April being re-imagined as younger and younger in new incarnations [Archive]

CyberCubed

08-29-2012, 12:08 PM

It seems to me as if, "the powers that be," felt that April was way too old in Mirage, the original cartoon, and the movies. She was always in her mid/late 20's in each, making her a full grown adult.

The 4kids series was the first to have a younger April, I believe it was stated she was only 23 in some of the old 4kids character bios back in the day.

In the IDW comics she's around the same age, a College student and an intern.

And in the Nick cartoon she's 16.

And for the new movie, it sounds like April/Casey will be 18-19 year olds.

Do you feel that having a younger April (and Casey) is something done to make them more relateable to the audience?

Lance_Steele

08-29-2012, 03:17 PM

I don't get that.

It would make sense if she was in her 20s because she's an adult to balance out the TMNT's youth. I dunno...

Why change the age?

CyberCubed

08-29-2012, 03:18 PM

I don't get that.

It would make sense if she was in her 20s because she's an adult to balance out the TMNT's youth. I dunno...

Why change the age?

According to the Nick writers its because they want her to grow up with the Turtles. And be a sister to them rather than a "den mother," as Rob Paulsen said.

pannoni1

08-29-2012, 06:51 PM

Actually, it was said that April will not be a teenager for the new movie. While I'll be too young to relate to April for the new series, for the targeted audience it should work out fine. With this, that leaves Splinter as the "den parent", and Splinter is much more of a den father than OT April ever was a den mother, since Splinter tends to reserve for fighting. That's why characters like Joi, Mona Lisa, and Kala work more appropriately for teenage crushes, though Don could always like April even if she's quite a bit older than him. Some people don't like it since this April could essentially be a human Venus.

zkarlette

08-29-2012, 10:29 PM

I don't see any comparison between Venus and April..I think they just wan't to give it a different spin on things. I personally don't think it needs the change...:ohwell:

Andrew NDB

08-29-2012, 10:49 PM

I don't see any real need to reimagine April, or to devolve her into something she's not supposed to be.

And that's all I really have to say about that.

TheCanadiandrome

08-29-2012, 11:02 PM

I don't see any real need to reimagine April, or to devolve her into something she's not supposed to be.

And that's all I really have to say about that.

Agreed dude

Mr._Mutant_Man

08-29-2012, 11:16 PM

I do prefer April in the "big sister" role. The Turtles all have each other as peers anyway. I don't see a need to make April their age.

With that said, I'm still wondering what will be in store for April O'Neil as a high schooler, and I'm looking forward to the new series.

Funny thing is, for the longest time, despite the word "teenage" in the title, I always saw the TMNT as adults, albeit "man children". Probably because I started watching TMNT as a pre-schooler, so from that perspective they were practically grown ups. That POV kind of stuck for a while.

Bossa Nova

08-29-2012, 11:27 PM

I can understand April becoming a teenager for the new Nick series as the target audience would likely relate to her better and appreciate her more in that sort of role. Personally, it's not my preferred role for her, as I really like her role as a mother figure with her generally in the later 20's or early 30's age bracket. Motherly doesn't have to mean boring and old-ladyish either, and I think other versions of April have proven that. Still, I don't mind her as a teenager too much, as I'll have to wait and see the actual show before fully forming my opinion.

I do know I greatly dislike this whole 'Don having a crush' on her deal though, since when she was older it seemed like a silly aside I could easily ignore or even find endearing in its own way(didn't all the turtles crush on her in the first film anyway cause she was a "babe?"). But with her being closer to his age I could see this turning into a story point that will be revisited more than once. Not looking forward to that. At all.

Powder

08-30-2012, 12:12 AM

I'm fine with whatever, April is virtually the same character in every universe (short of her profession) regardless of age. So long as she's not a child, being entirely useless, they can do as they wish with her age.

Tuxedo Moroboshi

08-30-2012, 03:56 AM

The 4kids series was the first to have a younger April, I believe it was stated she was only 23 in some of the old 4kids character bios back in the day.

Actually, I think she was more or less the same age in the 2k3 series as she was in the 1987 series. I remember reading that she was in her early 20s in the '87 series, and I guess everybody just assumes that she was older than that.

I have no idea how old she was in the original comics, though.

ZariusTwo

08-30-2012, 04:39 AM

I don't see any real need to reimagine April, or to devolve her into something she's not supposed to be.

Where do you get off saying what is and isnt "supposed to be" in a franchise that has constantly reinvented the interpretation of the characters over the decades?

