Best incarnation of Donatello?
 

which version of Donatello do you like the most, which do you like the least? I have always loved Donatello since he is such a multi-faceted character whos traits are not as in your face as the other turtles.

I liked Old toon Don since he was at his most authoritive and assertive in that medium and was a great fighter (second to Leonardo in this version) as well as being naturally funny and laid back, but oh, boy also had a temper and some thing of a scarey side as well. He was alos at his most militant in this medium and some I like that since most versions try to play him up as a pacifist.

The live action movie Donatello's didn't do anything for me, nor did his portrayal in the Next Mutation.

In Mirage...I haven't read much of Mirage but from what I've seen Donatello is a double edged sword and possiable the most deadly and stoic of all the Donatello's and seems to be a very cooly collected and deeply intellectual guy who is very kind and straigh foward, but can very calmly and coldly do what he has to.

Donatello in the New toon is a very relaxed and sweet and adorable version of him that is for the most part soft spoken and nonconfrontational (but can get pretty annoyed and crabby when disturbed) and is openly chivirlous toward girls and isn't depicted as being particularly skilled in fighting (though he does just fine in battle :roll:)

My favorite Donny is the new cartoon one. His most of his other version I liked okay too, but this one was the most endearing to me. He could be funny without being annoying and was just dorky at times, which is something that always endears me to characters.

My least favorite version was the Next Mutation one. This Donny seemed so rude and mean, which felt OOC to me. I'm not saying that Don is nice all the time, but there he acted like a jerk for noreason, except make Mary Sue Venus look good.

I have to Admit my 2 fave dons are old toon and next mutation oddly enough in third place comes movie don.

Whenever I read a TMNT comic I read Don's dialouge in his OT voice. So, I picked him for this vote.

I put Old Toon Donatello. After all, that was the first version I was exposed to. But it is really a tie between OT and NT Donnie. Both are great. Donatello's my second favorite Turtle for a reason.

I like the new toon Don because it's closest to how I envision his character, BUT I like the 1st movie Don and his characteristics as well.

Corey Feldman's portrayal of Don in the original movie, hands-down.

I like old toon Don the best follow by Don in the original movie.

Secret of the Ooze Donatello. It wasn't as good as the first movie, but IMO Donatello was better in that movie than he was in the first. He was able to show off his intelligence without it being as way over the top as the old toon.

Old toon Don.

Man, Don just STOLE the show in the original cartoon. You could tell the writers really loved him because the team would have been totally lost without him. Don even felt more like a leader than Leo did most of the time.

I agree with that I was watching the shredders mother episode lastnight and Leo was just being so bossy in it "hey guys be quite, aprils coming on"
And if it wasnt for don they'd all would have died.

Archie Don is my favorite, especially Future Don.

1st movie Don;) The costume rocks! I'd love to see him mixed with the personality from the secret of the ooze. Mirage and old/new toon Don are my second equal runner-ups!

I can't believe so many people voted for the live action movie version, had I made this poll I wouldn't have put Corey-tello on here at all, just Adam Carl's Don from SotO.

Anyways, I voted for NT Don. His voice was perfect, he could kick ass and was an all-around interesting character.

Voted for live action don cause he looks so funny in the second movie :tlol:

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/9...natellorq2.jpg

Those round eyes remind me of gizmo :tlol: :tgrin:

Haha.:lol: That is true. He was more of a goofball in the 2nd than he was in the 1st flick.

This is hard for me to choose, I'm surprised no one has picked the CGI movie Don, I thought his moments were great. It's probably because we didn't see too much of him. Had I seen more of him, I might have chosen him for this poll.

I like Don being definitely smarter rather than a goofball, so I'm gonna have to say no to live action. If I had to choose, I'd pick NT Don. OT Don definitely was my first exposure to Don, and I loved his humor on the show, but he was rather arrogant at times, which can be annoying.

Yeah, I'm gonna have to go with New Toon Don. From what I've heard about Mirage Don, I'd be afraid of him, so yeah, I won't pick Mirage Don.

That's who I meant when I voted for live action Donatello.

The first movie Don had a couple of nice scenes with Michelangelo and Casey Jones, but for the most part Michelangelo and Donatello didn't stand out. In Ooze Donatello seemed to have a better role.

I do think Feldman did some good voice work though, it's just that Donatello wasn't anything special in the first movie. For me anyway, I usually forget that it was Corey Feldman. Since I was a kid I kind of figured that's what one of the Turtles would sound like.

