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Tmnt 2003 Leonardo - Blog Posts
Incorrect Canon 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Quotes
Leonardo: Can someone give me an example of a mistake made on this mission?
[Raphael immediately raises his hand.]
Leonardo: Thank you, Raphael. That’s a very good example.
Raphael: Hey! I didn’t even say anything yet!
Leonardo: You didn’t have to.
Is it just me or do 2003 Leo and Raph have the best relationship out of all the iterations? It's my favorite, at least. Like they do get snappy with each other sometimes but their spats aren't nearly as often, as intense or festering as long as some others I've seen.
It was refreshing that Raph didn't challenge Leo's position as leader nearly as much. Sometimes he would challenge the decisions he made while leading but not undermine his position. He learned and mostly accepted that Leo would be a good leader in childhood and he backed him up nine times out of ten (even when Leo didn't know it: e.g. the "If Leo needs us, we're here. But let's see what this is all about." An instance of Raph pulling a Leo-type move, hanging back to recon rather than rushing in, while Leo's judgment was clouded. Learning from each other and supporting even from a distance)
How ready they are to be there for each other? How openly protective they are of each other? Like they're not as coy or begrudging or emotionally constipated as others about showing how much they care. Small gestures, big gestures, it doesn't matter. Leo's having trouble focusing on a plan because of the noise? Raph makes the noise go away. Wasn't Raph the first one who wanted to look for Leo when his morning training (getting ambushed by the Foot) ran unusually late? Or the scene where Leo's suddenly getting pulled away by an unknown magical force and he calls out to his brothers in alarm. Don cries, "Oh, no!" as he and Mikey stand there and watch; they freeze up. Raph dives headlong after him instantly.
And how they take it when they can't be there for each other? He dove headlong and he didn't actually make it in time to grab Leo's hand before he's gone. Master Splinter has to physically hold him back as he's still shouting and fighting to get to him (and then he has to be restrained again by magic when it looks like Leo's in danger in the 1v1 he was pulled to. Screw the fact that he's obviously outpowered by the almighty binding rules of the duel, he'll go kicking and screaming anyway, that's his bro!) And the scene where they're on top of a moving car, Leo loses his grip on Raph and he falls and from Leo's POV, time slows until he sees Raph land alright. Raph facing his fear ick about bugs, jumping down to defend Leo from the big boss bug with no hesitation when he sees him get stung? And of course when he cries just the once (as far as I recall) in the whole series when Leo's seriously hurt. How he makes me cry in SAINW as he crawls to Leo's side, reaches out for him, calls his name with his dying breath, his last word is his brother's name as he falls beside him, hand against his??? And that was after being estranged in that what-if future! LIKE BRO THAT SCENE MAKES ME WANT TO SCREAM
Even just the two or three lines where Leo's waxing poetic about their family, being completely sincere, and Mikey bursts out laughing and teases him for being a sap. Raph immediately tells Mikey to lay off and that Leo's got a point.
They're just so good. They have a few arguments like all siblings do but there is zero doubt that they love each other to pieces and they don't hesitate at all to show it on the regular. And outside of that estrangement timeframe where they were traumatized and grieving and in a literal apocalypse where they lost all hope, they didn't let their relationship fall apart the way some other iterations did. (Like I love 2007 but that fight on the rooftop? Where Raph could have killed him? I watch it and I can't help but think to myself, "2003 Leo and Raph would never." We saw them have a tussle on a rooftop and the moment there was a possibility he put Raph in real danger, Leo came to his senses and dropped everything to make sure he was okay. I dunno)
Asfjskjfks this is all just biased four AM rambling. The point is I love them, your honor, best/closest/healthiest R&B dynamic duo forever in my heart <3 (Natural disclaimer: I don't say any of this to crap on any of the other iterations. I like them all! I just like 2003's portrayal the most)
Gnawing on the bars of my enclosure and foaming at the mouth because SAME. The grip that early 2000s dark-side Leonardo fics had on my soul is still unreal.
This AU has everything I crave. Venom Leonardo in the 2003 series would eat (pun intended) with all that delicious angst.
