#like her grandpa is a rat and lou jitsu is a human man like the dots are not connecting

[beannary]

Listen I know Donnie is a science boy but he is also Dramatic he is a Theater boy and Internet inherited aaaaaaaaallllllllll of that dramatic energy

She wants to be an actress when she grows up and yes Splinter is absolutely delighted

[jufengsstuff]

I think people who keep criticising Splinter and calling him a bad parent didn't understand his character or they didn't even tried to. So let's recap because honestly I think Rise!Splinter have one of the best back stories of all the versions.

THIS MAN IS TRAUMATIZED EVERYONE.

FIRST he saw his mother sacrifice herself because of the Hamato clan, because they had to do that to protect the world from shredder. What he was like 5? If this is not a trauma then Idk what is, I mean she disappeared in front of him while he was crying and praying her to stay (I'm not crying you are)

THEN he probably fought with his grandpa his whole life because of that and I can assure yall that constantly fighting with a family member is not good for mental health (I can't believe I have to clarify this).

THEN the woman he loved and wanted to marry tricked and kidnapped him and FORCED him to fight (and maybe kill) for like 10 years, just for her personal fun (no hate here we love a business woman) and I don't think this was good for his mental state.

THEN he was basically kidnapped again because a crazy (no hate here too we love our gay goat alchemist) yokai wanted to create bloody warriors with Lou Jitsu's blood. Testing all of this on children.

THEN AFTER ALL OF THIS HE WAS MUTATED. He started to live in a body he didn't recognize, he didn't know how to live with all these changes because he couldn't even come back to the human world now he was a rat and how was he supposed to ask for help? He couldn't. Because turning into a rat wasn't enough he was also SUDDENLY father of four little turtles.

If he wasn't ready to be a father and deal with normal children he surely didn't know how to deal with turtle toots at first.

So imagine the pressure this man have felt at some point.

All his life was a disaster after another disaster.

The loss, the fight, the betrayal.

He was used and suddenly he wasn't himself anymore. This man after all of this clearly have PTSD and Depression and you can't tell me otherwise because even if this is a funny show all the roads lead to Rome.

His back story is telling this if you listen to it. Splinter's mental health is not good and I'm not saying he was a good father because obviously is difficult to be a good father after all of this trauma and issues. But despite all he raised four special boys and he did it with LOVE more than anything. He did it despite everything he had been through.

And honestly I don't even remember a single scene where the turtles where kids and he wasn't there btw.

In the end: I love this rat man more than I love myself.

[roninreverie]

ROTTMNT Splinter Animatic Script Notes

So I had this whole animatic idea for Splinter and the baby turtles which was the reason I drew out those turtle tots the other day, but I am lazy and tired, so I don’t think it’s going to make it out of notes right now! Still, I like the ideas and I think it’s cute, so I’ll just share said notes here just in case anyone is interested in them!

The plain text is supposed to be Splinter's thoughts and the parts in bolded brackets were my visual notes. 

ENJOY!

...

It has been a little over 2 months since I was kidnapped from my previous kidnapping and then turned into a freakish rat-man.  [Splinter looking at reflection with a frown. He is in the sewer, maybe use water as reflective mirror?]

...

I no longer recognize my face, and there is hair growing… well everywhere... The ears came later… And the tail was a bit of a surprise. On the upside though, my facial hair has never been so lustrous! I have met many rodent yokai in the Hidden City, and I’ve got to say, hideous as I am, I am still the most handsome looking rat man in New York. [Looking at hands, then face, ears, and short tail… Admiring chin hair with more acceptance. Wink and finger gun to self before getting depressed again.]

...

Humanity would never accept me this way. I learned that truth PRETTY quickly... [Lady beating freshly mutated Splinter who had escaped into New York with the four turtles, with her purse. Him fleeing back into the alley/ shadows.]

...

I lived on the streets for weeks, but was finally able to find proper refuge down in the sewers, away from the society that had forsaken me. Not that I could blame them. The view isn’t much… but at least there are no property taxes! [Finding sewer home.] 