Jester

08-30-2012, 04:44 AM

April has always had a set purpose: the Turtles' closest human friend and window to the outside world. There's a lot of wiggle room there.

Tuxedo Moroboshi

08-30-2012, 07:34 AM

Where do you get off saying what is and isnt "supposed to be" in a franchise that has constantly reinvented the interpretation of the characters over the decades?

To be fair, Andrew's pretty consistent with his opinion. He doesn't really care for any reinventing, since I believe he's a bit of an original comics purist, for the most part. So while the franchise may be constantly reinventing itself, he doesn't really like any of said reinventing.

I apologize if it seems like I'm answering for someone else, or making complete assumptions. :embarass:

April has always had a set purpose: the Turtles' closest human friend and window to the outside world. There's a lot of wiggle room there.

Ya, I think I agree. I'm still a little weirded out by April being so young in the new series, I'll admit, but at the same time... I don't think it's quite that big of a deal, like so many have made it out to be. It certainly is nowhere near the levels of reinventing the TMNT as aliens. But there's no way anyone would ever do that. That's just silly. :roll:

But, ya, so long as April is still used as the TMNT's link to the human world, and a close, personal friend, then there's still much that they could with her and keep true to the character's purpose.

Hmmm... I dunno, though. I think I'll still reserve complete judgment on this new April until I actually see how she works.

The Stryker

08-30-2012, 07:44 AM

I'd rather have April as a teen over her being a sad 30 something with nothing to do but hang around with teenage mutant turtles.

Plus, why not change it up a bit? It's been like 20 years homies.

GK Punk

08-30-2012, 07:52 AM

I actually agree with Stryker on this. Plus if she's a teen as well it makes more sense for her to relate personality wise with the TMNT, as well as with the younger audience.

BubblyShell22

08-30-2012, 07:58 AM

FoxZerro

08-30-2012, 08:20 AM

April has always had a set purpose: the Turtles' closest human friend and window to the outside world. There's a lot of wiggle room there.

I think that April works very well in that purpose, the problem I have is when she's older it seems like she's experienced more of the world and will be able to actually guide an educate the Turtles as their embassador to world. If she's younger then there's a lot she doesn't know about either and it feels like she's experiencing rather than educating the turtles on what it is to be human and live in the modern world.

I suppose when you make Splinter a former human, like they are doing in the Nick series, then you have him to fulfull that role. Still it feels odd to make her essentially one of the gang as opposed to a semi-mentor.

chrisdude

08-30-2012, 08:44 AM

While I'm not entirely sure about April being a teenager, I can see why Nick did that. They want to have her relate more to the Turtles on a teen level, something she couldn't do as an adult. But then again, there will still be problems as she won't be independent and will have to answer to her parents about the Turtles. I prefer her as an adult and the big sister type, but I'm willing to wait and see what happens with this new incarnation.I just imagined the Turtles hiding out in the antique shop while it's still in business! :teek:

Logan

08-30-2012, 08:44 AM

I'm not crazy about them making April a teen, but I'll wait and see if it works for the new toon.

Jephael

08-30-2012, 09:16 AM

I like how IDW made both April and Casey young college students, but I'm not sure how I feel about her being a teenager in the new show.

Mr._Mutant_Man

08-30-2012, 08:01 PM

I'd rather have April as a teen over her being a sad 30 something with nothing to do but hang around with teenage mutant turtles.

Sad? She's always going on exciting adventures. That's hardly sad. Except that she probably always smells like a sewer.

I agree with changing things up, though. We've seen adult April in every other version, nothing wrong with a little change. Besides, I have a feeling that she'll still be more mature than the Turtles, even if they are roughly the same age, so it might not be all that different except that she'll be treated like a kid in her life outside the Turtles.

Andrew NDB

08-30-2012, 08:16 PM

Where do you get off saying what is and isnt "supposed to be" in a franchise that has constantly reinvented the interpretation of the characters over the decades?

I think the merit of a lot of entries into said franchise need to be debated before any kind of sound-minded discussion about the merits of April's spinoff variations can begin. In the source material, as she was created and intended to be, she is the den mother, the big sister at times, our eyes into the world of the TMNT at others, and eventually a love interest/counterpoint for Casey Jones. And more. Now, what she is not: a celebrity news reporter, a child, a like-minded sibling, and certainly not a love interest for the Turtles.

