Are you OK with the idea of Splinter being Hamato Yoshi again?
 

Since we know Splinter will be the human Hamato Yoshi before mutation, its basically the same as the original cartoon and Archie version of Splinter...where he was a human.

This will make Yoshi and Shredder's rivalry carry through the series, but on the other hand it means Splinter isn't trying to avenge his dead master. It also means Splinter won't literally see the Turtles as "his sons" because he was human prior.

Personally I am fine with it. As I've always liked the old toon/Archie version of his origin too.

Sure thing, though I prefer Splinter starting out as Yoshi, it makes no difference to me. But he turtles gotta always start out as turtles for me.

This is one of the things I like about the new show. I really dig that they're bringing back OT elements.

EDIT: Should've read all the poll options, I prefer the rat origin, but like the human one too.

I think the reason this is accepted is many of us were introduced to the original cartoon origin first, so the idea of Splinter being Hamato Yoshi has always been there.

If Nick was the first time they were doing this, I wonder if it would cause as much uproar as "teen April" and such...

Wow can't believe the votes yes I like this origin is getting haha. I'm fine with either but prefer the rat. And splinter very well still see the turtles as sons human first or not.

Good point. Since FW and Archie already ran with the Hamato Splinter angle, it's an acceptable change. I don't know what we'd think if there never was a continuity where Splinter was Hamato Yoshi until now. I'm sure there'd be similar outrage, but would Nick have even made that drastic a change without the precedent of the FW series?

Yes...I feel similar about this....
Anyway I voted 3º option : I prefer A LOT the rat origin, but I still like the human origin too....(well ...not so bad anyway....) :tgrin:

Considering this is different from the comic or film origin, I don't mind Splinter being Yoshi again. There's just got to be a plotline where Shredder thinks he killed him or something. What's bugging me is who the heck his daughter is going to be. If it's a girl named Karai, she better be younger than the turtles and not the daughter of Shredder's.

I think the rat origin is problematic from an cultural/ethnic angle.

I'm very excited to see how they show Yoshi's mutation into Splinter on the new show!

1987 TMNT cartoon
 

1987 TMNT cartoon Splinter still did.

I just think(story wise)Yoshi and Splinter being the same character makes more sense.I said this many times in the past but I just couldn't buy into a rat mimicing his master's moves in the first movie.

I chose option three. While I prefer him being a rat, him being a human isn't a bad thing as long as he's still a father figure and doesn't sit on the sidelines. I'd rather see him fight alongside his sons.

I'm only glad that this cartoon already had (the existing hardcore fandom aside) no chance of being seriously watched by anyone over the age of 5.

What? Andrew said something negative about a Turtle universe not the original Mirage comics...I'm shocked and a little dismayed.

I don't remember 1987 Splinter ever calling calling the turtles his sons.

Exactly. I was disappointing re-watching the FW series by how infrequently Splinter calls the Turtles his "sons." Mostly "friends" and "students"

He calls them his sons in quite a few episodes, you just have to pay attention.

He mostly called them, "My students" in the old show though.

What a strange question to post to the TMNT fandom.

He's just looking for attention.

Yes, that must be it. What's the matter with me, of course this is Shakespeare... Fred Wolf mutagen is a wonderful idea...

He did a few times.

I grew up with both concepts so it's OK by me

I am actaully glad to see that kthey are using the hamato mutant yoshi storyline, Bc the 4kids jst used the rat origin and having a new series I am glad they r using a different origin and i think parents who watched it as kids who have kids now can relate and probably encourage their kids to watch it.

I mean... I hate to be the typical, idiot straw man fan going, "Your logical Ninja Turtles argument is MOOT because these are fantastical stories about MUTANT NINJA TURTLES!!!" but in this case I kind of have to -- it's "hard to write about a rat" but it's not hard to write about 4 turtles? How so?

You can't even apply the same logic as Splinter (is he Hamato Yoshi or isn't he) to the Turtles, either -- in every universe, even the Fred Wolf universe, the Turtles were just normal baby Turtles prior to mutagen exposure.

"Ahh yes, little Timmy. This cartoon really takes me back, back to the time I was a ninja master who was mutated into a rat-form. Gather 'round the TV and let us go back down memory lane."

