OT Question: Why didn't the Turtles shorten their names?

ryukenden · 04-19-2011, 10:11 PM

In the original toon, the Turtles and their allies always called each other by their full name. In every other incarnation they always said Leo, Raph, Mikey and Donny, they even did that in Next Mutation. It would have been easier if they did call each other by their nicknames and let Splinter just refer to them by their full name. I wonder why they were always called by their full name.

*sdp* · 04-19-2011, 10:13 PM

I kinda like them being called by their full name, its ok for them between them to do it occasionally but not all the time like in 2k3.

**Jester** · 04-19-2011, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryukenden

In the original toon, the Turtles and their allies always called each other by their full name. In every other incarnation they always said Leo, Raph, Mikey and Donny, they even did that in Next Mutation. It would have been easier if they did call each other by their nicknames and let Splinter just refer to them by their full name. I wonder why they were always called by their full name.

Everything was more formal in the FW series for some reason. Seldom did Splinter call them his "sons" but often he called the "students" or "wards." They were more a close group of friends than a family.

*CyberCubed* · 04-19-2011, 10:43 PM

Splinter called them his sons in a few episodes.

**Jester** · 04-19-2011, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

Splinter called them his sons in a few episodes.

Let's see....
I can remember off hand:
Enter the Shredder - "Head upward, my sons. Find a way around all this."
Green with Jealousy - "Work quickly, my son...Your brother Turtles.'

Heck he calls April and Carter his children about as much as the Turtles.

**Venom** · 04-19-2011, 11:19 PM

I think now since Splinter was Yoshi in the OT that he didn't truly see the Turtles as sons, but rather these four creatures that he got as pets became people that needed to be guided and cared for. Since Yoshi was a ninja master, he reared them as such.

*sdp* · 04-19-2011, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jester

L
Heck he calls April and Carter his children about as much as the Turtles.

are you trying to tell us that Splinters son in the Nick series will be Carter and/or April!

**Jester** · 04-19-2011, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdp

are you trying to tell us that Splinters son in the Nick series will be Carter and/or April!

Yes...teen April is Yoshi's daughter....

Spoiler:

*Candy Kappa* · 04-20-2011, 06:58 PM

I think it was for simplifying things, and not get children confused.

**Jester** · 04-20-2011, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiwamu The Kappa

I think it was for simplifying things, and not get children confused.

Then Playmates and the movies screwed that up...cause they abbreviated the names. Heck, I think when I played with my friends we shortened the names...

*CyberCubed* · 04-20-2011, 07:23 PM

I do wonder if its because the writers wanted their names to be easily recognizable to children, and have their names be the same in every episode.

The movies were just one-shot movies, but the show went on for 190+ episodes.

**Jester** · 04-20-2011, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

I do wonder if its because the writers wanted their names to be easily recognizable to children, and have their names be the same in every episode.

The movies were just one-shot movies, but the show went on for 190+ episodes.

And the 4kids series went on for 156...so what?

*Candy Kappa* · 04-20-2011, 07:40 PM

when I have been talking to children about TMNT, it wasn't uncommon that they reacted in questions when I used the shorten names. So I thought about it in that sense, it wouldn't confuse a younger audience with multiple names

*ssjup81* · 04-20-2011, 07:51 PM

Kids know about "nicknames", so I don't see why it would confuse them. In all honesty, though, I can't remember if I started calling them, Leo, Donny (Don), Raph, and Mikey before I saw the first movie or after it. As far back as I can remember, seems I always referred to them by their nicks, especially when playing the arcade games.

*oldmanwinters* · 04-20-2011, 08:04 PM

Maybe as a former human, Yoshi/Splinter would have felt awkward thinking of humanoid reptiles as his "children." It might raise questions and be a socially taboo dinner topic.

*Donnie* · 04-20-2011, 08:28 PM

I always thought that was an interesting part of Splinter's character in all incarnations: how he referred to the Turtles. I prefer the warmer, father approach, although I understand the need for a straight up caring sensei, too.

*CyberCubed* · 04-20-2011, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jester

And the 4kids series went on for 156...so what?

The first cartoon was before the Turtles were known. They didn't even know if the cartoon was even going to be a success. The first season could have been the end of it, or even the second season.

Giving the Turtles all recognizable names without shortening it helped them become well known to both kids and licenses at the time.

