Tmnt 2k3 - Blog Posts

A quick screenshot redraw/study of colors

Screenshot below the cut!!

*It can be about anything and from any iteration.*

Hi everyone! I’ve wanted to know the most common criticisms about the franchise for a while now, so why not ask now.

I believe some of you know that I wrote a post about my own version of the TMNT. One of my strategies for writing it is to read fans fair criticisms and not making the same mistakes as the previous iterations.

I haven’t found a lot so I would like to know what you guys disliked(fill free to say your likes too) about the franchise.

You can talk about characters, plot, etc. from any iteration. Talk about multiple iterations if you want.

Thanks for reading! 😊❤️

These 4 more turtles are finished 💅✨️

@ididntwantobeaglader Here you go!

Who's next?

I finish these 4 beautiful turtles 💅✨

So who's next?

@nuggetglitch Here you go!

Incorrect Canon 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Quotes

Michelangelo: I think Leo's possessed.

Donatello: [barely looking up from his coffee] Oh, fantastic. That’s just what we needed.

Raphael: [grumpily rubbing his eyes] It’s seven in the freakin’ morning, Mikey. Can we not start with your nonsense already?

Michelangelo: I’m serious! Look at him!

[Leonardo sits at the table, calmly eating a spoonful of Cheerios while reading The Art of War.]

Raphael: [deadpan] Wow, Leo’s eating breakfast. Better alert the Vatican.

Michelangelo: He doesn’t eat breakfast!

Donatello: [squinting at Leonardo] I mean… he usually doesn’t, but maybe he’s turning over a new leaf? Healthy habits?

Michelangelo: Healthy habits my shell! It’s not what Leo’s eating—it’s what kind! Cheerios over Lucky Charms?! Everyone knows he has a sweet tooth he tries to hide from us, and those are his favorite!

Raphael: [throwing his hands up] One meal. That’s all I ask. ONE. Without Mikey accusing somebody of being a zombie, or a werewolf, or—

[Michelangelo suddenly holds up a crucifix and points it at Leonardo.]

Michelangelo: BEGONE, DEMON!

[Leonardo’s eyes flash black, and he lets out an unholy roar, flipping the chair over as he collapses to the floor.]

Raphael & Donatello: [screaming] WHAT THE HELL?!

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.

I thought Leo always chose to make sacrifices for his brothers and protect them? Sorry I am trying to understand the must I always suffer in your place line. Like didn’t he always choose to do that? He didn’t have to do anything for them. Then again I am a middle child so I guess I don’t get it.

In the 2003 iteration, Leonardo’s role as the eldest and leader is deeply tied to self-sacrifice. Throughout the series, it’s shown and even outright stated that he carries a heavier burden than his brothers. He’s held to a higher standard by both his master and himself, pushing him to train harder, expect more from himself, and make decisions that prioritize his family above all else. In the series, this responsibility is something he accepts willingly—he views it as his duty and his way of protecting his clan.

For the story, however, I wanted to explore what happens when that unwavering sense of duty is pushed too far. Being resurrected as a flesh-eating monster by his own brother becomes a breaking point for him. It’s not just the horror of what he’s become, but the deeper betrayal of his own values—sacrificing his humanity to save his brother.

The line “But now, it seems like for so much of our lives, I must suffer in your place” reflects that shift. It’s Leonardo recognizing how often he’s had to endure pain, not just for the sake of his family but in place of them. This moment of clarity is not about resenting his brothers but realizing the toll of always being the one to bear the burden, the consequences, or the suffering so they don’t have to. In this particular context, it cuts even deeper because his younger brother’s decision to resurrect him—despite knowing there would be consequences—was ultimately driven by not wanting to endure his own suffering.

I hope this helps clarify the meaning behind the line and the emotions it’s meant to convey! Thank you so much for the ask—it’s always wonderful to dive deeper into these moments!

Leo and Raph have a beautiful relationship. I been so obsessed with them lately

Raph: I would die for you Leo

Leo: please don’t

Raph:

Leo: what?

Raph: you know what

Hi, sorry for the lateish response! I’ve been obsessed with their relationship ever since I first watched the various iterations as a kid, but there’s something about the 2003 series that really stands out. I feel like their dynamic was written so well because their conflicts never felt unnecessary or forced, like they sometimes do in other versions. Even when they argued, their love for each other was always so evident.

