Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles



Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a multimedia empire that has existed since the mid-1980s. Originally a 'gritty' comic book, the comic book has inspired a generation, with multiple television shows (a cartoon, two anime, and a live-action version), a roleplaying game, four movies, and more toys than you can shake a Pokémon at. In 1990, they even went on a musical concert tour Coming Out of Their Shells, trading their weapons for musical instruments.

The comic was created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird in 1984. Mr. Laird was a Guest of Honor at Anthrocon 2005.

The titular Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are a group of four turtles named after their master's favorite Renaissance artists - Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael, and Donatello - who, after attaining anthropomorphic forms and human-level intelligence from a mutagenic 'ooze', and ethics and moral, not to mention ninja training, from their rat "sensei," Splinter (who has multiple origin stories, depending on the story in question), the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles must deal with the evil Foot clan, alien empires, mad scientists, time travellers (both from past and future), and other weirdness.

Heroes

 * Leonardo: The leader of the Turtles, he wears a blue bandana and wields twin katanas. He is the closest to Master Splinter and the most responsible.


 * Raphael: The most hot-headed and violent of the Turtles, he wears a red bandana and utilizes twin sais.


 * Donatello: A technological genius, Donatello is the most peaceful of the Turtles, he wears a purple bandana and uses a bo quarterstaff.


 * Michelangelo: Somewhat of a joker and party-animal, he wears an orange bandana and uses twin nunchuku, although he has also been depicted as using grappling hooks or tonfas.


 * Splinter: A large mutated rat, he is a master of ninjutsu and the one who raised and trained the Turtles.


 * April O'Neil: A human and long-time friend of the Turtles, oftentimes aiding them in their adventures.


 * Casey Jones: A vigilante and sometimes-ally of the Turtles when fighting crime. Casey wears a hockey mask and utilizes sports equipment as melee weapons.

Villains

 * Shredder: Oroku Saki, the Turtles archenemy, he wears a large amount of spiked armor and is a martial-arts master and sensei of the Foot clan.


 * Krang: An interdimensional alien that resembles a brain with pseudopod arms, he is Shredder's leader and the main source of the Foot Clan's resources.


 * Dr. Baxter Stockman: A scientist of questionable sanity, Dr. Baxter Stockman is a genius and expert with robotics. He starts out human and later transforms into a housefly hybrid.


 * Rat King: A deranged and filthy lunatic who surrendered his humanity, he seems to have some level of control over rats.


 * Bebop and Rocksteady, two street thugs transformed into warthog and rhino hybrids respectively.

Other

 * Leatherhead: A mutated alligator and occasional ally and enemy of the Turtles; despite his great intelligence he has been known to have a bestial temperment.


 * Karai: A high-ranking Foot Clan member, like Leatherhead she is occasionally an ally and enemy of the Turtles; is highly skilled in combat.


 * Ninjara


 * Armaggon

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Furry
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are probably the most popular scalie characters out there, especially their 2003 and 2012 cartoon versions.