...

The place really came together once I was able to use Halloween as a convenient excuse for my appearance and promptly withdraw my life savings from the bank for my numerous and highly successful Lou Jitsu movies. [Rat Splinter talking to bank teller.]

...

Among other things… I had been gone for so long. Missed so much. [Fanmail, packages, and family heirlooms left in a safety deposit box from his grandfather. From Splinter’s expression as he holds the Shredder teapot and Hamato scroll… he had no idea his grandpa had passed away... or at least disappeared and left him all these family heirlooms.]

...

And speaking of “missing”... Lou Jitsu had been mysteriously “missing” for close to seven years, presumed dead-- or worse! Washed up!  So upon my short holiday-fueled return to the surface, people naturally had questions, and plenty of things to say, like:

Where have you been?

I thought you were dead! 

Why are you dressed like a rat?

What do you mean you lost your ID? We can’t withdraw any money unless you remember your account and PIN numbers, sir…

[Collage of questions. Stores, banks, cab drivers.]

...

Luckily as a professional actor, I was able to think up some improvised excuses on the spot to explain my long absence:

I was shipwrecked on an island with 7 other people after a fateful storm carried my yacht away.

I backpacked across the world in search of personal enlightenment.

I had to go into hiding after agreeing to guest star in that horrible Jupiter Jim Christmas special.

I was secretly hired by NASA to fight spacemen on Mars.

[Collage of answers. Reference: Gilligan’s Isle, Batman, bag of shame over face, and Space War.]

...

As planned, my masterful excuses worked, and I was able to escape with my belongings and small fortune before returning into hiding.  If rationed properly, this money would last us quite a while! [Stuffing bags of cash and boxes into the manhole sewer entrance.]

...

*Sigh* No one would ever believe me if I told them that I was kidnapped after proposing to my ex who was also a giant spider lady running a gladiatorial battle arena, and who then forced me to fight there for years in a hidden city of Yokai before being kidnapped once again and mutated alongside four baby turtles by a maniacal sheep man bent on destroying humanity. [Memory of past. Dramatic anime thought pose into fist (see nod: "Todd Scotus" Leo Apology pose, he gets it from Splinter).]

...

At least with the funds, things began looking up for once. I was finally able to buy all of the life-sustaining necessities I had been missing for my new secret lair, sewer, single father bachelor’s pad! Like a cozy lounge chair, a TV set, a full kitchen, and my personal collection of Lou Jitsu merchandise that had been floating around WEE-BAY after my disappearance, and then of course some supplies and books to take care of the turtles. [MTV’s Cribs: Sewer Edition.]

...

Speaking of… While I was topside, I purchased every book on turtles, childcare, and parenting I could find. Oh, also on rats… apparently I am allergic to pine and cedar now… who knew? [Splinter with bags of books, in a taxi, sniffing pine scented car freshener and groaning in disgust with a poisoned skull.]

...

Who can say how little these four mutant turtle babies fused with my DNA will grow? [Gets home and looks into a shallow kiddie pool full of baby mutant turtles.]

...

So far they all seem to be healthy. I try to get them enough vitamin-A, time in the UV light, and attempt to keep their diets consistent--  [Split shots of setting up lights and trying to feed them earthworms.]

...

Strangely, they seem to prefer takeout over crawly critters… I’m reminded of myself more and more watching over them.  I mean… who else likes their pizza with Shirasu and mushrooms? They are definitely my DNA… but they are more than just average turtles.  [Baby turtles with lo mein noodles and pizza nabbed from a confused Splinter. Some mocking his facial expressions with surprising accuracy.]

...

A few of them have even started walking on their two little feet of late. According to the “Big Daddy Book of Baby Milestones”, that could mean they’re 12 months or older, and yet “Herpetology for Dummies” says you can try to count the annuli rings on their shells to determine their ages.  [Baby turtles toddler-ing around, both books named in each of Splinter’s hands, the tail (longer now) scratching his own head in thought.]

...