Somebody needs to write this. Immediately. Or I will.
they share a braincell
Incorrect Canon 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Quotes
Raphael: Look at him, all serious and disciplined. Bet you anything he’s drinking straight black coffee.
Michelangelo: Pfft, nah, bro. He’s definitely the type to drink, like, boiled water. Nothing in it. Just… water.
Donatello: He’s more likely to go for green tea.
[Leonardo calmly takes a sip from the festive red mug in his hands. The faintest trace of whipped cream smudges onto his upper lip.]
Donatello: Is that… whipped cream?
[Leonardo, unbothered, takes another sip. A few colorful sprinkles glint faintly against the rim of his mug.]
Michelangelo: No way. NO. WAY.
Raphael: Our brother is drinking hot chocolate. With sprinkles.
Stawwwwppppp 🤣 Not Usagi hitting the Family Guy Death Pose lol
I love this so much!
Incorrect Canon 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Quotes
Donatello: Oh, look! Leonardo and Usagi are standing under the mistletoe.
Michelangelo: [Eyes widen in panic.] Oh no!
Donatello: [Rolls his eyes and crosses his arms.] Come on, Mikey. Grow up. It’s about time Leo—
Michelangelo: [Frantically waves his hands, interrupting Donatello.] Not that! Raph told Leo that it’s tradition in Usagi’s dimension, when you stand under the mistletoe—
[Leonardo abruptly snap kicks Usagi in the face mid-lean, knocking him back. Then he turns to his brothers, giving them a thumbs-up like he just nailed the perfect kata.]
Michelangelo: [Facepalms.] —you fight them.
Raphael: [Leaning against the wall, snickering.] I call it ‘mistlefoe’.
[Leonardo, oblivious to the chaos, glances up at the mistletoe again, prepared to defend his honor from any other "attackers."]
Incorrect Canon 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Quotes
Donatello: Oh, look! Leonardo and Usagi are standing under the mistletoe.
Michelangelo: [Eyes widen in panic.] Oh no!
Donatello: [Rolls his eyes and crosses his arms.] Come on, Mikey. Grow up. It’s about time Leo—
Michelangelo: [Frantically waves his hands, interrupting Donatello.] Not that! Raph told Leo that it’s tradition in Usagi’s dimension, when you stand under the mistletoe—
[Leonardo abruptly snap kicks Usagi in the face mid-lean, knocking him back. Then he turns to his brothers, giving them a thumbs-up like he just nailed the perfect kata.]
Michelangelo: [Facepalms.] —you fight them.
Raphael: [Leaning against the wall, snickering.] I call it ‘mistlefoe’.
[Leonardo, oblivious to the chaos, glances up at the mistletoe again, prepared to defend his honor from any other "attackers."]
Incorrect Canon 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Quotes
Civilian: You in the lizard costume, I want to speak to your manager!
Raphael: Oh, you wanna talk to my manager? Sure, hold on.
[Raphael pulls out his shell cell, dials a number slowly, and holds it up dramatically.]
Raphael: [speaking into the phone] Leo, some bitch wants to talk to you.
[Raphael pauses, listening to muffled talking from Leonardo on the other end of the line. Turns back to the civilian with a smirk.]
Raphael: Yeah, he says you can take that complaint and shove it up your—
[Raphael cut off by loud yelling from Leonardo on the other line.]
Incorrect Canon 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Quotes
Michelangelo, over the Shell Cell: [nervously] Leo…
Leonardo: [already suspicious] Yeah, what is it, Mikey?
Michelangelo: Hypothetically—
Leonardo: [interrupts, already grabbing his weapons] I'm on my way.
Michelangelo: [under his breath] …should probably hurry.
Incorrect Canon 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Quotes
Raphael: Oh, I see what’s happenin’. You’ve got a Leo.
Casey: [confused] What? A Leo?
Raphael: [nods knowingly] Yeah, that little voice in your head that tells you you can’t do stuff.
Raphael: [mockingly imitates] “Raph, don’t do that. Raph, that’s not honorable. Raph, hitting unconscious opponents with their own fists and asking why they’re hitting themselves is not the ninja way.”
