Which era of animated Michelangelo is your favourite?

[Shellington]

Michelangelo strikes me as the Turtle that has changed the most with each decade, in keeping with each young generation's tastes and likings. Which TMNT show gave your favourite portrayal of Mikey?

[CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy]

2003. He wasn't a frakking idiot in it, just the annoying little brother.

As opposed to 2012, where he is ALL heart... and brain damage.

[2K3]

2K3 Mikey

His scream... that is all!!!

[ToTheNines]

I love them all, but 2k3 and Nick have serious downsides, post-season one.

Originally Posted by CylonsKlingonsDaleksOhMy

2003. He wasn't a frakking idiot in it, just the annoying little brother.

As opposed to 2012, where he is ALL heart... and brain damage.

His frequent cowardice got on my nerves more than anything. He'd also be more palatable if PL let other characters share the comic relief burden from time to time.

[IndigoErth]

That's hard to say, it's a toss up for me between '87 and '03. Like prob most, I prefer him not as an idiot and I like that in the first series he's just that easy going sort, he's not making stupid mistakes all the time just for being Mikey; screws ups aren't because he's him, rather just because it happens sometimes. 2003 can be a little bit of a dope at times and a bit of the 'annoying little brother,' but at least he's far from being a complete idiot and is quite capable.

*sigh* 2012... He's cute, lovable, etc., but this Mikey was clearly dropped on his head before he hatched.

Here's to hoping that their next cartoon incarnation regains him some IQ points.

[Andrew NDB]

They're all rubbish.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

I'm with Indigo. Both the 87 and 03 versions had their good points but I would love to see a happy medium between the two.

[Icebot]

My favorite is 1987 Mikey, although 2003 comes close. Love his surfer accent! I especially like 2003 Mikey in Fast Forward.

[DisKosh]

This is a hard one and for me it's a tie between 2003 and 2012.

I would be tempted to go more with 2012 because when they write him well, he is hands down favourite portrayal of the character (outside of Mirage). He's a skilled fighter, he's compassionate, laid back, I love that about him.

Then again, they make him too stupid at times and it's really frustrating because I know they can write him well. Like in the episode with the giant wasp ('Parasitica' I think it's called) he saved his brothers. I like to think of myself as an fairly intelligent person but I'd struggle with that (then again, I'm not good with verbal instructions, it has to be written).

He's not as endearing in the 2003 series but I still love him and I still find him adorable, but they don't treat him like an idiot and he can be really insightful at times.

Ugh, ultimately I have to go with 2012 but I have major objections to how they make him seem stupid. I also heard that allegedly (though I can't find a reliable source so take it with a pinch of salt) he's meant to have ADHD which makes it worse. People with ADHD aren't stupid, sometimes it takes them longer to process things due to finding it harder to filter out distractions, but they are not stupid. Anyway, minor rant over, I can still take every version as they come and enjoy them all.

[FredWolfLeonardo]

87 by far, anyone who disagrees is just blatantly wrong

[Powder]

Originally Posted by ToTheNines

I love them all, but 2k3 and Nick have serious downsides, post-season one.

This.

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

They're all rubbish.

& kiiiiiiinda sorta this. I mean, I think they're great & have their own merits but they're so far from what Michelangelo is meant to be (Mirage). They do just fine with the personality the develop for him, but for me the best Mikey is the orignal Mikey, most especially during the Image run. A very emotionally in-touch little soul who loves the arts & does everything in his power to be a joy in his family's otherwise somewhat bleek life.

Originally Posted by FredWolfLeonardo

87 by far, anyone who disagrees is just blatantly wrong

This is so ignorant. Have your preferences, sure, but Fred Wolf destroyed Michelagenlo for the rest of eternity. Thanks to that show he'll never be seen as anything more than a vapid goofball.

Don't me wrong, I love him ( Townsend alike, after all I coughed up a nice chunk of change for an autographed photo recently ) but it's the truth, lovable as he is. 1987's benefit over the other two is that he's never annoying, at least.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Powder

& kiiiiiiinda sorta this. I mean, I think they're great & have their own merits but they're so far from what Michelangelo is meant to be (Mirage). They do just fine with the personality the develop for him, but for me the best Mikey is the orignal Mikey, most especially during the Image run. A very emotionally in-touch little soul who loves the arts & does everything in his power to be a joy in his family's otherwise somewhat bleek life.

It's much more difficult to go "He's the most human of the Turtles, the most empathic and creative," and much easier to go, "Cowabunga! He's the wild'n crazy party duuuuude! Surf's up, man! Did someone say PIIIZZZA???" and fill some sort of cardboard "party guy" archetype.