It wasn’t pretty… but I gave counting their shells my best shot. I think big green is three years old, the two smaller ones are two, and the tiny affectionate one is just shy of one… but who can say for certain? They do not really appear to age like normal turtles…or normal children for that matter, so there is only so much the books can teach. [Splinter examining giggling turtle babies, some of them bite or move too much for accurate counting.]

...

Still… I couldn’t just go around calling all of them Green 1 through 4, so I used a clever naming trick I learned on the set of Good Morning New York, when I was there to promote my seventh movie, “Bedtime for Bozos”. There was this cute bit before my segment where some blonde guy and his Puppy Rescue let the puppy dogs pick their own names and collar colors at random. It was adorable!  [Lou Jitsu, Warren Stone, and Todd on set of Good Morning America looking set, watching puppies race towards fun collars with heart eyes.]

...

I did something similar with the greens. At first they didn’t seem interested, but once the ever-curious Green#3 chose the purple ribbon, the others seemed interested too and went for the other colors almost immediately. Red for Green#2, blue for Green#1, and orange for Green#4.  [Babies all ignoring ribbon set up before Donnie curiously picks up a purple ribbon to observe as his brothers and Splinter look on in the BG. Competitively, the other turtles pick up their colors: - Raph’s is in his mouth. - Mikey is holding his/ sucking his thumb like the Peanuts Linus blanket pose. - Donnie is examining the flutter as he waves his around in the air. - Leo has his over his eyes with his mouth agape in awe. Raph and Leo maybe fight for red/blue ribbons before getting their respective colors?]

...

The experiment was a success, and I have been calling them by those colors for a while now. They seem to respond to my voice, and babble as if attempting to form baby-like responses. That one is definitely not a turtle trait! And if they’re really going to start walking and talking one day, then I quickly realized that they are going to need more proper names.  [Splinter hearing one of the turtles say “Da!” and realizing they’re more babies than turtles. Thinking up future sad turtle situations with colors for names, graduating scene, signing important paperwork, all glaring at him judgmentally, and him feeling guilty for picking those names.]

...

I’m not the best with names, but these are my turtles now… my boys… my sons…  I feel obligated to pick out something good, but going with the more traditional names in honor of my family is out of the question. I don’t want them ever having to deal with those violent legacies that follow the name Hamato. [Thoughtful Splinter thinking of the Hamato, his grandpa/ mother, and shaking the thought away.]

...

I myself can no longer go by Yoshi, nor Lou Jitsu… I must reinvent myself if I am ever to have any semblance of a normal life down here. No more Hamato… no more Battle Nexus… no more limelight. [Tying hair into top knot, losing Lou Jitsu outfit, opting for robe instead, and deciding to forgo his past identities. Nod to his sewing machine and the fact he can sew clothing.]

...

I’m sure a name will come when I least expect it. I mean, if I can come up with an alias as awesome as Lou Jitsu, I’m sure I can come up with something else down the road that will be just as good for both me and the boys! [Get’s splinter from cutting board, chopping veggies for turtles as J.I.T.S.U. life coach video plays in the BG. "Into Splinters” part playing.]

...

At first, I thought about naming each of the little ones after my favorite Lou Jitsu movies, but realized that would be too conspicuous…  [Sucking sore finger after Splinter incident. Looking up at screen.]

...

I suppose I could always name them after the great Renaissance masters I learned about on that epic 3 month locational shoot to Florence while filming the museum scenes for “Lou Jitsu Meets the Mummy Ninjas”. Donatello, Michelangelo, Raffaello… Raphael, and Leonardo…   [Scene of Italy, Big Mama present, looking at museums, landmarks, and art. Saint Mark statue, Raphael self portrait, Statue of David, Picture of Mona Lisa that says “Would be here if it wasn't in France RN…LOL :P” and the Birth of Venus painting. Recreate Ferris Bueller Day Off scene of “A Sunday on La Grande” but with “TBOV” painting?]

...

Ooh… or Randall?! I have always liked the name Randall! [Memory poofs away the sight of Splinter looking impressed with himself.]

...

