Have your taste for your favorite TMNT character changed over the years?

[Shark]

1988, I was 4 years old, and saw my first and only friend at that time playing with a toy frog with a red bandana. I feel in love with that frog real quick. The next day I learned that frog was actually a turtle. That same day, he told me that the show that the toy came from comes on today. So I watched a TMNT cartoon for the first time. I saw the frog with the red bandana, pointed at him, and said, 'There's your frog!'. He said, 'Uh...dude...Teenage Mutant Ninja TURTLES!!!', so I replied, 'Yeah? So? Your frog is right there!' Anyway, it was a bunch of frogs fighting these weird robots (they weren't Foot Soldiers. I think this was the second episode of TMNT. It was still fairly new, and still in the first season I think) inside this giant robot with a big giant eye. I fell in love with that Red Frog that day.

Since then, I been buying all the Raph toys they came out with. Raph was my top favorite character ever, just above Batman.

1990, the movie came out, Raph cursed, and I was like, 'What the heck?' Later, Raph died, and I cried :cry: After half the movie was over, Raph came back to life, and I stopped crying :D

Even in all the video games, I ALWAYS choose Raph. Occasionally choose Don, due to his weapon (being both cheap, and the only weapon I know how to use well IRL).

2003, the new series, Teenage Mutant Ninja Frogs...I mean Turtles came out. My love for Raph...died, and was replaced by Casey Jones, who quickly became my new favorite TMNT character. Half way through season one, Leonardo for some reason topped Casey pretty quick as my favorite TMNT character.

TMNT game came out, always choose Don, since they made him massivly cheap in that game. Also choose Casey Jones alot in it.

Season 2 comes out, it was love at first site apoun my new favorite character (check everything in my sig if you don't know who that is yet).

TMNT 2 came out, Leo was the new cheap character, and my new favorite. My team consisted of Leonardo, Casey Jones, Karai, and Donatello. My three favorite characters (if I could replace Don with Raph, I would of had a whole team of my favorites).

Season 3 and 4 have passed, and Leo is still my favorite.

Now here we are, soon for a new movie and game, and I'm looking forward to playing Leo in the game, and seeing Leo in the movie. Fortunatly, I'm looking forward to seeing Night Watcher in both, so maybe my taste for Raph is coming back. But to top that all off, they had to shove my current favorite character Karai in it >.< So now I'm looking more forward to her than I am Leo or Night Watcher >.<

As for the new toy's, I actually want to get the Leo figure more than the Raph figure. I miss having Raph as my favorite ;.;

Well, there's my long ass story about how my taste for Teenage Mutant Ninja Frogs...Turtles...keep changeing. You have any? Or do you have any interesting story as to why your favorite character is your favorite?

Good thing about the four I like, they are each rivals of each other O.o Leo/Karai, Raph/Casey. Go me -.-

[Garou]

Hmmmmm....... Right in the beginning, when I watched the show as a child, my fave was Leo, but it quickly changed to Raph. And he has been my favorite ever since, both through the cartoons and movies.

But I actually started liking Don more and more through the new cartoon series. I can't remember why, but I wasn't very fond of him in the old show...

[JetsAndHeels]

It's always been Leo for me. I remember when the 90's cartoon started up and things were still relatively new, I was drawn to Leo because I liked his swords and all...however now I realize I like him for other reasons. Things that are a little bit deeper like the fact that he is a leader and he is strong willed. He puts family above everything else, and he is always trying to find a way to improve himself.

I have always been partial to the characters who are in leadership positions, not just in TMNT but all things. I think I see alot of my own qualities in Leo so he reminds me of myself alot.

[AquaParade]

My family tells me that when I was really young and first getting into the tmnt, my favorite turtle was Raph, but for most of my young childhood I remember it being Leo. It really is hard to keep a favorite. There have also been times when I thought Mikey was my favorite, and lately I am actually kinda shifting towards Donatello. I guess its always changing because they are all so great. I do have to say though, that my favorite tmnt incarnation of all time may have been Mikey from the first movie. :)

[Ecto Jedi]

Always been Donatello for me, for reasons unknown to even myself.

[Aignatius]

Interesting story, Shark. It reminds me of the different perspective of those who have known the TMNT since early childhood, and have the turtles more ingrained in their memories than someone like me who was a parent of kids your age when the toon first came out. My view of them was highly critical and dismissing until I found out about the comics. The original story, in fact. That is what hooked me. Because the Turtles of the Mirage comics were very different from the popular culture of the old school toon turtles.
Anyhoo, my fave from the comics was Raph. I could so relate to him at the time.
Now that I'm older and more mellowed out, I find Don to be my favorite. In many of the stories, especially the Mirage comics, the stuff he does and talks about are similar to my own interests. :)

[Masked Ninja]

My favorite when I was a young 'un watching the old show (4, perhaps? it came out when I was 1 :P) was probably Michelangelo, but for years after I liked Leo for very superficial reasons (aka blue + swords).

So when I discovered the new 'toon around season 2 (Turtles in Space was the first full arc I saw) I scoured the internet for information on the Turtles. Found some detailed character descriptions and was pleased to find that Leo fit me almost perfectly. So I was a diehard Leo fan for a while. But dang show... showcasing what's awesome about each of the Turtles... :P At the beginning I didn't have the heart to put any Turtle last in my ranking. Now I just can't. Even Raph, who I identify with the least, has some awesome qualities I can't ignore.

