History and Names of the Ninja Turtles: A Look at the Past

These four iconic characters were created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird in 1984 and have since appeared in comics, animated series, movies, and a wide variety of other products, becoming a staple of pop culture. In the world of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the names of these iconic characters were not chosen at random. The creators were originally considering Japanese names since they were drawing inspiration from the Japanese discipline for our beloved turtles, but ultimately opted for Western names to appeal to American readers. That is why they drew inspiration from Renaissance artists to give each turtle the perfect name. Who knows what names they might have had if they had gone with the other option?

Ninja Turtle names by color and their weapon

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, also known as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, are four mutant brothers trained in the art of ninjutsu by their master and father figure, the mutant rat Splinter. Each turtle is distinguished not only by the color of their mask, but also by their unique personality and the weapon they wield with skill.

Each Turtle is not only an expert in martial arts, but also represents a different facet of the youthful spectrum and human personality, making them endearing to generations of fans.

Leonardo, blue mask and dual katanas

Leonardo is the team leader and the eldest brother. He is traditionally identified by his blue mask and his two katanas. Leonardo is usually the most disciplined member of the team. He owes his name to the most famous Italian artist of the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci (The Mona Lisa, The Last Supper), although he is often nicknamed Leo.

Raphael, red mask and dual sais

Raphael, nicknamed Raph, is the fighter of the group, often temperamental and quick on his feet, in contrast to his brother and team leader, Leonardo, with whom he often fights. Raphael is recognizable by his red mask (in the original comics, all Turtles wore red masks) and his dual Sais (a stick with a blade that is often confused with a dagger), his characteristic weapon. He owes his name to the 16th-century Italian painter Raphael.

Donatello, purple mask and bo staff

Donatello (also known as Donnie or Don, depending on who you ask) is the team’s technical experimenter and has a special talent for technology and science, often creating fantastic gadgets for the team to use. Donatello wears a purple mask and a staff. In most incarnations, Donatello is the least combative member of the team and usually tries to solve problems through science rather than combat. Donatello owes his name to the Italian sculptor Donatello di Niccolò di Betto Bardi.

Michelangelo, orange mask and dual nunchakus

Possibly the most famous member of the team, Michelangelo. Often presented as the youngest member of the Turtles, Michelangelo (alias Mikey to his brothers) is the most carefree and relaxed member of the team, and uses the catchphrase “cowabunga”. He often speaks with the accent of a surfer or skater, and it is because of him that Turtles are associated with pizza, as it is his favorite dish.

Michelangelo is the most gifted member of the Turtles, but prefers to relax rather than train like his brothers. He is recognized by his orange mask and wields two nunchaku or nunchakus, although in some incarnations he has wielded other weapons instead. Michelangelo owes his name to the artist Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade games: fun for 4 players

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles not only triumphed in comics and animated series: they also left their mark on the arcade halls of the 90s with titles like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Arcade Game). Both games offered cooperative action for up to 4 simultaneous players, each one controlling their favorite turtle.

These arcade beat ’em up titles are perfect to enjoy on an arcade machine or bartop with physical controls. The precision of the arcade joystick and Sanwa buttons provide a tactile response that modern controllers cannot match in this type of game.

Why play TMNT on a 4-player arcade pedestal?

• 4 real players: each one chooses their turtle (Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello or Michelangelo) on the 4-player arcade pedestal.
• Classic beat ’em up: punches, combos and special attacks with the authentic arcade feel.
• RetroBat included: both TMNT arcade games are available from the first power-on.
• Themed vinyls: decorate your bartop or pedestal with exclusive Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles designs.

At OmniRetro we manufacture 4-player arcade pedestals, bartop kits and decorative vinyls so you can relive the best 90s arcades with your friends or family.