Tmnt 2003 - Blog Posts
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!
Exactly! He goes from 😩💅✨ to 🦇👺😠 in an instant!
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!
TMNT 2003's duality never ceases to amaze
I just uploaded the first chapter today, and the final chapter will hopefully be out on 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 🎃
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:
What is the context here? 💀 Also, I can’t get enough of Leonardo doing the Christian Bale Batman voice.
They're so extra
@slady-ao3 Yeah, exactly! I think that’s what makes the moment so memorable—Leonardo’s usually the last turtle you’d expect to kill without hesitation.
Incorrect Canon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Quotes
Casey: [looking anxiously at the crates, where a distinct snapping noise was heard] Did you just... kill him?
Leonardo: Of course not! That would be inhumane. [He stands proudly, gesturing to the unconscious goon behind the crates.] l popped his medulla oblongata, paralyzing him for life. He can still breathe and feel Purple Dragon sadness.
Casey: [scratches his head, looking confused] ...I don't see how that's any better.
Context: During season four of the 2003 iteration of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Leonardo drags a Purple Dragon goon behind some crates, where a distinct snapping noise is heard. This made a lot of fans theorize he actually snapped his neck, killing him. Video below:
Incorrect Canon 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Quotes
Casey: [looking anxiously at the crates, where a distinct snapping noise was heard] Did you just... kill him?
Leonardo: Of course not! That would be inhumane. [He stands proudly, gesturing to the unconscious goon behind the crates.] l popped his medulla oblongata, paralyzing him for life. He can still breathe and feel Purple Dragon sadness.
Casey: [scratches his head, looking confused] ...I don't see how that's any better.
Context: During season four of the 2003 iteration of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Leonardo drags a Purple Dragon goon behind some crates, where a distinct snapping noise is heard. This made a lot of fans theorize he actually snapped his neck, killing him. Video below:
@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!
This is a bit overdue but I'm the creator of the 2k3 Foot Leo story that's on Instagram!
It's been going on since last year but I finally got volume 1 finished and volume 2 is just around the corner (give me a few weeks)
Here's Pages 1-9 + V1 Cover
@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!
good morning. leo warm up
🎃 🐢
As Halloween creeps closer—yes, I know it's over two months away, but who's counting?—let's have some fun! Here are the 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in as the best Salem moments from Sabrina the Teenage Witch:
Leonardo:
Raphael:
Donatello:
Michelangelo:
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!
Random Person: “Do you still think that Leonardo and Usagi should have gotten a rematch in the Battle Nexus considering one was poisoned mid-match?”
Me:
This is exactly the kind of ridiculousness I would expect turtle-tot Leonardo to come up with.
The fact that Leonardo somehow ends up being the big brother to literally everyone, even those way older than him, is just peak comedy. Like, Casey is a full-grown man, but when he pulls the “C'mon dude, just this once” card, Leonardo's big brother instincts kick in hard and softie that he is, giving in with an “Alright, alright.”
Dreamwave's TMNT (2003)
Crying over little green guys again.
"Not Enough"
I am in the middle of rewatching the 2003 version of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles during my summer break from college, this time with my father, who had only seen bits and pieces of it when I watched it as a child. We are currently on season four, which fans often refer to as the "post-traumatic stress disorder arc" for Leonardo, as it depicts his mental deterioration and increasing anger, even surpassing that of his notoriously hot-headed brother.
While doing the dishes, I asked my father what he thought of the arc so far. He simply said, "He seems angry." I agreed, replying, "Yeah, he's angry at himself." My father responded, "Yeah, but he's also angry at his brothers." This made me pause. I knew Leonardo had moments where he was upset with his brothers for not training enough or for goofing off, but I had not thought of him as being outright angry with them.
Then my father elaborated, "He's angry because they're not perfect, like he expects himself to be." This was a revelation for me. I had always interpreted this arc as Leonardo being angry at himself for not being good enough, but it makes a lot of sense that if he holds himself to such a high standard, he would hold his brothers to the same—and get frustrated and angry when they inevitably do not meet it.
I think a less explored aspect of this arc is that Leonardo is exhausted from carrying the burden alone and was trying to share it with his brothers. However, they do not carry it the same way he does, which does not make them lesser—it just makes them young and still wanting a life outside of crime fighting. Michelangelo captures this sentiment best in the same season when he says,”I think all of you should just lay off the poor guy. I mean, it can't be fun. Always being the responsible one, and we’re the ones who really benefit. Raph's free not to think cause Leo does all the thinking for him, Don's free to dream, And I'm free to take it easy, all cause Leonardo is busy being responsible enough for all of us.”
Anyway, at the ripe age of twenty-two and in graduate school, I find myself once again feeling melancholic over little green guys.
Why does the first pic make it look like Leonardo is holding Casey's waist? 🤨 Like, he is too old for you, young man.
"When they make the villain sympathetic, that usually means it's their last appearance in a cartoon"
"Come on, Mikey, cartoons also have everything reset back to normal by the villain's next appearance"
Yeah, he hijacked it
Possibly my favourite 2k3 tmnt screenshot
Bro really said (ㆁωㆁ)