Why does Donatello get the short end of the stick?

jignat · 03-15-2007, 12:01 PM

Hi,

Im a long time TMNT fan coming out of retirement b/c of the new movie. Anyway, I wanted to ask if if anybody feel that Donatello is unfairly shoved to the side most of the time in tmnt stories.

Except for when they need tech stuff, I feel that he is the least liked turtle of the group and doesnt get the spotlight that much.

Mirage vol 1: (only mirage i have read is 1-4, 10/11, crtny, city at war) seems like the responsible one, hates guns, etc. is repsonsible for shreds 1st death.
Ok

80 toon: is there for Tech stuff primarily. doesnt like humans. Not much memorable character stuff

90 live action: is mikey's partner in jokes , Could tell he was smart.
91: smarter/tech wise. One of the best moments in the film: Donatello talks to splinter about the tcri tube breaking , wondering about their purpose in life. It was short , but cool (its been a while 10 yrs since i saw tmnt2 )
93: totally forgot 3 lol
NM: same as above

TMNT 1 game nes: His weapon does the most damage woot!
havent seen 03 show.

*Buslady* · 03-15-2007, 12:32 PM

well i can tell you in the 2K3 series, Don seems to get the girls. -.-
He has or had a crush on April, and liked a couple other babes.
Don's gotta big piece in the newer series. They even did a Don/Raph team up eppie which was very odd. and it was great!

Aignatius · 03-15-2007, 12:51 PM

Nah, I don't think Don has it so bad.
Don just doesn't seem to have the kind of personality that grabs the most attention. He's the quiet one who likes to go off and work or read or draw in his sketchbook by himself often.

*Rooish* · 03-15-2007, 01:00 PM

I do feel that Don gets shoved aside often; in the 2003 toon, whole episodes can go by where he says only a few lines. But he does have a lot of episodes where he is very cool. Also he pretty much ownes Mirage Volume 4 comics (although they are not being published right now).

*Revan* · 03-15-2007, 01:42 PM

Although I won't argue Don's lack of screen time, he is paramount in their endevors.

2k3 -- Built the Battle Shell - Tunneler - Turtle Bike - Slider - Shell Sub...

OT -- Built the Van - Blimp - and hundreds of other things.

The episodes would have been much more dull without don and his inventions.

*CyberCubed* · 03-15-2007, 03:35 PM

Donatello had quite a number of spotlight episodes to himself in the original cartoon, not to mention he played a pivotal role in many others.

The writers kind of had Don act like the second leader in the old show, in a lot of the episodes he's giving the orders.

Aignatius · 03-15-2007, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neutrino

Although I won't argue Don's lack of screen time, he is paramount in their endevors.

2k3 -- Built the Battle Shell - Tunneler - Turtle Bike - Slider - Shell Sub...

OT -- Built the Van - Blimp - and hundreds of other things.

The episodes would have been much more dull without don and his inventions.

See? He's too busy to be in the spotlight all the time.

themaxonline · 03-15-2007, 05:48 PM

I often think that it's Don that holds the group together. Sometimes when I'm watching episodes of the old cartoon, I wonder what they'd do without him as it's usually him that explains to the others what the situation is or whatever. He may not be in the forefront but I would probably argue that when it comes to the big fight, he might be the most important turtle.

*Sage Ninja* · 03-16-2007, 12:28 AM

exactly. Donatello is the turtle that the group can not do with out. And that is in pretty much any given medium of the turtles. In the New toon the team was basically crippled when Donatello was turned into a giant monster of him self when the mutant epidemic arc of season four was in place. And Like others have mentioned, Donatello was basically top turtle in the classic series and was the second leader after Leonardo. And unlike in other mediums, Donatello was quite an effective fighter in the old toon and was pretty much the second skilled after Leonardo.

The only mediums that sort of gives Dontello the short end of the straw is the movie universe, where they tend to focus on Raphael and Leoanrdo and their agnyst the most.

shellofinsanity · 03-18-2007, 11:34 PM

well he was my 2nd fav after leo, and he may not be in the limelight, but i cant imagine not having him around, i mean who is gonna build all the gadgets the other 3 need, or fix what the other 3 break

SpiderHulkThing · 03-19-2007, 01:42 PM

i think that certain episodes may have him downplayed a little, but the same goes for almost all the turtles. Mikey seems to get the most attention in the old series as well as the new because of the comic relief. I've seen episodes where i felt that raph wasn't very invovled and the same with leo as well. I think it just depends on the episode.

Brock · 03-19-2007, 02:24 PM

I think Don gets respect. He's all over the new Mirage series and the first trade paperback collection of the new Tales of the TMNT are ALL Donatello issues -- he intros the stories and is featured in each comic.