When Nickelodeon launched Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 2018, it flipped the franchise script with a fresh art style, rethought family dynamics, and a brand-new main voice cast. Even though the series stood apart from the 2012 CG-animated iteration, observant fans quickly noticed familiar vocal textures echoing through the Hidden City. Voice actors from the 2012 series didn't just vanish when the show ended; many returned for guest spots, background roles, and specific Easter eggs in Rise of the TMNT.
Understanding who crossed over requires looking beyond the main four heroes. While Ben Schwartz, Omar Benson Miller, Brandon Mychal Smith, and Josh Brener took up the primary turtle bandles, the production team hired several veterans from the 2012 voice pool to flesh out yokai, villains, and citizens. This crossover of talent highlights how tightly knit the animation voice acting community is, particularly within Nickelodeon's stable of action-comedy projects.
Major 2012 Cast Members in Rise of the TMNT
The most notable crossover involves legacy turtle voices stepping into entirely different shoes. Rather than reprising their original mutant roles, several main actors from the 2012 series accepted supporting or antagonist parts in the 2018 show.
Eric Bauza
In the 2012 series, Eric Bauza voiced the fierce feline antagonist Tiger Claw as well as Hun. When Rise of the TMNT went into production, Bauza took on a much more prominent franchise mantle by voicing Master Splinter. His version of Splinter swapped out the traditional wise, stern mentor trope for a couch-surfing, television-obsessed martial artist, giving Bauza room to flex a completely different comedic range.
Greg Cipes
Greg Cipes is animation royalty when it comes to playing Michelangelo, having voiced the character in the 2012 series as well as the 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fast-forward and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated films. In Rise of the TMNT, Cipes returned to voice S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N., the tech-savvy robotic companion. Furthermore, Cipes joined forces with fellow legacy cast members for a memorable crossover cameo.
Rob Paulsen and the Mud Dogs Easter Egg
Rob Paulsen voiced Donatello in the 2012 series (and Raphael in the 1987 series). In Rise of the TMNT, Paulsen lent his voice to the Foot Lieutenant. The ultimate treat for long-time fans arrived when Paulsen, Greg Cipes, and Seth Green (who voiced Leonardo in later seasons of the 2012 show) all reunited within the show to voice a Hidden City gang known as the Mud Dogs. This marked an unofficial vocal reunion that bridged multiple generations of turtle history.
Supporting Voice Talent Crossovers
Beyond the primary turtle actors, numerous recurring and guest voice actors from the 2012 sprawling cast found new homes in the 2018 iteration.
- Hoon Lee: After portraying Hamato Yoshi and Splinter in the 2012 series, Lee returned to voice an Ancestor and Oroku Saki / The Shredder in Rise of the TMNT.
- Zelda Williams: Best known in the 2012 continuity as the mutant frog Mona Lisa, Williams stepped into the role of Cassandra Jones in Rise of the TMNT, playing a much more aggressive, baseball-bat-wielding human adversary-turned-ally.
- Gwendoline Yeo: Having voiced the complex ninja Shinigami in the 2012 episodes, Yeo crossed over to voice Hamato Karai in the 2018 series.
- Phil LaMarr: A utility voice legend who voiced Baxter Stockman in the 2012 run, LaMarr returned to voice Marcus Moncrief / Jupiter Jim in Rise of the TMNT, bringing a classic silver-screen hero persona to life.
Why Voice Actor Crossovers Matter in Animation
Recycling voice talent within the same overarching franchise is a common industry practice, but it serves a specific purpose for action-comedy cartoons. Voice directors like Meredith Layne often rely on trusted performers who already understand the energetic, precise comedic timing required for martial arts animation.
When actors who played villains or side characters in a gritty 2012 iteration return for a hyper-stylized 2018 comedy, they bring institutional knowledge of the franchise's tone. They know how to land a punchline while maintaining the physical intensity of a battle sequence. This casting overlap builds a subtle bridge for older fans watching the newer, experimental iterations of their favorite reptilian heroes.
For a deeper dive into the production history of the franchise, check out the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Wikipedia overview or explore specific voice credits directly on Behind The Voice Actors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did any of the 2012 main turtles voice main turtles in Rise of the TMNT?
No. The main four turtles in Rise of the TMNT were voiced by an entirely new principal cast: Ben Schwartz (Leonardo), Omar Benson Miller (Raphael), Brandon Mychal Smith (Michelangelo), and Josh Brener (Donatello). The 2012 main actors only appeared as recurring characters, villains, or guest stars.
Which 2012 voice actor plays Splinter in Rise of the TMNT?
Eric Bauza, who voiced Tiger Claw and Hun in the 2012 series, took over the role of Master Splinter in Rise of the TMNT.
Is Rise of the TMNT officially connected to the 2012 series?
No. Rise of the TMNT takes place in an independent continuity with altered lore, magical mystic powers, and reimagined character origins, meaning it is not a direct continuation of the 2012 storyline.
Did any 80s turtle voice actors appear in the 2012 series too?
Yes. Voice actors from the 1987 animated series—such as Cam Clarke, Townsend Coleman, and Barry Gordon—made special guest appearances in the 2012 series to voice alternate-dimension counterparts, continuing a long-standing tradition of cross-generational casting.
