As a longtime fan of both the Hidden Leaf Village and New York City’s sewers, I can confidently say that this crossover is a dream come true! Growing up with Naruto and the TMNT, it’s surreal to see them finally team up. I remember staying up late on school nights just to catch the latest episode of both shows, and now here we are with an epic comic run!
There is only one thing that could make the Hidden Leaf Village better, and that is the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Back in 1999, artist Masashi Kishimoto couldn’t have seen how big Naruto would become, and he definitely did not imagine the hero’s future team-up with our fave heroes in a half shell. It wasn’t long ago that IDW Publishing and Viz Media revealed their special Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto comic run. And here at ComicBook, we were able to chat with writer Caleb Goellner all about the unexpected crossover.
As you can read below, Goellner dives deep into Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto while dropping some big teases. From Ichiraku’s pizza ramen to the ninja’s favorite jutsu, nothing was off limits. So if you want to know more about the epic comic crossover, you can read our interview with Goellner below:testing testing
Exclusive Interview with Writer Caleb Goellner
Here it is in a more casual and engaging way:
Goellner: I found out about the potential crossover after a few conversations with industry peers that pretty much came down to, “Hey, you’ve read all of Naruto, right?” I had no idea what I was getting into when I answered “Yeah, and Masashi Kishimoto’s Samurai 8, and Boruto and all of the various spin-offs.” Needless to say I was extremely stoked to be asked to pitch on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto and land the gig. It’s a profoundly rad pairing.
As a devoted fan, I can’t help but recognize the immense influence that Naruto holds within the realm of anime and manga. Crafted by the skillful hand of Masashi Kishimoto, the character’s depth is undeniably evident. When it came to penning Naruto in this comic run, I found myself standing on the shoulders of a giant, seeking to honor his legacy while also infusing my own creativity into the narrative.
When writing for established characters like those from Naruto, it’s crucial to do thorough research. To prepare myself, I went back and re-read a lot of the Naruto manga, not just the early Team 7 adventures that influenced the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto miniseries, but also the Shippuden era. Early on in the pitching process, I aimed to brainstorm as many potential story ideas as possible to provide flexibility for all project stakeholders. To aid my thinking, I re-watched several Naruto movies and kept my original 2003 Bandai figures of Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi on my desk as symbolic reminders of their power.
Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have ventured into the Hidden Leaf Village. Did you encounter any obstacles (if so) when fitting the team within the Naruto Universe?
Team 7 will indeed venture into an area reminiscent of the TMNT’s territory! To create a believable and immersive setting for our story, we’ve incorporated elements from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles universe within the Naruto world. Our talented artist, Hendry Prasetya, has been instrumental in this transformation, using his exceptional design skills to bring this vision to life. You could say he possesses an impressive array of design abilities, much like a ninja’s jutsu techniques.
Of course, I must inquire. Is it true that the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are planning to bring New York-style pizza to the Hidden Leaf? I’ve been thinking, and a combination of pizza and ramen could potentially be delicious!
Stay tuned and stay hungry. All will be revealed by issue #4 ?
When examining this intriguing fusion of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Naruto, it’s clear that there are numerous aspects to manage when merging these two intellectual properties. Of all the stages in the project’s creation, what has been your most enjoyable experience?
Collaborating with my editor Thea Cheuk, who’s an avid Naruto fan, experienced manga enthusiast, and simply awesome, has made the entire process effortlessly enjoyable and efficient. Although I had previously written various iterations of TMNT, the support I received from our partners such as VIZ, Shueisha, TV Tokyo, and others during meetings, made this ninja collaboration run smoothly from a writing perspective. As a writer, my most cherished moment in the process is always when the artwork arrives. Working alongside Hendry is an immense privilege, and witnessing his designs never fails to instill Six Paths Sage Mode levels of gratitude within me for being part of this project.
Intriguing! I understand that you’re curious about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) and how they fare against the elite warriors of the Hidden Leaf Village. Could you share some insights on the turtles, particularly their new abilities as they delve deeper into the Naruto Universe?
It’s likely that the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) and Team 7 will develop mutual respect for each other quite swiftly. Shinobi characters are known for their actions speaking louder than words, so it’ll be thrilling to watch these teenage ninjas engage in combat.
It is amazing to see an IP as big as Naruto team with IDW for an official crossover. Why do you think this anime x comic collaboration works so well? And do you feel like Western comics need more crossovers like this?
The magic of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto is pretty self-evident, but the main reason it works in my opinion is that the TMNT as a concept already has so much innate shonen energy. I mean, I’ve always loved the two Japanese TMNT anime OVAs and the resulting toys. I could easily imagine a TMNT series created specifically for Shonen Jump.
It’s uncertain if all western comics and manga require more intellectual property (IP) collaborations overall, but it’s clear that enthusiasts of both genres enjoy quality crossovers. For instance, the collaboration between Ultraman and Spider-Man has sparked discussions about future crossovers. Given that Gen Z and Gen Alpha are increasingly expressing their love for anime and manga in mainstream culture, it’s likely we’ll see more of these collaborations. As someone who has spent most of my career in this field, I would be excited to contribute to any project where I can help ensure the characters shine when they unite for fans.
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2024-08-29 00:09