Leonardo: [appears in the doorway, arms crossed, glaring] Raph. Casey. What are you two up to?
Casey: [eyes wide] I HEAR IT!
Incorrect Canon 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Quotes
Raphael and Michelangelo, both on a mission to finally get the stoic Leonardo to cry.
Michelangelo: [slaps Leonardo across the face dramatically] Take that, Sir! Behold a teenage mutant ninja turtle weeping like—
[Leonardo, unfazed, grabs the nearest chair and smashes it over Michelangelo’s head.]
Raphael: [blinks in disbelief] That—that was your plan?! Mikey, are you crying?
Michelangelo: [sniffling and clutching his head] Yes I'm crying—he hit me with a chair!
My roommate walked in on me watching the 2003 TMNT Halloween episode, and without missing a beat, she suggested we carve a ‘PTSD-o-lantern’ for Halloween. I was baffled, like, what? And then she goes, 'Oh, you know...the blue one.' HELP. That is so horribly accurate it hurts 💀
TMNT 2003 | All Hallows Thieves
Happy Halloween!
For Halloween, I am currently spiraling into madness writing a Pet Sematary-inspired take on the 2003 iteration of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Raphael is unable to move on after Leonardo dies during what was supposed to be just another routine trip to the surface.
The grief eats away at Raphael, and while staying at the farmhouse, he hears from a neighbor about the cursed soil in the apple orchard. The neighbor warns him not to bury his brother there, giving the classic warning, “Sometimes, dead is better.”
But Raphael, being Raphael, does not listen. Desperate to have Leonardo back, Raphael buries him there anyway. And when his brother returns, he does so as a malevolent entity.
If this sounds like something you would be interested in, please comment or reblog! I am thinking of posting the first chapter this week. It should only be about two or three chapters and finished by Halloween 🎃
I love the idea that the 2003 iteration of Leonardo is so intent on being a mother hen that he tries to take care of literally everyone around him—even grown-ass adults. I especially love the idea of fifteen-year-old Leonardo mother henning Casey and April, who are in their mid-twenties.
Leonardo: [hands an apple and a protein bar to Casey] Here. You might get hungry during patrol, and it’s important to keep your energy up. I also have dark chocolate or peanut butter if you finish those.
Casey: [staring at the snacks, confused] Uh… thanks, Leo?
Raphael: [snickering]
Casey: [frowning] Does he always do this?
Donatello: [with a straight face] You have no idea…
Michelangelo: [letting Leonardo peel an apple for him with his katana] Oh yeah, all the time. It’s kinda nice—he cuts the apple into perfect little pieces.
Stoppppp! I swear, every time I mention rewatching the 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series with my father, I come back with some wild revelation thanks to his uncanny television-watching skills. Seriously, this man is either psychic or just way too good at predicting plot twists. And the best (worst?) part is, he always gets this smug, “I know something you don’t know” grin.
So, when we hit season five—the one that is kinda the lost season that not even all the hardcore Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle fans have seen—he was absolutely certain he knew a big twist that was coming. He was practically vibrating with excitement, and I finally caved and asked him what he thought was going to happen.
And what he said? Ten times better than what we actually got.
Okay, so you know how Leonardo mirrors the real Oroku Saki in the flashbacks and how he eventually returns as a demon? My father thought Leonardo was going to become a demon himself to defeat Demon Shredder and save his brothers.
Let me repeat that: Leonardo, our honorable, calm, reassuring blue turtle, becoming a literal demon.
Like, okay. Leonardo fans of all Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle iterations? We live for horrible, soul-crushing angst, right? But this? This right here? I am chewing on fiber glass right now. I did not know I needed this concept until now, but suddenly, I NEED it.
Leonardo when fighting alongside his brothers:
Leonardo when fighting by himself:
Rewatching the 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series has made one thing painfully clear: Leonardo goes absolutely feral when he fights solo. Like, when he is with his brothers, he is the model of teamwork—strategizing, watching their backs (shells?), and occasionally throwing in a quip or two. But the second he is left to fight alone? He unleashes. No one to protect, no need to hold back—he just goes full-on berserker mode.
