Nagi mentioned in original script?

[Logan]

I was reading the Mirage adaptation of the original film and got to the part where Splinter tells his story to Danny. Unlike the film, however, Nagi is mentioned as the rival to Hamato Yoshi. I'm assuming Kevin and Peter were working from an earlier draft of the script.

Here's some of the dialogue, straight from the comic:

"I was a pet of my master Yoshi, mimicking his movements from my cage and learning the mysterious art of ninjitsu-- for Yoshi was one of the finest shadow warriors of his clan. His only rival was a man named Oroku Nagi, and they competed in all things-- but none more fiercely than for the love of a woman, Tang Shen.

"One night, after Tang Shen confessed to Nagi that her love was only for my master, Nagi flew into a rage and began to beat her. Yoshi arrived just in time, but when the fight was over, Nagi lay dead.

"The clan's code of honor was clear: Yoshi must now take his own life. But my master felt he had done nothing wrong, and so decided to flee with Tang Shen-- and me-- to America. But Nagi left behind a younger brother, Oroku Saki, who vowed vengeance on my master. The boy fueled his training with hatred, and became the most feared ninja warrior in all Japan, honing his skills until he was ready to fulfill his vow."


Has anyone, Peter, Kevin, or those associated with the film made any comment about this? I can understand why they decided to amalgamate the two brothers from a story standpoint, but I'm curious if there was anything more to it.

[rufus]

Im not sure but I just asked Peter Laird about it on his blog.


His response
"If memory serves, there were some scenes in the movie script which never made it into the finished movie (and even a few which were filmed, but never made it into the movie). We were working from that script when we did the comic"

[Uki]

Nifty! I never knew that, but then, I've never read that adaptation.

[Jester]

I think to stream line the story it's just easier to make Saki the rival and eliminate Nagi.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by Jester

I think to stream line the story it's just easier to make Saki the rival and eliminate Nagi.

Yeah, that was my thinking. Apart from the Mirage comic, Nagi is never mentioned in the Saki/Yoshi history of the other interpretations.

[ToTheNines]

Originally Posted by Logan

Yeah, that was my thinking. Apart from the Mirage comic, Nagi is never mentioned in the Saki/Yoshi history of the other interpretations.

They had Yukio Mashimi in the 4kids show, he took over the Nagi role as far as the Shen story line goes.

Makes me wish they woulda named him Yukio Nagi or something though.

[Xav]

Originally Posted by Jester

I think to stream line the story it's just easier to make Saki the rival and eliminate Nagi.

It also makes Saki seem more evil.

[Coola Yagami]

It was also in the movie novelization. I used to own the books (as in words with the occasional picture) for movie 1 and 2, which were kinda spoilers if you haven't seen the movie yet... but also interesting for things that weren't shown in the movie. I remember the novel mentioned Nagi as well as the famous 'Leo fighting blindfolded' scene.

[Jester]

What's odd is in the farm house scene, it's Raph that screams "SPLINTER!!" where in the movie it is just Raph's voice dubbed over Mikey.

[Killer Moth]

Originally Posted by Jester

I think to stream line the story it's just easier to make Saki the rival and eliminate Nagi.

Indeed, as placing Saki in the romantic triangle simplfied things nicely. It also removed another death, as the Yoshi/Shen deaths were already intense on-screen, I think. And yet, it is a shame, as Nagi doesn't have much else going in the franchise beyond killing Shen and being killed himself to fuel Saki's revenge. It's a catch-22, at least to me.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by Coola Yagami

It was also in the movie novelization. I used to own the books (as in words with the occasional picture) for movie 1 and 2, which were kinda spoilers if you haven't seen the movie yet... but also interesting for things that weren't shown in the movie. I remember the novel mentioned Nagi as well as the famous 'Leo fighting blindfolded' scene.

Isn't Krang in movie 1 novelization I read somewhere? I only have novelizations of movie 1 and 2, and they follow the movies more.

[Kendamu]

Originally Posted by Swedenfan 1982

Isn't Krang in movie 1 novelization I read somewhere? I only have novelizations of movie 1 and 2, and they follow the movies more.

I used to have the novelizations and I've never come across any mention of Krang.