Vasquez and the Workaholics boys team up for TMNT Comic-Con cartoon
While the big studios were busy premiering some highly anticipated movie trailers, Nickelodeon may have dropped the coolest thing at San Diego Comic-Con, depending on your taste. Jhonen Vasquez (creator of Invader Zim) and the boys from Workaholics came together for a cartoon short film featuring everyone’s favorite heroes in a half shell, and the short is pretty great! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the animation style of Invader Zim and voiced by the Workaholics guys? Yeah, you read that right. Let’s hope this short film isn’t just a one-off, and that Vasquez has made peace with Nickelodeon and the pairing will continue to make great art together.
Watch the Jhonen Vasquez-directed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles short “Don vs. Raph” after the jump.
Wasn’t that awesome? As a kid, I grew up like every other dirt-rollin’ boy in the ’90s with a collection of TMNT toys, but I fell off the bandwagon after the trilogy of movies were made. I’d happily eat up a Vasquez-led reboot of the series/franchise, as I’m sure plenty of fans of Zim/Squee/Johnny would. Character designs for the turtles are fun, but it’s those supporting players that I enjoyed most here. The emo-looking April O’Neil puking up sprinkles, the Foot Clan and their leader Shredder looking menacing, and wise ol’ Splinter with his bushy eyebrows were all a blast in their brief appearances, and I want more. Imagine Casey Jones in this style. Or how about the countless baddies and allies that have been part of the TMNT world?! Usagi Yojimbo (samurai rabbit)? The frogs? The Mouser robots?! Yes, please.
If you were listening closely or read the credits, you’ll have noticed that Vasquez isn’t the only recognizable talent here. The Workaholics boys (Anders Holm, Blake Anderson, Adam DeVine) lend their voices to Leo, Mikey, and Raph, respectively. I’m sold. I’m a fan of everyone involved. Make this a thing that we can tune into weekly/digest in full online, and people will watch it. Guaranteed.