Where did the Don/April crush thing have its start? [Archive]

CyberCubed

10-11-2012, 11:24 AM

I've noticed that people seem to always had a thing of having Don and April bond together, even before the Nick show made Don's crush on April canon.

I know there is one episode of the 4kids series where April kisses Don on the cheek. It's in Season 3's, "Space Invaders" when Don saves April/Casey from being abducted by all the Triceratons in Central Park.

In the original cartoon during the Euro vacation eps, I think in, "A Real Snowjob" both April and Irma kiss Don on the cheek.

Is April usually shown kissing Don more than the other Turtles?

The Big Bad

10-11-2012, 01:43 PM

I think it had its start with the 2k3 cartoon--looking at DeviantArt, there's not a whole lot of old-toon April/Donny art, which I don't think would have been the case if it'd been a thing back then (compare, for example, Raph + Mona Lisa art). And I think it's simply an extrapolation from the friendship they had there, which was, I believe, a) stronger than her friendships with any other turtle, and b) nothing more than that.

CyberCubed

10-11-2012, 01:58 PM

Matches Malone

10-11-2012, 02:23 PM

Yeah, if you think about it, Don is most similar to April in most incarnations. She's hardly the "goofy wild one," or "brash sarcastic one," or "stoic leadery one." I think that's all there is to it. Maybe subsequent writers were able to pick up on that subtle relationship and continue it.

Tuxedo Moroboshi

10-11-2012, 03:27 PM

Well considering the internet didn't even exist for the mainstream public for the majority of the original cartoons run, I would imagine you wouldn't see much of it. Back then the only way of sharing our TMNT stories was to our friends in the schoolyard.

I don't think The Big Bad was talking about fanart from back then. There's still LOTS of current fanart for the 87 toon, ya know.

Anyway, ya, I think it may have had its start in the 2k3 toon, though it was way more subtle there (to where it can just as easily be interpreted as merely friendship and nothing more).

pannoni1

10-11-2012, 08:18 PM

Mirage, OT, and Movie April seemed to like the Turtles equally, with Michelangelo nearly falling for April in the first movie before confessing. Still, the 4kids April to Don is more of a sibling relationship than a very special someone. Still, her relationship with Don didn't become huge until the Nick Toon and I wasn't aware until that point. The April idea with Don must have come from the OT "love pairs" of Leo/Lotus, Raph/Mona Lisa, and Mike/Kala. Some suggest Irma, but April was a much more natural choice and this was catching on in "underground fandom". Don is the natural choice to have a serious relationship with April; Raph can be too tense at times, Mike is too laid back, and Leo is too focused and lacks certain technical skills.

Vivi

10-11-2012, 09:04 PM

I can recall this arising since the first season of 2K3, they just seemed to have chemistry, both being technogeeks and such.

In the second episode when they are trying to break back into Baxter's lab, Donatello says:
"Can April and I have some quiet? This is delicate work."
Michelangelo responds with, " 'Oooh, April and I, this is delicate work.' Give me a break."

Also, nearly all her face chat on the computer is with Don, so it just seems more of an intimate relationship.

Bossa Nova

10-11-2012, 09:32 PM

I have no idea since I don't see any of this supposed "subtle romance" in the 2003 series people seem to find. Only once, as mentioned, did Don seem at all flattered when April complimented him, but honestly, he could have just been feeling bashful since his brothers don't tend to shower him with thanks when he creates or think of something new. I think it's a real stretch to try to pull anything more out of it since after that I really didn't see any other sign of any type of crush or whatever from his end (and obviously none from her). In the first film they all seemed to noticed how pretty she was, with Mikey was the one actually joking to be "in love" with her and calling her a babe, while it was Raph who got all embarrassed when she thanked him on public television.

This whole Nick twist sort of ruins it for me in that I can no longer pretend its a purely fanmade idea. But whatever. I'm still going to ignore it.

