Why would a reporter wear a jumpsuit?

[neatoman]

Yeah I know the reason why she wore a jumpsuit is because they based the animation model on her design in issue 2, but that April hepled out building robots and she stopped wearing that suit almost immedietly. Why change the profession and keep the design?

[oldmanwinters]

Well, if you run around the sewers a lot, it might come in handy?

In some episodes/movies of Lupin III, Fujiko impersonated a TV reporter and wore a jumpsuit. David Wise really like the design and gave it to April O'Neil in the TV show.
http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/showpost.php?p=978107&postcount=40

[neatoman]

Well, if you run around the sewers a lot, it might come in handy?

In some episodes/movies of Lupin III, Fujiko impersonated a TV reporter and wore a jumpsuit. David Wise really like the design and gave it to April O'Neil in the TV show.
http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/showpost.php?p=978107&postcount=40

... What power does a writer have over the animation models? I remember some other interview where he claims the Technodrome and Krang's body looks nothing like he imagined they would. And even if if did have that power, it contradicts the fact that April's design in issue 2 (released long before the cartoon was put into production) is very similar to the cartoon design.

There are a lot of holes in David Wise's claims, so don't trust what he says without digging a little deeper first. It's more likely one of the animators watched Lupin III and redesigned April as a nod when they noticed the similarity between April and Fujiko, rather than David Wise just coming up with it on his own.

[slashpieturtlemix]

... What power does a writer have over the animation models? I remember some other interview where he claims the Technodrome and Krang's body looks nothing like he imagined they would. And even if if did have that power, it contradicts the fact that April's design in issue 2 (released long before the cartoon was put into production) is very similar to the cartoon design.

There are a lot of holes in David Wise's claims, so don't trust what he says without digging a little deeper first. It's more likely one of the animators watched Lupin III and redesigned April as a nod when they noticed the similarity between April and Fujiko, rather than David Wise just coming up with it on his own.

Writers have a lot more power than you think. They usually write down the character designs before they are send to the designers. It is up to the director on weather to keep those designs or not.

[neatoman]

Writers have a lot more power than you think. They usually write down the character designs before they are send to the designers. It is up to the director on weather to keep those designs or not.

So Wise wrote the Technodrome and Krang's body as looking like something else, but then higher up said "No! This is not right, they should look like a giant golfball on wheels and a potato-man in a speedo!", that's pretty hilarious to think about.

Still, I don't think it's very likely April's design was Wise's idea alone, given the fact that you can see the jumpsuit in the comic.

[slashpieturtlemix]

So Wise wrote the Technodrome and Krang's body as looking like something else, but then higher up said "No! This is not right, they should look like a giant golfball on wheels and a potato-man in a speedo!", that's pretty hilarious to think about.

Still, I don't think it's very likely April's design was Wise's idea alone, given the fact that you can see the jumpsuit in the comic.

lol its for that very reason that I can be neither a designer OR a writer. Their jobs sound horrible

[Candy Kappa]

Maybe it was Wise's decision to keep the jumpsuit after season 1?

Or, simply. Cartoon characters rarely owns more clothes then one set :lol:

[ProactiveMan]

"No! This is not right, they should look like a giant golfball on wheels and a potato-man in a speedo!", that's pretty hilarious to think about.


Hahaha, a potato-man in a speedo. That really made me laugh.

As far as the jumpsuit is concerned, fashion was weird in the 80s. I assume she had a closet full of them so she could focus on getting scoops, and not worry about what to wear on any given day.

[plastroncafe]

Laziness? That's what I always assumed.

[Powder]

No offense, but why are you always asking these kinda questions about the OT? Looking for logical answers in what was one of the most wacky/random cartoons of it's time is like wondering why a child doesn't recite Elizabethan poetry or do taxes. The series was goofy & did dumb things that can't be explained with anything more than "It was the 80's, everyone was high." :tlol:

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

No offense, but why are you always asking these kinda questions about the OT? Looking for logical answers in what was one of the most wacky/random cartoons of it's time is like wondering why a child doesn't recite Elizabethan poetry or do taxes. The series was goofy & did dumb things that can't be explained with anything more than "It was the 80's, everyone was high." :tlol:

That is the best explanation for the OT TMNT I have ever heard.

