I want to clarify something about which a few (or maybe more than a few) of the readers of this blog may be confused.
When I started this thing a few years back, I had a pile of TMNT art and other oddities which I thought would be fun to post as part of the "Blast from the Past" thing I had actually begun earlier on the "Planet Racers" website.
Well, since then I have pretty much gone through all of that cool TMNT stuff. I have a few pin-ups left, and I may get around to posting them at some point, but they're nothing special. Occasionally, I may turn up something interesting when I go through some old sketchbooks or unfiled piles of papers, and if so, I will post those things.
But my gut feeling is that there isn't much, if any, of that stuff left.
I've been posting a lot of the work I did on the 4Kids TMNT show (commenting on and offering suggestions for the writing and art designs of the episodes) of late, and I will very likely continue to do that for another year or two. I find it interesting to look back at that stuff, and I know some of you do as well.
If you don't… well, as I replied to "Raf" earlier today, you should probably stop wasting your time reading this blog… because no matter how much anyone complains about how this current "Blast from the Past" stuff is "boring", it's not going to make a lot of what you would consider NON-boring stuff magically appear.
It simply is not there. I can't post stuff that I don't have.
I never expected this TMNT-related blog to go on forever, and I'm fairly certain that once I've gone through the text material from the 4Kids years, that will be it. The only way I could reasonably see it continuing in any kind of regular form after that is if I start working on NEW Turtle stuff… and I honestly don't see that happening. Maybe it will, but it just doesn't seem likely.
In any event, for those people -- however many of you that is -- who like the text stuff I've been posting, keep visiting the blog, because my plan is to continue posting it until I run out of the stuff. Thanks for your comments.
And to those who find this approach a waste of their time, thanks for coming to the blog up 'til now. I appreciate your interest, and hope you find other, more exciting sources of TMNT material on the Internet. -- PL
Hi Pete,
ReplyDeleteI've been following this blog for a few years now and always enjoy the behind-the-scenes posts. It's fascinating to learn how the show evolved over the years, plus it gives those not acquainted with the industry a rare insight into how the business minds work.
I very rarely make comments on blogs, but I would just like to say thanks for sharing these posts with us over the years, and I hope the small percentage of disrespectful voices do not make you feel your efforts are a waste of time. I really appreciate the posts and look forward to the rest (and I hope that doesn't sound to sycophantic).
Kind regards,
James
Sorry: ''too" sycophantic.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy this stuff so very much I always like to watch the episode being talked about after I read your post just to see the changes. Keep up the awesomeness for as long as you want!
ReplyDeleteHi Pete,
ReplyDeleteYour continuing Blast From the Past posts have been totally awesome. While I'm still holding out hope for the new TMNT cartoon, I'm not interested in the current comic from IDW based on what I've heard about it (although having Kevin Eastman involved is pretty cool), so this blog has been scratching my TMNT itch perfectly. It appears you've posted about 500 entries on this blog in under four years. Plenty of stuff here to keep a TMNT fan entertained!
Thanks!
Mr. Laird, I really do appreciate you sharing all these notes for the benefit and education of Turtle fans. Since you began this project back around early 2010, I have tried to keep an index on TheTechnodrome Forums that links back to each post.
ReplyDeletehttp://forums.thetechnodrome.com/showthread.php?t=30722
For however long you continue to update this site, please know that many fans do appreciate you taking the time to reveal an inside look into the making of a memorable cartoon series.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI accidentally posted my reply to you, Winters! Sorry.
DeleteHey Peter,
ReplyDeletePlease don't let that worm of a "fan" get to you (I mean, his user handle is "Raf" for crying out loud - spell the name right, dude!) I love the blog posts you make here, the behind the scenes 2k3 stuff is great! The new cartoon was what brought me back to TMNT full swing some years ago - it triumphs the old toon in all respects. Keep it coming - anything that comes from you that's TMNT related is worth reading in my book.
P.S. - I used to like Donatello best (like I've posted here before), but since then my favorite Turtle has become Michelangelo. He was always my second favorite, but I realized that I'm more like him than Donnie when all TMNT media is weighed out as a whole. Plus, since I'm actively involved in TMNT on a daily basis, I think it's natural to evolve with this franchise as I grow. For me, it's Mikey's time to shine!
Quick question, if you don't mind answering - I love the way Mikey was written in the 2k3, he has a ton of heart and in my opinion, is the best fighter in a pinch. Was there anything concerning his character that you wished you would have had the chance to explore in the 2k3 series or the comics?
Sincerely,
Matthew
Pete's really too nice to say 'Go to Shell' to the fan that apparently bashed the blog ;o)...
ReplyDeleteI love the text stuff..as someone trying to write script myself for the first time, it's an interesting learning experience to see what you and lloyd pick up on that almost no one else might have noticed ;o)...