Avatar Yuffie

10-11-2012, 09:57 PM

April kisses the Turtles in the OT, not just Don. Actually, OT Don seemed to be the one who's not really interested to be in a relationship (and maybe the comics). He usually gets the pair the spares treatment than anything.

2K3 seemed to be where the crush originated. It's subtle, easily overlooked, and Don eventually got ship teased with other females other than April.

The reason Don's crush in the Nick version was taken seriously because April is the same age as the guys.

sdp

10-11-2012, 10:37 PM

TMNT II for the NES has a few Don scenes that looks like there is something going on with him and April. Not intended but when I played it with a friend 5 years ago we were making jokes about Donnie/April.

BubblyShell22

10-12-2012, 07:03 AM

I honestly think it started with the 2K3 toon. You could see some subtle hints that he liked her as more than a friend, though I think it was only on his end and not hers. I'm also sure that in this Nick toon, it'll be totally one-sided, and I don't think April will like him back in that way. Then again, we don't really know how it'll play out as we haven't seen much of it.

Logan

10-12-2012, 12:23 PM

it'll be totally one-sided, and I don't think April will like him back in that way.

Really, it should no-sided. It's like one of us falling in love with a chimpanzee.

But the idea itself, I think, goes back to the first movie.

Zulithe

10-12-2012, 12:47 PM

Don and April are going to make sweet, sweet, interspecies love and there is nothing you can do about it!

So what about Casey then?

Clearly Casey and Raph are going to get together. It's 2012, man.

ZariusTwo

10-12-2012, 01:07 PM

Most 80s 'toon fans pair Don up with Irma I find, based off small moments in episodes like "Maltese Hamster", "Sky Turtles" and of course "Donatello's Degree"

Rewatching the old show, while she does have touchy moments with all the guys, I find April and Mikey bonded the most, and are often in many shared situations together, though there's nothing overly romantic, but since when did 'shippers think logicly about this stuff?:P

Doubtful we'll ever have April fall for one of the guys in these shows...though I'm thinking since April isnt really human in the Mirage continuity, it could excuse any actions she'd take in the future where that was concerned, alas we may never know (do we even want to?)

FoxZerro

10-12-2012, 01:41 PM

I think he's just the natural fit out of the four turtles to want to have an actual adult relationship with a female. He is portrayed as the most intelligent and thus would probably be more interested in a woman for her mind than just for her looks. I think its a little bit of that which factors into Donatello being the most desirable of the turtles.

I can't help but think on Vol. 1 Issue 13 where he is the one that Jhanna seems to bond with. It is definitely one of the first instances of Donnie having a crush on a female in the Turtle's history and I always viewed her leaving her braid with him as a symbol of reciprocation.

I've long joked about him being the Edward Cullen of the Ninja Turtles because it seems that when it comes to female fans most of them (including my sister) choose him as their favorite.

I think that is actually where the whole crush in the Nick TMNT is a problem for me. It seems like misplaced puppy dog affection as opposed to the adult desire to be mentally stimulated and appreciated that I have always viewed it as in the past. I'm hoping that if its going to stay around the explanation for his affections for her are explored.

The Big Bad

10-13-2012, 04:26 AM

Just to be clear, are we talking about when a noticeable segment of the fandom started 'shipping them, or when the actual show started consciously teasing at a 'ship? Because if it's the latter, I really don't think the 4Kids writers ever meant to suggest that either party ever wanted their friendship to be anything else--it's all on the fan side. Every turtle had people whom they had particular kinship with--Leo had Usagi, Raph had Casey, and Don just happened to have April. Plus, we've seen how the not-particularly-subtle way the show portrays romantic attraction between characters (see Casey <--> April, Chaplin --> Karai, and Starlee --> Cody); none of the tropes used with those characters are present with April and Don.

As for why some people like pairing them up, I think it comes from reasoning similar to that used by people who pair up Superman and Wonder Woman (including--@$!*--DC Comics) -- some people just like pairing people who share similar core traits.