So nowadays my Turtle preference switches around. At this very moment it's leaning a bit more toward Don, and therefore I draw him a lot when I feel like randomly doodling Turtles. I also love it whenever Mikey buckles down and gets serious... the last half of "Grudge Match" is one of my favorite moments in the show. (not to mention the awesome training sequence that kicks off that episode :D)

I always will feel a kinship with Leo though, because he's a lot like me. *shrug*

[Buslady]

I hear Raph crying because you don't like him as much...it hurts. :P


I have been, and always shall be...Raph's friend. :D
Semper Fi to Raphael.

[gobo]

From the beginning of the classic 'toon, Don was my favorite. After 3 or 4 years, I got tired of his snotty attitude, and went to my default favorite of any story, the wise-guy. So, Raph was my favorite, but only in the cartoon. I was never impressed with the angry Raph stuff. So, I never did have a favorite in the movies. When 2K3 came around, Don was my favorite again. Always trying to be the nice guy, I rediscovered why he used to remind me of myself. Unfortunately, while I am an intellectual, I'm not than dexterous (in other words, 'handy').

[ThemanthatwouldbeRaphael]

Leo was my first favorite. I liked his swords, and he was the leader. The it shifted between Donatello and Michelangelo for a while, but I liked Don more. Now Raph is my perma-favorite. This time i like him becasue of his character. Also, since the new toon, Nobody, Leatherhead, Casey Jones, Traximus, and Prof. Honneycutt have shot up pretty high on my faves list.

[Death's Head]

I have gained a rudimentary respect for Splinter, for a while now.

[VGiselleH]

With the original cartoon my fav was Donatello, but I don't remember why anymore. It's not the bandana color, that I'm sure of, and it definitely wasn't because of his weapon (it was just a big stick to me :p), so that leaves his actions. I guess I liked the way he went about things, inventing stuff and such. I always end up with the "smart" one being my favourite anyway, even with real life people >.> I sort of liked Mikey, though I always picked him to play the victim when playing with the toys (I was actually pretty cruel to Mikey, but he was always saved in the end though! :D ), I was neutral on Leo, but didn't like Raph at all. That had a reason though, because I saw the English version, and my English wasn't that developed yet at the time (I was, what, 6 or 7?), so his remarks that were his trademark were lost on me. Raphael talked too much nonsense for me :p

I saw the movie back then...but have no recollection of what I thought about each individual character, with the exception of Splinter, who I thought looked, moved and sounded creepy and disgusting...he scared me :p Raphael got too much attention I thought as well, lol, funny to remember, I really had something against him I guess.

Nowadays...I found the 2k3 toon, and first watched it with the intention of seeing what Don was up in this series, still having that old childhood prejudice going in the back of my mind. Well, the first episode alone was enough to bring the other three back in my good graces, lol (The first 5 mins were enough actually). I love this series ^_^ In short time I liked them all, but Don remained on top, though in his defense he managed to get there all over again by himself, without my old preference aiding him. By the end of season 4 Mikey had conquered the second place, I love his personality and hidden potential. Raph is a close third as I respect his personality and love the posibilities it offers. He and Mikey actually took a while to settle on a spot though, switching back and forth during season 2, 3, and 4. Leo got the last spot (he had the second spot during season 1) because he's too much like me...that's boring, but I love them all, and the differences are only just big enough to be able to get them in a list like this.

Never read the comics, so I can't comment on them.

[VaughnMichael]

Yeah actully I used to originally really like the taste of Raphael because he tastes like strawberries :lol:
Then in the 90's enjoyed the tatse of Leonardo because of the great fad of the blue rasberrie.
Then recently Grape was all the rage so Donatello it was!
but I can't say I ever enjoyed the tatse of Michaelangelo I don't care for oranges hahah:lol:
And don't ask what tatse splinter is ick!:dead:

[Jester]

When I was younger I liked Raph first then Mikey, Donnie, and Leo last, basically because Raph was the funniest, then Mikey and movie Donnie had me in stitches, but I loved Gordon's Don from the OT was spot on.

As I matured, Movie Raph grew on me, I liked the NT Raph, but Mikey became my least favorite Turtle because he was just to goofy...something as a kid I liked in OT Mikey, but admittedly he wasn't even as cheesy as NT Mike can be. Donnie became a close second to Raph, probably because he's a pseudo-foil to Raph in his own way. Raph's loud and out spoken and Donnie's quiet and sensitive. Leo actually moved up in my estimation because the NT played him as more than the one note character he has been played as in other TMNT media. He was flawed, and felt the strain of leading the team, I liked that.

So, though I haven't changed horses when it comes to favorite Turtle (I just like Raph for different reasons now) the rest of my line up has shifted drastically.

[Rooish]

Mikey was by far my favourite in the old toon. Now they are all nearly equal for me. I still feel slight favouritism for the man in orange, though.

[Head Spinnin' Bebop]

Mikey and Don have always been my favs. But I think Don was the one I seemed to lean more towards when I was younger. Played Don in games more I know that, but that’s because I loved his weapon too lol. Had more Donny figs too. Though its always been pretty level between the two. Its still pretty much the same, both are my two favs. But older now, overall I'd say Michelangelo takes top spot. He always crack em up. Him along with Donny are still at the top though!

