The colours on the turtles masks origin?

[Triglyph]

I came across some internal playmates concept art showing the colors on leo and mike were reversed. The art was dated 1987.

[Revan]

Originally Posted by Sage Ninja

In the case of inside the show, I would say that the turtles choose their own colors if for no other reason then for some individuality. Because I don't see Splinter picking such bright attention drawing colors for the turtles, it just seems impractical considering they are supposed to be stealthy, I wonder why Splinter even allowed it, and enforce a darker color scheme to their mask?

The whole diff color bandana deal is probably better for the franchise but when you think about ninjas and their concern for stealth, it doesn't make sense. Ninjas would strive for unity and blending in, not individuality and standing out.

[Scandia]

Is that change in the story of the comic? Meaning it implies that they once wore all red in the Archie universe?

This is only shown in one issue. It is a flashback to when they were very young. It explains why it was better for each one to have a mask of a different color.

I dreamt once that in a cartoon or movie, all 4 Turtles had red masks. It was VERY difficult to tell them apart. While the letters on their belts may be over the top, having different colored masks and their uniforms be otherwise identical is a pretty good idea for the cartoons/movies/Archie.

[odupianist]

In the Archie issue, they actually used different color hats first. Much like Huey, Dewey, and Louie.

[TheUltimateShredhead]

I preffer them with diffrent coloured masks, it fits best with there unique personalities!

[Sage Ninja]

Originally Posted by Neutrino

when you think about ninjas and their concern for stealth, it doesn't make sense. Ninjas would strive for unity and blending in, not individuality and standing out.

I'm thinking that it's because the turtles are also imersed into American culture as well as tradinal japanese culture. Two over powering influences contrasting with each other in the turtles lives. In America (and most western culture) there is alot of emphasis on individualism and being your own person and reconision for ones own self. Thats hard to filter out of their upbringing when they live in the culture and watch television about this sort of think, so I think the turtles tweaked their "ninja uniform" with a little personal touches (a refection of the culture they live in) to give them selves a little individulality by choosing their own colors for their bandanna masks. And how can Splinter object to it when it is such a small alteration.

[teletran]

on the flip side maybe splinter couldn't tell them apart!

“Michelangelo come here.”
“I’m Leonardo!”
“Whatever.”

[Jelly Bean]

Originally Posted by teletran

on the flip side maybe splinter couldn't tell them apart!

“Michelangelo come here.”
“I’m Leonardo!”
“Whatever.”

I doubt that, even with out masks the turtles can be telled apart by their skin tones. Neutrino I'm stealing your banner of the baby turtles for an example



look at this picture of the baby turtles with out their masks, you can tell which is which just by their diffrent skin colors. the one on the far right with his buck teeth showing is baby Leo, the one standing next to him with his mouth slightly open is baby Don, and the one standing next to Don with a little frown on his face is baby Mikey, and the one on the end on the left is baby Raph. Who agrees that the turtles are who I said they are? I think Splinter had no touble telling the turtles apart.

[TheUltimateShredhead]

Is there any diffrence on the turtles apperance from ot? In the nt series they have diffrent skin colours, but i can't see any diffrence beetween the ot turtles

[teletran]

Has anyone else noticed that in the new toon purple seems to be used to denote any good guy with scientific knowhow? Donatello, obviously but also April, leatherhead and possibly Mortu. Your thoughts?

I realise this may be slightly off topic but ties in with the use of different colours to denote different character traits as opposed to individual characters.

[TheUltimateShredhead]

Originally Posted by teletran

Has anyone else noticed that in the new toon purple seems to be used to denote any good guy with scientific knowhow? Donatello, obviously but also April, leatherhead and possibly Mortu. Your thoughts?

I realise this may be slightly off topic but ties in with the use of different colours to denote different character traits as opposed to individual characters.

not the fugitoid!

[teletran]

Originally Posted by OrokuSaki123

not the fugitoid!

true, there are some exeptions but the trend seems to be there

[GK Punk]

Originally Posted by Jelly Bean

I doubt that, even with out masks the turtles can be telled apart by their skin tones. Neutrino I'm stealing your banner of the baby turtles for an example



look at this picture of the baby turtles with out their masks, you can tell which is which just by their diffrent skin colors. the one on the far right with his buck teeth showing is baby Leo, the one standing next to him with his mouth slightly open is baby Don, and the one standing next to Don with a little frown on his face is baby Mikey, and the one on the end on the left is baby Raph. Who agrees that the turtles are who I said they are? I think Splinter had no touble telling the turtles apart.

Doesn't apply to the original series though.

[TheUltimateShredhead]

Originally Posted by teletran

true, there are some exeptions but the trend seems to be there

I don't think honicut was wearing any purple either

[Raph's Girl]

Well initially the different coloured masks were so that little kids could tell em apart.

In the Archie series in issue 58 Mikey had a flashback (he'd been captured and tortured...man was he tortured... Oy) to the younger years where they all had red masks and um...tails. Splinter couldn't tell them apart at ALL. Explaining that their personality traits hadn't come in completly. Well they defeated some bad guys and one of the bad guys had a Disney ducks book. They decided to emulate Hewey, Dewey, and Louie by having different coloured hats but eventually went to masks.

In Vol 4 of the Mirage series so the Utroms can tell them apart they sport tattoos that are their names. The explination is "We thought of having different coloured masks but figured that would be too lame..."

But yes. in the 2K3 series they never all wore red masks. They got their masks after their first contact with the Ninja Tribunal when they were around 2 or 3. The masks were a gift from great-grandpa Ancient One.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by Raph's Girl

Well initially the different coloured masks were so that little kids could tell em apart.

In the Archie series in issue 58 Mikey had a flashback (he'd been captured and tortured...man was he tortured... Oy) to the younger years where they all had red masks and um...tails. Splinter couldn't tell them apart at ALL. Explaining that their personality traits hadn't come in completly. Well they defeated some bad guys and one of the bad guys had a Disney ducks book. They decided to emulate Hewey, Dewey, and Louie by having different coloured hats but eventually went to masks.

In Vol 4 of the Mirage series so the Utroms can tell them apart they sport tattoos that are their names. The explination is "We thought of having different coloured masks but figured that would be too lame..."

But yes. in the 2K3 series they never all wore red masks. They got their masks after their first contact with the Ninja Tribunal when they were around 2 or 3. The masks were a gift from great-grandpa Ancient One.

It was one of the best changes when the TMNT became a cartoon in 1987. It still lives and is good to differ them. Only the 1984 comics use the concept of all having red.

[teletran]

You mean 1984 onwards?
also "tales of the tmnt" same continuity 1987 onwards