Keep going on! ;o)
"M.M. MontelioneJan 18, 2012 08:27 PM
ReplyDeleteHey Peter,
Please don't let that worm of a "fan" get to you (I mean, his user handle is "Raf" for crying out loud - spell the name right, dude!) I love the blog posts you make here, the behind the scenes 2k3 stuff is great! The new cartoon was what brought me back to TMNT full swing some years ago - it triumphs the old toon in all respects. Keep it coming - anything that comes from you that's TMNT related is worth reading in my book."
Thanks for the kind words, Matthew, and I am happy to hear that you enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at the 4Kids TMNT show. I actually get a big kick out of re-reading the stuff -- it takes me back to a period when I was having a lot of fun playing in the TMNT sandbox.
Just so you know, I am not fretting about what "Raf" had to say, really. It just bothers me a little when I see someone wasting their time waiting for something to change to the way THEY want it, when every indication points to the fact that it is NOT going to change that way. How pointlessly aggravating for them (and moderately irritating for me)!
"P.S. - I used to like Donatello best (like I've posted here before), but since then my favorite Turtle has become Michelangelo. He was always my second favorite, but I realized that I'm more like him than Donnie when all TMNT media is weighed out as a whole. Plus, since I'm actively involved in TMNT on a daily basis, I think it's natural to evolve with this franchise as I grow. For me, it's Mikey's time to shine!
Quick question, if you don't mind answering - I love the way Mikey was written in the 2k3, he has a ton of heart and in my opinion, is the best fighter in a pinch. Was there anything concerning his character that you wished you would have had the chance to explore in the 2k3 series or the comics?
Sincerely,
Matthew"
The whole "Who's the best fighter of all the TMNT?" thing is something I have never quite figured out for myself. There are so many permutations of combat, and so many different circumstances. One thing that I think works in Mike's favor is that because he can act like such a goofball sometimes, his foes often underestimate him… to their detriment.
As far as places I would like to have taken him in the 4Kids show, I think I would have liked to play with the whole "desire to be a Super Hero" thing that Mike was into, and also put him through some darker episodes. I think that one of the things which made "Same As It Never Was" so strong was seeing Mike stripped of his lighthearted side for a bit. Not that I would want to turn him into a grim 'n' gritty character -- just would have been interesting to see how he dealt with those situations. -- PL
Thank you very much for the reply, Peter!
DeleteThanks for the insight. I would have really enjoyed seeing more episodes that expanded upon Mike's desire to be a Super Hero, and I love the idea of showcasing a darker side to Mikey - I agree that "Same As It Never Was" (which is one of my favorite episodes, by the way) showed part of that (he didn't crack one joke!), and like you said it would have been cool to dive a little deeper into that without making him grim n' gritty. After all, even the most lighthearted Turtle has to have his darker moments as were explored a bit in the comics (the Tales v.2 issue where Klunk died comes to mind).
A bit of a side question if you don't mind - I've always loved Tales v.2 #30, written by Bill Moulage. As a Social Studies teacher for hire, I must ask if you had any plans to further explore Mikey's love of history? I thought it was really cool to see Michelangelo naming dates and thinking about historical settings when trying to write his novel.
Peter,
ReplyDeleteI also wanted to say that I have truly loved this series of posts through I have never commented. They are my little reward and I save them to read when I've finished an annoying task. I am a TMNT fan of all universes but the 4Kids show was one of my favorites and this unprecedented look into the creation of it has become one of the things I most look forward to in my RSS reader.
And, speaking as a writer (playwright, randomly enough) I can't tell you how helpful and downright fascinating I've found the back and forth in the emails. I usually read your emails and then immediately go and re-watch the episodes to see what you went with in the final version and I think it makes me a better editor in the long run.
If anyone is bored with the posts... they can just make it a drinking game where you have to take a drink every time you need to explain that Leo and Don never say "Yeah" or "Gonna." ;-)
Hillary DePiano
(Google insists I'm unknown despite the fact that I'm myself)
I just wanted to chime in and say that I enjoy reading anything you have to say or post. It doesn't matter if its TMNT arwork, or behind-the-scenes notes,or other artwork,or aspects of your daily life.
ReplyDeleteIronically enough I feel more connected to the Mirage dudes through these blogs after your semi-retirement than during your tenure. Of course I would be thrilled to see you do anything with the TMNT again,but the main thing is this and the twin blog. I am humbled that you reach out to fans like myself with these blogs and interact with us. I am not just a TMNT fan, but a fan of Peter Laird, the man who gave me something that is a life-long interest and entertainment. I hope for this or at least your other blog to go on for as long as possible because I like to read and see what you have to say. Thank you again for reaching out to us fans beyond your invovlement with TMNT. Its an honor,sir.
As an aspiring writer and a huge TMNT fan, I say just keep doing what your doing.
ReplyDeleteIts rather interesting to see the changes and how characters evolve from paper to screen, and using that knowledge to better my writing and character development.