Vivi

10-13-2012, 08:16 AM

Don and April are going to make sweet, sweet, interspecies love and there is nothing you can do about it!

So what about Casey then?

Clearly Casey and Raph are going to get together. It's 2012, man.

Donril. It's the bitter 'ship pill every Donafemme has to swallow.

sykosis

10-13-2012, 08:26 AM

Don is the natural choice to have a serious relationship with April;

Gross.
A crush is one thing.

Vivi

10-14-2012, 07:40 AM

Addendum to the season one episode two 'sparks':

After April programs the mousers to overload and explode, they jump from their balcony and run back to the sewer entrance. Of course, Donatello is holding her hand as they are running, and let's be realistic: on the internet, this is all the fuel shippers need to start those flames.

(I'm not obsessive, I just happen to be watching the series again.)

Mr._Mutant_Man

10-21-2012, 07:07 AM

It's the purple belly shirt that gives her away. Maybe she should have gotten blue, red, and orange as well and switch them out to remain neutral. Or a belly shirt with red, blue, purple, and orange stripes. Playmates also could have sold variant figures to the fans. :P

zkarlette

10-21-2012, 01:59 PM

I think it probably started with the 4 kids series. I'm not sure if they came up with this concept mostly for the fan girls, but there used to be a lot of that going around years back.

Lisardo

11-15-2012, 01:37 PM

Mirage, OT, and Movie April seemed to like the Turtles equally, with Michelangelo nearly falling for April in the first movie before confessing.

That's funny, I thought it was Raph who crushed on her in the first movie. He saved her and was shy around her, and blushed when she thanked him on-air. Mikey didn't crush on her till the 2nd movie when was all flirty with her. Then in the 3rd movie Raph got protective of April when Walker had her in his clutches.

Rewatching the old show, while she does have touchy moments with all the guys, I find April and Mikey bonded the most, and are often in many shared situations together, though there's nothing overly romantic, but since when did 'shippers think logicly about this stuff?:P

Hmm, in the OS she did kiss Mikey a couple of times. But I don't recall them bonding too much. I don't think she bonded with any of them that closely. I did notice Leo was almost ALWAYS the one to save her/carry her off, and was more protective of her too, much like movie Raph was. I found that interesting.

As for the new Nick series, I agree that they might have gotten the April/Don idea from 2k3 series. There does seem to be a lot of April/Don artwork on DA from the 2k3 series (some fanfiction too). But this Nick series is taking it to a new level it seems, to the point where April seems a bit uncomfortable around him. Perhaps the writers are trying to humanize them a bit more with this whole crush thing. Just teenagers being teenagers.

Refractive Reflections

11-19-2012, 01:01 PM

In the original cartoon during the Euro vacation eps, I think in, "A Real Snowjob" both April and Irma kiss Don on the cheek.

Is April usually shown kissing Don more than the other Turtles?

In the OT, there are some episodes were April appears to be closer to Donatello than the other Turtles but its subtle though. Besides "A Real Snowjob" there are other episodes:

In "Sky Turtles", April kisses Donatello on the cheek for saving the city and Raphael and Leonardo get jealous saying they saved the city also, but Michelangelo's interrupts the scene with newly arrived pizzas.

In "New York's Shiniest", after the Rex clones are destroyed, April and Donatello are seen hugging each other in celebration at the carnival fair. (It's rare to see April usually hugging one of the Turtles after such a victory.)

In "The Catwoman From Channel Six", when the Turtles look for a cat that has April's personality (after the cat/human swap) they find that particular cat, it purrs and rubs itself among Donatello's feet and jumps into his arms. Donatello comments, "See! I told you I was her favorite!" Of course Raphael snaps back, "It's not you its those anchovy pizzas you eat!"

