As a lifelong fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT), I can say with confidence that my journey with these green ninja warriors has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. Each iteration of the Turtles, from movies to TV series, holds a special place in my heart, but when it comes to Michelangelo, the party-loving, pizza-eating turtle, some versions truly stand out.
To put it straightforwardly, Michelangelo wasn’t my top pick among the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; instead, I always favored Raphael.
It’s widely accepted that Michelangelo is considered the most iconic hero in a half shell due to his memorable catchphrases and what seems to be the coolest weapon among them. Whether from the animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles shows or movies, or live-action adaptations, Michelangelo has consistently stood out as the distinctive one. In fact, the original animated series accurately described him as a “party dude.
As someone who strives to cater to people’s preferences, I decided to rate each primary portrayal of Michelangelo (often referred to as Mikey). By “primary version,” I mean instances where Mikey played a significant role in the narrative. While his initial comic book appearance was notable, I believe he truly flourished in the 1987 animated series. So, which rendition of Mikey takes the top spot? Let’s discover together.
Oh, and minor TMNT spoilers are up ahead for the #1 pick.
11. Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation (1997)
In my past, I penned an essay debating the superiority between Power Rangers and Ninja Turtles, as they were significant pieces of my youthful memories. To be honest, the live-action series “Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation” felt like a crazy idea – let’s merge them both! As a result, we got this less-than-impressive television show.
In this series, Michelangelo stands out as particularly irritating due to him hosting a boisterous radio show from his Jeep. Moreover, unlike what one might expect, he doesn’t use his signature nunchucks; instead, he opts for tonfas, possibly because nunchucks were commonly used during that time and causing harm to inexperienced kids, like myself, was a common occurrence.
To be clear, Mikey isn’t to blame here. The entire production of “The Next Mutation” is abysmal, unfortunately, and poor Mikey was simply caught up in this mess. Ugh!
10. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014-2016 live-action movies)
I’ve never been a fan of the Michael Bay Transformers movies, but I’ve also never really been a fan of Transformers as a whole. So, I wasn’t entirely offended by how bad most of those movies were. However, as a huge TMNT fan, those two Bay-produced Turtles films hurt my soul. The first one was bad, but the second one, Out of the Shadows, was an absolute trainwreck.
So much so that Mikey, who is usually a bright spot in any Turtles story, couldn’t even save it.
In both films, neither his humor nor the action sequences seemed to connect effectively, resembling the quality of “The Next Mutation“. Although it’s not entirely Mikey’s fault as the movies themselves weren’t well-made, I had hoped that at least his charisma would salvage them. Regrettably, this was not the case.
9. TMNT (2007)
As a devoted fan, I can’t help but feel that the 2007 animated Ninja Turtles movie, known as TMNT, tends to be overlooked, which is unfortunate given its high quality. Unlike many other adaptations, this one doesn’t focus on Shredder, instead, it delves deeply into the Turtles reuniting, a narrative aspect that truly resonates.
In this movie, Michelangelo steals the show with his comical antics, making light of an otherwise grim Turtles tale from the mid-2000s. When he’s apart from my brothers, I work as a birthday party entertainer, going by the name Cowabunga Carl. The scenes where I’m cruising through the sewer on my skateboard and dishing out moves like vintage Mikey are pure nostalgic fun!
He seems to lose track of the plot around halfway, yet overall, this portrayal of the character is quite good.
8. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003 animated series)
As a gamer, I’ve always found the 2003 series to be my personal Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – it’s cool, man! More power to those who appreciate its grittier edge. In my opinion, this series often gets overlooked due to its darker tone compared to other animated versions of the Turtles.
Michelangelo is intriguing in this show, as he maintains a humorous tone yet isn’t as lighthearted as some other portrayals. He seems more reserved here, which suits the series well. To put it simply, I find him appealing, but not my absolute favorite. Perhaps if I had grown up with him, my feelings might be different. Time will tell!
7. Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2019)
In a nutshell, both characters from 2003’s Mikey and this film share a common trait: their environments significantly shape their characters. However, my personal preference leans towards Mikey due to the engaging dynamic he has with Batman.
As a devoted admirer, I find that Michelangelo brings a touch of humor and lightness to this somewhat somber narrative, much like my friend Mikey does in real life. Oh, how I yearn for additional moments within this realm to truly grasp the essence of his character.
6. Rise Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2018)
It took me some time to appreciate “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” but I’m grateful to both the film and its talented actors for winning me over and turning me into a fan.
What stands out about Rise is its relentless pace and inclusion of mystical elements. Initially, when I saw it, I thought this could be a drawback. However, upon reflection, I find it entertaining, and Michelangelo plays a significant role in that enjoyment (despite Leonardo serving as a sort of secondary “Mikey” in this series). In this installment, Mike is quite eccentric, but he slots seamlessly into this world. Thumbs up from me.
5. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990-1993 live-action movies)
To put it simply, if we’re only considering the first two Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles films, this Michaelangelo could potentially rank even higher. However, given that the third movie was less than stellar… you get the idea.
Be that as it may, this Michelangelo is really groovy. He loves pizza above all else, and actually looks cool swinging his nunchucks. In the dark world of the first movie, he’s a welcome relief.
In the second film, the Turtles exhibit a considerably zany behavior, with Michelangelo standing out as if they were all mimicking him, yet he remains entertaining. However, in the third movie, he becomes excessively annoying, which is disappointing. In summary, while Michelangelo provides an enjoyable element throughout these films, the fun factor is somewhat unbalanced.
4. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023)
In my opinion, among all Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies, I particularly enjoy “Mutant Mayhem” the most. Every character in this version seems distinctly individual compared to their previous portrayals, making it challenging for me to choose a favorite.
Frankly, it could be that I’d choose Leonard (who I rarely select), but Mike is fantastic as well. He’s simply irresistibly cute.
Mickey, who has a touch of shyness (something unexpected for someone like Michelangelo), and acts just like an average teenager, is a refreshing change. The only thing I could criticize is that he sometimes gets overshadowed by his siblings. Apart from that, I absolutely adore this interpretation of Michelangelo; he’s quickly becoming one of my favorite characters.
3. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987 animated series)
As for me, I’m a true TMNT fan, so whenever I imagine Michelangelo, it’s always with the surf-loving tone of Townsend Coleman in my head.
Even though I think this isn’t the peak portrayal of the character, it might be due to the fact that the series ran for quite some time. Toward the end, Mikey seemed to lack his signature device – instead, he was given a grappling hook.
Frankly, I found the turtles repetitive after a while, but during the initial phase of my experience with them… boy, there was simply no other equivalent to them, including Mikey.
2. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012 animated series)
It’s not surprising, given that this is the top-notch iteration of the Turtles, that it boasts one of the finest renditions of Michelangelo as well. (You got it right!)
Among us, he is the youngest brother, and there’s a sense of it in him. Sometimes, his immaturity shows, yet he consistently strives to prove himself. Moreover, he might possess the most compassionate soul out of all, and he seems to be at his wittiest (with Donnie not far behind).
I really like this portrayal of the character, yet it doesn’t take the top spot as my personal favorite. Naturally, that honor goes to…
1. The Last Ronin (2020)
Is it truly possible that there could be no other choice? In an unexpected twist, the storyline of the “Last Ronin” comic series reveals that Michelangelo is the sole surviving Ninja Turtle.
With all his brother’s arsenal at his disposal, Mikey appears troubled and sadly diminished compared to his past self. Interestingly, a mature-rated film adaptation of this tale is in the works, and I can hardly wait for its release. It seems it will either be the greatest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie yet… or a disappointing flop. We’ll have to keep our fingers crossed and watch how things unfold.
And that’s the list. If this article does well, maybe I’ll do one for Raphael. Because we could all do for some more T-U-R-T-L-E power in our lives, right?
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2024-10-30 01:07