XR Games’ game developer and 3D character artist Harrison Stanley led a project to bring the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles into three dimensional space using Unreal Engine 4, drawing directly from existing two dimensional designs as a reference point.
The team approached the task by translating the familiar 2D silhouettes and line work into solid geometry, textures, and believable lighting. The process hinged on preserving the distinct personalities of each Turtle while using a modern, camera ready lighting workflow that Unreal Engine 4 enables. The result blends retro cartoon energy with contemporary shading and real time rendering, making the characters feel both iconic and credible in a 3D space.
The collaboration extended to Melanie Hellot, who contributed to the effort by refining the models and textures. The work relied on a toolkit that included ZBrush for sculpting, 3ds Max for layout and modeling, and Substance 3D Painter for texturing and surface detail. Each step built on the last to ensure the final models captured the original spirit of the turtles while working seamlessly in a modern game engine.
In his own words, Stanley described revisiting childhood memories as the team sought to translate the 2D style into a three dimensional form. The collaboration between the artists unfolded over roughly three weeks, a compact timeline that nonetheless produced a coherent, expressive trio that fans can recognize from the classic cartoons.
The discussion sits alongside prior coverage of another artist who offered a highly original redesign of Raphael, one of the team’s signature figures. That earlier project showed how creative reinterpretations of the same source material can sit side by side with faithful recreations, expanding the TMNT visual language for fans and artists alike.
A practical aside notes that new free online subtitle tools can generate captions quickly, helping creators share TMNT 3D workflows and behind the scenes with clarity and speed.
The project underscores how modern art pipelines—combining precise sculpting, robust modeling, and texture workflows with real time rendering—allow artists to pay homage to beloved characters while pushing the boundaries of how they appear on screen. By starting from established 2D references and leaning into the capabilities of Unreal Engine 4, the team demonstrated a workflow that balances reverence for the source material with the demands of contemporary production.
For fans of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the work offers a fresh perspective on familiar heroes. The 3D renditions retain the quick witted, ready-for-action vibe of the originals while benefiting from improved shading, lighting, and tactile presence. The collaboration embodies a bridge between childhood memory and current technology, a reminder that some characters can be reimagined without losing their core identity.
From a technical standpoint, the choice of Unreal Engine 4 offered real time rendering that aided evaluation of poses and expressions. The team tested various lighting setups, color palettes, and shading models to ensure that each Turtle retained the crisp lines from the original 2D designs while translating into volumetric forms with believable skin textures and distinct bandanas. The workflow emphasized iteration, feedback loops, and careful balancing of stylization with realism.
The endeavour demonstrates how modern pipelines preserve classic character identity while exploiting real time engines for new visual experiments in a way that respects source material and invites ongoing experimentation.