Best version of Splinter?
 

Which version of Splinter do you like the best I'm not talking origin stories but in terms of personality and presence he had in the show?

In the old live action movies he seemed like a frail grandfatherly type who had a sweet disposition was wise and cryptic way about him. He was stern but also caring and you can see he adored his sons and they adored him. This version of him is probably the most cute and endearing since he could be childishly silly. I like live action Splinter's personality because he was very gentle and sweet. But I don't think he had a very strong presence because he came off as so weak and ancient.

Old toon Splinter personality was pretty good. He gave off that dignified japanese aura and he was an all around nice guy. he cared for his sons and gave them advice but didn't let them slack off. He gave off a completely understanding up standing Father of the year persence but some how I find him a bit more detached than the other Splinter's with his sons. He was almost too perfect and understanding, and there for boring. And he didn't have much of a sence of humour. Also his health was not consistant, sometimes he was weak and frail and needed rescue and other times he was powerful and capable.

New CGI movie Splinter was probably the boldest version of Splinter that i've seen. Almost all versions try to portray Splinter as this saintly father figure who is always understanding. But this one was portrayed as being a bit colder and more flawed than the others, and sometimes unreasonable and harsh on occassion. The whole "Ninja Master of the turtles" aspect of his character was played upon more than his warmer fatherly side. He obviously had a sterner way of handling the turtles and had higher and stricter expectations of them and less tolerance for disobediance. CGI Splinter still had his fatherly moments but this one stands out as being the most openly flawed of the bunch and possiably more human because of them. He had a the strongest presence of the Splinters.

2k3 Splinter is probably my favorite Splinter of the bunch. Of all the Splinter's he has displayed the most humourous personality. Which I like he is a charming blend of wit and refined dignity. He pulls off the role of sage sensei with lots of other wordly knowledge and spritulism but also as a very down to earth guy with a dry sence of humour. He is not above taking pot shots at his students and he is a hard ass who tries to keep his sons on the straight and narrow but he doesn't mind letting them be their own person and finding their own way. He is a god blend of live action movie splinter with his wise spirtual ways and cute nature and New Movie Splinter with his stern no nonsence "I'm a powerful ninja master" ways about him. But at the same time being his own person and having his own distinguishing attributes. I think this Splinter does the best job at balancing his role as sensie and father very well and doesn't let the two over lap or dominate the other. I also think this version displays the most tenderness and love for his sons than any other Splinter. He may like to make fun of his sons but it's very obvious that he loves them all deeply and he has the most satisfying reactions when one of them is hurt or in pain. Plus he is probably the most viril and powerful of all the Splinter's. Despite his age he still seems like a bad-ass and can take on enemeies as well and even better than his sons. He doesn't display much of the ancient fraility that the others have I get theimpression that he is the youngest of all the Splinter's. I get a the impression that he is in his 50's unlike other Splinter; who seem to be like in thier seventies.

Yeah I like 2k3 Splinter best too...for all your reasons actually,thanks for saving me some typing :lol:

Live Action Splinter was too weak.

Original Toon Splinter(I guess would be my second fave) was ok...often silly at moments.

CGI Splinter was too strict like you said.

i vote 2003 splinter

2k3 Splinter for me as well. Wise, warm, and could really help his sons in the heat of combat.

I think I preffer old toon Splinter. I'm just used to him and his seriousness and wise sayings. Yeah, he was silly at times, but in a comedy show even Shredder was dropping one-liners. I guess after seeing the other Splinters and looking back, I wish they kept the family aspect and called him his sons instead of just his friends and pupils. I mean, they all held such respect for him and it was obvious he was in charge and like.. their 'legal guardian' type deal, so why not just call themselves fathers and sons? I also didn't like how Shredder kept calling him 'old man', when in that version, Yoshi and Saki were around the same age before they parted ways.

One thing I like about new toon Splinter is how he's considered the father and acts like it, being stern and strict at times when the boys need to be kept in line. Plus, unlike the old toon where most of the times Splinter would stay home and let the Turtles do all the work, except for some 'Splinter and Shredder season finale final battle' episodes, the new toon Splinter saw alot more action and was even the focus of the Battle Nexus arcs and stuff.