I suppose it is still too soon to tell if such a name would fit their inevitable personalities… Plus, those names are hard to say for babies…  So I guess we’ll stick with the colors for now and leave the fancy titles for their future checking accounts and driver’s licenses. Ha! Look at me… only a few months in and already planning out their futures… I never thought I would ever settle down, and then when I tried, I was kidnapped, but now here I am with four sons and a second chance. [Splinter thinking of dad stuff, like baseball/soccer, art on the fridge, minivans, crying at their weddings, #1 dad mug, macaroni art, etc…]

[End on him looking slightly older (little shorter and with graying hair) and staring contently at his sleeping toddler-looking boys in their new nursery instead of kiddie pool.]

[Tucks them into a new bed. They have toys and teddy bears, warm nightlights and color-coated PJs. A little closet rack with red, blue, orange, and purple clothes, more toys and books on the floor and fun-kid things decorating the room.]

...

Ah, but for now, there is peace. There is time to relax and adjust to this strange new life, and this strange yet wondrous new family… and for now that is enough for this old rat to be happy and to keep my attention towards the future instead of trapped in the past. [They snuggle in and Splinter makes a heart gushing cute expression as he leaves the room so they can sleep. Show how he is now more Splinter than Lou Jitsu, as he comes to accept his role as dad instead of mutated ex-actor, and he’s at peace with it for that moment.]

...

-THE END-

[chiliiscereal]

Hamato Sirani: Lou Jitsu

Month 5

One thing the brothers learned quickly was that Sirani held a strong grudge for a small toddler. The night when they argued she didn't sneak over to Donnies bed so he'd read to her. She didn't even try to sneak into his bed after the lights were supposed to be out. She didn't want to learn about dinosaurs or new words or whatever Donnie offered. 

  He was surprised when he woke up the next morning and she wasn't curled into his side. 

   She even held a grudge against Raph and Leo. 

With Raph, she wouldn't let him hold her while he read her stories. She wouldn't let him help her grab anything from high places either. It didn't matter if it was her tiger that Splinter had put out of her reach when she refused to eat the green foods on her plate, she wouldn't let him help. 

  With Leo, she didn't watch his magic shows. She didn't watch them, she didn't laugh at them, and she wasn't amazed at them. She didn't want to watch any shows with him or watch him reenact a scene from a movie.

  The only one she didn't treat differently was Mikey. 

  Whenever Leo asked if she wanted to watch him do a trick on the skateboard she turned her head, grabbed the crayons Mikey let her borrow, and went off to find her orange masked brother. 

  They would draw together for hours (Splinter made sure it was only on paper). 

  Their rat dad found some stickers and that was probably the worst thing he could have given the two. Stickers appeared on Mikeys shell, their fridge, the walls, even the ceiling. 

Lucky for the other four living in the sewers, the grudge phase was over soon. 

Well, on the outside anyway.

Her older brothers words may have been forgotten after a month, but the meaning behind it wasn't. 

She wanted to be just like them.

She wanted to run and play at their sides. 

So she pushed herself.

She shouldn't need them to help her. 

She could be independent. 

With help from Mikey, of course. 

With his assistance she got amazing at standing and walking. 

He'd hold her hands as she took shaky steps forward. He'd cheer her on whenever she tried by herself. He proudly showed her skills off to Splinter and their older brothers once she got better at it. 

  Splinter saw how the two were able to help each other and moved Sirani into Mikeys room. 

Donnie and Leo now had to share, much to their dismay.

But things were going good for the younger two. 

Sirani followed Mikey everywhere he went. 

And he loved it. 

Wherever he walked, she was right behind him.

Whatever he did, she was doing it to. 

When some time after the fight had passed, they found a new normal. 

Sure, she didn't read with Donnie every night, but now she watched him work on his latest invention: his battleshell. She didn't know why he was making it but it was his first project that took longer than a week. It had to be important. 

   She didn't watch Leo's magic shows but now they both were up late at night, searching the kitchen for late night snacks. It didn't start out as a tradition but when they'd both snuck in at the same time every night it just became a habit.

