the "teenage" in Ninja Turtles

[Sewer Sirens Podcast]

Here's an article from TMNT Entity on the subject:

http://tmntentity.blogspot.com/2014/...n-teenage.html

I, also, never really thought of the turtles as teens (only in the Nick show). Even in the 1987 cartoon, I didn't ever really think of them as teens.

[ssjup81]

For the 2k12 series they are definitely teen like. OT version...I felt they were teen like...maybe later teens though. They did enjoy playing at an arcade and stuff.

[The Boston Ninja Turtle]

Originally Posted by Sewer Sirens Podcast

Here's an article from TMNT Entity on the subject:

http://tmntentity.blogspot.com/2014/...n-teenage.html

I, also, never really thought of the turtles as teens (only in the Nick show). Even in the 1987 cartoon, I didn't ever really think of them as teens.

that is a great article thanks for sharing

[Netkeeper]

Originally Posted by Sewer Sirens Podcast

Here's an article from TMNT Entity on the subject:

http://tmntentity.blogspot.com/2014/...n-teenage.html

Wow, I never want to read this blog again. They're idiots. The 87 turtles were still Splinter's sons, he refers to them as such.

They still hung out with adults like April and Casey, which in itself could become a little weird and problematic.

How the hell is this a problem at all. What is wrong with teens hanging out with 23 year olds? I hang out with teenagers all the god damn time. One of my best friends is 16.

Also, the Turtles in that cartoon were friggin’ jacked for 15

AS THEY SHOULD BE. They spent their whole lives training. They're going to be ripped, and anything less is unrealistic. Being 15 means nothing -- as long as they've hit puberty age where testosterone is going to start giving them prominent muscle growth, they're going to have it. They aren't like the scrawny 2k12 turtles that still need to grow into their bodies -- they already grew into them.

miniature adults

Of COURSE it's proper to treat them as miniature adults, LOOK AT THEIR LIFESTYLE AND LOOK HOW FAST THEY HAD TO FRIGGIN' GROW UP.

“their unique upbringing made them grow up faster psychologically so they don’t exhibit typical immature teenage attitudes”. There’s any number of excuses

Oh, so you know why. IT'S NOT AN EXCUSE IT'S CALLED REALISTIC CHARACTER WRITING.

Wow, this article made me mad.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Netkeeper

Being 15 means nothing -- as long as they've hit puberty age where testosterone is going to start giving them prominent muscle growth, they're going to have it.

There's no reason to think or assume that mutated Turtles have human-like testosterone, or that it would even work the same way it does for them as it does in humans.

Which is kind of hand in hand with my point about the ridiculous expectations people seem to continually place on the TMNT -- that they either don't act enough like normal human teenagers or that they should be acting more like normal human teenagers.

They shouldn't. They're not. Their lives and upbringing are nothing like yours or mine... not remotely. You want to get your normal teenage behavior fix on TV, go watch "The Carrie Diaries" or something.

[Cipher]

Originally Posted by Netkeeper

Wow, I never want to read this blog again. They're idiots. The 87 turtles were still Splinter's sons, he refers to them as such.

I don't believe he actually does. It's nearly always (maybe actually always?) "my pupils."

I don't really care how mature the Turtles are portrayed as being, although my favorite stories have taken advantage of them having a little more adult awareness, in regards to mortality, morality, etc. But my favorite Turtles anything is post-#50 Mirage, so your mileage may vary.

[Bry]

I've always considered them teenagers, albeit teenagers who (in most versions) had to grow up a lot quicker than most human ones do and are far more capable and independent out of necessity. But there are still usually some telltale signs of adolescence (such as Raph's emotional outbursts, Mikey's more childlike nature, etc).

IMO, each word in "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" should be essential. Not always the case in practice, though...

Originally Posted by Cipher

I don't believe he actually does. It's nearly always (maybe actually always?) "my pupils."

Turtles Forever made a point to show the '87 Turtles confused when the '03 Turtles called their Splinter "father". I can't be sure, but from memory I recall them being called "students/pupils" and "master/sensei" respectively in the '87 cartoon, but not "sons" or "father". I always felt they had a father/sons relationship, but I don't recall it being stated on the show itself.

[The Boston Ninja Turtle]

even Michelangelo is known in the 87 series to say "my pals" or "buds" over "brothers"

[Refractive Reflections]

Originally Posted by Netkeeper

Wow, I never want to read this blog again. They're idiots. The 87 turtles were still Splinter's sons, he refers to them as such.

There are a few times Splinter says it, but not as often to give a sense of a family dynamic as compared to other TMNT versions though.

Originally Posted by Netkeeper

Of COURSE it's proper to treat them as miniature adults, LOOK AT THEIR LIFESTYLE AND LOOK HOW FAST THEY HAD TO FRIGGIN' GROW UP.

Oh, so you know why. IT'S NOT AN EXCUSE IT'S CALLED REALISTIC CHARACTER WRITING.

Wow, this article made me mad.

Yeah that "there's any number of excuses" is inadvertently close to being offensive because having some friends who grew up in the inner city before moving to a better school district, and visiting those scary places myself, they told me, "So imagine hearing people getting raped and killed as the lullaby to your nights before going to bed as a child. You think being in high school as a teenager, I was concerned about popularity and proms, and could relate to them? I already felt like a thirty-something witnessing such human brutality and could get along with middle-aged adults easier. I got along more with the teachers in my school more than my classmates. My teenage innocence and ignorance was long gone. In fact, I didn't experience it like these middle-class teenagers do." ...And here these Turtles are dealing with life-threatening battles all the time.

Now I'm not saying the Turtles have to be excessively grim as I stated before, but their unique, insecure lifestyle to explain their more grownup thinking is not just an "excuse", it's a legitimate reason.