Where did the Don/April crush thing have its start?

[CyberCubed]

I've noticed that people seem to always had a thing of having Don and April bond together, even before the Nick show made Don's crush on April canon.

I know there is one episode of the 4kids series where April kisses Don on the cheek. It's in Season 3's, "Space Invaders" when Don saves April/Casey from being abducted by all the Triceratons in Central Park.

In the original cartoon during the Euro vacation eps, I think in, "A Real Snowjob" both April and Irma kiss Don on the cheek.

Is April usually shown kissing Don more than the other Turtles?

[The Big Bad]

I think it had its start with the 2k3 cartoon--looking at DeviantArt, there's not a whole lot of old-toon April/Donny art, which I don't think would have been the case if it'd been a thing back then (compare, for example, Raph + Mona Lisa art). And I think it's simply an extrapolation from the friendship they had there, which was, I believe, a) stronger than her friendships with any other turtle, and b) nothing more than that.

[CyberCubed]

Well considering the internet didn't even exist for the mainstream public for the majority of the original cartoons run, I would imagine you wouldn't see much of it. Back then the only way of sharing our TMNT stories was to our friends in the schoolyard.

[Matches Malone]

Yeah, if you think about it, Don is most similar to April in most incarnations. She's hardly the "goofy wild one," or "brash sarcastic one," or "stoic leadery one." I think that's all there is to it. Maybe subsequent writers were able to pick up on that subtle relationship and continue it.

[Tuxedo Moroboshi]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

Well considering the internet didn't even exist for the mainstream public for the majority of the original cartoons run, I would imagine you wouldn't see much of it. Back then the only way of sharing our TMNT stories was to our friends in the schoolyard.

I don't think The Big Bad was talking about fanart from back then. There's still LOTS of current fanart for the 87 toon, ya know.

Anyway, ya, I think it may have had its start in the 2k3 toon, though it was way more subtle there (to where it can just as easily be interpreted as merely friendship and nothing more).

[pannoni1]

Mirage, OT, and Movie April seemed to like the Turtles equally, with Michelangelo nearly falling for April in the first movie before confessing. Still, the 4kids April to Don is more of a sibling relationship than a very special someone. Still, her relationship with Don didn't become huge until the Nick Toon and I wasn't aware until that point. The April idea with Don must have come from the OT "love pairs" of Leo/Lotus, Raph/Mona Lisa, and Mike/Kala. Some suggest Irma, but April was a much more natural choice and this was catching on in "underground fandom". Don is the natural choice to have a serious relationship with April; Raph can be too tense at times, Mike is too laid back, and Leo is too focused and lacks certain technical skills.

[Vivi]

I can recall this arising since the first season of 2K3, they just seemed to have chemistry, both being technogeeks and such.

In the second episode when they are trying to break back into Baxter's lab, Donatello says:
"Can April and I have some quiet? This is delicate work."
Michelangelo responds with, " 'Oooh, April and I, this is delicate work.' Give me a break."

Also, nearly all her face chat on the computer is with Don, so it just seems more of an intimate relationship.

[Bossa Nova]

I have no idea since I don't see any of this supposed "subtle romance" in the 2003 series people seem to find. Only once, as mentioned, did Don seem at all flattered when April complimented him, but honestly, he could have just been feeling bashful since his brothers don't tend to shower him with thanks when he creates or think of something new. I think it's a real stretch to try to pull anything more out of it since after that I really didn't see any other sign of any type of crush or whatever from his end (and obviously none from her). In the first film they all seemed to noticed how pretty she was, with Mikey was the one actually joking to be "in love" with her and calling her a babe, while it was Raph who got all embarrassed when she thanked him on public television.

This whole Nick twist sort of ruins it for me in that I can no longer pretend its a purely fanmade idea. But whatever. I'm still going to ignore it.

[Avatar Yuffie]

April kisses the Turtles in the OT, not just Don. Actually, OT Don seemed to be the one who's not really interested to be in a relationship (and maybe the comics). He usually gets the pair the spares treatment than anything.

2K3 seemed to be where the crush originated. It's subtle, easily overlooked, and Don eventually got ship teased with other females other than April.

The reason Don's crush in the Nick version was taken seriously because April is the same age as the guys.

