that for TMNT just look at the shell.

 

[Kal-El.9859]

You can't reason with some people

 

[HUMANIMAL]

 

[Da-Scribe]

It's not like I defend outlandish, unnecessary changes. I loathe the new RoboCop design. the GI Joe costumes were boring. Even the Batman suit in TDK/TDKR wasn't my thing. But regarding this movie, we have nothing substantial to base anything on. A kid's costume? None of those look like their movie counterparts. They're cheap, streamlined and mass produced. If you need proof of that for TMNT just look at the shell.

Not to get off topic, but in all fairness, there are some very thematic reasons for the new Robocop design. Padilha goes into that in a new interview, explaining it's part of the satire.

But anyways, we shouldn't all jump to any conclusions about the Turtle designs. We really need to see actual stills and footage to judge. However, I think we can say that it makes for a completely terrifying Halloween costume.

 

[Poni_Boy]

Oh yeah, I'm well aware of their reasoning behind the black suit. Heard them explain it at Comic Con, at the Sony press conference and at the fan event. But like I said there has to be a balance of A) respecting the source B) making sure changes are purposeful and C) looking good on film. For me at least Robo fails in two of those. It's just another generic black body armor suit. they changed his movements and everything. But I digress. The TMNT equivalent would be making the turtles into salamanders because they think it would be cool.

Fail

 

[Zaron]

But weren't you saying that they should look like turtles? And now it's about design and it doesn't matter if it's based on turtle or human anatomy? They look like turtles, they are green and they have shells. If you think lips, and beaks and raised noses look ugly what would you want them to have? You do realize in the original comics and the cartoons and movies they have beaks right? I'm not sure I know what you want them to look like...

Pretty sure you have me confused with someone else. That wasn't me going on about them not looking like turtles.

In the comics they've had many different looks because many different artists have drawn them. The original look resembled a frog in a microwave because the original art was actually pretty terrible. Regardless, I think beaks look awful on them, lips look frightening, and when the teeth are too easily shown (like the coming out of their shells tour) it's creepy.

Is it possible that it looks ugly and weird to you simply because you're just so used to the old look?

Don't get me wrong,I grew up with the old movies and they will forever hold a special place in my heart,but "muppet mouth" is a pretty good way to describe them....and that's not really a good thing IMO

It's entirely possible that what you're saying is 100% true, but if you design something that looks creepy to me it's going to make not want to look at it, no matter how much you may be able to explain the scientific reason it looks that way.

The Ninja Turtles, in the forms the mass public is familiar with, don't really resemble turtles all that much. They have fingers and toes and faces that don't resemble humans OR turtles, but despite that it's a design that makes us think of turtles (that's the important part) without making us constantly think of what a ridiculous concept we're looking at.

 

[Tanin]

Oh yeah, I'm well aware of their reasoning behind the black suit. Heard them explain it at Comic Con, at the Sony press conference and at the fan event. But like I said there has to be a balance of A) respecting the source B) making sure changes are purposeful and C) looking good on film. For me at least Robo fails in two of those. It's just another generic black body armor suit. they changed his movements and everything. But I digress. The TMNT equivalent would be making the turtles into salamanders because they think it would be cool.

Fail

Good thing it isn't his final design.

 

[Astro13Zombie]

Fail

 

[Mike_D202]

You can't reason with some people

 

[747]

Clothes can be cool if done right. But that face... Really hope it's not indicative of the actual look in the movie. Lips and nose looks horrendous, uncanny creepy valley

 

[Marvin]

Clothes can be cool if done right. But that face... Really hope it's not indicative of the actual look in the movie. Lips and nose looks horrendous, uncanny creepy valley

Like all things, it's a matter of preconception and conditioning to the brand rather than an objective statement. For example you say Lips and nose look uncanny and creepy...clearly you mean to mean to say in relation to the ninja turtles. However whom are you speaking for, the General audience? Or fans like you?

I say this because big fictional monster creatures such as this dude below has lips and nose and doesn't actually look "uncanny/creepy" imo.

What really is the issue here. Imo, all that stuff can work on turtles, one just needs to approach the brand from a neutral and open mind. The fact of the matter is the eye balls on the turtles during the 90's were very creepy..

Looking at the hulk example, I'd say that goes double for the clothes imo.

 

[Marvin]

If this image below was the first image of the character fans had seen...would they huff and puff as they have here I wonder.

 

[Astro13Zombie]

Hopefully the leak of that Mikey costume prompts the people in control of this movie to release something official soon.
......if they hadn't already planned to.

 

[Marvin]

Superbowl spot. Paramount loves football fans.

 

[Kal-El.9859]

If this image below was the first image of the character fans had seen...would they huff and puff as they have here I wonder.

A racoon wearing socks??? Get real...racoons would never wear socks

 

[sethmartin]

Honestly, I can get use to the look. Even if they look dumb, I can laugh it off. Its the personalities I'm the most concerned with. I think the 2007 film did a good job matching the personalities to the 1990 movie. As long as that stays the same, I can get over the fact that they have lips.

Oh yeah and Raphael HAS to say F**K!!! Watching the first movie at 8 years old, I remember how awesome it was to hear him curse when he said damn. Saying F**K will bring it full circle!

 

[Kal-El.9859]

Honestly, I can get use to the look. Even if they look dumb, I can laugh it off. Its the personalities I'm the most concerned with. I think the 2007 film did a good job matching the personalities to the 1990 movie. As long as that stays the same, I can get over the fact that they have lips.

Oh yeah and Raphael HAS to say F**K!!! Watching the first movie at 8 years old, I remember how awesome it was to hear him curse when he said damn. Saying F**K will bring it full circle!

I think dropping the F-bomb would be crossing a line somewhere. But I do hope he swears.

 

[SpideyFan866]

Superbowl spot. Paramount loves football fans.

No Super Bowl spot.

Paramount bought just ONE spot, and its for Transformers: Age of Extinction.

Though the trailer should hit sometime in February. March at the latest.

Either way, we'll get a full look at the turtles, shredder, and splinter at NY Toy Fair. At least in Toy Form.

 

[smidders]

Honestly, I can get use to the look. Even if they look dumb, I can laugh it off. Its the personalities I'm the most concerned with. I think the 2007 film did a good job matching the personalities to the 1990 movie. As long as that stays the same, I can get over the fact that they have lips.

Oh yeah and Raphael HAS to say F**K!!! Watching the first movie at 8 years old, I remember how awesome it was to hear him curse when he said damn. Saying F**K will bring it full circle!

I hope he says something like that in front of splinter and gets hit across his head.

 

[bes628]

Lol everybody is talking about the necklace and sunglasses,which pretty much fit Mikey's personality, but yet I see few complaints about the Jorts or him rocking the hoodie around his waist like a woman.

 

[Zaron]

Lol everybody is talking about the necklace and sunglasses,which pretty much fit Mikey's personality, but yet I see few complaints about the Jorts or him rocking the hoodie around his waist like a woman.

I'm too bothered by those lips to even work my way down. I wish the image didn't crop out the shoes that supposedly have the toes cut out. That sounds incredibly weird.