[Warhorse]

Can't remember her name, but the time mistress girl in the Time Trevail episode of the new toon. I really can't stand her voice!

[Jo Dawn]

Always been Don for me. Always has been, always will be.

[Sliced]

Just like MN said, I liked Leo because he was wearing blue, and had swords. Coolness incarnate :lol:

So in the show, yeah, always was and always will be Leo. Too cool. But as for the toys, man, Leo was the wrost...

Until I saw Slash, who became my fav for maybe a year, Leo always was on top.

[mikey2007]

my first figure i got when i was little for my bday was mikey, and ever since he has been my favorite, i dressed up as him when i was little, and then leo and raph the next two years after(my brother was don) so i don't know if i liked them more or say i changed, i loved all the turtles, but mike was the highest on my list in all incarnations, although i was skeptical when they first started the 2k3 series, and also when they first started the fast forward series, because they almost made him too goofy

[Time Mistress]

Mike was my fave from the original toon, Raph my least. After I saw the first movie Raph became my fave. It's like I hadn't known the character at all, the old toon watered him down so much. I started collected Mirage and Raph continued to be my fave. I also liked how they did him in Archie as well -less violent, but still with an attitude. I was getting a little tired of surfer dude Mike from the original toon by then, but the Mirage comics made me love Mike all over again too with him being a writer, having a cat like mine, and being easygoing without being a doofus, and totally able to kick butt. No grappling hooks in Mirage! Once the new toon came out, Mike and Raph have been pretty even for my fave. Season 1, I was leaning more towards Raph as they finally got his personality right for a toon. Season 2, I was leaning more towards Mike with What a Croc & Battle Nexus. After reading the novelization of the new movie, I have a feeling Raph will be back on top for a while again.

[Kendamu]

Originally Mikey. Then Raph grew on me and was my favorite for a really long time. Now I tend to like all of them just about the same but Raph still is my "favorite by default". Out of non-turtles, though, Casey is the man!

[Spitfire]

Don has always been my favorite ninja turtle. I always loved Leatherhead the most. I didn't start to like Rat King alot until I got older though.

[Sage Ninja]

ooh what a topic. In the 1987 series as a kid:

Michaelangelo

teehee with all the turtles falling a very close second. However I went back a forth of who my favorite second fav was, which was generally Leonardo and Raphael. Leonardo usally because he didn't take cheap shots at Michaelangelo like Raphael did.

As an adult 1987:

Michaelangelo is still my favorite but I've really come to appriciate the awsomeness that is Donatello. He was really fleshed out as a character in the old toon. And I've come to really appriciate Raphael's humour alot more now that i'm older.

2k3 series...

as a whole it took me the better half of season one for me to even give this new incarnation of my favorite show the time of day. I watched scattered episodes and really couldn't even get through one whole episde at a time. When I finnally got over my "this isn't what I grew up with"!! prejiduce I was very horrified at how my favorite turtle from old was being portryed. My first TMNT episode that I ever watched all the way through was Garbage Man and I was pissed off beyond words at how Michaelangelo was written, I was ready to send hate mail but decided the show was just not worth me even bitching over and stopped watching till about the biggening of season two, where I fell in love with Leonardo and his awsome portrayal, Don became a close second and Raphael was able to tolerate. Then I caught a some re-runs of season one, particularly The Unconvincing Turtle Titan and it finnally was able to accept Mikey as a character thanks to his one shot character episode, and season two offered more facets to his character so he gradually started to move up the favorite line.

And season three and that episode in season four Grudg Match have done well to flesh him out and i've come to adore him. I still have my gripes and reservations about New Toon Mikey's portrayal but he has finnaly become my favorite again.

As of right now it goes Mikey as my favorite with Leonardo as a dead second with Raphael and Donatello being tyed. :)

[Class is Pain 101]

Well first started out liking mikey a lot. Then bout age 13 i began to like Donatello, because of his peacefulness, love not war on animated series. Then til bout 2 months ago I loved Casey Jones. Now I like Raph, I can just relate to him so easily.

[Lady Venus]

When I 6 my fav was Leo and now that I'm 25 it's stil Leo.

[Sariele]

My first exposure to TMNT OS was in Singapore on a family holiday when I was 8 years old. I have fond memories of spending an evening with another family's kids in our hotel watching this new "ninja turtles" thing and eating Nerds (how '89/'90 can you get?!). On that trip my bro bought a Raph action figure, and when we got back to Australia he was showing it to all his buddies and telling them it was the next big thing. They all scoffed, but sure enough within a couple of months, everyone was watching it after school every day!

Bringing this back on topic, I don't know if it was my brother's toy or Raph's general coolness and humour that made me love him, but he was my all-time fave character in the original series. I also kind of liked Mikey, but thought Leo and Don were sort of boring. :lol:

I then found myself pretty much having nothing to do with TMNT for the next fifteen years, until late last year I began "acquiring" episodes of the OS to basically bring back some childhood memories. Raph was still my favourite, but found I liked Leo and Don more than Mikey. I then "acquired" the three films that I think I'd seen as a kid but never really paid any attention to. Raph and Leo are my faves in them.

