Addressing and referring to Splinter

[jenna]

I don't know of any 'rules' but they seem to call him 'Father' when they are in the role of sons rather than students, or when feeling vulnerable. On one occassion that I know of, in 2k3, Raphael refers to Splinter (in his absence) as 'Dad'.

[Scandia]

I am asking because in the OT, Mikey once refers to Splinter as "man" and Splinter reprimanded him saying "what will you call me next, 'rat-faced dude'?".

I do agree with the vulnerability part. In the movie prequel comic, Donatello calls Splinter "father" when the monster is taking him away.

Other than the movie/prequel comics, I have only seen a Turtle refer to Splinter as his father. And that would be Raphael in the Casey Jones episode of the NT. He said something like "my father taught me/always said". So it was talking about him, not so much addressing him.

[jenna]

Yeah, they are more likely to talk about him as thier father, but address him directly more formally as a teacher.

[Ninjinister]

I know in the new movie, he was referenced as "father" probably more than any other spinoff media.

[Sage Ninja]

Originally Posted by Scandia

I am asking because in the OT, Mikey once refers to Splinter as "man" and Splinter reprimanded him saying "what will you call me next, 'rat-faced dude'?"

I liked this small bit in the old toon where Splinter gets stern with Michaelangelo for being disrespectful by calling him a casual name. Its the exact same thing my parent would reprimand me on if I had done that. As a parent/teacher you don't adress them with the same causualness you would with a peer, its just a matter of respect. So Michaelangelo was out of line for saying "hey man!" to Splinter when he took his comic, and Splinter's reaction was of being disrespected was justified. Thats why he went into his spiel about being demeaned even more with stupid slang terms.

In the old toon the turtles only call Splinter "Master Splinter" or "sensei" in his presence, and even when he's not around eighther. Although I notice that some of the time they mearly call him Splinter when its a despret situation.

In the new toon, while in Splinter's presence I notice the turtles use "sensei" and "Master Splinter" interchangably with each. Genrally its Master Splinter even in casual setting (like if there just lounging in front of the TV). What confuses me a bit is some times the turtles call Splinter "sensei" in situations that are not just in a student teacher inviroment eighther, but in casual setting as well. In the episode Return of the Justice Force when Mikey starts flipping out that he can't find the last issue of a comic he is reading, which annoys Splinter, he tels Splinter hes sorry and refers to him as "sensei". When Splinter isn't around I think the turtles still add the title "master" before his name as well. I can't think of a situation that where they only call him Splinter.

I just realized something. I don't think Mikey or Donatello have ever called Splinter "father" in the 2k3 series at all. I can think of at least two or three occassions where Raphael and Leonardo have called Slpinter "father" but not the other two. weird

[Scandia]

"It's like finding out your dad is Superman" by Michelangelo

That does count as a Turtle referring to Splinter as his father.

[triplexxx]

Also, though it's only commercial, in those new On Demand TMNT episodes, they have commericals where Michaelangelo says "Our dad's a master".

[Scandia]

It does not surprise me all that much to be honest that in the first two seasons, only Raphael and Michelangelo referred to Splinter as their father. Why, if neither of them would be the one closest to Splinter? Because those two definitely need Splinter's parenting the most. While the other two can raise themselves, Mikey and Raph definitely need a strong father (not just figure- an actual father raising them) in order to put and keep them on the right path. And you bet they appreciate Splinter being their father very much.

[Sage Ninja]

are you refereing the old toon or the new toon?

[triplexxx]

Originally Posted by Scandia

It does not surprise me all that much to be honest that in the first two seasons, only Raphael and Michelangelo referred to Splinter as their father. Why, if neither of them would be the one closest to Splinter?

Heh, well...even if neither of them are the ones closest to him, he's still the same thing to them as he is to Donatello and Leonardo, a father and a sensei. I get the idea they don't purposely arrange the script so that only certain turtles address Splinter as father, or whatever. They just pick and choose for no particular reason just to keep the show moving along.

[Ava Collier]

Originally Posted by Sage Ninja

In the old toon the turtles only call Splinter "Master Splinter" or "sensei" in his presence

That's not true. I'm not a hundred percent on the episode, but I think it was "Enter the Shredder" when Raphael caught Master Splinter as he fell, and said "C'mon Splinter. We're checkin' outta this dump."

[jenna]

Originally Posted by Ava Collier

That's not true. I'm not a hundred percent on the episode, but I think it was "Enter the Shredder" when Raphael caught Master Splinter as he fell, and said "C'mon Splinter. We're checkin' outta this dump."

Yeah, Raph's a rebel.

[Scandia]

And in the episode "Touch and Go", Raphael says "Yeah, my father will be waiting for me".

I am starting to believe it is NOT random that Raphael has said it the most.

[jenna]

Originally Posted by Scandia

And in the episode "Touch and Go", Raphael says "Yeah, my father will be waiting for me".

I am starting to believe it is NOT random that Raphael has said it the most.

It's definitely not random. Raphael is actually a very balanced character because his aggression and toughness is balanced by a very poignant fragility which makes him more prone to seeking a 'parent' in Splinter than his brothers.