**Jester** · 04-20-2011, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

The first cartoon was before the Turtles were known. They didn't even know if the cartoon was even going to be a success. The first season could have been the end of it, or even the second season.

Giving the Turtles all recognizable names without shortening it helped them become well known to both kids and licenses at the time.

And yet in 1990, just 6 years after they were created and 3 years after the series debuted (or between the 3rd and 4th season) Playmates started using the shortened names with Leo: The Sewer Samurai, Don: The Undercover Turtle, Raph: The Space Cadet, and Mike: The Sewer Surfer.

*oldmanwinters* · 04-20-2011, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jester

And yet in 1990, just 6 years after they were created and 3 years after the series debuted (or between the 3rd and 4th season) Playmates started using the shortened names with Leo: The Sewer Samurai, Don: The Undercover Turtle, Raph: The Space Cadet, and Mike: The Sewer Surfer.

I guess the shortened names might have gotten popular after the first live-action movie really emphasized them.

**Jester** · 04-20-2011, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldmanwinters

I guess the shortened names might have gotten popular after the first live-action movie really emphasized them.

True, the 1st movie also saw a theatrical release in 90, and that very well could have been it. Have we thought to as Francis Ross?...

04-19-2011, 10:11 PM	#1
ryukenden Hench Mutant Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 383	OT Question: Why didn't the Turtles shorten their names? In the original toon, the Turtles and their allies always called each other by their full name. In every other incarnation they always said Leo, Raph, Mikey and Donny, they even did that in Next Mutation. It would have been easier if they did call each other by their nicknames and let Splinter just refer to them by their full name. I wonder why they were always called by their full name.

04-19-2011, 10:13 PM	#2
sdp Detoxed Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Tokio, Italy Posts: 11,217	I kinda like them being called by their full name, its ok for them between them to do it occasionally but not all the time like in 2k3. __________________ *Trapt* *urself Page MiscRave!!!* Click to join The Drome Discord server

04-19-2011, 11:19 PM	#6
Venom Space Knight Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 3,637	I think now since Splinter was Yoshi in the OT that he didn't truly see the Turtles as sons, but rather these four creatures that he got as pets became people that needed to be guided and cared for. Since Yoshi was a ninja master, he reared them as such. __________________

04-20-2011, 06:58 PM	#9
Candy Kappa The Agenda of Existing Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vikingland Posts: 14,596	I think it was for simplifying things, and not get children confused. __________________ devianArt Instagram Youtube Tumblr Art Blog Patreon

04-20-2011, 07:40 PM	#13
Candy Kappa The Agenda of Existing Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vikingland Posts: 14,596	when I have been talking to children about TMNT, it wasn't uncommon that they reacted in questions when I used the shorten names. So I thought about it in that sense, it wouldn't confuse a younger audience with multiple names __________________ devianArt Instagram Youtube Tumblr Art Blog Patreon

04-19-2011, 10:43 PM	#4
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,872	Splinter called them his sons in a few episodes.

04-20-2011, 07:23 PM	#11
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,872	I do wonder if its because the writers wanted their names to be easily recognizable to children, and have their names be the same in every episode. The movies were just one-shot movies, but the show went on for 190+ episodes.

04-20-2011, 07:51 PM	#14
ssjup81 Foot Elite Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Central Virginia (Back in the US) Posts: 4,734	Kids know about "nicknames", so I don't see why it would confuse them. In all honesty, though, I can't remember if I started calling them, Leo, Donny (Don), Raph, and Mikey before I saw the first movie or after it. As far back as I can remember, seems I always referred to them by their nicks, especially when playing the arcade games.

04-20-2011, 08:04 PM	#15
oldmanwinters Overlord Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Between yesterday and tomorrow! Posts: 15,499	Maybe as a former human, Yoshi/Splinter would have felt awkward thinking of humanoid reptiles as his "children." It might raise questions and be a socially taboo dinner topic. __________________ Experience the TMNT Fan Commentaries! Check out my TMNT fan comic, "Nothing to Fear"! View my sketch work! I'm selling some of my hard-to-find TMNT items!

04-20-2011, 08:28 PM	#16
Donnie Something from the Past Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New York Posts: 3,256	I always thought that was an interesting part of Splinter's character in all incarnations: how he referred to the Turtles. I prefer the warmer, father approach, although I understand the need for a straight up caring sensei, too.