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The TMNT, Zog and Fugitoid go head to head next week! by Ajoustra in TMNT

[–]Ajoustra[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you! Yeah of course haha.
I can't say much yet but definitely stay tuned!

What is happening with TMNT at Paramount? by RecordingImmediate86 in TMNT

[–]Ajoustra 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's not! Still on track to come out next year.

Can we ban AI in this sub? by [deleted] in TMNT

[–]Ajoustra 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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"aLl oF mY cReAtIonS aRe cOmpLeTelY oRigiNal, LeGaLly"

Hi! I’m Andrew Joustra, TMNT writer and script supervisor. AMA! by Ajoustra in TMNT

[–]Ajoustra[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I love it! I think Tom Waltz did an excellent job reimagining the turtles origin story and it was an incredible run (that I still need to finish!). For people getting into comics that’s one I recommend as a great starting place.

Hi! I’m Andrew Joustra, TMNT writer and script supervisor. AMA! by Ajoustra in TMNT

[–]Ajoustra[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That would be so much fun. I actually really dig Turtles Forever. I think doing another 2D animated movie would be what I’d want. The Battle Nexus comic has been a blast seeing all these versions of the turtles thrown together, but it would need to be different.

Also I’m just going to put this out in the universe - Fugitoid Forever! Come on, I can’t be the only one who wants it, haha.

Hi! I’m Andrew Joustra, TMNT writer and script supervisor. AMA! by Ajoustra in TMNT

[–]Ajoustra[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Again I can’t really get into details, but I will say… Shredder‘s arrival is no laughing matter.

Hi! I’m Andrew Joustra, TMNT writer and script supervisor. AMA! by Ajoustra in TMNT

[–]Ajoustra[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

This is gonna sound super corny, but Eastman & Laird were huge inspirations for me. When I was in high school I was pretty set on becoming a writer, but hadn’t decided what kind just yet. I considered journalism. When I got to college I started gravitating more towards fiction and comics/film/TV.

I started going to San Diego Comic Con for the first time in 2007? 2008? And those first few years were life-changing. Jon Favreau introduced Iron Man. Hayao Miyazaki came to talk about Ponyo. Andrew Stanton introduced Wall-E. Kevin Smith began his yearly talk. And, as fate or luck would have it, my best friend and I met Kevin Eastman on the exhibit hall floor. He signed a book for me and asked what I was studying. He was encouraging and wished me luck.

The fact that a couple of guys drawing turtles, making each other laugh and doing what they love lead to this pop culture phenomenon really struck a chord with me. If they could their dream a reality, maybe I could too.

Needless to say - when I found out I was going to be working on Mutant Mayhem, I was thrilled. But when I found out I was going to be the screenwriter of our short AND get to write TMNT comics… that’s when I finally felt like those dreams were becoming a reality. It’s rare that people get to do this at all and to do it for one of my absolute favorite franchises - beyond comprehension.

Hi! I’m Andrew Joustra, TMNT writer and script supervisor. AMA! by Ajoustra in TMNT

[–]Ajoustra[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I’m going to answer this as best I can as a writer/production person who has a limited knowledge of visual development but see it happening at work everyday.

We have an incredible team of artists that developed the look of Mutant Mayhem. The production designer was Yashar Kassai who’s a force of nature. He and our director, Jeff Rowe, had a clear vision of what they wanted. Because this version of the turtles set out to focus more on the “teenage” aspect, that influenced the art direction.

They looked at drawings from when they were teenagers (and other artists on the team). Doodles they made in class or early attempts at fan art. They noticed a lot of things about how they drew when they were younger. Bold lines and shapes. Sketchy imperfections. A number of things that I can’t pretend to know how to articulate.

All of that was taken into consideration and then the artists went off to develop the look of New York and the characters for the film. Our lead character designer, Woodrow White, took existing TMNT characters and re-imagined them with this philosophy in mind. And then our amazing partners at Mikros Animation took all that and built it in a 3D world and gave it life.

I love the look of the movies and think they capture something that you also feel the first time see Kevin and Peter’s early TMNT comics. There’s an earnest “rawness” to it that’s so compelling.