Me remembering how I was embarrassing when I could have been cool and chill:
@thegirlwiththeninjaturtletattoos
Oh my goodness 😂 😂 😂 I love all of this so much! Now I really want to write this now, with Leonardo staying shrunk for an entire month, leading to chapter after chapter of endless hijinks. Just imagine the hilarious scenarios—Donatello carrying Leonardo around in a little sling, Raphael trying to act tough but secretly fretting, and Michelangelo relentlessly trying to use him as a toy.
I think a really underrated trope is "character gets shrunk to adorable size and hijinks ensue," and I especially want to see this used in the 2003 iteration of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Picture this: Leonardo, either through some villain of the week, freak accident, or alien technology, gets shrunk down to roughly the size of a Barbie doll.
Donatello calls Raphael and Michelangelo into his laboratory, looking all grim and serious. The absence of their eldest brother has the younger two convinced that something horrible has happened.
Raphael: [bursts in, all worried] Donny, what the shell happened? Where's Leo?!
Michelangelo: [close on his heels, equally concerned] Yeah, where's Leo? Did something happen?
Donatello: [holding up his hands to calm them] Yes, but it’s not what you think! He’s fine. He's just... gone through a bit of a change.
Raphael: [squints] What kind of change?
Donatello: [sighs] Now, I’m going to bring him out, and you two better be on your best behavior. No laughing—this is serious.
Raphael: [crosses arms, suspicious] Serious how?
Donatello gives them a look that screams, "You'll see." He reaches under the table, carefully picks up something (or rather, someone), and gently sets Leonardo down on the table. Leonardo—now barely the height of a Barbie doll—straightens his gear and adjusts his mask, trying desperately to maintain his dignity.
Raphael: [silent, staring] ...
Michelangelo: [jaw drops] ...
Raphael: [deadpan, trying not to laugh] ...I’m not supposed to laugh, right?
Michelangelo: [slowly grins] He...is...so...AWESOME! Dude, he’s like the ultimate, super-realistic action figure! [jumps excitedly] Let me hold him! Let me hold him! Please, just for a minute!
Leonardo: [scrambles to climb up Donatello’s arm, in full panic mode] DO NOT let him hold me! DO NOT let him hold me!
Hello! I hope you're doing well!
I was wondering, what is your opinion on Raphael?
Hi! Thank you for your ask. I am doing well, though this semester is already proving to be a challenge! I hope you are doing well, too.
It is no secret that Leonardo from the 2003 iteration of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is my absolute favorite. Honestly, I could write an entire dissertation on why, but that might be a topic for another day. That said, Raphael has a special place in my heart, too. When he is written well, he goes far beyond the "hot-headed one" stereotype-there is so much depth and complexity to his character that I find fascinating.
One of the dynamics I particularly enjoy across different iterations is the relationship between Raphael and Leonardo. It is often seen as just two alpha males butting heads, but there is so much more beneath the surface. It is a complicated, deeply-rooted bond that shows their love for each other in unexpected ways. And in my opinion, the 2003 series captured that dynamic best.
Thank you again for the ask! My first ask one actually!
@thegirlwiththeninjaturtletattoos I would absolutely pay to see fan art of a shrunken Leonardo in his little glass tank. I imagine he’d need some shrunken objects to keep him entertained—maybe a tiny copy of The Art of War or a miniature pair of katanas to keep him occupied.
And the reactions from April and Casey would be priceless. I can totally picture April digging out her old Barbie collection from storage, dressing up mini-Leonardo, and making him play in the Dreamhouse with her dolls. Michelangelo, of course, would jump right in on the fun. As for Casey, I bet he would get creative—tying floss around Leonardo and lowering him down drains to unclog them or sending him into the hard-to-reach parts of his motorcycle.
I think a really underrated trope is "character gets shrunk to adorable size and hijinks ensue," and I especially want to see this used in the 2003 iteration of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Picture this: Leonardo, either through some villain of the week, freak accident, or alien technology, gets shrunk down to roughly the size of a Barbie doll.
Donatello calls Raphael and Michelangelo into his laboratory, looking all grim and serious. The absence of their eldest brother has the younger two convinced that something horrible has happened.