After that, I began buying the DVDs of the 2k3 series on a whim, and still gravitated towards Raph, although I'm not sure if it's because he's my genuine favourite or if it was just out of habit! I don't like it when he's angry at anyone in the family, but I love it when he gets all p*ssed off at anyone who threatens them. Don and Leo are my second faves still, but Don probably wins more often because when Leo gets too intense or serious (esp. late season 3 - early season 4) he just annoys me. But when he's in a good mood I love him to bits.

Apart from when I was a little kid with the OS, Mikey irritates me. I know that's not fair of me, and he has plenty of redeemable moments, but for the most part his particular humour and personality traits just grate on me a bit. But I suppose I quite like him in the movies; he's a little more understated. Or the others are a little more outgoing. Either way it helps. Hehe.

I can't believe the length of this post, I'm so sorry! :roll:

[Mr. Snackpants]

My favorite has always been Mikey. Leo has always been my least favorite. Since the 2k3 toon started I've started to like don more than ever. raph has in the old toon didn't seem like raph.

[Mandi-chan]

Old Toon: Michelangelo was my favorite. Now that I'm older, and have seen a few eps of the old toon again, I can't decide who I like best.

Original Movie-verse: I fell in love with Mikey, and I can easily say that this universe's portrayal of Michelangelo is my favorite. He's funny, but not embarrassing or stupid. He's also a great fighter and is just adorable to me.

Comics: I can't decide which turtle is my favorite, they're all great!

New Toon: At first, it was Mikey...but that was more out of my love for the character in the past. The more I see of new toon Mikey, the more I dislike him (I don't hate him though, I do still like him...I just don't love him)...he's really immature and embarrassing to watch 99% of the time. He got worse as the show moved on too. So, no...Mikey is NOT my favorite turtle of the new toon...

I fell in love with Donnie instead!:D Charming, smart, funny, a kick ass fighter! He's easily my favorite version of the character!

The New Movie looks great, but the characters (judging from the trailer) aren't quite like their original movie-verse counterparts. The trailer made Mikey seem an awful lot like the new toon version of him, and I hope I'm horribly mistaken about that.

[Sage Ninja]

Old Toon: Michelangelo was my favorite. Now that I'm older, and have seen a few eps of the old toon again, I can't decide who I like best.

Original Movie-verse: I fell in love with Mikey, and I can easily say that this universe's portrayal of Michelangelo is my favorite. He's funny, but not embarrassing or stupid. He's also a great fighter and is just adorable to me.

Comics: I can't decide which turtle is my favorite, they're all great!

I fell in love with Donnie instead!:D Charming, smart, funny, a kick ass fighter! He's easily my favorite version of the character!

I seriously can't decide which portrayal of Donatello I like more, New toon or Classic toon. I like them both! However as an adut I'm watching some old toon episodes and there are a few episodes where he can be a bit condensending and it a bit of a turn off to his character. He is still competely awsome and I have developed a better appreciation for his character now than I did as a kid, but New toon Donatello is awsome and smart with out being condesending which I like.

New Toon: At first, it was Mikey...but that was more out of my love for the character in the past. The more I see of new toon Mikey, the more I dislike him (I don't hate him though, I do still like him...I just don't love him)...he's really immature and embarrassing to watch 99% of the time. He got worse as the show moved on too. So, no...Mikey is NOT my favorite turtle of the new toon...


The New Movie looks great, but the characters (judging from the trailer) aren't quite like their original movie-verse counterparts. The trailer made Mikey seem an awful lot like the new toon version of him, and I hope I'm horribly mistaken about that

hmm, New toon Mikey isn't getting a whole lot of love lately. I know what I don't really like about his personality, I feel there is postive aspects about his personality that out weigh his negative ones. What exactly is there about New toon Mikey's personilty that is a turn off to some people? Is it soley his immaturity or is it more his cockiness that offends people. And is it really a bad thing if CGI Mikey turns out to be like his new toon counterpart?

[Warhorse]

Well, my intake on new toon Mikey. It's not that I don't like him, because I do. But I find him insanely annoying at times, so he automatically gets bumped down to my least favorite Turtle of the group.

But I like his movie counterpart. That Mikey is really sweet, while still being able to joke around, in an unannoying way.

[cowabunga14]

Ok, for me it started out as Leo being my favorite because I felt he was the most responsible at the time being the leader than whatnot. He was probably the Turtle I wanted to be like the most when I was a kid. Then, for some reason, it changed to Mikey when my teenage years started to come around. He's the one I relate the most because of my character and similar outlook on life. So yeah, I don't think I'm gonna change my taste again for quite a while.

Can't remember her name, but the time mistress girl in the Time Trevail episode of the new toon. I really can't stand her voice!
That would be Renet. She was featured in a few of the comics (namely TMNT #8 Vol. 1), which you can read if you'd like to learn more about her.

[ThemanthatwouldbeRaphael]

That would be Renet. She was featured in a few of the comics (namely TMNT #8 Vol. 1), which you can read if you'd like to learn more about her.

I really wish FF never came to pass, then they could have gone further in the comic adaptions. I would have loved to seen Renet as she is now, a full time mistress and more mature.

[Mr._Mutant_Man]

Michelangelo was my favorite as a kid. When I was a really young kid the party dude thing seemed really cool.

When I watched the Ninja Turtles movie again a few years ago for the first time since I was like nine years old Raphael became my new favorite. He was the most interesting Turtle in that movie because of his anger and having a hard time fitting in with the rest of the Turtles.

