New appreciation for Splinter being Hamato Yoshi.
 

After watching the new movie and discussing it with a couple of friends, I think Splinter being Hamato Yoshi is the best way to go. I was originally iffy on going back to this origin, but when you think about it, whether it's the comic, the first movie, or the new movie, Splinter being a rat and learning ninjitsu is really stupid.

Yeah, a rat finds a book in the sewers, and with a few years (?) becomes a ninja master. Or a pre-mutated rat mimicking human movements becomes a ninja master. None of this sounds any better. I remember how weird it felt when I watched the first movie when I was 10. I wasn't familiar with the comics and I called bull on an ordinary mouse learning ninjitsu from his cage. I really couldn't get over that even in a movie about giant talking turtles that knows ninjitsu. It's mainly because in this universe pre-mutated animals are just like ordinary animals in real life.

Hamato Yoshi being Splinter just requires less mental gymnastics to accept. He's already a wise and enlightened man, who just happens to look like a mouse.

Yeah, I always much preferred Yoshi himself becoming Splinter, instead of his pet rat. It always seemed like one of those things that was a half-step too far off the ground. It always seemed to me like some people only preferred the Mirage/movie version because it was written first, not because it made more sense (because it doesn't).

I always liked the OT explanation but not the way they did it. The fact you visibly see Yoshi touch the Turtles, and then change into a rat, is the only thing that "undoes" the basic idea of it. Otherwise, it works a lot better, for the reasons you stated. Yoshi already knew ninjutsu and stuff before he mutated, so it wasn't as much of a stretch, plus I kind of liked the wrinkle it added with Splinter's internal struggle over whether he should embrace his new rat-like existence, or fight to reclaim his humanity.

I just think it works a lot better - if explained correctly - when Yoshi becomes Splinter.

completely 100% agree

the new movies "book" origin, is more acceptable than 2k3s "learning ninjutsu as a basic pet rat" because thats a little too far out there. atleast with the book hes mutated and has human mental capabilities, as a rat, its just bad to me.

yoshi becoming splinter not only requires the least "mental gymnastics" (i like this phrase haha) but it also allows for a deeper rivalry with shredder than the other way. it doesnt have to be the whole tang shen angle, but it could be numerous reasons as to why shredder hates them. i cant even remember why 2k3 shredder hated the turtles

its weird, an episode in 2k3 has the foot capturing splinter and giving him to shredder, and shredders pissed that he only got the rat and not the turtles. in nick, shredders whole rivalry was based around splinter, killing him is the ultimate goal.

I was one of those people until today. It just suddenly hit me how stupid it was no matter how you slice it. Like I said, animals are still normal animals like the real world. This made a rat mimicking a man really stupid. If Splinter was a Chimp, it would be easier to swallow. Oh god... Splinter as a Chimp... I might regret starting this idea.

It was mainly just the turtles getting in his way time and time again. The grudge was more on Splinter's side.

In 2k3 at least Splinter as a normal rat went with Yoshi to the Battle Nexus. I think it was implied in 2k3 that Splinter wasn't just a normal rat either.

I've always preferred the Hamato Yoshi being Splinter idea, though the problem there is the name change to Splinter is a bit odd. Splinter mimicking from the cage is just stupid.

Now while the new movie origin also has a few weird parts like why does Splinter want to learn Ninjitsu just because he found a book? Him being able to learn it because of the mutation actually makes sense.

When is that implied?

oh right, i can kinda remember leo considering working for shredder before he knew he was bad or something

and then splinter saw yoshi be killed by shredder


as for cubed, where was that ever implied?

He said in the movie he wanted to learn because it would help them protect themselves from the outside world. Ninjitsu is the best for hiding yourself if you want to be unseen.

We see him on Yoshi's shoulder in the Battle Nexus bowing with him to the audience in a flashback.

Splinter also said he remembered the Battle Nexus before mutation, which would be impossible for a normal rat.

first point, thats just because yoshi was his "mentor". splinter was his student, so it was a master apprentice moment.

second, he remebers them because he heard about the from others, maybe even yoshi himself.

Uh, what? We literally see a flashback with Yoshi and Splinter together in the Battle Nexus, bowing to the audience. Splinter went with Yoshi there before he was mutated as a normal rat.

Splinter remembered the Battle Nexus, that's how he was able to create the chant and portal to take him back there time and time again.

This is easy to rationalize. After being changed into a Rat, he was no longer the man he once was, hence the name change.

its the only issue i see with it, but youre right, easy to explain. everyone refers to him as splinter, except shredder, and when theres an intense family/backstory moment (ratking episode)

Hamato Yoshi is the man he was. This is a life he can never have back.

This is why I like IDW's version.

I do prefer the Splinter being Hamato Yoshi, but I also agree with Cube, that in the 2k3, he wasn't a normal rat. Or at least until Yoshi got him. And then we have the whole Ancient One, who Splinter knows well, knows well enough to send Leo to. There was probably another arc they were going to tell until Fast Forward came along.

I don't. I'm not a fan of the reincarnation sh!t at all.

I'll always like the Hamato origin. The way he learned ninjutsu in the movie was so stupid.

Ehh, it works better to me. Until IDW, I liked Splinter being the rat instead of Yoshi. Even though it was dumb for a rat to be able to mimic the movements of a human.

Splinter not being Hamato Yoshi is always a bit iffy origin to me. That's why I dislike 2k3 and Mirage origin. A rat copying his master? That's as refreshing as a horse tranquilizer.

But in the movie, I like to think he awoken memories of past life when he discovered the book, where he and his sons were actually human just like in IDW version. So there's no problem for him to recall back his previous experience and teachings.

I love the Hamato Yoshi becomes Splinter origin, Splinter losing his wife and child and his humanity is more tragic than losing a human owner he only knew when he wasn't intelligent enough to appricate before he mutated. So reincarnation or human Yoshi mutated are both awesome to me.