The Raphael Thread
 

So in the Turtle Duo thread someone asked why we don't just have a thread where we discuss each of the Turtles in each iteration. So here's a thread dedicated to Raph. Which Raph is your favorite Raph? Which Raph gets the most character growth? Which Raph makes you wanna pull youtr hair out?

For me, Rob Paulsen's take on Raphael is what made me a Raphael fan to this day. If it wasn't for his snarky, sarcastic delivery, I'm not sure if he'd be my favorite Turtle. When Raphael is voiced by anyone else, I'm quite disappointed. I have to admit, when I rewatched the European Vacation arc, I actually got to a point where I was okay with the non-Paulsen Raph, but I was happy when I got to season 4 proper, where he was back in full force.

OT Raph rules, I find him somewhat obnoxious in mirage (& image, though I love his becoming the Shredder storyline & all that), somewhat obnoxious in 2k3, pretty cool in the first film, very likable in the second two, overdone in TMNT, OK in Next Mutation, just there in Archie, of no good use in the video games, & I have nothing to say of his new incarnation as it's not out yet.

So all in All, OT Raph is my favorite, I think he's given a lot of personality growth in the third film (I shouldn't have to explain, but if anyone needs me to feel free to ask) and I can't really be bothered with him in the comics. He's often too over the top.

I'm not sure if I give OT Raph too much credit, by having Raph be my favorite in most mediums. The others come off as just as one note to me. Leo's the defacto leader. Donnie (who I guess I could say is my favorite in the 4Kids series...maybe.) is the brain. Mikey (who I really like in the Mirage and by extension Image Comics) is the "party dude" for lack of a better term. Raph is the angry one, and when done right, that is through snark and wit and not straight up anger (which is Raph in all mediums aside from the OT). So I dunna. I like Raph, dispite his hugly different interpretations across the media.

1. CGI 07 Raph
2. 2k3 Raph
3. Mirage Raph

OT Raph was annoying. Movies 1 and 2 Raph was okay-ish, I guess. I don't know about the other versions of Raphael.

I'm just hoping that Nick's Raph will kick shell much like the CGI 07 Raph.

Sacrilege!

Than again, to each their own.

lol Sorry. :trazz:

I know you adore OT Raph but I really was never a fan of our red bandana-wearing turtle in the '87 show. And given the fact that I've completely outgrown the '87 show as a whole, OT Raph appears to me as less appealing then ever..

CGI 07 Raph was a real pleasant surprise for me and even had me questioning my so-ever long lasting loyalty to Leo.

My opinion on Raph changes according to the medium. In the past I would have written him off as my least favorite, based purely on his anger and incapability to talk things out or think things through. But there's more to Raph than that.

What I like about Raphael is his vulnerability to the tensions of the world. He's a lot like Leo in that sense, although he'd probably never admit it. And let's face it, we can all relate to anger. When it takes you, sometimes you just can't stop it. So Raphael is easily identified with.

I think my favorite adaption of Raphael would be the Raph of the first movie. He's vulnerable, angry, and just a plain ol' badass. Second I would favor the 2k3 Raphy. Although I think his anger gets annoying in that series and is possibly overdone, his loyalty to his brothers and his ability to realize why he messed up in certain situations (even if it took a lone walk) makes him very attractive. I didn't mind Next Mutation Raph, either. Mirage Raph...hm...it depends on the issue. :)

He was likable in the OT series, but I never paid an extraordinary attention to him there, and it wasn't until "Turtles Forever" that I realized how much of a smart-aleck he actually was! I never thought of him as annoying in the OT.

yeah no kidding. OT Raphael pwns! :tcool:

i have to say it is the old toon raphael that i love the best.

I will have to say the first movie raph. But I did love the OT Raph as well

Paulsen's Raph is certainly what got me into the Turtles in the first place, but much as I love him I've come to love the New York Brawler-version more.

First movie Raph was an amazing character and I think achievement all around. I never once thought "Wait, this a puppet." You really could feel his pain and his complicated friendship with Leonardo.

OT Raphael is also a wonderful character, contributing a lot of the show's humor and edge. I do wish they'd discussed more of why he was so cynical about life, I think it would have been interesting, lol.

I find it quite humorous that the creators thought they could switch voices and the kiddies wouldn't notice. I could always tell when Raphael was different. Kids are young, not stupid! :P

wow i can not just pick one. i like comic raph because how smart ass he is and insaine. But i also grew up with 80's toon raph because of his smart ass and funny jokes. But 2k3 is the same as the comic book. But just angery and smart ass..hmmm i'll go with 2k3 because you get to it better.

What.

What.

Now this is just my own personal analysis, lol, but here's one way to look at it. Some people tell jokes and make smart ass remarks in order to get the attention they feel they are lacking. Now Leonardo has the classic leader personality, Donatello's a freakin genius and Michaelangelo, well he's got enough personality for all four of them, lol. Then there's Raphael, he's not a scientist, the leadership role is already taken and one party dude in the group is more than enough. Where does he fit? He's basically the group's #2. Great, but never quite #1. A very insecure place to be in and you would probably start to get rather annoyed at life too. And historically, an easy way to get yourself noticed is to be rude. ;)

Raphael has always been my favorite turtle. Even though he changes moreso than any of the other tmnt I always find myself rooting for him the most. Even if its just for stupid childhood reasons like he has sais and wears red.

The first movie's iteration is usually what I picture when I see Raph the portrayal is just so vivid.