DonatelloNinja82

11-19-2012, 05:59 PM

There are two moments that come to mind in the 2k3 show where Don show seems to have a crush on April. One is in Space Invaders, Part 1, where Don saves April and she says something like, "Oh I could just kiss you right now!" And Don gets all flustered. Another time is the second episode with Nano, "Modern Love -- The Return of Nano" when Don learns at the end April is going to move out he says something like "Oh, I guess we won't be seeing you as much anymore." And she gives him a kiss on the cheek. I cannot remember what she said in return. I'd have to watch the episode again. Anyway, I in no way think that April likes Don in that show...she obviously loves Casey. Could Don have a small teenage crush on her? Maybe. Hard to tell from only two occasions, but I think it's possible.

Irishmile

11-19-2012, 06:18 PM

It seems to me that early on they Nicktoons people may have intended there to be a Raph/April crush going on .. indicated in this early production art.... and April was blonde? I personally think its more interesting having Donnie have the crush.

Raph doesnt have his mask on... but that is CLEARLY Donnie on the otherside working on a kart...
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m98hzw8Drh1r2nvplo1_1280.jpg

Klunk1234

11-22-2012, 03:32 PM

I think the April and Donnie relationship/crush started in the 2003 series. It was obvious that he felt something for her. In fact, they shared the same interest for computers.
So, it's no a surprise for me that Donnie is in love with April in the new show, too.

chrisdude

11-23-2012, 10:17 AM

That's funny, I thought it was Raph who crushed on her in the first movie. He saved her and was shy around her, and blushed when she thanked him on-air. Mikey didn't crush on her till the 2nd movie when was all flirty with her. Then in the 3rd movie Raph got protective of April when Walker had her in his clutches.
Raph followed April to get his sai back. It just happened to be the same time The Foot caught up with her.

In the first movie, Michelangelo kissed the TV when April was on and called her a babe or a fox. I don't recall which, cause Donnie was crushing too. He also got a kick out her calling him "Mikey."

DonatelloNinja82

11-23-2012, 12:17 PM

Raph followed April to get his sai back. It just happened to be the same time The Foot caught up with her.

In the first movie, Michelangelo kissed the TV when April was on and called her a babe or a fox. I don't recall which, cause Donnie was crushing too. He also got a kick out her calling him "Mikey."

Mike at the same time also said, "I think I'm in loooooove."

Raph just seemed embarassed that April thanked him on-air for saving her, and he got even more flustered when Mike and Don made a big deal outta it.

BlueLightning

11-23-2012, 02:41 PM

Still, when the turtles leave April's apartment for the first time, Ralph is sorta lingering in his good bye.

Andrew NDB

11-23-2012, 03:22 PM

Where did the Don/April crush thing have its start?

http://fruktan.se/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/BadIdeas.jpg

Coola Yagami

11-23-2012, 04:32 PM

alliance

11-23-2012, 05:37 PM

the more i see those two with scenes with each other the more i dont mind it,

DonatelloNinja82

11-23-2012, 05:45 PM

There was also a scene where Don and April were exchanging techno-babble, and Mikey said whatever, and Don shushed him and told him they're busy, and Mike teased them saying 'ooooh April and I are busy'. Or something like that.

lol yes! I forgot about that one.

ZariusTwo

11-24-2012, 11:26 AM

Something childish

You can stop trolling or you can offer an intelligent rebuttal. We all know what you'll choose though.

Hmm, in the OS she did kiss Mikey a couple of times. But I don't recall them bonding too much. I don't think she bonded with any of them that closely. I did notice Leo was almost ALWAYS the one to save her/carry her off, and was more protective of her too, much like movie Raph was. I found that interesting.

I suppose it depends on what our preferences are, as everyone is taking scenes from the show that correspond with the pairing they feel the strongest about. I jumped all over the April/Mikey stuff because it sometimes dealt with very grounded issues rather than heroic situations, like when she comforts him when he gets emotional over the mother Turtle in "Turtles Turtles Everywhere", or when he turns human and confides in her in "The Gangs' All Here"

Bjarni

11-27-2012, 10:12 PM

I always felt the origin was Casey and Don fighting in Shades of Grey. It's never brought up but to me, drunk Casey picking a fight with Donnie might have been based on him feeling insecure over his intelligence (even though April def didn't show any romantic interest in the Turtles)

I hope with Casey showing up in Season 2, we can have a recreation of that...

