With the end of season 1 and season 2 on it's way, I keep seeing all this uncertainty and defeat from AprilxDonnie fans and then other people saying it's unrealistic and not gonna happen. Well, as a fan of the franchise for a long time and as someone who works in the film industry, I think I would like to shed some light on why this ship can happen...and could!
1. "But that's beastality!"
For those who are not familiar with the term, beastality is "sexual relations between a human being and a lower animal (as defined by Merrium-Webster dictionary)." People have pointed out that, yes, the boys were originally turtles, and continue to have the mind frame that they are animals, and not ANTHRO, which is the correct term.
Anthro is "a prefix meaning human, humanoid, or humanlike, especially with regards to sentience (Merrium-Webster dictionary)," and is "technically, an animal that can: a) walk upright, b) talk, or talk somewhat (AKA has human vocal chords), c) has human features (i.e. a centaur, half human, half horse), d) has the bone structure of a human, with some of its animal counterpart (i.e. a cat-anthro that although looks like a human, can jump like a cat). These characteristics separate anthros from humans with cat ears and tail (or something like that) ((Urbandictionary.com))" that doesn't make them exactly animals, either.
In the TMNT 2012 DVDs released, fans can see that the boys' bios are listed, and in the bios Nick calls them "human-turtle hybrids," and have been dubbed "half human." That's still human, whether you like it or not. And a great fanfic writer had said on the topic: The big difference here is that any sexual acts with animals are by no means consensual. Animals can't consent. Anthros/mutants can! That's the big difference between real animals and anthros/mutants. So anthro/mutantXhuman-relationships are no[t] bestiality ( andrea-odown.deviantart.com/jo… )."
"Nick would never pair April and Donnie up, parents would never be okay with that!"
I don't see why not since parents have been okay with Disney and other companies portraying humanxanthro relationships in the past, including the famous couple Rodger and Jessica Rabbit, a very...sexy woman happily married to a rabbit way less human than Donnie and the others and is still supported today in the Disney parks and merchandise (disney.wikia.com/wiki/Jessica_…). Remember: Who Framed Rodger Rabbit is a kids film with an attraction at the Disney parks. And "Several attractive Toon females (specifically Betty Boop) apparently consider Jessica to be incredibly lucky to be married to Roger."
Disney even has you rooting for the Beast in Beauty and the Beast. For those familiar with the tale, you know that the Beast turns back to being a human. Yes, but as kids, you don't know that and still root for the Beast and Belle to be together. And another couple no one else seems to remember but I do growing up is with Monkey and Agent Honeydew from Dexter's Laboratory. It literally is a relationship between an actual monkey who is a super hero and a woman that no one EVER seemed to have a problem with: dexterslab.wikia.com/wiki/Agen… And this was a show for kids.
Even the hot stuff at Warner Bros. were okay with having Bugs Bunny not only dress up as a lady, they even had him and Elmer Fudd act romantically, even if it was a gag like the whole show was, but it was still there (looneytunes.wikia.com/wiki/Bug…).And to tie it off, both are guys! This was in the 1940's on, people! Way before any of that was considered okay! But they still got away with it and no one questions that now. And you can't throw the whole "but it's a cartoon" crap. Cause TMNT is a cartoon, too. Why not Donnie and April? Also, there have been mixed species relationships with other animals and lifeforms. It's just like how Star Trek had the first biracial kiss on TV. It may seem controversial, but there's nothing wrong with it.
Other interspecies relationships with humans include:
-Goliath and Elisa from Gargoyles
-Leomon/Jeri from Digimon Tamers
-Renamon/Henry from Tamers
For those who are not familiar with the term, beastality is "sexual relations between a human being and a lower animal (as defined by Merrium-Webster dictionary)." People have pointed out that, yes, the boys were originally turtles, and continue to have the mind frame that they are animals, and not ANTHRO, which is the correct term.
Anthro is "a prefix meaning human, humanoid, or humanlike, especially with regards to sentience (Merrium-Webster dictionary)," and is "technically, an animal that can: a) walk upright, b) talk, or talk somewhat (AKA has human vocal chords), c) has human features (i.e. a centaur, half human, half horse), d) has the bone structure of a human, with some of its animal counterpart (i.e. a cat-anthro that although looks like a human, can jump like a cat). These characteristics separate anthros from humans with cat ears and tail (or something like that) ((Urbandictionary.com))" that doesn't make them exactly animals, either.
