Relations in the old toon
 

There's a question I've always wanted to ask to you old toon loyalists out there. Were the old toon TMNT brothers or just friends that look strangely alike? It's been bugging me ever since I found out that the TMNT were related in all the other TMNT universes (except Next Mutation)

I was under the impression, especially since they were different breeds of turtles and skin-tones, that they were more along the lines of the "best friends who grew up close and became brothers."

Kinda like how they're not really Splinter's sons...but hey, what decides what makes a family?

thats what i thought like how splinters there "father" samething but wait it was said that they werent brothers in tnm

I suppose they could be friends. Not every turtle Chet/the boy bought could have been born from the same mother. I think they are brothers, though, since it's been generally the norm to accept that since the Mirage comics came out.

i never really thought about it i just saw them all as a family :P

Now I know, this is taking everything WAAAAY seriously, but allow me to indulge. :D This is all taken from previous pet turtle experience.

Recently, the little turtles sold in Chinatowns have been Red-eared Sliders. But that is because they are easy to obtain in the US saving import costs and loss of turtles.

Prior to this, the little "coin turtles" sold in Chinatowns (and during the time of the creation of TMNT) were an Asian species imported from China and Japan called Chinemys reevesii, Common Name: Coin Turtle or Reeve's Turtle. The problems of importing and breeding captive Reeve's made merchants switch to common US breeds in the 90's. Reeve's can now only be found in reptile speciality shops and from breeders.

These little semi-aquatic turtles come in a variety of skin-tones. They are also one of the few breeds that can be tamed enough to welcome interaction with humans.

It could be personal bias on my part, because my family owned a Reeve's Turtle and I have fond memories of that turtle (may he rest in peace). But since the TMNT were mutated from 80's Chinatown coin turtles, I've always thought they were Reeve's and that's why they had the different skin tones.

Then I met someone who was an obsessed TMNT fanatic and the name Reeve's Turtle took on new meaning and I thought it was especially appropriate. :wink:

Well it looks more like they were close friends in the show and splinter was just their sensei. The whole brotherly thing was never really touched upon on the old show. They all seemed like good buddies, but never acted particularly brotherly, and while they did hold deep respect for splinter, they treat strictly like a sensei, not like a father. I dunno, maybe they thought it would be too deep for the kids to handle.

well im not sure if genetically they were bros but mentaly they were all family. all the turtles thought of each other as bros and splinter was not just there sensai but their father..ya it wasnt really talked about but that notion was there..i like how much of a "family" the new toon is.

Well, the comics, the new show and the movies all captured the sense of brotherhood with the TMNT. The old show just made all like a team, but not family.

Re: Relations in the old toon
 

I think Leo just told Venus that to try to make his move on her.

Ugh...

"Incest" now?

yep...exact NM quote "Oh we're not brothers...we're petshop turtles, born and bred on a turtle farm."

Re: Relations in the old toon
 

Not "just" to put the moves on her. But he obviously had motives when he informed her that they weren't blood related. They (and by they I mean both Leo and the show's writers) wanted to keep the option of a romance open. Leo realized that if she thought of herself as their "sister" it would ruin his chances.

He was 17 after all...

hrmmm
 

Only in the Mirage and Archie mediums (and their offshoots) were the TMNT regarded as 'brothers'.

This was something that did shock me while rewatching the old toon dvd. Splinter refers to the turtles as his "friends" to April. And in one of the 10th season episodes, Don tells Leo "We're your friends"... I didn't remember all that... It almost seemed like they were trying to make a point that they weren't related.

To be honest, it kinda disappointed me... I so like looking at them as a family...

I always saw them as a family, despite growing up with the old cartoon. Man, some of the stories i wrote in 5-6ths grade... :goofygri:

Yeah, me too... but I guess to hear them keep... not saying it just...deflated me a bit.

ya i can remember that but u can be good friends w/ sibilings if ur that close. for all we know maybe the writters of the old toon never really thought about it at all? i mean the old toon did set the record for most "oopsys" in an animated series lmao.

In the old toon I always saw them as friends/team-mates more than anything. They were like superhero's. I never felt that brotherly vibe at all. At most I'd say they were best buddies who looked at Splinter as a leader/teacher authority type figure rather than an actual parental figure.

In the new toon they are definitely a family. I see the turtles as brothers who love Splinter like a father and look up to him as such. No question about it. I think the same goes for the movies, too.

Didn't Leo say "Let's go brothers!" in one episode? I swore they were brothers.