[Shredder]

As a kid, I always liked Michaelangelo and he's still my favorite of the Turtles. My favorite character overall, though, was always Shredder (no big surprise there, I guess). For some reason, once I got familiar with the show and who was who, I always thought the bad guys were generally more interesting than the Turtles (and that's still true now).

[Raph's Girl]

From 1987 - 1990 it was Don. I always ended up as Don when I played with my friends. But Raph slowly sneaked up on me and by 1997 he was my fave. I still have a crush on Don tho.

[Mandi-chan]

hmm, New toon Mikey isn't getting a whole lot of love lately. I know what I don't really like about his personality, I feel there is postive aspects about his personality that out weigh his negative ones. What exactly is there about New toon Mikey's personilty that is a turn off to some people? Is it soley his immaturity or is it more his cockiness that offends people.

His cockiness and immaturity really kill him, add that to the fact that he's not really that funny. He is capable of being funny, but most of the times his jokes fall flat (don't even get me started on his "burnt fur" crack in the first ep of season 4...I thought that was horrible for him to say!).

I love comics, cartoons, and superheroes...but I don't act like a 2 year-old about my passions.

He does.

And is it really a bad thing if CGI Mikey turns out to be like his new toon counterpart?

Well, yeah. It would be crappy if CGI Mikey turns out to be a clone of 2003 Mikey...because he was nothing like that in the original 3 movies!

I found Mikey to be charming, cute, and funny in the original movies (still do to this day). Not once did he come across as annoying, childish, or stupid to me.

New toon Mikey consistantly comes across as annoying, childish, and stupid...so if the CGI movie Mikey turns out to be like that, then yes I'll be a little annoyed.

I'm just hoping that I'm misjudging everything, and that this CGI Mikey won't be that bad...it would be okay if he was a combo of the two versions of the character, that wouldn't really bother me I guess.

[Sage Ninja]

His cockiness and immaturity really kill him, add that to the fact that he's not really that funny. He is capable of being funny, but most of the times his jokes fall flat (don't even get me started on his "burnt fur" crack in the first ep of season 4...I thought that was horrible for him to say!).

I can understand where you are coming from with his immaturtiy and cockiness killing his character a bit. If I was to be honest with my self I really don't like how cocky and immature Mikey is on occasion, it was inntically what turned me off to his at character first. But at the same time as I re-watch earlier episodes I think his cockiness is a sort of front for Mikey that he uses to make him out be tougher than what he actually is. It kind of adds an edge to his character. I don't think he is genuanly the jerk that he makes him self out to be. And to the immaturtiy and hyper-activeness I'm not so bothered by because its just apart of his personailty, but what I don't always like about his immaturity is how it is executed. I think the writters can have Mikey be young and teenager like with out going over the top like they sometimes do. Its almost like they try to make a stark contrast between Mikey's maturity level and the others just to show how diffrent he is and they over do it as a result.

And his humour I do agree is mostly cringe-worthy. I don't know if its poor writting or something, but it does seem like the writters like to make Mikey the object of laughter rather than what he is saying. And it gets annoying on how the other turtles react when he says something that is supposed to be funny.

I love comics, cartoons, and superheroes...but I don't act like a 2 year-old about my passions.

He does.

I don't think Mikey acts quite that extreme about his passions. Actually, most of his actions can be excused. But then I tend to dissect and psycho analise any of the turtles axctions. Mikey going so far as to creat an alter ego (turtle titan) and wanting to out and be a hero I always found of him trtying to break away from the whole team dynamic the turtles have and him shinning on his own with out having his thunder stolen from Leo, Don, or Raph, who mare more dilligent about the ninja bit. And I think him wanting to be a hero goes to show his innocent desire to naturally help people and make a diffrence. I think the reason he looks up to super heros and wants to emulate them is because of their white/black view of things and life style. They don't have "kill" to win a fight because they are powerful enough to win a battle with out useing deadly force if they don't have to. Its a much more simplictic and not as harsh way of life than what Mikey is probably used to. And I think Mikey envys that life since his life is so filled with harsher encounters with enemies and shades of grey.

And really, I think this aspect of Mikey is what I like, he has asperations to be good and help others but isn't old enough to do it with out turning to role playing. Of course that is mearly my impression of his habits and character. And this is the aspect of Mikey I wish they would play up more instead of the cocky one. Although the cocky aspect of his character serves for good growth episodes, like in Grudge Match. Easily one of fans most favorite Mikey centric episdoes.

I found Mikey to be charming, cute, and funny in the original movies (still do to this day). Not once did he come across as annoying, childish, or stupid to me.

It appears that you are not alone in sharing this opinion. :|

New toon Mikey consistantly comes across as annoying, childish, and stupid...so if the CGI movie Mikey turns out to be like that, then yes I'll be a little annoyed.

I think "stupid" is a bit strong, I think he is more impetuous than anything else since he usually acts before he thinks. I don't think NT Mikey is portryed stupid. He is more like the the type of character that every one thinks is stupid but is actually pretty smart when he feels like showing it. Its one of the mysteries about him that I can appriciat. Do you feel the same way about old toon Michaelangelo?

[NightwatchersOnlygirl]

In 1990 when the turtles come out first I liked Mikey now I Love Raphael
It Is now Raphael forever

[Mr. Arctic]

when i was a kid, i liked mikey best-- just cuz he was goofy and funny and such.

for a while i liked donatello, but that didnt last long.

since about 5 years ago, when i really thought about it more, raph has been my fav. to me, his character is most complex and deep. plus he is pretty funny sometimes.

however, since seeing the movie, leo's been growing on me. i dont think hell ever replace raph though.

