In this episode of Turtle Tracks, host Brian VanHooker is joined by Barry Gordon, the voice of Donatello and Bebop on the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon. Gordon discusses his singing career as a child, what it as like working with his fellow TMNT cast members and whether or not he gives Rob Paulsen a hard time for playing Donatello in the 2012 cartoon.

Sound engineering by Ian Williams.

053 — Barry Gordon: voice of Donatello and Bebop from TMNT 1987

In this episode, host Brian VanHooker up with none other than A.C. Farley from the Mirage-era of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Having painted the covers for TMNT Vol.2 #1, the original Vol. 1 collected book covers and all the covers for the Return to New York storyline, Farley is responsible for some of the most dynamic art to ever feature the Heroes in a Half Shell. In this interview, he recalls getting hired at Mirage and meeting Eastman and Laird. He also goes in detail on some of his most iconic pieces.

Sound engineering by Ian Williams. Follow TURTLE TRACKS PODCAST on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

129 — A.C. Farley: Mirage-Era TMNT Artist/Painter

In this episode, host Brian VanHooker welcomes the creative duo behind IDW's epic crossover Teenage Mutant Ninja Turles x Stranger Things. Writer Cameron Chittock and Artist Fero Pe talk the development of the story, the most fun team-ups and how surprisingly natural this pairing turned out.

Sound Engineering by Ian Williams. Follow Turtle Tracks Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/

134 — Cameron Chittock & Fero Pe: Writer & Artist of TMNT x Stranger Things

For this year's Christmas episode, host Brian VanHooker meets with Trevor Zammit and Aaron Hazouri of NECA Toys to chat all about the Dimension X-Mas Vacation TMNT. Inspired by "We Wish You a Turtle Christmas," the four pack is in the Walmart toy catalog and won an award for "Best Geeky Gift" by Pop Insider.

Sound engineering by Ian Williams. Follow Turtle Track Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

135 — Trevor Zammit & Aaron Hazouri of NECA Toys: Dimension X-Mas Vacation TMNT

With the new cartoon "Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" now on Netflix, host Brian VanHooker reached out to art director Andrea Fernandez and color supervisor Mark Anthony to chat about the making of the series. They discuss adapting the look of "TMNT: Mutant Mayhem" into 2D, the new villains and the fresh takes on classic villains (including Bishop).

Sound engineering by Ian Williams. Follow Turtle Tracks Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

136 — Andrea Fernandez & Mark Anthony: Tales of the TMNT Art Director & Color Supervisor

In this episode, host Brian VanHooker chats with Jeff Goodwin, who was the makeup artist on the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film and is the author of the new eBook, "Continuity of a TMNT Movie." Goodwin discusses applying makeup to humans vs the turtle suits and what it was like to work on both TMNT and the 1993 Super Mario.

Sound Engineering by Ian Williams. Follow Turtle Tracks Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

137 — Jeff Goodwin: Makeup Artist on TMNT 1990

In this episode, host Brian VanHooker chats with artist Bryce Collins, character designer on "Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" and character design lead on "Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." They discuss the design differences between the two shows and what it was like to adapt the look of "TMNT: Mutnt Mayhem" into 2D.

Sound engineering by Ian Williams. Follow Turtle Tracks Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

138 — Bryce Collins: Character Designer on Tales of the TMNT and Rise of the TMNT

In this episode, Brian VanHooker chats with Neave Lifschits, lead animator on the the 2023 film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Working for the VFX company Cinesite, Lifschits oversaw several sequences in the film, including Splinter's fight scene in the TCRI building and when Splinter throws a party for the Turtles.

Sound engineering by Ian Williams. Follow TURTLE TRACKS PODCAST on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

140 — Neave Lifschits: lead animator on TMNT: Mutant Mayhem

In this episode, host Brian VanHooker dives into some would-be TMNT history with artist Joel Naprstek. Naprstek was a professor to Mirage-Era Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles artist Michael Dooney and even worked with Mirage on a few would-be TMNT projects including a book about Donatello restoring a WWII plane and a would-be book for Kevin Eastman's Tundra. While he was working for Macy's in the 2010's he also designed some potential parade floats for the 2012 TMNT on Nickelodeon.