I do agree, the original movie Splinter was so old and weak..... It was nice to see him use the nunchucks on Shredder, and use that bow and arrow to save the Turtles from Shredder's trap... but I guess they had to cut corners since Splinter was a puppet and not a guy in a suit like the Turtles.

New movie Splinter was cool but yeah, a little too strict. But he seemed fatherly enough and even used some Japanese words and of course, was voiced by the late Mako so he had an actual Japanese accent. Plus, he got to fight a little too. "We should do this more often!"

I like the role Splinter took in the live-action films the best, even if it meant he had a scaled down role as far as action is concerned. He came off more as a father figure and mentor to me there, even though other versions provided him a larger role, I dont connect with those as closely.

I like all versions of Splinter. He is an awesome character. The Turtles would not be the same without him.

I will probably go with 2k3 as my absolute favorite. He is such a caring father in that one- and at the same time a kickarse ninjitsu master and proficient sensei.

I Like 2k3 New toon Splinter! :embarass:

I like Sliver!! just playing...

I think I like the movie version. I think the old and weak just came off because he was a limited puppet.

1987 classic toon Splinter.

NT.


He kicks too much ass.

1987
 

1987 toon, where Splinter is Hamato Yoshi. This explains more how Splinter is able to read and know about human society.

2K3 all the way! :D

Being a big fan of Splinter, this thread really caught my eye... 8)

I find myself really liking the new toon Splinter the most appealling. (not fast forward, that's a different story...) He's got a healthy mix of father and teacher without being distant (Old toon Sp) one foot in the grave (old movie Sp) and too much of a hardass (new movie Sp- which I actually kinda liked...)

Though I have to say, for aesthetic reasons, I Really like Archie Splinter. Yeah, he was Hamato Yoshi too, but I've always like more humanistic styles of the characters (those who've seen my drawings know this...), plus he was the most fatherly type I knew Until the new toon came out in 2003. I still have some links somewhere of my favorite drawing styles of him I saw in Archies, there being different pencillers in every issue...

I really got to liking Mako Splinter. I just liked his voice, I likes how he spoke, he was cute too...even tho he looked more like a cartoony mountain lion to me :P He was extremely flawed, and IMO very unreasonable. How could he expect Leo to suddenly get the team back together like it was a walk in the garden???

but i still liked him :D

Man, the fact that Splinter has been so great in all his incarnations really shows what a great character he really is.

I always loved old toon Splinter, he wasn't some overpowered martial arts master and the Turtles would have to rescue him a number of times. Yet he still kept his students in line and cared for them as if they were his sons.

2k3 Splinter has a funnier personality and has a lot of great action scenes, but yeah, I love the fatherly aspect of him in the '07 movie. Old movie trilogy Splinter was alright, but I like the others better.

I will also go with the 1987 version of Splinter.

I voted 2k3, mainly because he's a cute father figure and has the same dry sense of humor my dad has... which I personally find very funny. Also he's pretty active and actually participates in fights, which I thought he did too little in the live-action movies (though for good reasons) and in the old toon (he did fight, just not enough).

2007 Splinter was indeed flawed, and he was Mako... two great things going for him. That talk he has with Raph is actually the conclusion of the Leo vs. Raph scene, because it puts everything in perspective and shows that Splinter is trying as hard as the Turtles to set things right. I think he's my second favorite.

I like the look of '87 Splinter... I think if you could find a nice medium between that and 2k3 style, that'd be awesome. I actually thought of him as being the youngest of the Splinters, as he merely has a deep voice instead of an old-sounding one, and is smooth and brown instead of gray or scruffy. I do have a lot of love for him, but I miss the fatherly attitude that makes 2k3 Splinter so great.

But I pretty much like all the Splinters to a decent degree, because he's an excellent character. Definitely can't have the Turtles without him.

I personally liked the TMNT CGI Splinter the best, he keeps his rat like characteristics, even the voice, they gave him more of a speech impediment as you'd expect a rat to have. Especially watching him run across the foot soldiers' heads was priceless.

this is about there personalites and how much presence they have not their orgins.