The thread is about Splinter, not the turtles, but to answer the question, it's easier to write about them because they were really young when they were mutated. They sorta were aging like humans were. You can write about their life growing up into their teens. Seems you can't really do that with Splinter since we do know that the majority of his life prior to his mutation was in a cage. Like I said, it's easier to expand on his character (imo) if you do human > mutated rat than rat > mutated rat. Like I said, there really isn't much, I feel, that you can write about pertaining to his character prior to his mutation, 'cept for Saki killing Yoshi and that girl Saki liked (my mind is so blank right now. >< lol). I guess I'm just biased. I love how Archie handled Splinter's character and we did learn a lot about Hamato Yoshi in general before he was mutated (and could even put an age to him). I find it more interesting to see that set up because you feel more sorry for him (I feel). Here's a guy who was once human who lived amongst humans, who is now ostracized and forced to live in the sewers. Seems you just can't get that with the rate > mutated rat set up because he would've already been "ostracized" from the start.

I probably didn't word what I was trying to say properly, but I hope it made sense. ^^;

It's easier to expand on a character that already has a lot of background rather than one who doesn't? I...I'm not reading that right, am I?

Because I'd imagine not having a lot of background to wrangle with would actually be easier to write about because you have the freedom to do anything. No pesky canon to adhere to.

ex: the IDW reboot.

Dear Nick,

Please have an Asian character on your show that is neither dehumanized nor is a villainous martial artist.

Either/or; I just don't understand how a rat can learn martial arts by way of mimicry.

There's an untold story of how Splinter was never a normal rat to begin with. IDW seems to be doing their own story on that that seems pretty sensible.

Mirage had 25 years to have a story and explain why Splinter always seemed more intelligent than your average rat. It also would have been a nice Tales of the TMNT.

Why did they not do it?

I believe Peter Laird fielded that one on his blog in the last Q&A or so. They had a story but decided not too... I'm not clear on the reasoning but it just boiled down to them deciding to leave well enough alone after a certain point.

I always preferred the Hamoto Yoshi origin, as i too believe that it adds a sense of tragedy to the character and i think deep down Splinter has more human qualities than a rat. I think that this way he has more dimensions to him. Just my opinion.

I prefer Splinter being a Mutated rat, but if they make the New shows story good I'll be fine with it. Never liked that Splinter was Yoshi in the FW series, made no sense that Splinter where not more active to remove Shredder as the head of the Foot when Splinter was the rightful heir to the Clan

Nope. It's easier to make up a story for a human character who actually had a real life compared to a rat who spent his life in a cage mimicking his owner (imo). It also makes Splinter more of a tragic character if you go the human > rat route. I also said nothing about using canon from other universes. I just said it's easier to me to come up with a nice background for a person who was once human who is now forced to live as an outcast compared to a giant rat who would've been outcast anyway, mutation or not.You worded it better, but this is exactly what I was trying to say. This is the main reason why I prefer the Hamato Yoshi > Splinter origin. The FW cartoon also has nothing to do with it. I do feel he has more dimensions to his character in this regard or has the potential to. Being once human, he understands what it's like to have been one and walk amongst them. As a rat > mutated rat, he technically wouldn't have since he still would've just been seen as a "pet" or a "pest".

I disagree here. I think you can still do a background story on Splinter as a rat. I'm sure that even as a rat, he had fond memories of his Master and could recall them easily. Plus, I think that watching your Master get killed would've been frightening for Splinter to witness and that he would have many nightmares about it. Not only that, but you could also do more with him being a parent to the four baby Turtles. I've seen many fics talk about raising them, and they were well-written.

Honestly? I'm not real happy about him being Hamato Yoshi mutated into a rat again, like in the OS, but I can live with it. We're getting a new TMNT series (CGI, or whatever) in a little less than two years (or so) after the 2K3 series ended, so that's the important thing to me.

(Translation: I'm happy about the new series. The other stuff; three toes on the boys, Splinter being Hamato Yoshi...not so much. But as I said above, I can live with those factors. Very happily, in fact.)

True, but I feel that the mutation itself makes more sense in the 2k3 version.

Honestly, it's probably better for them to go with the Hamato Yoshi is Splinter path, just to mix things up a little. Besides, most people in this thread seem to agree with it, so there's that too. I personally don't mind.

Again, as long as the show is good!