Bossa Nova

11-27-2012, 11:38 PM

I hope with Casey showing up in Season 2, we can have a recreation of that...

This is actually the one major thing I'm really dreading happening when Casey shows up. Casey has always been one of my favorite characters, so it bothers me how much I'm not looking forward to his showing up with all the potential weirdness it could cause between him and Don if Don doesn't get over his crush on April by then. To be honest, I always saw Casey as second closest with Don after Raphael, yet it already seems like the new series it just setting them up to be at odds as no doubt Casey will be paired April and they've been pushing this whole crush thing to ridiculous levels. I'm hoping they'll totally surprise me and turn Casey into the awesome badass he's always been, but until then I can't help but be apprehensive.

Xav

11-28-2012, 02:39 AM

Bjarni

11-28-2012, 08:13 AM

Casey has always been one of my favorite characters, so it bothers me how much I'm not looking forward to his showing up with all the potential weirdness it could cause between him and Don if Don doesn't get over his crush on April by then. To be honest, I always saw Casey as second closest with Don after Raphael

If the second season is written very well, it could be done in an interesting level. As I see it, what could stop Don's crush is when Casey shows up. At first, Casey and Raph are of course, best buds and Don is displeased with the situation. And maybe after a "Shades of Grey" incident, they start to really respect each other and we get something like Don and Casey in the first TMNT movie. (seeing that they reference every medium)

zodiac brave

11-28-2012, 10:58 AM

i can totally see casey coming in and april swooning, which would cause a triangle type thing. don being jealous while casey's a hit with april and, of course, raph...which would lead to some friction between don and raph too. its gonna be interesting no matter what. :)

Bossa Nova

11-28-2012, 11:12 AM

If the second season is written very well, it could be done in an interesting level. As I see it, what could stop Don's crush is when Casey shows up. At first, Casey and Raph are of course, best buds and Don is displeased with the situation. And maybe after a "Shades of Grey" incident, they start to really respect each other and we get something like Don and Casey in the first TMNT movie. (seeing that they reference every medium)

If it's played out something like that, then that could seriously be all sorts of awesome. Don and Casey gearheading it up (as opposed to Raph, as Don really does make ten times more sense), is one of my favorite aspects about them.

I'm guessing Nick won't want to make any real enemies among all the good guys. Despite Don's crush, April still seems totally chill hanging out with him, so hopefully Casey and Don will either come to some sort of understanding, or Casey will be so out of the loop anyway he won't even notice and Don won't see him as a threat.

Avatar Yuffie

11-28-2012, 10:31 PM

Honestly? I want a new spin with Casey and April. Them being a couple has been done before, so I hope Nick would be more creative.

Bjarni

11-28-2012, 10:33 PM

Honestly? I want a new spin with Casey and April. Them being a couple has been done before, so I hope Nick would be more creative.

If it aint broke - don't fix it :tgrin:

Avatar Yuffie

11-28-2012, 11:07 PM

Except not all TMNT stories made them a couple. Even Mirage had April leave Casey so she could have her soul searching, and Casey having an affair with Karai (which was awkward, come to think of it).

I'm not saying Don and April should be together (and I ship them). Don's a smart and rational kid, he'd figure out why it won't work out in the end.

Just that I want April and Casey be their own characters first.

Bjarni

11-28-2012, 11:42 PM

Just that I want April and Casey be their own characters first.
I agree. I think everything should happen slowly.

Casey having an affair with Karai (which was awkward, come to think of it)..
Wait... they actually had sex? I thought he just slept over at her place due to being drunk and she wanted to make him think stuff happened to screw with him...

ZariusTwo

11-29-2012, 04:19 AM

I agree. I think everything should happen slowly.