Dammit, why DON'T children pay taxes? Little punks getting off scot-free, not contributing to society or paying their fair share... wouldn't hurt 'em to quote Byron every once in a while, either.

[neatoman]

No offense, but why are you always asking these kinda questions about the OT? Looking for logical answers in what was one of the most wacky/random cartoons of it's time is like wondering why a child doesn't recite Elizabethan poetry or do taxes. The series was goofy & did dumb things that can't be explained with anything more than "It was the 80's, everyone was high." :tlol:

Well I mean yeah, obviously there's bizarre things in it given the fact that they just had slap together most episodes as quickly as they could, but it can be fun to find justifications or dig up some behind the scenes reasons.

[Powder]

I wish it were easier to get those behind the scenes answers from the folks responsible, but we've only got one guy vocal about the show's history & he's a pathological liar.

[senpai]

To me, I think it's all about designing interesting and memorable characters. No one will ever forget a yellow jumpsuit. I don't know...I like it.

[Jephael]

It was the 80s. People liked wearing some crazy sh*t back then! Look at Marty McFly going around in that vest that looked like a life preserver. It was funny looking, but he rocked it.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

The series was goofy & did dumb things that can't be explained with anything more than "It was the 80's, everyone was high." :tlol:


Funny, but given the current "air" of pro-legalization, I'd say that would be more true now than in the 80's. Although coke might explain some of it. But most writers can't really afford it.

[snake]

http://i.imgur.com/uLb6mTV.png

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Funny, I always just assumed he had Robin do it. That's what sidekicks are FOR!!

[snake]

Funny, I always just assumed he had Robin do it. That's what sidekicks are FOR!!

Actually Harold Allnut did it, but no one remembers him.

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

Actually Harold Allnut did it, but no one remembers him.

I remember him. Hush cured him then killed him. RIP Bat-Mechanic.

[Coola Yagami]

Eh, it's a cartoon thing. Might as well ask why Bart will always wear the same orange shirt and blue shorts. Even in the DC cartoons, the heroes were given default outfits that they would always [I]always[I] wear whenever they were in their civilian outfits. So giving April the yellow jumpsuit in episode 1 basically doomed her to wear that for most of the series.

[oldmanwinters]

I remember him. Hush cured him then killed him. RIP Bat-Mechanic.

Aw, no, it wasn't this Mechanic, was it?
http://dcanimated.wikia.com/wiki/The_Mechanic

[lonewarrior20]

you know it might simply be that it was her way of standing out among the other reporters. that and it was the 80's. also please no one take offense to this but it also really showed off her cleavage.

[Leo656]

Hah, I'mma pour out a 40 for my dawg Harold. I remember that dude. :lol:

That was the only part of "Hush" I kinda didn't like. :ohwell:

[Wolfie65]

The original comic book April - Dexter Stockboy's assistant - wears a jumpsuit, which was en vogue in the late 70's/80's. It's the New York (cold weather) version of the spandex shorts & sports bra of Jane Fonda's Venice Beach.
To get the best of all worlds, it would have to be a hot summer in NYC, and Megan O'Neil breaks out her California beachwear !!!:)

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Eh, it's a cartoon thing. Might as well ask why Bart will always wear the same orange shirt and blue shorts. Even in the DC cartoons, the heroes were given default outfits that they would always [I]always[I] wear whenever they were in their civilian outfits. So giving April the yellow jumpsuit in episode 1 basically doomed her to wear that for most of the series.

Just look at Irma, she wears the same clothes all the time too (except when something else's required).

[oldmanwinters]

That was the only part of "Hush" I kinda didn't like. :ohwell:

Oh, so this is the guy:
http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Harold_Allnut_%28New_Earth%29?_ga=1.25559546.61208 7870.1410587735

Hate that I hadn't heard of him before. How long had he been a recurring character in the comics before they killed him off?

[Leo656]

It says right there Harold was introduced in 1989. :lol:

I remember him being kind of in and out, though. He wasn't in all the books and some writers didn't use him. He had kind of disappeared from the books with no explanation for a few years before they brought him back in "Hush", as I recall.

I didn't really buy the heel turn right before he died. The explanation felt weak. But yeah, he was basically created because someone figured out that Alfred probably wasn't THAT good a mechanic/technician to work on ALL of Batman's vehicles, and that even if he and Bruce both did it there'd still only be 24 hours in a day, and with all the sh*t there is to do in the Batcave, that's ALL they'd ever do.