  She didn't let Raph read to her anymore, but they both woke up on early Saturday mornings to watch Lou Jitsu movies together. She would sit right in his lap and watch the screen intently. 

  That first day she saw a Lou Jitsu movie was a day she'd never forget.

Not just because it was one of her brothers favorite films (yes all of them) but because it was the first day she'd been exposed to humans like her. 

Leo, Donnie, Splinter, and Mikey were all up by the time they turned it on. 

She sat in Raph's lap, eyes wide the moment the actor came on screen. 

Her older brother noticed immediately and chuckled. "He's a human! Like you!" 

  She frowned, mismatched eyes never leaving Lou Jitsu. 

Raph grabbed her hand gently and held it up to the screen. "See? He has five fingers and so do you!" 

She counted slowly, double checking his math. 

He was right. 

She looked to where Splinter sat in his chair and counted his fingers as well. Surely she couldn't be that different than everyone...

He had five as well. 

maybe she wasn't the only different one.

"Dad!" She pointed out and looked up at her big brother. 

 "Yeah, but dad's still a rat." He pointed out. "You're a human." 

Splinter didn't know if he should be offended by the phrasing but he chose to ignore it and continue to listen in. 

The young children didn't realize he was listening though. They just kept talking. 

"He's a human like you!" Leo grinned, skooching closer. "Except he can kick butt!"

"Yeah! Lot's of butt!" Mikey added. 

Leo gasped as he gained a sudden and probably terrible idea. "I've got an idea! We turn Sirani," he showcased her with his waving hands, "into another Lou Jitsu! We teach her to fight, and kick butt, and be cool!" He punched the air excitedly. 

  Mikey cheered excitedly. "YES!" 

Donnie turned his attention away from the tv skeptically. "In order to make her a lou jitsu, we'd need to actually be able to fight." 

  As if on cue, the four boys turned to their dad. 

Sirani followed their actions.

If they were doing it then she should be doing it to. 

He blinked in surprise, his mind still on their previous conversation about Sirani being like Lou Jitsu. "What?" 

 "Dad we wanna fight!" Leo stood up quickly. 

"Yeah!" Mikey copied him immediately. 

Sirani leaned out of Raph's arms to copy Mikey but Raph caught her before she could fall. 

"I too would like to learn." Donnie added as he also stood. 

"We could be super heroes!" Leo shouted, his mind exploding itself. "Or ninjas!" 

   "Super heros are cooler than ninjas." His purple masked brother commented. 

  "No, ninjas!" 

  "Heros!"

  "NINJAS!"

  "HEROS!" 

 Splinter couldn't help but feel proud. They wanted to be ninjas, just like the Hamato Clan. Well, might as well start early, right? His Grandpa taught him at a young age so he should do the same. 

  "Well, lucky for you," he stood from his chair with a grunt, "I happen to know a little about being a ninja." 

This caused the boys to jump around in excitement. 

  Sirani ignored them though. 

She watched the screen still, her brain trying to wrap itself around the idea that she wasn't like her siblings. Instead of being like them, the ones she was around every day, she was like this strange man she'd never met once in her life.

How could that be?

She frowned and held up her hand to the tv, comparing it to the man seemingly inside it. 

His gloved hands also contained ten fingers in total. 

Just like hers. 

But... she knew nothing about him!

Nothing at all!

He wasn't the one who was there for her when she got scared or sad!

He wasn't anything to her!

Splinter sighed. The boys seriously needed to stop bringing up her differences. If he wasn't careful, it could cause some real problems in the future. He didn't want her growing up seeing herself as some sort of outcast from her own home. 

  he scooped her up quickly. Sure, he was happy she had taken an interest in Lou Jitsu, but she needed to get away from the tv. 

  "No!" She protested, reaching for the screen. 

  "Hush, child, you can watch the boys first day of training!" He offered. A distraction would be good. Yes, this was good. 

He could do this right.

He was once a human child. 

How hard could it be?

@amirulamani @dakotafinely