Sound engineering by Ian Williams. Follow Turtle Tracks Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

147 — Joel Naprstek: Artist on Would-Be TMNT Book & Parade Float

In this episode, host Brian VanHooker chats with artist Terry Hinkle, the former owner and creative director of Hinkle and Company, who did the art for many Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles food products. Among the products Hinkle worked on was the TMNT Cereal, Hostes TMNT Pies, Crunchabungas, TMNT Cookies and more!

Sound Engineering by Ian Williams. Follow Turtle Tracks Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

148 — Terry Hinkle: Art Director for TMNT Cereal & Hostess Turtle Pies

Host Brian VanHooker welcomes back Richard Usher from Partners in Kryme, the hip-hop legend behind "TURTLE POWER" from the 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film. Under the new name PIK1, Richard has released the new song "Turtle Power XXL" check it out here: https://partnersinkryme.hearnow.com/ and follow PIK1 here: https://www.instagram.com/partnersinkryme_now_pik1/. 

Sound engineering by Ian Williams. Follow Turtle Tracks Podcast here: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

149 — Partners in Kryme (AKA PIK1): Turtle Power XXL Release

In this episode, host Brian VanHooker revists the era of TMNT that many fans find to be their favorite: TMNT 2003 and the wonderful film "Turtles Forever." Lloyd Goldfine was the executive producer and showrunner on the 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series and in this interview he details the early development of the show with Peter Laird and how things like Utrom Shredder came about. He also talks about the show's wonderful finale, "Turtles Forever" and says he really didn't mean to pick on the 1987 TMNT.

Sound engineering by Ian Williams. Follow Turtle Tracks Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

151 — Lloyd Goldfine: Executive Producer of TMNT 2003 & Turtles Forever

In this episode, host Brian VanHooker chats with TOKKA, an artist and a die-hard Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Super-Fan. In addition to his artwork being featured in Mirage's second volume of "Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," TOKKA has been dubbed "The Jackson Pollock of the Ninja Turtles" by Nickelodeon. Here he talks about his journey with the TMNT and why TOKKA is such a profoundly important character to him.

Sound engineering by Ian Williams. Follow TURTLE TRACKS PODCAST on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

153 — Tokka: Artist and OG TMNT Super-Fan

In this episode, host Brian VanHooker is joined by writer Tom Waltz and artist Ben Bishop who discuss IDW's The Last Ronin II: Re-Evolution. In a spoiler-filled discussion on the entire five-issue series, Waltz talks following The Last Ronin with this next chapter and that shocking death at the end of the series. Meanwhile, Bishop shares the process of developing the new TMNT for the series.

Sound engineering by Ian Williams. Follow TURTLE TRACKS PODCAST on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/



154 — Tom Waltz & Ben Bishop: The Last Ronin II: Re-Evolution

The first of two back-to-back Super7 interviews with Associate Art Director Kyle Wlodyga. In his interview with host Brian VanHooker, Wlodyga goes through a series-by-series breakdown of the toys highlighting the unique challenges and experiences with each wave. And, he talks about whether we'll ever see Undercover Donatello and Heavy MEtal Raphael. Stay tuned to the next episode episode where they cover Super7's 2003 line.

Sound Engineering by Ian Williams. Follow TURTLE TRACKS PODCAST on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

155 — Kyle Wlodgya: Super7 Associate Art Director on Playmates-Inspired TMNT Line

The second of two back-to-back Super7 interviews with Associate Art Director Kyle Wlodyga. In this interview with host Brian VanHooker, Wlodyga goes through the new 2003 TMNT line by Super7 including wave one of the four Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the recently revealed Wave Two. 