You see I actually like Splinter in the New CGI movie because he reminded me of an actual old japanese person rather than some one acting like a japanese dude. He just gave off a more authentic feel to him. Now I'm not trying to stero-type a race but from what I've seen of japanese films the elders in a household or teachers where ushauly rather cold and demanding of those under them. Which I thought Splinter was in that old school japanses sort of way of over looking individuals in favor of the whole team aspect. And this Splinter seemed wicked japanese old school, as you can see he puts the responciabilty of the family on Leo's shoulders and holds him responciable for their actions. Splinter seemed to have this old thought process that the indivdual of the family didn't matter so much as the "whole" of the family did. This Splinter came off as the most "Tradinally Japanese" version of him with all the ideals and values of ninja hierarchy and up bringing. All the other Splinters all though very nice all seem to be more Americanised in my opinion. Especially New toon Splinter. Splinter is supposed to be a rat that was exposed and brought up in a very traditinal nintisu customs, but they all seem to be rather relaxed and laid back in American sort of way letting his sons have more reign with out that tight strict sort of way "obey me" attitude. CGI movie Splinter had that so I feel that made him seem more realistic since he had a tighter grip on what the turtles where allowed to do.

I absolutely love NT Splinter, although I do admit I want to take that cane of his and go upside his head with it sometimes. As much as I like NT Splinter he can get on my nerves sometimes with his snarky remarks. What I like about NT Splinter is that he doesn't play favorites among the turtles or put one turtle above the others. I mean sure he has a close relationship with Leo in 2k3 but I never felt that he gave him more attention than the other turtles. Leo strives to be a good ninja and leader because he wants too. Not because he has been appointed or pressured by Splinter to do so. He seems to love all four of his sons equally and even seems to go out of his way to try to connect with each of them personaly. When ever there is a pair-up episode where Splinter has an alone adventure with one them he doesn't seem akward with any of them like he finds himself alienated to be alone in of his sons presence because he can't connect with them. I also like how he can be strict enough to be their father and sensei but relaxed enough where he can pall around with them as well. One thing I don't care so much for is Splinter's use of coporal punishment. Sometimes I think it's neccassary other times I think he goes a bit over board.

Hey I just realized something, only in the cartoon mediums has Splinter ever been known to use corporal punishment on the turtles :o In the classic toon Splinter has been shown to through the turtles around and attack them when they step out of line. And so has NT Splinter . In the live action movies Splinter just made them do back flips when they misbehaved.

*shrugs* I'm not sure. I like the NT Splinter the best I guess, because he's not to frail, and he's a loving, compassionate, and protective father. I love hearing him say lines like, "You won't destroy my family!" The The OT Splinter was kinda like that, only the TMNT were his "students" or "friends." Kinda disappoints me in retrospect.

The old toon Splinter did refere to the turtles as his sons and the turtles saw Splinter as their father. You could tell the turtles really loved him and so did Splinter. I just thought as far as Splinter's go OT Splinter was a bit more in the back ground and stand off-ish.

he was young I guess, he looked young like maybe late 40's. But he had a ma very frail way about him sometimes and he walked with a cane. oh and I don't think NT Splinter's silver coloring is a sign of old age, I think that is just his natural coloring.

All versions of Splinter have had their own great things that were enjoyable about them, but for me it has to be the NT Splinter as far as which version was the best though. Even after growing up watching the OT Splinter.

I voted old toon I don't know I just like the way he looks better even if he story is screwy.
I'd put 2k3 splinter in second place for me or a very close first.
Movies 1 & 2 splinter would come in third place.
Then Mirage Splinter.
I don't like the new movie splinter at all.

I agree with everyone here who has said that Splinter is so awesome in all his incarnations that it is hard to pick a favorite one.

Regarding Splinter's design in the 2k3 cartoon- I like this one. Why? Because he is a Texel rat in this one. Texel meaning long curly hair. I have a Texel mouse named Mayte who also has gray fur except for a white band. She is ADORABLE!!!

I gota go with the 2K3 Splinter, he was there with his sons on the battlefield and when they needed him most he came to their aid.