So they created a hunchback mute who had no reason to ever leave the Batcave for any reason, to just live down there and be Bruce's full-time mechanic and such. :lol: Like, "What? It's not 'slavery', the guy has no place else to go! He just lives here for free and gets three square meals and plenty of exercise, in exchange for doing various chores and jobs and, you know what, Alfred, I'm gonna shut right the f*ck up because this all sounded a lot better in my head." :lol:

[oldmanwinters]

It says right there Harold was introduced in 1989. :lol:

I remember him being kind of in and out, though. He wasn't in all the books and some writers didn't use him. He had kind of disappeared from the books with no explanation for a few years before they brought him back in "Hush", as I recall.

I didn't really buy the heel turn right before he died. The explanation felt weak. But yeah, he was basically created because someone figured out that Alfred probably wasn't THAT good a mechanic/technician to work on ALL of Batman's vehicles, and that even if he and Bruce both did it there'd still only be 24 hours in a day, and with all the sh*t there is to do in the Batcave, that's ALL they'd ever do.

So they created a hunchback mute who had no reason to ever leave the Batcave for any reason, to just live down there and be Bruce's full-time mechanic and such. :lol: Like, "What? It's not 'slavery', the guy has no place else to go! He just lives here for free and gets three square meals and plenty of exercise, in exchange for doing various chores and jobs and, you know what, Alfred, I'm gonna shut right the f*ck up because this all sounded a lot better in my head." :lol:

Interesting! So the HUSH storyline pretty much reintroduced him just to murder him. Ah, comics...

Was Harold present at all during the Knightfall and Knightsend sagas?

[Leo656]

Yeah, but as Jean-Paul took over, Harold, like Robin and Alfred, kind of abandoned "Team Batman". One of the characters during (I wanna say) "KnightQuest" had a throwaway line where they mentioned Harold hadn't been around for a long time since Jean-Paul took over. I'm not sure if they ever used Harold again until "Hush", actually, because I had to drop the books for a few years.

And yeah, they brought him back to kill him off, I guess just to show that Hush could get to *anyone* close to Bruce. But it didn't really ring true, in my opinion. "Here's a character from 8 years ago most of you may not remember. Here's an explanation of why they've betrayed Batman. Here's him getting shot." Wow, what a punch in the gut.

Good story but that part, in particular, just felt like they were trying too hard.

[IndigoErth]

Why would a reporter wear a jumpsuit?
The American TLC channel's makeover reality show "What Not to Wear" would not start until 2003. The same year the second TMNT series began and she gave up the jumpsuit. Coincidence, April? :P

April just did not have good taste or time for that.

[Shark_Blade]

Because it's sexy.

[Groovy]

... What power does a writer have over the animation models? I remember some other interview where he claims the Technodrome and Krang's body looks nothing like he imagined they would. And even if if did have that power, it contradicts the fact that April's design in issue 2 (released long before the cartoon was put into production) is very similar to the cartoon design.

There are a lot of holes in David Wise's claims, so don't trust what he says without digging a little deeper first. It's more likely one of the animators watched Lupin III and redesigned April as a nod when they noticed the similarity between April and Fujiko, rather than David Wise just coming up with it on his own.
I never made that connection, pretty cool. Two of my fav characters. :tgrin:

We here in my town call it a "banana raincoat", at least in the original live action flick it looks more like a raincoat ha. Granted it is a jumpsuit in the cartoon. It's excellent that's for sure.

[Shark_Blade]

You can read all about it in TMNT Visual History book. April got her outfit inspired from other jap show like Lupin.

[oldmanwinters]

In the context of the show, the jumpsuit often came in handy for April's profession since he could store notepads, cameras, or tape recorders in many pockets. I think she had her purse hanging off the back of her belt in most episodes.

[turtle1237]

I like the look for well, reasons I wont say :lol:.


Cartoons just don't change there clothes. I watch say Inspector Gadget, and if they were real, they may smell since Penny wears her strip shirt and brown patch jeans, and Inspector Gadget wears his trench coat outfit all day. They never change clothes.

