Most popular Turtle

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Probably Michelangelo. He acted most like a kid so he was popular among kids.

[Evenstar227]

I would say Michelangelo is the most all-around popular Turtle, based on OT. Wasn't he the one in that Cartoon All-Star thingie? And when I was a kid I had a TMNT skateboard with Mikey on it. Trust me, if it came in the Raph variety I would've had that (maybe it did and my store just didn't have it, I dunno for sure).

A close 2nd would be Raphael, but that would be more for people familiar with the Turtles outside of OT.

Off topic: To answer your Q, NamesGoesHere1066, I do like OT Leo. Leo is actually the Turtle whose personality most closely matches my own. I'm the oldest of 8 kids, so I identify w/him trying to watch out for the others and keep them in line. Perhaps that's why I like Raph so much, b/c he's so opposite from me!

[TheUltimateShredhead]

Im pretty certain it's michelangelo. After all he was the one turtle from the bunch portrayed in the Cartoons all-stars to the rescue film

[Rooish]

Finally I caved and voted for Michelangelo--or rather, Michaelangelo, because under that name he gained the most popularity. I'm nonetheless aware that I might have a bias to vote for my favourite Turtle, and this might apply to everyone (well except that Mike seems to be leading right now, and I'm pretty sure he's not the most popular among Drome members).

I think he's most popular with kids in both cartoon versions (despite them being so radically different). I mean whenever I talk to anyone about the Ninja Turtles, most of them only know it from the old toon, and they usually only really remember Michaelangelo, and they liked him best.

Second-most popular I'd say is Leo. This is because I think he and Raph are probably close to equally popular among comic fans only (they got the most focus through all of Volume 1 Mirage... ahh, the eternal divide of Leo and Raph fans). But in the cartoon mediums I'm guessing Leo appeals/appealed to more kids than Raph does/did.

In both cartoons, I'd guess the second-most popular Turtle is Leo ... he's a straight-shooter and a caring guy and I think kids like that. NameGoesHere1066, I really do like OT Leo now ... he wasn't just a goody-two-shoes and responsible but actually good-hearted and thoughtful and the same can't always be said of Donatello and Raphael. That being said, as a kid I hated Leo. But that is probably because he was my brother's favourite and we had major sibling rivalry.

Then Raph, because of his comic/movie popularity, and poor Don last. Although here on the Drome those two seem to be the most popular.

Originally Posted by Benvenuto

You know what's funny? In the videogames, I always pick Leo first, then Mike, Don, and finally Raph.

Heh, not surprising! Probably because that's how they're listed in the movies and the first comic, and in the video games themselves, no? (Although in the OT it was Don, Raph, Leo, Mike, right? And in the new toon it's Mikey, Don, Raph, Leo. I think).

Originally Posted by Krang

When you notice that, you're welcome to inform a mod or admin, and we can split the thread for you.

Thanks Krang, sounds much more effective than complaining after all! But I did overreact.

[Sage Ninja]

I'm gonna vote for Raph since he has an insane amount of fans. Raphal fans seem to out number fans of any other turtle from like ten to one it seems.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Who was most popular from April 1984-November 1987, the before the 1987 cartoon and the 1984 Mirage comics were the only TMNT version?

[triplexxx]

But the reason he does everything is not to be "better" - it's just that sometimes he feels like the others aren't pulling their weight, especially Raph

Not to say I think any lower of Leonardo than I do the others, but if he really does think that way about his brothers, I'd at most say he's presumptious.

I really do like OT Leo now ... he wasn't just a goody-two-shoes and responsible but actually good-hearted and thoughtful and the same can't always be said of Donatello and Raphael.

What do you mean, sure it can, especially with Donatello since he's obligated to be in top shape physically and mentally.

[Rooish]

Originally Posted by J 1982

Who was most popular from April 1984-November 1987, the before the 1987 cartoon and the 1984 Mirage comics were the only TMNT version?

Good question, I would guess either Leo or Raph because at first, Leo did all the speaking for the team and Raph did all the wild and outrageous stuff ... they just had more screen time.

Originally Posted by triplexxx

What do you mean, sure it can, especially with Donatello since he's obligated to be in top shape physically and mentally.

Just my personal opinion. Goody-two-shoes or not, I think OT Leonardo is more caring and sympathetic than OT Don or Raph, both of whom were slightly miserly at times. I mean, even though he always wanted to do the "right" thing, it seemed genuine.

[triplexxx]

Originally Posted by Rooish

Just my personal opinion. Goody-two-shoes or not, I think OT Leonardo is more caring and sympathetic than OT Don or Raph, both of whom were slightly miserly at times. I mean, even though he always wanted to do the "right" thing, it seemed genuine.

Well if by miserly you mean ungenerous, I guess that explains why they just like Leonardo put their lives on the line to be heroes as often as he did. And like I mentioned in Donatello's case, when you're supposed to be a first-class ninja as well as a first-class scientist at the same time, considering how stressful that sounds, makes it a little hard for one to be sympathetic. Don't get me wrong, i'm not disdaining your opinion, nor am I saying there's anything wrong with Leonardo wanting to do the right thing always, I'm just saying the others were willing to do the right thing just as often.

Originally Posted by NameGoesHere1066

blasphemy! Leonardo rocks in every version! Mirage Leo is as you have stated the coolest version of him ( BTW linkening him to Batman ois a great comparsen) but that could be said of all the turtles, but OT Leonardo was cool too. As far as animated versions go NT Leonardo is my favorite but I don't get all the hate for OT Leo. Sometimes I think I'm the only one who actually likes OT Leo. **huggles OT Leo plushie**

I want to see a show of hands here, who likes OT Leo?

Oh believe me, I love oldschool Leo. Oldschool Leo is what made me a fan of him, though I do admit, as a child, I was initially drawn to him because he's "the blue one with the swords". BUT I did enjoy his heroic personality. I think of the four, Leo had a true hero mentality where he saw himself and his bros as epic heroes saving the world.. where as Don, Raph, and Mikey viewed themselves as just glorified thug-bashers.
So that's what I really liked about oldschool Leo. His enthusiasm and passion of being a hero. Saving the reporter... Saving the world.

That said, I really do think the writers could have done more with his personality. One problem is that Leo spoke the least in the series, which is just not right because Mirage Leo by contrast is the most vocal one of the four.

[triplexxx]

Originally Posted by Ryona

I think of the four, Leo had a true hero mentality where he saw himself and his bros as epic heroes saving the world.. where as Don, Raph, and Mikey viewed themselves as just glorified thug-bashers.

Well, with all respect, a bit of a vulgar and faulty generalization if you ask me. Just because Leonardo made most of the heroic speeches doesn't mean he's any more a righteous hero than the others. All four of their actions are all for the same purpose of saving people, and actions speak louder than words.

Originally Posted by triplexxx

Well, with all respect, a bit of a vulgar and faulty generalization if you ask me. Just because Leonardo made most of the heroic speeches doesn't mean he's any more a righteous hero than the others. All four of their actions are all for the same purpose of saving people, and actions speak louder than words.

I believe you missunderstood me. And how is what I said "vulgar"? That was just plain odd.

Anyway, I by no means was implying that Leo is more of a hero than his bros. I'm just saying that of the four, Leo felt like a superhero where as his brothers saw themselves as being the right people for the job, doing what they can do, then going back to watching Godzilla on tv. Leo seemed to always have the hero mentality, even in his leisure time.

Basicly, it's like how Mikey in the 2k3 series felt like a superhero where as his bros felt like they were just the right people for the right job. Nothing more.

[triplexxx]

Originally Posted by Ryona

I believe you missunderstood me. And how is what I said "vulgar"? That was just plain odd.

Anyway, I by no means was implying that Leo is more of a hero than his bros. I'm just saying that of the four, Leo felt like a superhero where as his brothers saw themselves as being the right people for the job, doing what they can do, then going back to watching Godzilla on tv. Leo seemed to always have the hero mentality, even in his leisure time.

Basicly, it's like how Mikey in the 2k3 series felt like a superhero where as his bros felt like they were just the right people for the right job. Nothing more.

The term "vulgar generalization"...I heard that somewhere before; it was just another way of saying a bad generalization. I was just thinking of the term you used, "glorified thug-bashers", and one of the defintions for "glorified" being "to be or seem more glorious or excellent than is actually the case", I thought it implied the other turtles were less noble in their intentions as fighters, and I was objecting. But like you said that's not what you meant, so I was mistaken.

"Glorified" tends to mean "more", "above normal", "new level", "better than average", "great", and so on.
So basicly I was saying that Don, Raph, and Mikey saw themselves more as vigilantes where as Leo saw them all as true-blue renowned heroes.

[triplexxx]

Well, just to clarify, and I mentioned this in a thread I created, a vigilante and a hero are basically the same thing. A vigilante is a "type" of hero.
And there's really only two types: vigilante & member of the police/military.
A vigilante simply means being a hero without government authorization. And a vigilante can be as true-blue as a member of the force, just depends on their methods; in the turtles case, their probably more true-blue than the police since they seem to do a lot more than them and for a city that doesn't pay or even thank them.

Point taken. I was just trying to explain myself. I do hope you got my point as well.

[triplexxx]

Originally Posted by Ryona

Point taken. I was just trying to explain myself. I do hope you got my point as well.

Yeah, I got it.

[Rooish]

Originally Posted by triplexxx

Well if by miserly you mean ungenerous, I guess that explains why they just like Leonardo put their lives on the line to be heroes as often as he did. And like I mentioned in Donatello's case, when you're supposed to be a first-class ninja as well as a first-class scientist at the same time, considering how stressful that sounds, makes it a little hard for one to be sympathetic. Don't get me wrong, i'm not disdaining your opinion, nor am I saying there's anything wrong with Leonardo wanting to do the right thing always, I'm just saying the others were willing to do the right thing just as often.

This is true. Don is pretty phenomenal that way. I was just trying to show why kids might have been more attracted to Leo's personality.

[cMac44111]

I voted for Mikey. He embodied what the Turtles were in the OT. Always makes the most jokes in every incarnation, and I think is the most charismatic. Even in the NT I think he's the most popular, why do you think he had most of the spotlight when FF came out? Because he was in his element, and kids wanted to see the wackiness in that season.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Also recall that Michelangelo was in that anti-drugs show.