Raphael: [bursts in, all worried] Donny, what the shell happened? Where's Leo?!
Michelangelo: [close on his heels, equally concerned] Yeah, where's Leo? Did something happen?
Donatello: [holding up his hands to calm them] Yes, but it’s not what you think! He’s fine. He's just... gone through a bit of a change.
Raphael: [squints] What kind of change?
Donatello: [sighs] Now, I’m going to bring him out, and you two better be on your best behavior. No laughing—this is serious.
Raphael: [crosses arms, suspicious] Serious how?
Donatello gives them a look that screams, "You'll see." He reaches under the table, carefully picks up something (or rather, someone), and gently sets Leonardo down on the table. Leonardo—now barely the height of a Barbie doll—straightens his gear and adjusts his mask, trying desperately to maintain his dignity.
Raphael: [silent, staring] ...
Michelangelo: [jaw drops] ...
Raphael: [deadpan, trying not to laugh] ...I’m not supposed to laugh, right?
Michelangelo: [slowly grins] He...is...so...AWESOME! Dude, he’s like the ultimate, super-realistic action figure! [jumps excitedly] Let me hold him! Let me hold him! Please, just for a minute!
Leonardo: [scrambles to climb up Donatello’s arm, in full panic mode] DO NOT let him hold me! DO NOT let him hold me!
More of the Tiny-Nardo AU inspired by @the-cauldron-witch tags.
Donatello: [bursts into Michelangelo’s room, wide-eyed and frantic] Mikey, have you seen Leo? I had him in his hamster ball on the kitchen counter while I made him a tiny sandwich, and now he’s gone!
Michelangelo: [surrounded by scattered action figures, hiding something behind his back, and sporting tiny bite marks on his fingers] Uh, no, nope. Haven’t seen him. Hah, get it? Seen him! Because, you know, he’s so… small.
Donatello: [crosses his arms, tapping his foot impatiently] Michelangelo, where is he, and what exactly have you done to him?
Michelangelo: [pouts, then pulls out a very annoyed, shrunken Leonardo in a tiny Silver Sentry costume, who immediately bites Michelangelo’s finger] Ouch! Hey, Leo!
Donatello: [frown wavers as he struggles to hide a smile] Did you… already take pictures?
Michelangelo: [holding his finger and grinning sheepishly while holding up his phone] Oh, you know I did!
Leonardo: [crosses his arms, muttering] I hate both of you.
I think a really underrated trope is "character gets shrunk to adorable size and hijinks ensue," and I especially want to see this used in the 2003 iteration of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Picture this: Leonardo, either through some villain of the week, freak accident, or alien technology, gets shrunk down to roughly the size of a Barbie doll.
Donatello calls Raphael and Michelangelo into his laboratory, looking all grim and serious. The absence of their eldest brother has the younger two convinced that something horrible has happened.
Raphael: [bursts in, all worried] Donny, what the shell happened? Where's Leo?!
Michelangelo: [close on his heels, equally concerned] Yeah, where's Leo? Did something happen?
Donatello: [holding up his hands to calm them] Yes, but it’s not what you think! He’s fine. He's just... gone through a bit of a change.
Raphael: [squints] What kind of change?
Donatello: [sighs] Now, I’m going to bring him out, and you two better be on your best behavior. No laughing—this is serious.
Raphael: [crosses arms, suspicious] Serious how?
Donatello gives them a look that screams, "You'll see." He reaches under the table, carefully picks up something (or rather, someone), and gently sets Leonardo down on the table. Leonardo—now barely the height of a Barbie doll—straightens his gear and adjusts his mask, trying desperately to maintain his dignity.
Raphael: [silent, staring] ...
Michelangelo: [jaw drops] ...
Raphael: [deadpan, trying not to laugh] ...I’m not supposed to laugh, right?
Michelangelo: [slowly grins] He...is...so...AWESOME! Dude, he’s like the ultimate, super-realistic action figure! [jumps excitedly] Let me hold him! Let me hold him! Please, just for a minute!
Leonardo: [scrambles to climb up Donatello’s arm, in full panic mode] DO NOT let him hold me! DO NOT let him hold me!