That said, there is one April O'Neil spinoff variation I can get behind. Right behind:
[link removed]

Jester

08-30-2012, 08:24 PM

I think the merit of a lot of entries into said franchise need to be debated before any kind of sound-minded discussion about the merits of April's spinoff variations can begin. In the source material, as she was created and intended to be, she is the den mother, the big sister at times, our eyes into the world of the TMNT at others, and eventually a love interest/counterpoint for Casey Jones. And more. Now, what she is not: a celebrity news reporter, a child, a like-minded sibling, and certainly not a love interest for the Turtles.

That said, there is one April O'Neil spinoff variation I can get behind. Right behind:
[link removed]
EDGY!!!

I'm done. :D

zkarlette

08-30-2012, 08:52 PM

Man..I guess that leaves all context of nick April out the window.:lol:

The Stryker

08-31-2012, 06:48 AM

Sad? She's always going on exciting adventures. That's hardly sad. Except that she probably always smells like a sewer.

She has NO friends outside of the turtles and does absolutely nothing without them. That's alittle sad.

On another note it really bugs me that some people are still on the 'Mirage did it, so that's the way it's meant to be forever and ever and ever.' get over it. It's dead.

ZariusTwo

08-31-2012, 07:35 AM

She has NO friends outside of the turtles and does absolutely nothing without them. That's alittle sad.

On another note it really bugs me that some people are still on the 'Mirage did it, so that's the way it's meant to be forever and ever and ever.' get over it. It's dead.

Agreed. The franchise's most memorable aspects have all come from interpretations that go AGAINST the original comics, so we should be used to this stuff working in TMNT's favour by now.

n-zero

08-31-2012, 10:20 AM

I kind of like the IDW college age idea. She's close enough in age to be a peer, but old enough to be career-minded, which either as a lab tech, tv reporter, or antiques dealer is another one of her defining traits.

Cryomancer

08-31-2012, 01:39 PM

If they keep making her younger, eventually she'll just be a piece of blank paper.

Powder

08-31-2012, 02:04 PM

I see what you did there.

ZariusTwo

08-31-2012, 02:11 PM

April is a cockroach. As God intended.:)

Cipher

08-31-2012, 03:50 PM

I don't really see the issue.

Adding or subtracting ten years or so from April's age is not enough of a change to her core character to make me cry, "Just use someone else!"

It does change her role, though, and that's really at the discretion of what direction any new interpretation chooses. She was an independent adult in Mirage because it suited her role of providing normalcy and, at times, mothering. It also fit the less childlike Turtles and, though the comics' use of April wasn't always perfect, allowed for more mature stories in a series with an older, more intelligent bent.

But if you want a wacky action series, it's totally cool if she's the Turtles' link to the human world, but also a news reporter who can give them the lowdown on crimes and get kidnapped and stuff.

If you're going for a more series kids' action series, I'm totally okay if she's a 20-something getting trained in ninjutsu ( ... sort of. I still don't like the April-being-a-skilled-fighter bit).

And if you're going for an action-oriented version where the Turtles are all more like actual teenagers, I'm fine with April being closer to their age.

The real core of her character is that she's relatively normal, cares for the Turtles, and provides their gateway into human culture. That's something that's changed little throughout each version. In fact, after Splinter and maybe Leonardo, she's probably the most consistently portrayed character, job and age be damned.

Mr._Mutant_Man

09-01-2012, 03:22 PM

If you're going for a more series kids' action series, I'm totally okay if she's a 20-something getting trained in ninjutsu ( ... sort of. I still don't like the April-being-a-skilled-fighter bit).

I like it. It makes sense to me, if April is hanging around ninjas all the time and is getting into danger, she'd want to be trained in self defense.

Now if she's all the sudden a martial arts savant, that's too much. I'm not expecting April to take out the Shredder, but having her train to help the Turtles a little is cool.

Ninjinister

09-01-2012, 03:24 PM

Michelangelo will give birth to April in the 2021 cartoon.

You heard me.

Jephael

09-01-2012, 06:21 PM

Michelangelo will give birth to April in the 2021 cartoon.

You heard me.

That means he's gonna be turned into a chick at some point... just like Nostalgia Critic said Michael Bay would do! :teek:

Tuxedo Moroboshi

09-02-2012, 10:14 PM

While I'm not entirely sure about April being a teenager, I can see why Nick did that. They want to have her relate more to the Turtles on a teen level, something she couldn't do as an adult. But then again, there will still be problems as she won't be independent and will have to answer to her parents about the Turtles. I prefer her as an adult and the big sister type, but I'm willing to wait and see what happens with this new incarnation.

I'm pretty sure I remember reading that this April's father is a scientist that gets kidnapped by The Kraang, and that's how she meets the Turtles. So maybe she won't have to keep them a secret from them?