[tinlunlau]

back in the old cartoons in the 80s, i liked Leonardo cuz of his weapons and Mikey for his carefree fun-loving attitude.

then, the movie came out and i switched to Raph. then, i got my first exposure to the Mirage comics and it's been Raph ever since. i love his "i don't take sh!t from nobody" attitude.

[Sage Ninja]

I don't know why I am just not into to the agitated characters. I mean I like Raphael and his portrayal in the Live action movies and the new toon but the fact that his character is so agnyst distances me a bit. I can totally relate with Raphael's anger problems and his doubting in his own goodness but I just didn't get into his character until he started to calm down a bit in season three and four.

It is probably why (even thaough I enjoyed the character progression) that Leonardo's agitated fest in season four was beginning to bring me down a bit half though the season. I mean I love seeing normally calm characters dealing with problems and fleshing them oit by giveing them other emotions, but they ended the Leonardo agnyst fest just at the right time before it got dragged out. I was starting to miss the calm and spiritual Leonardo.

[ThisSchemeCannotFail]

I only really watch the 1987 cartoon, but my favourite turtle was Raphael and remains so. My favourite overall character has always been Krang, which owes much to the voice actor.

[themaxonline]

I too pretty much only watch the 1987 cartoon. Back then I always liked Michaelangelo the best because he had my name (mike). Watching them again 15 years after my obsession was in full force, I realize that I'm still partial to him but I know if I ever heard anyone say half the things he did, they way he does, it would drive me nuts! Only he can get away with some of the things he says.

Watching them all again though, I really like Krang! He's funny!

[Sage Ninja]

am I the only one that was confused on whether Krang was male or not when they where a kid?

Because Krang didn't seem to have a dicernable gender when I first watched the series. And really...Krang and Shredder acted like they where married somtimes. :o

[Buslady]

I think Krang was a female and Shredder was her hubby...

[Sanjuro]

TMNT Film - Raph
TMNT 80's - Mikey
TMNT 2003 - Leonardo
TMNT Mirage - Donatello

Go figure.

[METALHEAD]

Well in the begaining was donny yeah cus...my fave color is purple yeah then mikey...eh..my name was miguel....and i dunno i found it weird they called the turtle my name.which is mikey that ppl called me when i was a kid. mom called me michealangelo.. >< ehh.....O.o .... in the new 2003 show there are similarities to his personalty. ..then again i maybe paranoise...i dunno i just think that. then i liked raph...cus ya know he's all angsty kinda thing leo cus he's honorable. and well right now? i like all the turtles equally ya know
Shark, seeing that pic above with raph and leo about to fight i suddenly had to think...if leo and raph were real...they would fight for your uh 'love' or something. heh...funny thought. *rubbs my chin* indeed that be a sight to see.

[kerfootw]

Back when I watched the old series, Don was easily my favorite. I don't know, I just really liked his voice and stuff. Now it's tied for Raph because I like Rob's voice and he can be quite a smart allic.
These days, and possibly since I saw the new series, Leo is definitely my favorite! He's just so well developed, a burdened yet strong and good leader, a pretty good fighter, and he's so cute!

[ThisSchemeCannotFail]

am I the only one that was confused on whether Krang was male or not when they where a kid?

Because Krang didn't seem to have a dicernable gender when I first watched the series. And really...Krang and Shredder acted like they where married somtimes. :o

There was definitely something girlie about Krang.

First of all he was pink, and he had a squeaky voice, had moodswings, and sometimes had the agitated appearance of a grandma. And yes, he would often moan at Shredder like he was his wife.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

No, Leonardo was always my favourite of the TMNT.

[SpiderHulkThing]

mikey used to be my favorite when i was a kid. from the old shows. then it started being leo, and then i started liking raph the most. in the 2003 episodes, raph is still my favorite. I respect mikey more in the 2003 shows more than the old ones. Leo is also cooler. I like the old school donatello better though, at least I think. Been a while since I've seen the older episodes.


but donatello was probably my favorite figure out of all the originals figures.

[JohnnyFoxDarko]

I remember, as a kid I liked Mikey and Leo the most.
Now when I'm older I'm more into Raph and Don.
I LOVE Raph in the classic episodes, I just think he's hillarious. :]
As for Don, I love the whole tech turtle thing about him...

Overall though, I couldn't choose a favorite. Too hard. :[
But I do prefer some turtles in different occasions, as listed before.

[Sage Ninja]

I respect mikey more in the 2003 shows more than the old ones

Could I ask you why that is? I'm just curious. :)

The one episode that makes Shredder and Krang seem like a married couple is "The three Muskaturtles" (spelling) where Shredder fails to get a jewel for Krang and Krang throughs a fit. The dialogue goes something like this:

Krang is screaming and throwing anything that isn't nailed down, around the room while Shredder cowers behind a table.

Shredder: Krang! how can I know what is the matter if you don't tell me!

Krang: **throws a beaker at Shredder** you-you didn't get it! I asked you to get the jewel and what do you do!? You send those two mutant morons to to go butch it up!

