Do you use TMNT as a source of inspiration?
 

However lame / cheesy it may sound, I frequently use the Turtles as a source of inspiration when creating original characters, or just drawing in general. And it's odd, because the things I draw don't resemble the Turtles or any characters in the franchise, but watching their media and fan art just gets me motivated to make creations of my own. And it's one of the only franchises that manages to do that consistently.

I think it's the art style that does it. The main thing I love about them is that gritty look that usually accompanies them (particularly in the 2003 cartoon). My drawings have that same kind of dark tone and comic-esque look, so it's easy for me to connect to that. And like I said, no matter how many times I revisit them, they manage to spark something in my head that later manifests itself on paper. By now I have an entire series in the works, almost entirely thanks to the Turtles. (I could list other things they've done for me, but I'm trying to keep this short.)

So I'm wondering if I'm alone here. Does anyone else use TMNT for inspirational / motivational purposes? Not just for art, but for anything?

Hmm, interesting. Sometimes, I guess. Sometimes when I'm really pushing through a tough workout I'll kinda try and put myself in "Leo Mode" and beast through it. :lol: I've never actually thought about it much but it's definitely something I've done and just never dwelled on.

A little sometimes.

Case in point, yesterday I had pre-testing for an upcoming surgery, an EKG and...a blood test, which is the part I'm pretty much terrified of. I admit in my head has been the thought "Leo, lend me a little of your courage, buddy..." Because I sure don't tend to have much of my own.

More afraid of that damn blood test than the surgery, at least at the moment. Glad it that part is over. I did not pass out over it, but I was close. >.>


P.S. That signature is adorable.:D

Do I use TMNT as a source of inspiration?

Well...I don't (as of yet anyway.) But let it be said that no one couldn't tell me of another way to see the Turtles.

Interesting thread that you posted here Gunpowder.

I actually do use the series as inspiration quite a bit.

Hm...

Looks at pages and pages of TMNT-based fanwork

I dunno. There is a slight chance that it is a huge source of inspiration for me.

I guess it could be so.

But I also draw inspiration from others into TMNT. I did Raphael as Ariel from The Little Mermaid in TMNT setting for the lolz. :trazz:

Oh yes! Raphael is definitely one of my inspirations in life, in that I don't take sh!t from no one. I don't care who they are. And thanks to Raph, when I was younger, I definitely chipped away that brain to mouth filter. My two biggest influences in my life choices were Raphael, and Madonna's Express Yourself song.

.....No.......

Not really the characters themselves. But Kevin and Peter? Absolutely. The fact that two dudes were able to cook up an idea from their living room that became a legitimate phenomenon will always be hugely meaningful and inspirational to me.

I can definitely relate. :lol:

With each passing day, I get worse and worse about that... When I start talking to someone, 99% of my thoughts come out as words. Probably not a good thing, but hey, it hasn't gotten me beaten up yet. :lol:

Agreed. And the fact that they did so completely as a joke (initially, of course) is mind-boggling to me. Makes me wonder if I take my own stuff too seriously... :tsweatdr:

Yes, as well as real-life theorists and thinkers, Donatello is someone who I find inspirational in terms of study and intellect. If I ever feel lazy and am procrastinating an essay I know that he would tell me to get on with it.

I find Leonardo's discipline inspirational, but that sort of devotion and ritualistic living isn't something I can really manage. I do aspire to it though.

An inspiration to my life as a whole? No, can't say I do.

Now, if we're talking about them being an inspiration when it comes to ideas for a story and creating fictional characters, then you might be on to something.

Don't you love how that works? Once you're familiar enough with them, you associate them with so many little things. Sometimes during my workouts, when I'm in the middle of a set, occasionally I'll think something along the lines of, "Raph would keep going. So you'll keep going." And it works. :lol: Not necessarily something I "try" to do, it just happens every so often.

I'm a heavy procrastinator, as well, but - Donnie or no Donnie - I don't think that's about to change.

Yeah, that's the main thing I get from them. Just looking at them gets me in the mood to make concept art.

Way back in the day when I was learning Art in High school, My Art teacher use the turtles to help us learn 4 of the masters of art in that time period. He made pics of the turtles making the works that there counterparts did in real life.