I'm a bit shocked my self that CGI Donatello has gotten so few votes. As far as Donatello's in movie mediums go I feel that he is the first version that got his character right for a change instead of doctoring him up by giving him flashy characteristics to appeal to the kiddies. I feel the CGI movie finnally treated his character right (as far as representation goes) and kept true to his nature. I don't get why smart brainy types are always pushed to the back in media and not valued as much as other personality types, and often times when they are main streamed their personalites get doctored up to be something they aren't. Like Simon in the chipmunks movie :-? Alvin and Theodore seemed true enough to their personalites but Simon had some more "adapators" added to his character to make him more
"interesting" it seemed like. :roll:

I voted for CGI Donatello, but it was a seriously tough call for me, because unlike with the other turtes, where I have favor one depection of the turtles more than the others, Donatello has always been a turtle that I like equal no matter what medium he is in (that treat him fairly) I like OT Donatello as much as like NT Donatello, and the same goes for CGI Don. I liked Ot Donatello and Barry Gordon's take on him very much. I like Ot Donatello wasn't so much the pacifist in that medium as he is portrayed in other mediums and could be pretty cynical and pragmatic as well. I also thought was interesting that Donatello seemed--comparitively--more intolerant of humans than the other turtles, and didn't seem to like them as much. Like the behavior he exibited in the Turtleoids two-parter where he was basically presented with a world of turtle-utopia and wanted to stay there.

NT Donatello is a great incarnation of Donatello, I like his cute little mannerisms and his sweet compassionate side that even OT Donatello didn't exibit. I really enjoy the potrayal of Sam Regal and the high geeky voice he provides for NT Donatello. He also seems to be more of a loner than OT Donatello which I guess is more accurate to his comic book roots. What i find unique about NT Donatello is his inclination to development crushes or close relationships with girls. He seems to be a slight ladies man with out even trying to in the NT, which is sort of a first (as far as I know) for Donatello's character since he seems to be the one turtle tradionally that doesn't get into romantic entanglements, and is more pragmatic minded. But NT version of Don seems to have humanised him by throwing that into his character. Although I must say that this isn't my favorite version of Donatello. I prefere Donatello to be sophisticated and compassionate but also slick and sharp tongued and assertive. Not that NT Don isn't these things, it's just I find him a bit too mild mannered and passive for my liking. And during the times he is "assertive" he it doesn't pull it off very well to me and he comes across kind of snotty and condsending. But I still like him.

heh, for all you NT Donatello fans out there, here is a side to Donatello you don't normally see, him with PMS :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCmqd...eature=related

I think Donatello really gets frustrated that know one is at the same level intellectually as he is. He practically has to spell things out for every one. Poor guy.

And here is NT Don as we all know him, polite and gentleman-like:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqAEP...eature=related

Well, all the others can also be slightly condescendng in their serious moments, Michaelangelo of course doesn't necessarily have to be serious to do it, but still if they can act that way a little, he can too.

That link, pretty entertaining, and doesn't surprise me a bit.

yes, but that is when they are trying to be condesending, NT Don kind of gets that way when he isn't even trying at times. Also I think condesending (to me any way) lents it self to being a bit arrogant, or having a "know-it-all" or "holier-than-thou" attitude. Which both Leo and Don seem to have. Not so much Raph and Mikey, who are more cocky than condesending, if that makes any sence. But at least as far as arrogance goes, NT Don isn't as arroagant as OT Donatello.

But I have to say that CGI Donatello is my favorite Donatello to date. He just seemed so much more interesting more forceful than other Dons. I liked how he was sarcastic and sharp tongued. He was a smartass but so over the top that he came off as abrasive or snippy, he was cultured and smart and he knew it and his way of putting others in their place was sophisticated about rather than petty. He also wasn't the easy to talk to sweet heart that NT Don is portrayed as being, and wasn't so blithe with others who are less gifted in the intelligence area eighther. I liked how he was more authrotive and a bit snappier instead of gentle and soft.

I also liked how he came off as impatient... like he is so bored or something. I also liked his some what smart-ass like personality. He wasn't so soft spoken that he didn't voice his thoughts and I completely ate up his little banter with Raphael. His whole demeaner was just lofty superiority and disapproval when he was talking to Raphael. My favorite Don Lines:

Well I know your temper and rogue attitude has always been a source of contention to this team"

Uh, ok Leo. No one was talking about him (Raph)

Outta my way, Please

heh, even when he is being forceful he is polite. Thats an awsome Donatello.

Also, I liked how this Donatello didn't get along so well with Raph. In the series Don and Raph seem to have a pretty easy-going relationship and even seem to be a bit of a tag team with each other. And even though that is nice and interesting (if explored more) I rather liked the friction and and banter that was present between the two in the movie, since I think some one of Don personality would naturally butt heads with some one of Raph personality.

I agree and disagree at the same time. First off, Don in soto was nothing without Carl as the VA. He MADE that character. I don't think Feldman would have pulled movie two don off. However, I liked don's character in movie one.
Put Carl as the VA in movie one and that would have been perfect for me.