In the TMNT 2012 DVDs released, fans can see that the boys' bios are listed, and in the bios Nick calls them "human-turtle hybrids," and have been dubbed "half human." That's still human, whether you like it or not. And a great fanfic writer had said on the topic: The big difference here is that any sexual acts with animals are by no means consensual. Animals can't consent. Anthros/mutants can! That's the big difference between real animals and anthros/mutants. So anthro/mutantXhuman-relationships are no[t] bestiality ( andrea-odown.deviantart.com/jo… )."
"Nick would never pair April and Donnie up, parents would never be okay with that!"
I don't see why not since parents have been okay with Disney and other companies portraying humanxanthro relationships in the past, including the famous couple Rodger and Jessica Rabbit, a very...sexy woman happily married to a rabbit way less human than Donnie and the others and is still supported today in the Disney parks and merchandise (disney.wikia.com/wiki/Jessica_…). Remember: Who Framed Rodger Rabbit is a kids film with an attraction at the Disney parks. And "Several attractive Toon females (specifically Betty Boop) apparently consider Jessica to be incredibly lucky to be married to Roger."
Disney even has you rooting for the Beast in Beauty and the Beast. For those familiar with the tale, you know that the Beast turns back to being a human. Yes, but as kids, you don't know that and still root for the Beast and Belle to be together. And another couple no one else seems to remember but I do growing up is with Monkey and Agent Honeydew from Dexter's Laboratory. It literally is a relationship between an actual monkey who is a super hero and a woman that no one EVER seemed to have a problem with: dexterslab.wikia.com/wiki/Agen… And this was a show for kids.
Even the hot stuff at Warner Bros. were okay with having Bugs Bunny not only dress up as a lady, they even had him and Elmer Fudd act romantically, even if it was a gag like the whole show was, but it was still there (looneytunes.wikia.com/wiki/Bug…).And to tie it off, both are guys! This was in the 1940's on, people! Way before any of that was considered okay! But they still got away with it and no one questions that now. And you can't throw the whole "but it's a cartoon" crap. Cause TMNT is a cartoon, too. Why not Donnie and April? Also, there have been mixed species relationships with other animals and lifeforms. It's just like how Star Trek had the first biracial kiss on TV. It may seem controversial, but there's nothing wrong with it.
Other interspecies relationships with humans include:
-Goliath and Elisa from Gargoyles
-Leomon/Jeri from Digimon Tamers
-Renamon/Henry from Tamers
-Sheen and Aseefa from Planet Sheen
More to come
3. "Capril has ALWAYS been canon. Always!! Why would Nick break tradition?"
Actually, it hasn't. Most of the fans of 2012 and even some from 2003 aren't aware of this, but Capril has only been canon starting from 2003, technically 2001 at the earliest. In the original 1987 cartoon, Casey was only in 5 episodes and was supposed to be psychotic, not a love interest. There was some romantic spark between him and April in the live action movies, but April decided not to get into it. Some could argue, but I think it's because she realized it wouldn't get anywhere.
In the Mirage comics, Casey is depicted as having a drinking problem where he and April break up 10 times until she officially ends it with him. He ends up meeting another woman: Gabby. She was the one to give birth to his adopted daughter who later would become Shadow Jones. Gabby did sadly die in childbirth, but was the only one who could get Casey to quit his ways and shape up. He and April did get back together and marry in 2001, however, they divorce shortly later when Casey goes back to being how he was: an alcoholic douche bag.
Even in the earlier comics, April and Casey were not a thing, despite being close in age and Casey being a college kid. Even the creators Eastman and Laird have explored other relationships besides Capril, even with Donnie who has been depicted as having a crush on her even in the comics when, in an early draft of The Darkness Within, Don was dreaming he was having a romantic dinner with April.
And even in the 2003 series, despite April getting together with Casey in the end, there were instances that hinted that Donnie and April could have been a thing and that Laird and Eastman HAVE had thoughts about them as a couple, such as season one episode two 'sparks': After April programs the mousers to overload and explode, they jump from their balcony and run back to the sewer entrance. Of course, Donatello is holding her hand as they are running. Besides "A Real Snowjob" there are other episodes:
In "Sky Turtles", April kisses Donatello on the cheek for saving the city and Raphael and Leonardo get jealous saying they saved the city also, but Michelangelo's interrupts the scene with newly arrived pizzas.
In "New York's Shiniest", after the Rex clones are destroyed, April and Donatello are seen hugging each other in celebration at the carnival fair. (It's rare to see April usually hugging one of the Turtles after such a victory.)
