Italian Renaissance with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
They ate pizza. They were lean. They were mean. And they were green, crime-fighting machines. They were the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. God, this cartoon is a real classic! The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) have been popular for many years and yet they still remain full of odd mysteries. Perhaps the most surprising to many is the origins of the turtle’s names. Each of the teenage turtles is named after a famous Renaissance artist from the past. The leader of the TMNT, Leonardo wears a blue mask and carries two katana. Leonardo was named after Leonardo da Vinci who is probably the best-known Renaissance artist with his works The Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. He was not only an artist but also an inventor, scientist, architect, engineer, and more. The “party dude” of the turtles, Michelangelo is an easy-going, free-spirited jokester who wears an orange mask and uses a pair of nunchucks. He’s named after the Renaissance painter, poet, sculptor, and architect – Michelangelo whose best-known work is the sculpture, David. The bad boy of the Ninja Turtles, Raphael wears a dark red mask and has a pair of sai. He’s strong, aggressive, and seldom hesitates to throw the first punch. He’s named after the Italian painter and architect Raphael. The scientist, inventor, engineer, and technological genius of the turtles, Donatello wears a purple mask and uses a bo staff. Donatello is the least violent turtle. He prefers to use his knowledge to solve conflicts, but never hesitates to defend his brothers. He is named after the early Renaissance artist and sculptor from Florence, Donatello.