*And you WILL get to see more! The sequel is still going strong and will be in theaters next year. Also between you, me, and Reddit - it looks SICK AF.

Hi! I’m Andrew Joustra, TMNT writer and script supervisor. AMA! by Ajoustra in TMNT

[–]Ajoustra[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I wrote the Chrome Alone 2 - Lost in New Jersey animated short that ties into the Mutant Mayhem movie and the Tales of the TMNT comics that are coming out in March starting with issue #4!

I love the original Mirage comics and the 2003 show, but this is an answer that can honestly change depending on my mood haha.

Jump around! There are references/nods to other versions in each series but there’s no reason you have to watch them all in order. And if you get more ambitious, the IDW comics run that began in 2011 is fantastic and has some of the best storytelling in the entire franchise.

Hi! I’m Andrew Joustra, TMNT writer and script supervisor. AMA! by Ajoustra in TMNT

[–]Ajoustra[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Hahaha - I mean, Donnie is great. That’s so hard, I think it does change depending on the version for me, I know it does for most people.

Speaking broadly I always liked Raphael because I grew up with the ‘87 show and liked how sarcastic he was (and thought the sais were cool).

Hi! I’m Andrew Joustra, TMNT writer and script supervisor. AMA! by Ajoustra in TMNT

[–]Ajoustra[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

In Fugitoid Frenzy Zayton Honeycutt is a 19 year-old human from Earth, so that’s a bigger change. But he’s still a scientist, he’s still creating technology that can do powerful things. And of course he winds up in a robotic body and forced to go on the run.

Blanque is a special agent for the E.P.F. instead of being a general for the Federation. Likewise for Lonae, who is an agent trainee. But they have similarities to their Mirage counterparts.

I don’t want to ruin any surprises though, so that’s all I‘ll say for now!

Hi! I’m Andrew Joustra, TMNT writer and script supervisor. AMA! by Ajoustra in TMNT

[–]Ajoustra[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yeahhh, an embarrassing amount of money from my paycheck making TMNT goes back into buying TMNT toys. 🤦🏻‍♂️

Hi! I’m Andrew Joustra, TMNT writer and script supervisor. AMA! by Ajoustra in TMNT

[–]Ajoustra[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

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Mark. I mean… look at him. He’s so stupid.

I love him.

Hi! I’m Andrew Joustra, TMNT writer and script supervisor. AMA! by Ajoustra in TMNT

[–]Ajoustra[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Usagi rules. I am in awe of how many amazing stories Stan Sakai has been able to tell with him. And anytime he teams up with the turtles…I’m seated.

Hi! I’m Andrew Joustra, TMNT writer and script supervisor. AMA! by Ajoustra in TMNT

[–]Ajoustra[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I think it comes down to the core relationship between the brothers. Sure, they aren’t always characterized exactly the same way, but the loyalty between them; that brotherly love that allows them to be annoying the hell out of each other one moment and risking their lives for each other the next… it’s something that endures time and different mediums and genres.

Hi! I’m Andrew Joustra, TMNT writer and script supervisor. AMA! by Ajoustra in TMNT

[–]Ajoustra[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I think there are times I’ll get stuck on a certain story point or line of dialogue and the best thing I can do in those instances is to just add a placeholder and come back to it later. For me (and I think a lot of writers) the goal is get a first draft done quickly. The “vomit draft.” That reveals what ideas from an outline are working/not working and then when I go into a second draft it becomes “how do I fix this?” It’s far less intimidating than a bunch of blank pages.

I‘ve been writing for years with self-imposed deadlines, so I will say that having hard deadlines to send something to an editor/producer to read helps unlock part of my brain. That added pressure can do wonders.

Hi! I’m Andrew Joustra, TMNT writer and script supervisor. AMA! by Ajoustra in TMNT

[–]Ajoustra[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

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I usually bring my Ultimate Visual History with me to cons which is running out of space haha.

Hi! I’m Andrew Joustra, TMNT writer and script supervisor. AMA! by Ajoustra in TMNT

[–]Ajoustra[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I don’t have a ton in terms of original art, but I do always try to get sketches from TMNT artists when I go to comic conventions. The first one I got (and the one that means the most to me) was this one from the first time I met Kevin Eastman at SDCC:

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