And yes, absolutely—Raphael is always ready to throw himself into danger for Leonardo, and all Leonardo wants is for him to stop doing that (even though he’d do the exact same thing for him in a heartbeat) Their bond is just so compelling. Thank you again for the ask!

This is absolutely stunning, and I’m beyond honored that my fanfiction inspired this! Seeing one of my favorite quotes, “Must I always suffer in your place,” woven into the background makes it even more heartbreakingly gorgeous. Thank you for bringing this to life so beautifully!

Do you love having your heart broken? Then you might enjoy the fic "Sometimes Dead is Better" by @bangs-coffee-fandoms-unite as much as I did! I had to draw some two AM fanart for it so it wouldn't haunt me (Just kidding, it's still going to haunt me :'D) Seriously, though, it's so gut-wrenchingly good. Go check it out!

I’m not sure if it was intentional, but this art brilliantly captures how young and terrified Leonardo is in this moment. It’s easy to forget, given how badass this iteration of Leonardo is, that he was only fifteen years old during this fight—fifteen, staring death in the eye and refusing to back down. This really brings that vulnerability to the surface, and it hits so hard. Amazing work—I absolutely love this!

This is an art collab between me and @atomicmindz! I did the composition and draft and she did the rest!

Honestly, the colors came out so good for her part, I'm really happy with it! :D

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)

Do you ever imagine that all your favorite characters, who have absolutely no connection to each other, just chill in your head when you’re not actively thinking about them?

For me, it’s like: Leonardo from the 2003 iteration of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Sam Winchester from Supernatural, and Obi-Wan Kenobi from the Star Wars prequels all sitting at a table sipping tea. And yes, they’re totally aware they’re in my head:

Leonardo: [staring at the mug in front of him] Is it just me, or does everything feel... jittery today?

Sam: [rubbing his temples] Oh, it’s not just you. I think she’s had, like, three cups of coffee already this morning.

Obi-Wan: [raising an eyebrow] Three cups? Amateur. During the Clone Wars, I once drank six cups in one briefing just to stay awake while Anakin explained his ‘perfect’ plan to flank a droid battalion. It wasn’t perfect. I ended up digging us out of a crater for three hours.

Leonardo: [sighing] No wonder I’ve been feeling like I should be training non-stop. The energy in here is buzzing.

Sam: [grinning slightly] Hey, at least she’s somewhat productive when caffeinated. Sometimes it’s just doomscrolling and procrastination.

Obi-Wan: [calmly setting his cup down] Perhaps we should find a way to encourage her to hydrate. Tea, perhaps?

Sam: [shrugging] We can try, but she won’t listen to me about drinking water. Dean’s been yelling at her from somewhere in the subconscious for years.

Leonardo: Maybe if we say it’ll help her focus on writing, she’ll actually consider it.

Obi-Wan: [thoughtfully] A clever suggestion. But I suspect we may be at the mercy of her next coffee run regardless.

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

To whoever sent this, I opened it Christmas morning expecting the usual nonsensical spam Ask and instead found what is probably the sweetest and most encouraging Ask I have ever received. As someone who just writes in their free time around work and college, I suppose I do not think of myself as contributing much, but seeing messages and comments like this really makes my day and this holiday season! And I am working on the fourth and final chapter! I really hope you like it! I hope I have it out by the end of this week! Happy Holidays, and thank you!

Dear @bangs-coffee-fandoms-unite ,

'Sometimes Dead is Better' is absolutely incredible. I found it before going to bed one night when I was looking for a fic to read in the morning, but it was SO GOOD that I stayed up late reading it, oops! You have such a good grasp on who the 03 turtles really are, I could vividly see them in all their glory. The sibling banter during the opening fight was on point, peak 03 brother behaviour, I loved it so much! It was such a contrast to the rest of the chapter (and rest of the fic lol), it was jarring to see the switch from lighthearted fun to total devastation. I knew it was coming and I was still caught off guard with how raw and desperate the emotions were. Media doesn't often make me cry, but this one made me have to set my phone down for a moment and blink tears away. That is a huge feat and is a sign of a masterpiece, tbh. When I saw the last update went from 3 chapters to 4, I got so excited, I am SO eager to see the conclusion to this fic!!

Have a Merry Christmas and happy holidays!!

@bangs-coffee-fandoms-unite

Christmas Kindness Event Post

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!

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: