Why should the TMNT act like normal human teenagers?

[BabyTurtles]

Originally Posted by Type 97 Chi-ha

The Internet didn't exist (or at least, wasn't available to the general public) at the time the OT was created.

And if the name says they're teenagers, well, why not have them adapt some "teenage" characteristics?

TV existed right? that's already good enough. Internet is just an added boost.
XD

what do you mean teenage characteristics?? like the way they look? cause they can't change that.

[909 Turtle Fan]

I choose some where in the middle. I think they have to be relatable to younger viewers cause "teenage" is in the name of the group. But I also think that no matter what kind of influence you grow up with, comics, tv, movies, etc, that boys will be boys. No matter where you go in the world, brothers are always going to tease and prank each other. There is always going to be the brotherly rivalry of who is tougher, smarter, or funniest. That should be the main thing that is comparable to human teens , not Mike using trendy slang or listening to an ipod.

[Type 97 Chi-ha]

Originally Posted by BabyTurtles

what do you mean teenage characteristics?? like the way they look? cause they can't change that.

Question effectively answered by 909 Turtle Fan.

[DarthEmpress]

At first, I liked how the turtles were being portrayed in the Nick series, but now I think they went way too far with the whole "they're teenagers!" thing. It's almost as if the writers are trying a bit too hard to showcase their adolescence. I think it's good to explore the youthful side of the turtles and their curiosities outside of Splinter's training, but there's a point where gaining maturity needs to be consistent. In the 2k12 series, I've witnessed a lot of potential for growth among the turtles that is either completely forgotten/ignored in the next episode or never comes full circle. It's very disappointing, but they did this a bit in the 2k3 series as well, although I didn't mind it considering I found the turtles' portrayals to be consistent and logical (thank you, Mr. Laird) unlike with the Nick series.

I think the turtles being raised cut off from interacting with humans is something that should affect them socially; not so much in the spectrum of maturity because I find that largely depends on an individual's personality, like how Leo's quiet nature lends him to being more introspective and mature rather than Mikey's boisterous, light-hearted attitude.

I also really love Splinter being obsessed with avenging Hamato Yoshi and raising his children as assassins. I think that side of him has so much juicy character potential to be explored and makes the TMNT storyline more gray than black and white, which is something it's been lacking for a while, I think.

[Warboss74]

Originally Posted by Jester

Yeah...more realistic. I think that's another take away from Mirage. That Donnie wasn't THAT crazy tech-savy.

Oddly enough the Donnie I like the most (or maybe 2nd most now behind Nick's Rob-atello), the 4kids, Donnie is probably the worst when it comes to pulling advanced (I mean even more advanced than the technology around him) tech straight out of his shell. If one thing bothered me about the 4Kids series it was that.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought most of the stuff Donnie created was explained as being reversered engineered from utrom technology.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Actually, I have to agree with that thought- most of what he built in the 4Kids show was based on Utrom tech. That made more sense to me than some of the things he came up with in the OT- like that personality modifier or his food revivafier.

As for making them "normal teenagers" in personality, I'd think it would be somewhat like a bunch of normal teens stuck on a deserted island, forced to use their wits and skills to survive while still keeping some semblance of a normal life and family. The only difference is they've been RAISED in that kind of isolation and harsh environment. However, given that they have ALWAYS had access to whatever form of media was available in any given time (that includes magazines, movies, music, and newspapers, BTW!!) they SHOULD have a decent grasp on what a "normal" life is like. They can watch TV, sneak out to see movies, read tossed-out mags and newspapers, or listen to the radio to learn what life is like outside the lair. I seriously doubt Splinter (outside of the original Mirage issues) would neglect their "normal" education, either. He would have taught them to read, write, math, etc- if only because ninjas have to be able to understand their surroundings and blend in to complete their goals.

[Rooish]

I always thought it was weird how obsessed people are with how the 2k12 turtles act like "normal" teenagers. They act like "normal" white middle class American teenage boys who are particularly annoying to each other, which is a little odd when they were were raised in isolation by a strict Japanese possibly Buddhist ninja master. Frankly I acted nothing like any of them as a teenager.

Kids still related to them in the Old Toon when they didn't act like "normal" teenagers.

[BubblyShell22]

I like how they act like teenagers in the Nick show as you have to realize that teenagers today are very different from when a lot of us were growing up. They don't learn from their mistakes right away, and I like how the Nick Turtles have this as well. It does make them more flawed in that they are still learning and haven't quite gotten to that stage where they can learn from their mistakes once they make them. I know a lot of fans are annoyed by this, but I like it because it does make them seem more relatable. Heck, there are even adults who don't learn from mistakes all of the time, so for the Turtles to do this, too, is actually a good thing. I'm sure they will mature and grow as the season progresses, but it'll take time.

So, yeah, I don't mind them being portrayed as teenagers one bit.

[Panda_Kahn_fan]

I think it's because in most incarnations outside mirage, they weren't being raised and trained to kill shredder. The ninjitsu was taught to them as a means to protect themselves from a hostile world that wouldn't understand them, not so they could live thier lives as fully trained ninja assassins. And that strict sensei/father realized that the true ninja way of life had gotten him/his master Yoshi burned (at least in some incarnations) and he wants to let the turtles live as normal of childhoods/teen years as possible for sewer-dwelling mutant freaks. Note the tvs and video games that line the lair in many versions, it could be argued a true ninja sensei might possibly forbid or at least minimize most of these distractions from their training. (though even then, they would still need some outlet.)

[MiBs]

For me, it is definitely the animations that makes me think of them as younger than in OT and 2k3. The first thing I thought, when I saw the turtles in the first Nick episode, was that they actually looked like teenagers this time.

I don't know, if I would have the same feeling of them being "normal teenagers" in a way, if they were looking more buff or edgier but still acting totally the same as they do now

[Avatar Yuffie]

I don't see anything wrong with they act like teenagers.

Nick Splinter was human. It would make sense he'd try to raise them as human kids. The fact they're mutants and must be hidden away while not really cut off from stuff like computers, tvs and internet to shape them emotionally should help the suspension of disbelief that "they must be more mature".