Shredder: Krang, be reasonable I can't go racing to the surfice every time you want some silly bauble **ducks out of the way of a table being thrown at him**

LOL where the writters trying to say something or what? :lol: :lol:

[RaphaelsOnlyGirl]

Raphael has always been my favorite.

[triplexxx]

I've always been an equal fan of every turtle.

[jenna]

For the first three or four weeks of watching the OT I liked Donatello best because he was purple :D

But I warmed to Raphael quite quickly because of his feisty and sarcastic temperament. I always went for the slightly screwed up characters. Like, Grumpy Bear was my favourite Care Bear. :lol:

Anyway, since then it has always been Raphael. I just find him a very interesting character.

[JusticeForce]

When the old show first came on, I (the female half of JusticeForce) thought Donatello was the best Turtle because he was a scientific genius AND he could fight! :) After him I liked Raphael (because he was cool, but rude ;) ), then Michealangelo, and I hated Leonardo because I thought he was boring. When the first movie came out, I was so mad because Don did nothing scientific and I thought Raph hogged the show. :x

When the second movie came out on VHS, me and my sister were visiting my then-best friend and her sister, and I had the brilliant idea that, since there were four of us, we could each take the part of one of the four turtles. It sounded easy enough - but Donatello was also the favorite Turtle of my best friend! :o

I decided to do the honorable thing and let her be Don, and so I asked to be my second favorite, Raph. But then I started thinking... if I was Leonardo, that meant I got to be the leader of our little group! So I traded my little sister Raphael for Leonardo... and took my responsibility as leader very seriously. I started collecting both the Mirage and Archie comics, reading up on the roleplaying game, taping all the TV episodes, etc., etc.... and Leonardo very quickly became my favorite Turtle (and then I was REALLY mad at Raph for "hogging" the first movie - it should have been Leo who was thrown through the skylight, darnit! :evil: But then, his constant vigil of the unconscious Raph showcases his character well, so I guess I can live with it :)).

After I got married to the other half of JusticeForce, TMNT got put on the backburner (he was a little too old for them and couldn't understand the appeal) but then we started watching the new cartoon together and the rest is history. :D He singled out Donatello as his favorite because both his attitude and his weapon were the most "pacifistic" of the team, and he constantly gets after me for "deserting" Don, my original favorite. :P

If I had to rank them in order of most to least favorite Turtle now, I'd probably go Leo, Raph, Mike and Don... and he would say Don, Mike, Raph and Leo (the exact opposite). :lol: But through the years we've gained a deep respect and affection for every single one of the Turtles, and love them all for their individual strengths (and weaknesses).

- T & J

[Courk]

When I was a wee lass, my favorite was Leo. I couldn't tell you why, I don't even think blue was my favorite color back then.

Now, Leo is still my favorite turtle, and blue is my favorite color (though not because it's Leo's). I'm still not entirely sure why, though. Maybe because he seems to be the most in control, maybe because he seems the most honorable. I don't know.

My opinion of Raph did grow by leaps and bounds from the new movie and my beginning to watch the 2k3 show. I like that Raph cares so much for his family, but keeps that to himself. That still doesn't top whatever I like about Leo.

[triplexxx]

Maybe because he seems to be the most in control, maybe because he seems the most honorable.
They're all equally honorable.

[Scandia]

While at the very beginning I thought Mikey was cool, the truth is that Leo became my favorite once I began watching more episodes of the old toon.

[The Shelf]

For me, it was always a toss up between Leo and Raph in the old toon. Leo was mostly my favorite, though. When the first movie came out, I think I switched to Raph. Then turtles disappeared, and when it came back and my interest was renewed, I finally decided on Donatello being my favorite. So now my list goes: Don, Leo, Raph, Mike.

I must be the only person I know who has never really cared for Mike. He's kind of funny every once in a while, but usually he just acts stupid and annoying. If he was always like his Mirage comic incarnation then I might have liked him a lot more, but I still don't think he ever would have topped my favorites. I guess it's mostly because I've never been a people person. I like his Mirage comic incarnation because he's actually pretty smart, but he acts silly sometimes just to lighten the mood. He's not oblivious to serious situations, though.

[Courk]

They're all equally honorable.
That did come out wrong, didn't it? I don't think any of the others would go around killing people for fun. I was trying to say he's more... into the ninja-y stuff. He's into the meditating and practicing and stuff. Like, if they weren't raised as ninjas, I still think Leo would take it up as a hobby while the others might not.

[invictus1002]

Well mikey was my fav back in the old tune. and he is still awesome in the new one. but i find myself identifying with Leo in the new toon and movie

[Tinuvielsdreams]

I have changed since the really old days where I picked them based on color, you know when you are 7 and like the blue one or the red one.
Now it seems like it changes based on what universe we are talking about. I find myself a Mikey and Raph fan the most though.

[Child_Of_Whitestorm]

Nope...My favorite always has been and always will be Donny! *Huggles her Donatello plushie*

[SassyGal]

my faves have always been mikey & raph. I seem to identify with both of them equally. my sense of humour is like mikey's, but my general disposition is like raph's. that's what you get when you're a gemini :D two opposite ends of the emotional spectrum ;)

[jenna]

Nope...My favorite always has been and always will be Donny! *Huggles her Donatello plushie*

Hehe - I still have my Donatello plushie. Except he's so old and loved that he's kind of brown and his pupils have been rubbed and he has holes in his hands and feet. I had Raphael as well, but he went on a mission one day, to defeat the evil Shredder and he is still missing in action :cry: I think he's gone to plushie turtle heaven.