Not that the other Splinter's didn't but old toon Splinter wasn't all that wise and sometimes didn't even understand his own sayings. He also yelled "Sacajawea" when fighting sometimes, which is the name of an American Indian women, certainly not Japanese.

The new movie Splinter was alright but there wasn't enough of him to decide.

The old movies Splinter was alright, I liked him though he didn't do much besides narrate.

If the comics were on here I'd totally pick Archie Splinter above them all.

guh! I forgot to include Mirage Splinter from the comics on my list of Splinter's. But I really haven't had much exposure to mirage Splinter and how he was like as a father and a sensei to the turtles so I wouldn't have been able to add a description of his character like I did the others. I the only impression I really get of Splinter in the Mirage comics as that he is more pragmatic and ruthless than all the other Splinter's since he admits to training the turtles for the purpose of killing The Shredder, where as the other Splinter's only trained the turtles to keep the tradtion that Yoshi was so passinate about alive, with no vengence tainting his motives. Which I don't find to admirable. He also seems to be portrayed as a bit frail compared to classic toon Splinter and 2k3 Splinter. But I don't know what he was like as a father figure to the turtles or if he was genuanly warm and affectionate like Splinter is in the 2k3 series.

And as for Archie Splinter, I assumed he was just like his cartoon counter-part since its based off that medium. But I would have loved to see a version of classic toon Splinter that was more openly affectionate with the turtles.

That's a really good note. I've actually always visualized him as one to use corporal punishment, just because of the background and culture things. But to actually SEE him backhand the boys, or swat em on the leg... It sure made me sit up and pay attention... :o :lol:

I only know a tiny bit about Japanese culture. Anyone else's thoughts about this?



And as for Archie Splinter, if anyone's really interested. Much more on the official site...

http://www.ninjaturtles.com/comics/archie/08/0802.jpg - kind of a drunk uncle look...

http://www.geocities.com/tmnt_101/tm...7-april01.html -- My Personally favorite drawn version :goofygri:

I guess so, yeah. But his story is pretty screwy in the other versions, too.

Seriously? Holy crap! I have not seen an episode like that. That's the most ridiculous thing, and battle cry, I've ever read about.

I like the new movie Splinter the most. It really mattered to me that he acted sterner and, as Sage Ninja said, the most "Japanese." This is because I like the Turtles more if they have a bit more baggage from their father being a stern sensei, too.

It killed me to hear the horrible fake Japanese accents done by the other voice actors (Kevin Clash and Darren Dunstan from 2k3 make me cringe most of the time with their voices. Especially Darren Dunstan, because he is clearly trying to sound much older than he is, to the point where Splinter's voice is too frail and whenever he has to yell something, it comes off as really fake emotion. At least to me. Also I don't like that 2k3 Splinter is grey, although I'm sure those fuzzy grey pet rats are cute).

But voice acting aside, 2k3 Splinter doesn't sit right for me ... he's too much of a comic relief and too laid-back. I'm not a fan of his corporal punishment either, although I guess his other versions might have used corporal punishment, too.

The old movie versions were nice, he seemed stern but also really sweet, and the Turtles seemed really attached to him. I never saw such strong attachment to him in the old toon, although I loved his voice.

Uhhh... more to come soon, my friend just came over.

I love the live action splinter because I thought he was just awesome. The look the voice, yeah he was a little frail, seemed a little older, but he could hop up and take care of things when his boys were in trouble.
The 2K3 Splinter is almost a tie though. He has a more obvious humor and is used more physically in the plot. He's a great "dad version" too.
I have to say though I really liked Mako's voice for the new film. I always wished they would incorporate more Japanese here and there. He sneaked it in a few times.

Live action movie Splinter is my favorite. He was always a rat, like the comics, and I liked how much he came off as a father figure. Plus he was able to defeat Shredder pretty effortlessly.


New movie Splinter might be my least favorite. He just came off as way too cold.

Good point.

