Splinter's use of "My Sons" in the original toon

[Ginny]

Originally Posted by Jester

Yeah, part of me wonders if the movie ingrained the "family" dynamic into me more than the show.

Yeah, I think you hit the nail on the head. It was the movie that really defined them as a family for me, because the movie showed them with intense emotions for one another whereas the OT didn't really get into that. Undestandably so, considering it was a kids' toon!

I've wondered if maybe not all of the turtles are genetically related, but, say Raph and Mikey are actually biological brothers, but Don and Leo aren't related to them or each other?