Wait... they actually had sex? I thought he just slept over at her place due to being drunk and she wanted to make him think stuff happened to screw with him...

I think that Raph and Karai story set in the future from "Tales of the TMNT" with Karai kidnapping her granddaughter has something to do with setting off this line of inquiry, obviously Karai needs to have had another child to become a Grandmother to start with etc, and why Raph is so eager to protect the baby, as it could belong to someone he cares about like Casey (if he's still alive).

We'll never really know since Volume Four ended, fans are just jumping to the more dramaticly engaging conclusions.

If it aint broke - don't fix it :tgrin:

Do people really give that much of a s*it about Casey and April though? I always thought it was too obvious a pairing, and it was never as exciting or as "real" as Casey and Gabrielle's story later on down the road. As I've said before, I'd love Gabby to be part of the Nick show just to create that sense of suspense with the romantic subplots and to give April a chase of some sorts. If she MUST be with Casey, so be it, but the least they can do is make it interesting.

Coola Yagami

11-29-2012, 04:12 PM

Or maybe Casey will be like the OT and just be a cameo every few episodes or so. Who knows.

ZariusTwo

11-29-2012, 04:41 PM

Or maybe Casey will be like the OT and just be a cameo every few episodes or so.

And nuts. Don't forget nuts.

Gyt Kaliba

11-29-2012, 05:30 PM

And nuts. Don't forget nuts.

Bwah? Casey in the old toon nuts? Now where would you get an idea like that. He had an honest desk job -

http://s11.postimage.org/u7r6gmddv/Casey_Jones_LOL.jpg

- ...once.:lol:

Come to think of it...I know they weren't a couple in the old toon, but did April and Casey even meet in the OT?

Avatar Yuffie

11-29-2012, 05:57 PM

Casey and April meet in the OT a couple of times.

DonatelloNinja82

11-29-2012, 09:49 PM

Bwah? Casey in the old toon nuts? Now where would you get an idea like that. He had an honest desk job -

http://s11.postimage.org/u7r6gmddv/Casey_Jones_LOL.jpg

- ...once.:lol:

Come to think of it...I know they weren't a couple in the old toon, but did April and Casey even meet in the OT?

This. Is. Awesome.

Coola Yagami

11-30-2012, 10:55 PM

If Casey is another cameo character... I'm calling it now.

Newton Gimmick

12-01-2012, 12:56 AM

OT Casey was awesome. Not the sort of character that you could do much with long term, but man was he fun in short bursts.

CyberCubed

12-02-2012, 05:05 PM

Gyt Kaliba

12-02-2012, 06:26 PM

Dude, in Season 8, April and Casey are alone together for most of the episode.

I've probably never seen that episode then. I've not seen a lot of the OT, and even what I have, it's been quite some time now.

Heck, this is pretty much the only Casey episode I ever did see come to think of it. Hence my asking about it.

CyberCubed

12-02-2012, 06:36 PM

I've probably never seen that episode then. I've not seen a lot of the OT, and even what I have, it's been quite some time now.

Heck, this is pretty much the only Casey episode I ever did see come to think of it. Hence my asking about it.

He's in 5 total episodes.

He debuts in Season 3, gets a second episode in Season 3, then appears in Season 5, then Season 7, and finally Season 8.

DonatelloNinja82

12-02-2012, 06:55 PM

Dude, in Season 8, April and Casey are alone together for most of the episode.

Yes, infact I just watched that one the other day. She called him for help...so she even had his number.

Mewzard

12-03-2012, 01:27 AM

Now, I wouldn't mind a romance between Don and April if done right. Even though Disney through that option out for Season 3 of Gargoyles, Greg Weisman explored the issue fairly well in the short lived Gargoyles comic with Goliath and Elisa (both good and bad sides of things).

That said, if it didn't happen, I wouldn't be bothered. Don would, but as long as he doesn't go brooding long term over any potential rejection, that would be fine.

Basically, the romances could go anyway and I would be fine if it was well written and not too much of an asspull.