Not only did Splinter bail the turtles out in their first confrontation with Shredder at the end of the first film, he also bailed them out of their predicament in Secret of the Ooze set the Foot's new HQ. It's true Live Action Splinter seemed more frail than the other incarnations, but he definately proved to be quite an asset to the boys when the chips were down.

Episode 1 of season 3, Beneath These Streets.

Oh, I dunno.. I think I'd probably give that award to the "Cur-ly" maneuver. :P

I wish there were a way to combine them all. The realism of the live-action, the flaws, the human aspects of the new movie and the presence and all the whatevers from the cartoons....just lump them all together for the ultimate Splinter.:) But in voting, I chose the live-action Splinter because, he's the first one that comes to mind when someone says "Splinter".

No one's mentioned the NM Splinter...

with good reason ;)

hmm, you make a good point about live action Splinter. He came across as over all more gentle and meek in this version so him so him taking a more pacifist stance concering needless violence sort of goes with his his age and the limits of his body. I just thought he seemed to much like he he had one foot in the ground :ohwell:.and he did come off as more warm and fatherly to the turtles especially when he is comferting Raphael in the first half of the movie about his anger issue and he puts his hand on his head as Raphael cries, and also with his concern for that snotty Danny kid and his pep talks he gave him about fathers and sons, whistle he was chained to a fence after being beaten half to death, really showed how compassinate and selfless he was. And I think that is what made movie Splinter my favorite even over the cartoon version of them time. I loved the role of family the he represented in the movie.

mm, I agree that New movie CGI Splinter played a hand in the Leo and Raph's conflict with his insistance on having Leo go away and train. But I'm a little hesitant to place all the blame at his feet because Raph and Leo had issues before he even sent them away. The thing that made CGI Splinter the most flawed to me is that he did seem like he played favorites between Leo and Raph a bit. In other mediums where Leo and Raph have conflict the writers seem careful to portray Splinter as giving his favor equally between Raph and Leo which really puts more pettiness to the rivalry. But in the movie Splinter clearly does have higher expectations of Leo and trusts him above all the other turtles to lead the team and guide the family and take responciablity for their actions. Which sucks for Leo since he can't control what the others do, but makes it look like Leonardo has some sort of elevated status over Raph and the others. Which Leo sort of does since Splinter has made it so, and Raph does not like it. Another thing that I thought made CGI splinter flawed is that I felt he didn't juggle his role of Ninja Master and Father very well in the movie. I thought that he adopted more of a cold and stern "Master" persona in the movie and his father qualites where pushed back so that he could manage the turtles better. Although I don't think he was heartless. I detected that Splinter had a kindly perternal side as well and was probably the type of father that read bed time stories to the turtles and made dramatic voices while he did, when they where younger. I just think that this movie focuses more on his "master" side than the father side.

Yeah me too. OT Splinter was nice enough and caring and supportive enough but I just didn't feel the same passion in him for his family as other Splinter's have. I also get the impression in the show that OT Splinter purposely tried to keep things distanced a bit from the turtles. Like he didn't want the turtles to get to attached to him or something. He is another one where I feel that he let his sensei role over lap or dominate his "father" or gaurdian role a bit. However I never found him silly as others have pointed out :| I never him found him the least bit funny. Which is why he isn't on my top of favorite Splinter;s since he had like zero humour.

Really? That is sort of what I like about him. He is the only Splinter that I've seen that is down to earth and...human! All the other Splinters sometimes come off as too other worldly and cryptic that you feel a bit alienated by them almost. Like if you where living with a holy man and he was constantly droning off about the mysterious of nature and karma :o. NT Splinter has that but it's tempered with a very dry sence of humour and laid back disposition that makes him less out of reach and intimidating. Like you could get close to him. And I don't find him that much of a comic relief, he is still one of the "serious" characters in the show and I think that is why his personality quirks make his sence of humour more funny. And I like I said I feel this Splinter balances his roles of sensei and Father the best out of all the Splinters, since he can be a strict and tough sensie and poerful warrior while being a supportive father as well.

Although I agree with you on the voice thing. I love Darren Dusten, he portrays a good Splinter but that fake asian accent is painful at times. So is Karai's. What is it about asian accents that come off so artificial when Americans try to immitate them?