For shame.

[plastroncafe]

If most of our media is to be trusted, writing competent comic relief is hard.

[WebLurker]

I'd have to say that 2012 Mikey is the best one. Best voice acting and a decent range of episodes (although they have done a few kinds too many times).

The '87 one was okay, but the voice was grating. '03 was the most annoying part of his show (and had even worse voice acting to '87).

As a secondary pick, I'd argue that TMNT did a really good, albeit underused, Mikey.

[Shark_Blade]

Greg Cipes. His Mikey screams are priceless.

[Ulisa]

Mikey has always been my favorite. I can't really think of version of him that I didn't like but as for my favorite, it's definitely the 1987 version. While he can get a little over-the-top, he was shown to be caring, fun-loving, and yet still a competent fighter. He is fully capable of taking care of himself, as much as his brothers can.

2003 Mikey is probably second. I just feel that they put way too much emphasis on him to be comic relief. I wanted to see this Mikey in more of the "character-building" arcs that his brothers (especially Leo) seemed to get thrust into. They had a couple of really good opportunities for it but never seemed to take it. Of all the turtles, I feel this Mikey really became his stereotype. Though, he still can make me laugh!

2012 Mikey while I like...ugh, they just cannot write him. He is either completely brain-dead or completely dismissed by his family. They have had a few instances where they seem to get close to how to write him well but it never seems to stick. Such missed opportunities here.

[LuckyLadybug]

I have to admit, I voted for the 87 Mikey, but that may or may not be because I'm so in love with the 87 series right now. I found the 2003 version extremely aggravating when I was watching the show.... It seemed like he never knew how to be serious, even when there was a situation that called for it. About the only time I really liked him was in the AU episode Same As It Never Was, although at the same time that was a really heartbreaking portrayal. I might feel differently about the 2003 Mikey now, as I liked him okay when I re-watched the first half of season 1 (which is all I own of that series on DVD). And I can't comment on the 2012 version, as I ... actually haven't seen any of that version beyond clips. (I'd watch if I had easier legal access to it without buying it.... Our library doesn't have any of it, sigh.)

I like to write him as the most empathetic/compassionate/forgiving Turtle, but I'm not sure if I'm picking that up from the 87 version's actions or if it's just a general vibe I get.

[WebLurker]

Originally Posted by LuckyLadybug

And I can't comment on the 2012 version, as I ... actually haven't seen any of that version beyond clips. (I'd watch if I had easier legal access to it without buying it.... Our library doesn't have any of it, sigh.)

Does your library offer interlibrary loans? That's one way I get material that not physically located in the public branch. Also, many libraries have way that a patron can request materials be purchased for the collection.

[GoldMutant]

All three have their ups and downs. Can't say any one of the three are "the best" personally, I think Robbie Rist was the best Michelangelo outside the comics.

With Townsend Coleman's Michelangelo, it's honestly my favorite voice of the three. He didn't fully get on my nerves, Mikey here was just a guy I can have fun being with, same with Raphael or even Casey Jones in that series.

At the same, I gotta agree with Powder. It doomed Mikey to be mere comic relief; at times too, Mikey can get a bit a grating with his pizza addiction. Not too bad mind you, but just tiring.

2003 Michelangelo I honestly hate. He was fine at first, but dear Yoshi he became horrible. He may have started out good and got some good jokes, but the overall cowardice he has and arrogance following Battle Nexus... non bene, mi amici. It's not just his character, I hated Wayne Grayson's voice. It sounds too much like Coleman for me; he has his moments, but I can't fully stomach him.

2k12 Mikey... it's heavily mixed. As I've said in the past, when he's written past the comedic goofball, it's honestly the best blend of Mikey. Considering Into Dimension X!, It Came from the Depths as well as little moments like in Manhattan Project and Wrath of Tiger Claw, he's really good. Creative, emotional, even serious when needed. That's what I want in my Mikey. He does bear the distinction of having some of my least favorite Nick episodes though, notably The Croaking and Turtles in Time. It really depends who write him and the show as of now is still running, so there's some time.

Ultimately, if held at gun point I'd vote Nick Mikey in terms of character (when not annoying) and voice Townsend. However, none are perfect for me; I'd really love if James Arnold Taylor got another shot voicing in TMNT, this time as Mikey rather than Leonardo. Dunno why, just see Taylor as the ideal Mikey for some reason.

[pferreira]

Originally Posted by FredWolfLeonardo

87 by far, anyone who disagrees is just blatantly wrong

Oh you.