I loved the change up in The Legend of Prince Valiant, They always change clothes, Valiant was never wearing just his blue tunic, sometimes it was yellow or brown, King Arthur even wore his chess set outfit from time to time, I admired that show because they at least wore other outfits.

[oldmanwinters]

I like the look for well, reasons I wont say :lol:.


Cartoons just don't change there clothes. I watch say Inspector Gadget, and if they were real, they may smell since Penny wears her strip shirt and brown patch jeans, and Inspector Gadget wears his trench coat outfit all day. They never change clothes.

I loved the change up in The Legend of Prince Valiant, They always change clothes, Valiant was never wearing just his blue tunic, sometimes it was yellow or brown, King Arthur even wore his chess set outfit from time to time, I admired that show because they at least wore other outfits.

Ironically enough, April in the 4Kids toon had a variety of casual and occasional outfits during the show's run. I'm guessing she had the greatest number of model sheet variations of any character on the show.

[Shark_Blade]

Yeah I especially love her easter egg OT April jumpsuit outfit.

http://i.imgur.com/8nKpyxZ.gif http://i.imgur.com/ilpw5ab.gif

The turtles are so short and small, it's like they're her little children... :teek:

Casey’s holding hands with Raph though…



http://i.imgur.com/8hU6jbx.jpg

[oldmanwinters]

Casey’s holding hands with Raph though…


Holy cow, I never noticed that!

Ugh, more fodder for the fan "shippers"..

[snake]

Yeah, but as Jean-Paul took over, Harold, like Robin and Alfred, kind of abandoned "Team Batman". One of the characters during (I wanna say) "KnightQuest" had a throwaway line where they mentioned Harold hadn't been around for a long time since Jean-Paul took over. I'm not sure if they ever used Harold again until "Hush", actually, because I had to drop the books for a few years.

And yeah, they brought him back to kill him off, I guess just to show that Hush could get to *anyone* close to Bruce. But it didn't really ring true, in my opinion. "Here's a character from 8 years ago most of you may not remember. Here's an explanation of why they've betrayed Batman. Here's him getting shot." Wow, what a punch in the gut.

Good story but that part, in particular, just felt like they were trying too hard.
Harold was mentioned in Knightfall, I think when Jean and Alfred are nursing Bruce back to health.

[oldmanwinters]

Harold was mentioned in Knightfall, I think when Jean and Alfred are nursing Bruce back to health.

Hmm... I might have to break out m vintage Knightfall TPB Volume 2 and look it over again. I haven't really read the issues between the rise of Bat-Jean and the Knights End arc.

Amazing I'd never heard of the Harold character before, but it is kind funny that Batman has a hunchback mechanic hanging around the cave, out of sight from most people's gaze. Almost like a Count Dracula/Igor thing or something.

[ProactiveMan]

I remember seeing Harold for the first time in the 90s, without any context or any idea who he was. He was playing with an RC car in the background of a couple of panels of some comic I had bought, which confused the hell out of me at the time.

[Refractive Reflections]

You do know the OT was created during the 80s, right? :lol:

http://static2.artfire.com/uploads/product/9/389/84389/2884389/2884389/large/mccalls_2236_misses_jumpsuit_80s_sewing_pattern_si ze_12_14_16_uncut_af5561ec.jpghttp://www.simplyeighties.com/resources/80sjumpsuitscollage.jpg.jpg.opt550x448o0,0s550x448 .jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/f0/5d/97/f05d979b4550fb0678f6212d962de8a2.jpghttps://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/82/f8/ea/82f8ea5fe00c56fa0e3b33b46d00f4c4.jpg

Considering that the jumpsuit was gone by 1994, makes it more obvious that the jumpsuit April wore was a staple of 80s fashion.

[Commenter 42]

It was the 80s. People liked wearing some crazy sh*t back then! Look at Marty McFly going around in that vest that looked like a life preserver. It was funny looking, but he rocked it.


And yet the fashion of today is just so amazing...8)

http://www.boomerinas.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/what-is-a-hipster.jpg
http://www.manbunhairstyle.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/A-male-with-a-manbun-and-a-hipster-beard.jpg
https://christinagalioto.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/6b939184-b857-4566-a80d-25a12f990cf6_560_420.jpg
http://myfashiony.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/wpid-Hipster-Fashion-Style-Male-2015-2016-5.jpg
http://www.thestar.com/content/dam/thestar/news/gta/2013/07/09/yelp_word_map_charts_hipster_hotbeds_in_toronto/hipster_joel.jpg
http://1-ps.googleusercontent.com/x/www.becomegorgeous.com/static.becomegorgeous.com/img/arts/2013/12/worst-fashion-trends-of-2013/girls-with-grillz.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/dd/11/6d/dd116dc35f38adfb00322585aa3a46b0.jpg
I'm not sure 2015 is all that different.