I liked the OT characterization a lot and wish Raph's cynicism and snarkiness would come back in modern versions of Raphael.

I cant even remember Next Mutation.

Image Raph is a bit much. Mirage Raph I like a bit more but he's still rough around the edges.

Although i like 07 and 2k3 Raph I think the focus on his anger gets overblown at times.

In the OT Raph was the Han Solo of the group.Very cynical and sarcastic.I love characters like that.Rob Paulsen's delivery was classic.

The First movies Raph is my favorite iteration of the character. I always loved the scene where he is silently overlooking the city after the fight between leo and the others. Nothing is said in the scene but just his facial and body language that he gives off, pretty much sums up his character. a bit angry at the world that he wont really be able to walk on in broad daylight and how he and his brothers are the only of thier kind. at least thats what i got from the scene. My other favorite with him is when the turtles come back to thier home only to find it ransacked and thier father figure missing. Then the camera does the pan around raph as he lets off a primal scream clutching his sais.
The OT Raph is my second favorite tied with the mirage raph.
didnt really care to much for the 07 flick and havnt seen to much of the 2003 series.
and its been to long since i have read the image vol 3.

You aren't familiar with the Mirage comics, are you?

Like a lot of people, it's the Fred Wolf toon that introduced me to TMNT.

Fred Wolf Raph: Definitely the joker of the group and I can barely recall times when he was moody.

Movie Raph: Came as a complete shock personality-wise as I was being so used to Raph from the Fred Wolf toon. Certainly got the most focus in pretty much all the movies.

Next Mutation Raph: The only complaint I got is that surfer voice.

4Kids Raph: I would put him in the same league as he is in the movies.

You know what's weird about Raphael? He, of all the Turtles, seems to have a weird sense of their uniqueness, and he doesn't like it. In both the Mirage series and the Archie books, he seems to be the one who realizes that there are only 4 mutant Turtles and that they are all male.

With out a shadow of a doubt my favorite Raphael would have to be Movie 1. That is exactly how I thought Raphael should be portrayed in a movie after reading some of the comics. I loved how he was really dark, a lone ranger, and could kick a** like no ones business! My next favorite in line would be 2K3 Raph. He was pretty close to the movie 1 counterpart. 3rd would have to honestly be the 2007 movie Raph just for the simple fact that I was ready to see him and Leo actually duke it out. I like Raphael in every movie, and cartoon, I really don't care for the comedy version of Raphael.

Oh definitely, that character was a triumph of the writers, actor and puppeteer that hasn't gotten enough praise over the years. He had genuine teenage angst yet also humor that showed he was just as weirded out by this world as we were, lol.

Ditto for me. I like my Raph ansty and angry and with a NYC accent. Though I'd say movie 1 and movie 4 are tied for me for best portrayal of Raph. Then 2k3. After I saw movie 1, Raph went from being my least favorite turtle to most. Rob Paulson is a helluva VA, but OT Raph never did much of anything for me. (Boy is it going to be weird hearing him do Donatello.)

I only hope Nickolodeon Raph is in the mould of movie/2k3 Raph.

I've always imagined that the other three realize it, they just don't internalize it like Raph does. I find it hard to believe that Don hasn't done the biological math, but has compartmentalized it. Leo probably takes it in stride as a warrior's path. And Mike...really, what phases Mike?

I think Rob-hael worked for the old toon. The tone was drastically different from the Mirage source material and and any of the other media.

Mike actually embraces his Turtley self and revels in it. :D

Raph is very cool and badass! :D

Bump!

Raph is my favorite turtle, kind of a smartass, quick to anger, and the strongest turtle of the group. Those are all characters traits I have as well so maybe thats why I like him and Casey Jones so much :trazz:

It is going to be weird hearing Rob Paulsen do the voice of Donatello in the Nick Toon, Paulsen will always be the voice of Raph to me, its going to be weird hearing Raphs voice come outta Donnie's mouth (just like the animation error in the first episode of the OT).

I'm a pretty big fan of the Future Raph characterization in the comics, what is everyone elses favorite take on the character?

So your the tough hothead,huh? I hadn't seen it...yet.:lol: I am a perfect meld of Michelangelo/Leonardo yet instead of Leonardo Raphael is my close second favorite. I like his unique personalitiy as a hotheaded jokster. Rob Paulsen is Raphael to me. The movies did a great job of studying his realist and anger traits. I hope to see more scarasm in the near future. Its apart of what made him so fun and its always great to see a character study on this great hero.

i love his new york accent in the 1st movie. but i also love the 87 cartoon raph too

Movie 1 Raph will always be Raphael to me.

But I adore OT Raph. I'm sorry, but his sarcastic quips really made me laugh. I wish that persona somehow survived later adaptations in another Turtle if "tough guy" Raph will be the template.

Definitely first movie and Paulsen Ralph are my faves.

Movie 1 Raph is the ultimate for me. He's just so freaking badass!! (That's why I made the video that's in my sig.) But more than that, he's sensitive and complex. Despite his anger management issues, you can tell he's fiercely loyal to and protective of his family.

The original toon is what got me into TMNT in the first place and I loved OT Raph back then too, but I remember my world being completely rocked when I saw him in the first film. That portrayal just defines Raphael to me. Loved Josh Pais as his voice, too.

Like I said.I view the OT Raph as Han Solo.Solo was very sarcastic and also a bad ***.