I still get a kick in seeing Mickey making the David, or Leo painting the Lisa, :lol:

That teacher needs to be on here and still needs to have those pieces, or photos of it, I want to see! :D



Heh... So grabbed one of those dog tags off of eBay, those 'blind bag' ones they have/had for the movie. Never caught sight of those in my stores and no doubt paid more than retail, but figured it worth the few extra bucks to know what I'd be getting rather than spend even more on random chances to, with my luck, possibly never get what I hoped for had I seen these in stores.

Where that fits into this thread... I'd had it in mind that when I have to go for surgery this coming Friday I may just tuck it in my bag and take it with me. Just a small personal reminder to try to have courage and whatnot. I'm sure it probably sounds entirely silly, but hey... I'm sure there are others who may take something with them, religious folks for example no doubt might take along something that helps them try to keep their courage and/or helps them feel protected. So, ya know... not religious at all, but TMNT fan, so why not go with a personal hero instead, fictional or not... lol

I knew these dog tags all supposedly have a different phrase on the back, or the pictured character's name, but when I bought it I didn't have any idea what this one might say so I was curious to know. So I got it today and found out: "We're here to protect."

Completely perfect. Just some little token as a personal reminder but does/will help/inspire even more than expected I think. Never underestimate the little stuff. ;)

Are they the ones that have their pics on one side, and has the kanji and mask/weapon on the back? I have one for Mikey, but I have no idea what the symbol on it says. That would be kind of cool to know what it means. I only have his, though, so maybe if anyone else has the others, they could post the meanings here?

As for do I use them as inspiration- heck YEAH, I do! I do fan-fics quite a bit, and TMNT and Spider-Man are the two comic franchises that have inspired/influenced me the most. I have an on-going (on hiatus, but....) comic series for an alternate future son of Spidey, and several fics involving the turtles in various incarnations (mostly it's my own mix of TMNT-verses, but I take bits from each, and blend them into one world. I also have a cross-over one with the Gargoyles.)

Nah it's the oval shell shaped ones. (The 'check list' http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NzU3WDE2MD...T3YNB/$_57.JPG ) Think I know what ones your talking about though, don't own any of them though (yet). Agree it would be nice to know the Kanji symbols with the film and on merchandise like that.

Sure! I never put anchovies in my Pizza.

Well I am writing a book from time to time (when feel like it, it's been almost three years since I've started) which draws heavily from Kevin and Peter's attitude of "write whatever you feel like, no matter how weird".

Granted, the book is really terrible and I would have to do some major edits once I'm finished (if I ever finish it).

Always. It's what has inspired Tri-Masters. Along with other fandoms I just couldn't get enough of.

Heck yeah! I write fan fiction all of the time for them, and it really helps me escape from my problems. I also remember in college being stressed out about math and just imagining that Leo was with me comforting me and saying, "You'll get through it, Shell. Just try your best and you'll be fine." Yeah, it sounds weird to some, but it helped. Even now when I'm feeling down about something or scared, I imagine the Turtles are with me and talking to me, offering comfort. It definitely makes me feel better when I do that.

The Turtles themselves have been inspiring me for over two decades now. I'd say each one inspires me in different ways. Leo always inspires me to give it my all. Don: to go with my curiosity and to be open to learning new things. Raph: to seek balance in all things. Mikey: to always be optimistic, to love life, and to never forget that it's alright to be a kid at heart. Mikey has also inspired me to make new friends from the very beginning since he seems like he's always been that kind of turtle. I forgot about Splinter. He's inspired me to be a better listener ever since I first saw the original 1990 movie.

Yeah, there's always a way to relate them to practically anything. Even when consuming other entertainment I ask myself what Donnie (especially) would do in a certain situation. For example, I often wonder what he and Leo would think of Walter White from Breaking Bad - his duality, the ambiguity of what he's doing. I reckon Leo would be completely against it but Donnie would try and convince him that life isn't so black and white.

My friend's been pestering me to watch Breaking Bad for the longest time...but I haven't done so as of yet. :embarass: When I do, I'll think of that when I see that character. He sounds interesting.

Ahhh mate you are in for a treat - it truly is a fantastic show, and that's not me jumping on the bandwagon because I wasn't expecting to enjoy it from the premise - but I marathoned the first four seasons over a week or two in 2012 and enjoyed it immensely, before consuming the two parts of season 5 weekly as we are debating in the other thread. I watched it all again in 2013 - it has lots of rewatch value.

It's only 62 episodes long, so very manageable. I would say throw it to the top of your list :)