IMO Don only comes off as arrogant because he is so far ahead of everyone. The only time he seems to be comfortable talking to people is when he is conversing with honeycutt or april, someone who can keep up with him

I would prefer the 1st movie Don over the 2nd, I love them both but the voice actor for the first Don was much more like Donatello than the 2nd. But what I DID like about the 2nd over the 1st, they backed up the geek inside him, making really corny jokes to try to stand out and be noticed, speaking more with large words, even able to stand out with his computer and analyzing skills. In the first, he made some corny jokes, as the very first part of the movie was the most memorable, where they're in the sewer.
"We were AWESOME!!!"
"Righteous!"
"Bossa Nova!"
"...Bossa Nova?"
"...Chevy Nova?" *twindles fingers* "EXCELLENT!!!"
Yes, especially in the episode: "Lighten Up, Leo" really backed up the whole bossy attitude that Leo possessed and when he is let off and free, he was as fun loving but less responsible as Mikey. Don usually took over as the leader whenever Leo disappears. But in the new movie, Donatello had a lot smaller role to play than usual. They showed more about Mikey than Donny, which I'm not complaining, don't get me wrong, but they could have shown a little more of our lovable geek.

I love Don's sense of humor, and that youtube link was hilarious. NT Don is the best. "You guys are sucking all the oxygen out of my personal space." Priceless.

I keep coming to this poll, and I honestly cant pick one as a favorite. No matter what the medium, Donny has always held this place as the most likable Turtle for me. He's not annoying as Mikey, hot headed as Raph, or nit picky teachers pet/mr perfect as Leo.

So I just cant pic a favorite. That tells me alot on my perspective on this little fella!

Agreed. Live action Don was the most horrible incarnation ever. Totally out of character. It's really awful.

I'm hard pressed to choose between New Toon Don (not counting FF) and Mirage Don.

You know, me too! Donatello is the only turtle that I've never met any haters of. All the other turtles have fans that like them or they can't stand them for some reason, except Donatello. I think it is because he comes off as being very laid back and keeps to him self, and when he does make him self known his presence isn't over bearing. The only gripe I ever hear fans complain about Don is that sometime they don't like his the voices he has. Saying that it's too geeky. Personaly I like Donny with a geeky voice. And have you noticed that in the 2k3 series he is the one with the most friends and personal relationships? He has April, Leatherhead, Proffessor honeycutt, and in FF Cody. For some one who is supposed to be anti social he always seems to find kindred spirits to interact with. :D

My personal only gripe with how Donatello has been portrayed in the media is that he is the weakest fighter. When personaly I think that Donatello even in the new toon is quite compentent and acrobatic in his fighting. He is rarely in trouble and he seems capable of taking care of him self. So I don't kniow why he is seen as the weakest fighter of the group.

A better example is Night of the Dark turtle ;)

Why not FF Don? He still seems like he is smart like he was in 2k3, he is the only one who figured out Torbin Zixx was bullsh*ting every one in Zixx Sence and screwed him over. A classic Don moment.

and for every ones enjoyment:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjn4k...eature=related

heh, Mr. Polite Don as you've never seen him before. :lol:

I saw that video a few months back and I cracked up. After watching it again, I cracked up again.

The guy took some sound byte from a movie that the guy who does Don's voice was in and added it into that clip from the NT, to quote Don in SotO: "Genius, pure genius" (is that how you spell it, or is it Genious?).

To Sage Ninja, I've had friends growing up, who (and I don't approve of the word being used as an insult) didn't like Don in the OT because his voice made him sound "gay." They didn't like the character because they think he was gay, which angered me for two reasons. A: because I hate when "gay" is used as an insult, and B: because they hated a character because they thought he was gay, which is in-and-of-itself appalling to me.

That is true, in fact I inquired him recently on the official site about whether or not his physical advantage is "acrobatics" considering he tends to do most flipping (especially in Movie 1 and TIS 3), does a lot of leaping using his bo like a top Olympic high-jumper, etc...he said it's fair to say that's his advantage, yeah only a slight one, but that's the way every turtle's advantage is, slight.

I think people tend to place poor don there by default simply due to his intellect. Leo always studies ninjitsu and Mike is portrayed as most athletic and Raph is the brute. With don's intelligence it leaves room for people to make that assuption. Personally I think Don is weakest fighter becase he sucks in turtles in time. Raph seems much easier.:lol:

Are you kidding me? I could see people not liking him because of his voice is annoying or something but because they think his voice signifiies that he might be gay? WTF ever!! Seriously I don't get why people assume that Donatello is gay. What? Is it because he wears purple? Or is it because he is the least aggressive of the turtles and preferes intellectual pusuits over busting bear cans against forhead? Why is it that if a male character isn't pumping testerone and ripping peoples heads off and is instead gentle and a pacifist that preferes more peacful ways of solving things his sexuality comnes into question? Or is it more because Don seems to be the most asexual of all the turtles? Why exactly it is the intellectual anti-social types that are always branded as being potenticially gay? I think that if a character is more intersted if he preferes other aspects of life besides girls, it makes him more nuanced I think.