[The Coffee Man]

Two reasons.

One, have you seen how often she goes to the sewers. I'd wear a jumpsuit if I were going to a dark and damp place like that.

Two, it was the 1980's and it was a very weird time for everyone's dress sense.

[Cryomancer]

I wonder if the Fujiko reporter outfit was a particular reference to an old travel show or something, or perhaps just one of the generic jumpsuit / jumpsuit-ish outfits worn at many jobs in Japan.

Most obvious example I can think of to reference those is the outfit Arino wears on GameCenter CX. It's not terribly dissimilar.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

You do know the OT was created during the 80s, right? :lol:

http://static2.artfire.com/uploads/product/9/389/84389/2884389/2884389/large/mccalls_2236_misses_jumpsuit_80s_sewing_pattern_si ze_12_14_16_uncut_af5561ec.jpghttp://www.simplyeighties.com/resources/80sjumpsuitscollage.jpg.jpg.opt550x448o0,0s550x448 .jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/f0/5d/97/f05d979b4550fb0678f6212d962de8a2.jpghttps://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/82/f8/ea/82f8ea5fe00c56fa0e3b33b46d00f4c4.jpg

Considering that the jumpsuit was gone by 1994, makes it more obvious that the jumpsuit April wore was a staple of 80s fashion.


I like this explanation. And yup, that about sums it up. 80's Pop princesses, anyone?

[1987]

jumpsuits and baggy pants were very popular in the 80s, not just for reporters, but for anyone. she looked good in the jumpsuit so they kept it through most of the series.

[snake]

I remember seeing Harold for the first time in the 90s, without any context or any idea who he was. He was playing with an RC car in the background of a couple of panels of some comic I had bought, which confused the hell out of me at the time.

I'm really feeling happy and accomplished that I turned this thread into a Harold conversation.

[oldmanwinters]

I'm really feeling happy and accomplished that I turned this thread into a Harold conversation.

There's really only so much that can be said regarding the original question since official word from the FW creative minds are quite limited on the subject. You've got the Mirage comics, David Wise, and that's about it regarding April's look.

So... Harold, yeah... what was his shining moment... besides playing with an RC car in the Batcave?

[ProactiveMan]

Did Harold ever wear a jumpsuit?

[lindz247]

Cuz april's just that awesome. :D

[pferreira]

Two reasons.

One, have you seen how often she goes to the sewers. I'd wear a jumpsuit if I were going to a dark and damp place like that.

Two, it was the 1980's and it was a very weird time for everyone's dress sense.In twenty years time people will look back at this decade and laugh at the fashion. Trust me today's fashion is no more weird than the 80's:)

[Leo656]

I'mma go ahead and state that I prefer 80s fashion.

Maybe not the excessively-large shoulder pads women were wearing in their suits, but most everything else was pretty slick.

I must say I'm perplexed by more modern, "I want to spend a lot of money to look like a bum" forms of "fashion". :lol:

[The Coffee Man]

In twenty years time people will look back at this decade and laugh at the fashion. Trust me today's fashion is no more weird than the 80's:)

I don't deny it! =P

We have a sloppy dress sense. Super baggy clothes, ripped jeans, Sagging pants and pajama pants in public!

[pferreira]

I don't deny it! =P

We have a sloppy dress sense. Super baggy clothes, ripped jeans, Sagging pants and pajama pants in public!Exactly! :lol: That's why I do not look down at all to people who like 80s fashion or who were alive at that point because people will be laughing at our fashion in years to come. ;)

[shredder orokusaki]

A similar quastion we can ask about 2003 April. That she was wearing belly shirt in most episodes even in the first ones where we see her working with Stockman. I can understand that if she was wearing only at the episodes where we see her sitting in her home talking with the turtles and/or Casey but going to work dressed like this?

[Powder]

That's always bothered me, too.