Well, this is certainly sure to split opinion. As the title suggests, Nickelodeon have revealed the first look at their central characters from the upcoming Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series. Let’s just say that our beloved heroes look, err, interesting. Yes, definitely interesting…

For larger looks at Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, Michelangelo, Splinter, and April O’Neill, click on the images below:

Like we said. Err, interesting, right?

The current blurb on this new animated adventure reads:

In Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, fans can expect to see the brothers showcase their own skills and personality traits, from big brother Raphael’s enthusiastic bravado, to the cool charm and rebel heart of Leonardo, to the tech and mechanical genius Donatello, and finally, the wildly imaginative younger brother, Michelangelo, who knows a thing or two about skateboards.

To add a little further detail, Nickelodeon has given some information on the reimagining of the famed Heroes in a Half-Shell; Raphael is now a snapping turtle who goes to battle with his trusty twin tonfas; Leonardo is a red-eared slider turtle who wields an odachi sword; Donatello is a soft-shell turtle who is never without his tech-bo staff; and Michelangelo, well Mikey is a box turtle who sports kusari-fundo. Then there’s April O’Neill, who is pegged as a “savvy native New Yorker”, and Splinter being, well, Splinter.

Talent-wise, Omar Millers, Ben Schwartz, Josh Brener, Branddon Mychal Smith, Kat Graham, and Eric Bauza are the stars of the show, with 16-time WWE Champ John Cena signed on to voice an all-new reoccurring villain known as Baron Draxum.

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will debut later this year.