What if Donatello where gay? What is so wrong with that? If Peter laird where to announce that Donatello is homosexual today would half the fan base that like him stop liking as a result. Persoanly I wouldn't like it because it would feel like a ginnick to make the turtles more diverse or something, but if it where done in a more natural way and Don was gay and he was gay from beginning, then what what be the problem with that?

Although this has me thinking, Don in the new toon (that I'm aware of) is the first seem seem like he develops crushes or close relationships with girls. Do you think that this was done conscincely as a way to pull Don away from the "gay" suspision?

I could not care less if Donatello or Leonardo were to announce suddenly that they were gay. I know that Raphael and Michelangelo certainly are not.

Anyhow, I think that Don's crushes in the NT are a way to balance him out from his asexualness in other incarnations- but not necessarily to throw people off from the suspicion that he may be gay.

Personally, I would need to see a character show explicit signs of sexual interest in characters of his or her own gender in order to question him or her.

I can't imagine Don fans changing their favorite if they found if he were gay, but I wouldn't be surprised. I know a lot of guys who would defend to the bone that they're not gay. My friends are like those two guys you see on that Snickers commerical that got banned. They were eating the same Snickers and their lips made contact with each other and they panicked and one said, "Quick, do something manly!" and they pulled hair out and stuff.

I'm not gay, but I wouldn't argue with an idiot to defend the fact that I'm straight. Actually, my favorite superhero is Colossus from the X-Men, and months ago, I found out that in the Ultimate comic books, his character is gay (and actually is in love with Wolverine). Him being gay didn't bother me, but it was the fact that he loved Wolverine that bothered me, they don't seem like they'd be a good couple. But I'm thinking too much.

I do know a lot of guys whose worst nightmare is to wake up one day and realize they are gay, which again, I find appalling, but it's that testosterone. I should point out that I'm 18 and in high school. This is probably not as common with the rest of you.

Wow just wow! @ what the F is going on in this thread..*walks out shaking head*:o

I've mentioned Don possibly being gay before. Last time it started an uproar from Don fans. So yeah I think allot of people would have an issue with it. Me personally could careless.

I agree which none of the turtles have done in any medium that I'm aware, it's just that intellectual types who are nonviolent typically seem to be the ones that have the sexuality questioned due to not having tradinally agressive "manily" personalities.


yeah, but being really athletic or brutish doesn't really mean that you are a great warrior/fighter, it just means that you're physically gifted. I think having intelligence makes for better fighting traits than athlectism or brute strength since part of fighting is also stratigy which I think Don has over at least Mikey and Raph. Plus if you look at the old toon Donatello he was exellent fighter and took Shredder several times by himself .


hmm, A little personal bias influncing your opinion maybe? ;)

I just don't get why it would cause an issue with fans and why it put Don fans up in arms. If you like Don you like him for him and his characteristics not because of his sexual prefrence. I guess we know now why Laird said that doesn't want to touch upon the turtles sexuality, it's still to delicate a subject. :ohwell:

Even though the stereotype homosexual man is not a very "manly" person, I have actually found that a lot of men (at the gym mostly) who are gay are actually pretty buff and ripped and look like they can tear a phone book in half. It wouldn't bother me if Don was announced to the world to be gay, like I said in earlier posts, Colossus, my favorite superhero, is gay in the Ultimate comics and it didn't bother me, so I can't imagine feeling differently about Don.

Perhaps the conversation should steer further away from Don's sexual preferences, I really don't see the point of arguing it if the Turtles aren't really going to be having sex in movies, TV shows, or comic books. That's when it might get troublesome.

I really like how Don was portrayed in the new CGI movie, definitely a Don I would have liked to see more of, but because he wasn't on screen too much, I will have to go with NT Don.

The only gay turtle, as far as we know, was OT Leonardo.

except that as far as screen time and focus goes, NT Don got as much of it as CGI Donatello did. I mean what does Don in the NT do that wasn't done and addressed in the new CGI movie by Don in that medium? He's the smart one and he is convient for explaining hard to understand things that sheds a possiable light on what the hell is going on. I don't see how the exposure that Don got in the CGI movie in terms of what Don is expted to do was some how inferior to Don's in the new toon. :ohwell:

Why do say OT Leonardo? Did you forget that he had a thing for Lotus Blossum in the show?