Sound Engineering by Ian Williams. Follow TURTLE TRACKS PODCAST on Instagram: www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

156 — Kyle Wlodgya: Super7 Associate Art Director on 2003 TMNT Line

In this episode, host Brian VanHooker chats with Julio Galvez, owner of WE CAN BE HEROES COMICS in Chatsworth, California and founder of COMICS & COCKTAILS, a quarterly event in Burbank, CA. On June 21, 2025, Comics & Cocktails will be themed as TURTLECON 2025 bringing fans together with TMNT creators from the past and future, including Ken Mitchroney, Ben Bishop, Tom Waltz, Ciro Nieli, Mateus Santolouco, Luis Antonio Delgado, Ernie Reyes Jr.  and the Escorza Brothers, along with many more!!!

Spund engineering by Ian Williams. Follow TURTLE TRACKS PODCAST on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

157 — TurtleCon Burbank, CA - 6/21/2025 - with Julio Galvez

In this episode, host Brian VanHooker welcomes artist Khary Randolph onto the podcast. Randolph wore several different hats for the 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series, originally working on licensing art and then on the series and its finale movie, Turtles Forever. Years later he returned to the TMNT via IDW comics working on a variety of projects including recent covers for the ongoing series.

Sound engineering by Ian Williams. Follow TURTLE TRACKS PODCAST on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

158 — Khary Randolph: Artist on TMNT 2003, Turtle Forever & IDW Comics

In this episode, host Brian VanHooker chats with Sean Sevestre, an artist who was in the visual development department of the 2023 film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Sevestre talks about creating the first painted representations of the characters designed by Woodrow White like Superfly, Bebop and Rocksteady and designing the Laird building in the movie and the process of lighting and coloring various scenes in the film.

Sound engineering by Ian Williams. Follow Turtle Tracks Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seansevestre/

159 — Sean Sevestre: Visual Development on TMNT: Mutant Mayhem

This week, host Brian VanHooker welcomes a genuine animation legend onto the Turtle Tracks Podcast, Sue Blu. Having played characters like Arcee in 'Transformers' and Nanny Smurf, Blu moved over to voice direction where she became one of the most prolific voice directors of the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. Among the many, many shows she's been a part of is the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon, which she voice directed for the show's entire run. Here she recalls working with the four turtle actors Rob Paulsen, Townsend Coleman, Cam Clarke and Barry Gordon, as well as Renae Jacobs, Pat Fraley and the late, great likes of Peter Reneday and James Avery.

Sound engineering by Ian Williams. Follow TURTLE TRACKS PODCAST on Instgram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

160 - Sue Blu: Voice Director for TMNT 1987

In this episode, host Brian VanHooker chats with Douglas De Azevedo, an animation director on Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which is now on Netflix. In their discussion, Douglas takes us deep into how the animation of Tales of the TMNT is produced and how the look of TMNT: Mutant Mayhem was adapted for the small screen.

Sound engineering by Ian Williams. Follow Turtle Tracks Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

161 — Douglas De Azevedo: Animation Director on Tales of the TMNT

“Cowabunga!” - Turtlemania is Back! - Celebrate the 35th Anniversary of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; Fathom Entertainment, Saga Arts, and Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group Bringing The ClassicMovie Back to the Big Screen August 17 and 20

Rediscover The Iconic Film - Exclusive “Turtles Unmasked” Featurette Offers
Never-Before-Seen Footage from the Turtle Archives
Get Tickets at FathomEntertainment.com 

SPECIAL ANNOUNCENT: TMNT 1990 Back in Theaters Nationwide 8/17 & 8/20 2025 from Fathom Entertainment

In time for the re-release of the 1990 film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles this August 17th and 20th for the film's 35th anniversary, host Brian VanHooker chats with Leif Tilden, the actor inside the Donatello suit in both TMNT (1990) and TMNT: The Secret of the Ooze (1991). The two discuss what it was like for Tilden to stay in those turtle suits for hours a day, meeting Jim Henson and what it was like dancing with Vanilla Ice. He also talks a bit about doing the TGIF show Dinosaurs after TMNT.

