The film Ninja Turtles – Teenage Years, which explores the turmoil of adolescence through the famous Ninja Turtles, was acclaimed by the public at the Annecy International Animation Festival, confirming the freedoms demanded from AFP by its director Jeff Rowe. Screened in preview in a version in progress, the new adaptation of the adventures of Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo and Raphaël must be released on August 9 in theaters.
Produced by Seth Rogen (Supergrave, Knocked Up, Instructions), it follows the high school and prom longings of a sibling of mutant turtles reclusive in the sewers of New York with their mentor, the rat Splinter, who taught them ninjutsu to defend themselves from humans. Anxious to be accepted by the latter, the four brothers decide to attack a mysterious criminal organization, helped by their new friend, high school student and aspiring journalist April O’Neil.
The film, distributed by Paramount, is produced by the American channel Nickelodeon, which in 2009 bought the rights to the saga created in the 1980s by comic book authors Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, and has since launched two animated series.
“With Seth Rogen and (his close collaborator) Evan Goldberg, we wanted the characters to look like real teenagers, having them voiced by real teenagers and being naturalistic in their design,” Jeff Rowe told AFP. . “We also knew that the film had to be different to work, that we took bold turns” compared to the original universe, adds the director. “A lot of people are very attached” to these characters, who had their golden age in the 1980s and 1990s, and “we didn’t want to spoil everything”, he continues, hoping that the fans “will get carried away” .
Combining 3D and various animation techniques, this intriguing tale invariably draws comparisons with Spider-Man – Across the Spiderverse, which currently fills cinemas, and its Oscar-winning predecessor Spider-Man – Into the Spider-Verse. “Everything that is different (stylistically) is compared to the Spiderverse”, while the “two films are completely different” comments Jeff Rowe. “There is currently an artistic renaissance that Spider-Man has kind of launched,” he analyzes, predicting “big American animation blockbusters (…) much more creative” in the future.