[sdp]

TMNT II for the NES has a few Don scenes that looks like there is something going on with him and April. Not intended but when I played it with a friend 5 years ago we were making jokes about Donnie/April.

[BubblyShell22]

I honestly think it started with the 2K3 toon. You could see some subtle hints that he liked her as more than a friend, though I think it was only on his end and not hers. I'm also sure that in this Nick toon, it'll be totally one-sided, and I don't think April will like him back in that way. Then again, we don't really know how it'll play out as we haven't seen much of it.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by BubblyShell22

it'll be totally one-sided, and I don't think April will like him back in that way.

Really, it should no-sided. It's like one of us falling in love with a chimpanzee.

But the idea itself, I think, goes back to the first movie.

[Zulithe]

Don and April are going to make sweet, sweet, interspecies love and there is nothing you can do about it!

So what about Casey then?

Clearly Casey and Raph are going to get together. It's 2012, man.

[ZariusTwo]

Most 80s 'toon fans pair Don up with Irma I find, based off small moments in episodes like "Maltese Hamster", "Sky Turtles" and of course "Donatello's Degree"

Rewatching the old show, while she does have touchy moments with all the guys, I find April and Mikey bonded the most, and are often in many shared situations together, though there's nothing overly romantic, but since when did 'shippers think logicly about this stuff?

Doubtful we'll ever have April fall for one of the guys in these shows...though I'm thinking since April isnt really human in the Mirage continuity, it could excuse any actions she'd take in the future where that was concerned, alas we may never know (do we even want to?)

[FoxZerro]

I think he's just the natural fit out of the four turtles to want to have an actual adult relationship with a female. He is portrayed as the most intelligent and thus would probably be more interested in a woman for her mind than just for her looks. I think its a little bit of that which factors into Donatello being the most desirable of the turtles.

I can't help but think on Vol. 1 Issue 13 where he is the one that Jhanna seems to bond with. It is definitely one of the first instances of Donnie having a crush on a female in the Turtle's history and I always viewed her leaving her braid with him as a symbol of reciprocation.

I've long joked about him being the Edward Cullen of the Ninja Turtles because it seems that when it comes to female fans most of them (including my sister) choose him as their favorite.

I think that is actually where the whole crush in the Nick TMNT is a problem for me. It seems like misplaced puppy dog affection as opposed to the adult desire to be mentally stimulated and appreciated that I have always viewed it as in the past. I'm hoping that if its going to stay around the explanation for his affections for her are explored.

[The Big Bad]

Just to be clear, are we talking about when a noticeable segment of the fandom started 'shipping them, or when the actual show started consciously teasing at a 'ship? Because if it's the latter, I really don't think the 4Kids writers ever meant to suggest that either party ever wanted their friendship to be anything else--it's all on the fan side. Every turtle had people whom they had particular kinship with--Leo had Usagi, Raph had Casey, and Don just happened to have April. Plus, we've seen how the not-particularly-subtle way the show portrays romantic attraction between characters (see Casey <--> April, Chaplin --> Karai, and Starlee --> Cody); none of the tropes used with those characters are present with April and Don.

As for why some people like pairing them up, I think it comes from reasoning similar to that used by people who pair up Superman and Wonder Woman (including--@$!*--DC Comics) -- some people just like pairing people who share similar core traits.

[Vivi]

Originally Posted by Zulithe

Don and April are going to make sweet, sweet, interspecies love and there is nothing you can do about it!

So what about Casey then?

Clearly Casey and Raph are going to get together. It's 2012, man.

Donril. It's the bitter 'ship pill every Donafemme has to swallow.

[sykosis]

Originally Posted by pannoni1

Don is the natural choice to have a serious relationship with April;

Gross.
A crush is one thing.

[Vivi]

Addendum to the season one episode two 'sparks':

After April programs the mousers to overload and explode, they jump from their balcony and run back to the sewer entrance. Of course, Donatello is holding her hand as they are running, and let's be realistic: on the internet, this is all the fuel shippers need to start those flames.

(I'm not obsessive, I just happen to be watching the series again.)

[Mr._Mutant_Man]

It's the purple belly shirt that gives her away. Maybe she should have gotten blue, red, and orange as well and switch them out to remain neutral. Or a belly shirt with red, blue, purple, and orange stripes. Playmates also could have sold variant figures to the fans.