25 November 2013
This week four rather famous turtles will be settling in to a new home on S4C.
Crwbanod Ninja, a Welsh adaptation of the popular series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles starts on the Channel this Thursday (28 November) at 6.05pm.
The series based on the comic book first created in 1984 follows four mutant turtles, Leo, Donnie, Raph and Mikey, who have been trained in the art of ninjutsu by their rat sensei, Master Splinter.
When Splinter (or Sgyryn as he’ll be known in Welsh) allows the Crwbanod Ninja to leave their sewer lair and visit the surface, they get their first glimpse of the real world; a place full of vicious villains and delicious pizza!
For Emyr Roberts, dubbing director on the series for production company Level 2, the project was one of the most exciting he’s ever worked on.
“Everyone who’s been part of this project are excited by the Crwbanod!
Honestly, during my years working as a dubbing director I can say, hand on heart, that this is the production that people have doted on the most. Be it as someone who watched the series as a child, or someone who has children himself who think that dad working on the Ninja Turtles is awesome!” says Emyr Roberts
“It’s a pleasure coming into work when you’re surrounded by such enthusiasm, a fantastic crew, writer and cast.”
The voice cast boasts Llŷr Evans, Rhodri Meilir, Rhydian Lewis, Dyfrig Evan, Rhodri Evans, Aneirin Hughes, Manon Wilkinson and Hefin Wyn.
The huge task of adapting the script into Welsh fell to the Gwynedd-based author and historian, Dewi Prysor.
“The New York dialect obviously doesn’t work in Welsh, so I had to give the Turtles an urban Welsh dialect, without losing the attitude, slickness and the ‘cool’ factor – and without detracting from their personalities of course,” says Dewi Prysor. “But as a father to teenage sons, it wasn’t too difficult.”
“The series is exciting, slick and daring and also visually striking. But more than that it’s really, really funny. It’s a dark humour with some slapstick elements, which I love. Ask my family and they’ll tell you that they heard uncontrollable fits of laughter coming from my study countless time when I was working on the script!”
So why did S4C decide to adapt the series into Welsh?
“There’s no doubt that the Ninja Turtles is one of the most iconic series’ ever, so we saw this as an opportunity for a new generation to follow the four turtles and their adventures, and to do so in Welsh,” says Sioned Wyn Roberts, children’s programmes comissionner for S4C. “The biggest challenge was translating the title into Welsh!”
Ends