[Child_Of_Whitestorm]

Hehe - I still have my Donatello plushie. Except he's so old and loved that he's kind of brown and his pupils have been rubbed and he has holes in his hands and feet. I had Raphael as well, but he went on a mission one day, to defeat the evil Shredder and he is still missing in action :cry: I think he's gone to plushie turtle heaven.

Actually....I think Donny's still in the garage somewhere...heh...I've been meaning to pull him outta there for like a year now....Hmm....I'll go do it now in fact! Yeah...He's still in good shape. I was a weird kid and always took really good care of my stuffed animals. The only one I've got thats even slightly ragged is my Patch, from 101 Dalmatians.

Edit: Well, its not like I haven't tried looking for him before...its just...we have a big garage...and I had a lot of stuffed animals when I was a kid, and I have no idea which giant plastic bag he's in.

[jenna]

Actually....I think Donny's still in the garage somewhere...heh...I've been meaning to pull him outta there for like a year now....Hmm....I'll go do it now in fact! Yeah...He's still in good shape. I was a weird kid and always took really good care of my stuffed animals. The only one I've got thats even slightly ragged is my Patch, from 101 Dalmatians.

Edit: Well, its not like I haven't tried looking for him before...its just...we have a big garage...and I had a lot of stuffed animals when I was a kid, and I have no idea which giant plastic bag he's in.

:lol: It's funny - I pulled my Don out of a plastic bag in my parent's garage a few months ago!

[Scandia]

Now y'all are making me want some TMNT plooshies. The ones from the old cartoon that had pupils.

[Ava Collier]

14 years ago...
It was Donatello.
As I matured (and I use that term loosely) I no longer had a favorite. I love them all. I couldn't possibly choose a top spot, though to be honest if I had to choose a least favorite, it'd probably be Leonardo. This is because he reminds me of Cyclops...but I don't HATE Leo. I still LOVE Leo. I HATE Cyclops. Okay. I'm done. I think.

[NightwatchersOnlygirl]

Raphael as always

[Sage Ninja]

For me, it was always a toss up between Leo and Raph in the old toon. Leo was mostly my favorite, though. When the first movie came out, I think I switched to Raph. Then turtles disappeared, and when it came back and my interest was renewed, I finally decided on Donatello being my favorite. So now my list goes: Don, Leo, Raph, Mike.

I must be the only person I know who has never really cared for Mike. He's kind of funny every once in a while, but usually he just acts stupid and annoying. If he was always like his Mirage comic incarnation then I might have liked him a lot more, but I still don't think he ever would have topped my favorites. I guess it's mostly because I've never been a people person. I like his Mirage comic incarnation because he's actually pretty smart, but he acts silly sometimes just to lighten the mood. He's not oblivious to serious situations, though.

meh...personally I feel that Michaelangelo has been a victim of poor writting for most part in the media and even the comics. I honelstly don't think the creators quite knew what to do with Michaelangelo so that is why there is so juch awkwardness to his character when it comes to nusances and complexities. Leaving the media to run amok with his character and give him these extreme personality quirks in order to sell his character.

However I will say that I have never found Michaelangelo to be dumb or stupid in any incarnation of him that I have seen. And he is only annoying because writters like to play up this youngest turtle/baby brother mold they have cast him into and there for give him all the traditional little brother qualites associated with being a younger sibling. Like being annoying and immature, and clownish...which older fans really don't appriciate so much.

As to which turtle is still my favorite now as it was back then? I have always loved the turtles equally, with a little more emphasis on the nunchuck weilding turtle-Michaelangelo! :D

My only real issue right now is not so much of "do I like one turtle now more than the one I liked when I was little", but which version do I like more of him. Its a pretty close toss up for me between classic toon and new toon Michaelangelo. They are generelly about even (with a little more emphasis on New toon Mike) but as of late, I've had the pleasure of reliving the classic toon in all its glory and I'm being reintroduced to old toon Michaelangelo's awsomeness. So right now as it stands I think I like classic toon Michaelangelo a bit more. :P

[JusticeForce]

It's funny how many of you mention that you first picked a favorite Turtle based on your favorite color. I remember wanting to use that method, but since my favorite color was green it didn't really narrow the field for me! :P

- T

[aabxx]

I have two videos of me as a kid where I'm talking about Michelangelo (I actually pronounced it Michel instead of Michael back then, which is interesting...) but none where I mention the other guys. So it's always been Mike for me (I should mention I knew this before watching these two videos). I used to pretend I was him.

Why I chose him I couldn't tell you now, maybe I couldn't even tell you back then :D I love all the guys but Mikey wins out for me by tradition, or by default if you like. It's like I could not ever bring myself out to say that someone else than Mike is my favourite... this will sound corny, but old me picked Mikey, and just as much, old Mikey picked old me - I stay loyal to that sort of stuff, because in matters such as these, I think old me was more capable of judging who's the most awesome. Also, he started this legacy so he gets to choose anyway... ;)

Besides, imagine if old me came to the present through a time machine and found out I chose someone else over the years... poor little me would've been heartbroken... :D

[Aries10]

I have always favored Shredder. But out of the turtles alone, I liked Donatello when I was a kid but now I prefer Leonardo.