Sount engineering by Ian Williams. Follow TURTLE TRACKS PODCAST on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

162 — Leif Tilden: Actor inside Donatello Suit in TMNT 1990 & TMNT: The Secret of the Ooze

Get your tickets now for Granite Con 2025, which runs from September 19 to 21 2025 at the Doubletree by Hilton and the SNHU Arena in Manchester, NH ( https://www.granitecon.com/ ). In this Turtle Tracks episode, host Brian VanHooker is joined by Chris Proulx, one of the co-founders of Granite State Comic Con, a must-see destination for fans of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, as it takes place near where the TMNT originated (Dover, NH) and features a wide array of TMNT-related artists. This year, special TMNT-related guests include Ken Mitchroney, Steve Lavigne, Ben Bishop, Jim Lawson, Eric Talbot, Michael Dooney, Sarah Myer, Luis Antonio Delgado, Mateus Santolouco, Freddie Williams II, Fero Pe and many more!

Sound engineering by Ian Williams. Follow TURTLE TRACKS PODCAST on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

163 — Granite Con 2025: September 19-21, 2025 in Manchester, NH

In this episode, host Brian VanHooker chats with Frank Simms, who provided the singing voice of Raphael in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Coming Out of Their Shells: Simms recalls the recording, including the song "Walk Straight"

Sound engineering by Ian Willaims. Follw Turtle Tracks Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

164 — Frank Simms: Singing voice of Raphael in TMNT: Coming Out of Their Shells

In this episode, host Brian VanHooker is joined by animation legend Will Meugniot, who details his storyboard work on both the 1987 TMNT series as well as the 2003 series. Meugniot also reveals that he was one of the developers behind the unmade 2001 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon that was planned for WB and he shares what might have been for that never-realized series.

Sound engineering for Ian Williams. Follow TURTLE TRACKS PODCAST on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

165 — Will Meugniot: Co-Developer of Would-Be 2001 WB TMNT Cartoon, Storyboards on TMNT 1987 & 2003

In this episode, host Brian VanHooker chats with animation veteran Bob Fuentes III, who worked on nearly half the episodes of the original 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon. Here, Fuentes shares his early days in the animation industry working for companies like Marvel, and then what it was like working for Fred Wolf on the TMNT. He also shares that he did some work for Playmates during the TMNT heyday, like designing the stickers that went on the iconic Turtle Van.

Sound engineering by Ian Williams. Follw Turtle Tracks Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

166 — Bob Fuentes III: Storyboard Artist on TMNT 1987 & Playmates Toys Sticker Art

Just in time for the preorder deadline for Casey Jones #1 on 8/11/25 (today!) host Brian VanHooker chats with two comic book writers at IDW comics who are launching two upcoming series about two core TMNT characters. Dan Watters is writing the Shredder series, which is hitting shelves in August, while Alex Paknadel is writing the Casey Jones mini-series, which hits shelves in September. Both share how their respective series will bring the charcters back to basics and what new challenges they may face in their stories.

Sound engineering by Ian Williams. Follow TURTLE TRACKS PODCAST on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

167 — Dan Watters & Alex Paknadel: Writers of IDW's 'Shredder' and 'Casey Jones' Series

In this episode of TURTLE TRACKS PODCAST, host Brian VanHooker interviews artist Daniel Elson, who worked on packaging art for NECA Toys, specifically many of the early VHS-style boxes for the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles line. Elson breaks down the details of the artwork for Mondo Gecko, Metalhead, the Pizza Monster and more while also explaining how the work of Greg Martin on the original TMNT cartoon VHS art inspired them.

Sound engineering by Ian Williams. Follow TURTLE TRACKS PODCAST here: https://www.instagram.com/turtle_tracks_podcast/

168 — Daniel Elson: Artist for TMNT NECA Box Art

In this episode, host Brian VanHooker talks with Ciro Nieli, the showrunner and mastermind behind the 2012 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series for Nickelodeon. Nieli reveals how the series evolved from his original plans, his thoughts about the "Mutant Wasteland" finale and even shares some would-be stories that never made it to air!

Sound engineering by Ian Williams.

033 — Ciro Nieli: showrunner of TMNT 2012

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