In "The Catwoman From Channel Six", when the Turtles look for a cat that has April's personality (after the cat/human swap) they find that particular cat, it purrs and rubs itself among Donatello's feet and jumps into his arms. Donatello comments, "See! I told you I was her favorite!" Of course Raphael snaps back, "It's not you its those anchovy pizzas you eat!"
Laird AND Eastman have obviously thought about exploring DonniexApril as a couple, and they even said in comic con they LOVE what Nick has chosen to do with them in the 2012 version thus far. It seems like they could favor this kind of relationship, but unlike Nick, didn't have the balls to explore it to it's greatest extent. The voice actors and crew for TMNT 2012 don't seem bothered at all by the possible relationship, and all of them except for Mae Whitman and Gregg Cripes (I think) are parents of teenagers. If they support it, why not other parents? Listen to the interview at comic con here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJoJ6H…
And Nick IS famous for getting away with hell and support non traditional relationships. Laird and Eastman are NOT on the project anymore, which means anything can happen. Already the show mimics the 80s show and the comics, bringing back characters that were scrapped ages ago and changing up the relationships. What can be considered canon isn't canon anymore and fans know it. We have new faces running the show, new takes on the character and new takes on the relationships. Will Apriltello happen? I have no idea. But I can tell you this: it can and COULD happen. Many fans adore the idea, including people who are old fans of the original series in the franchise and fans who are also both children and parents.
More to come
3. "Capril has ALWAYS been canon. Always!! Why would Nick break tradition?"
Actually, it hasn't. Most of the fans of 2012 and even some from 2003 aren't aware of this, but Capril has only been canon starting from 2003, technically 2001 at the earliest. In the original 1987 cartoon, Casey was only in 5 episodes and was supposed to be psychotic, not a love interest. There was some romantic spark between him and April in the live action movies, but April decided not to get into it. Some could argue, but I think it's because she realized it wouldn't get anywhere.
In the Mirage comics, Casey is depicted as having a drinking problem where he and April break up 10 times until she officially ends it with him. He ends up meeting another woman: Gabby. She was the one to give birth to his adopted daughter who later would become Shadow Jones. Gabby did sadly die in childbirth, but was the only one who could get Casey to quit his ways and shape up. He and April did get back together and marry in 2001, however, they divorce shortly later when Casey goes back to being how he was: an alcoholic douche bag.
Even in the earlier comics, April and Casey were not a thing, despite being close in age and Casey being a college kid. Even the creators Eastman and Laird have explored other relationships besides Capril, even with Donnie who has been depicted as having a crush on her even in the comics when, in an early draft of The Darkness Within, Don was dreaming he was having a romantic dinner with April.
And even in the 2003 series, despite April getting together with Casey in the end, there were instances that hinted that Donnie and April could have been a thing and that Laird and Eastman HAVE had thoughts about them as a couple, such as season one episode two 'sparks': After April programs the mousers to overload and explode, they jump from their balcony and run back to the sewer entrance. Of course, Donatello is holding her hand as they are running. Besides "A Real Snowjob" there are other episodes:
In "Sky Turtles", April kisses Donatello on the cheek for saving the city and Raphael and Leonardo get jealous saying they saved the city also, but Michelangelo's interrupts the scene with newly arrived pizzas.
In "New York's Shiniest", after the Rex clones are destroyed, April and Donatello are seen hugging each other in celebration at the carnival fair. (It's rare to see April usually hugging one of the Turtles after such a victory.)
In "The Catwoman From Channel Six", when the Turtles look for a cat that has April's personality (after the cat/human swap) they find that particular cat, it purrs and rubs itself among Donatello's feet and jumps into his arms. Donatello comments, "See! I told you I was her favorite!" Of course Raphael snaps back, "It's not you its those anchovy pizzas you eat!"
Laird AND Eastman have obviously thought about exploring DonniexApril as a couple, and they even said in comic con they LOVE what Nick has chosen to do with them in the 2012 version thus far. It seems like they could favor this kind of relationship, but unlike Nick, didn't have the balls to explore it to it's greatest extent. The voice actors and crew for TMNT 2012 don't seem bothered at all by the possible relationship, and all of them except for Mae Whitman and Gregg Cripes (I think) are parents of teenagers. If they support it, why not other parents? Listen to the interview at comic con here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJoJ6H…
And Nick IS famous for getting away with hell and support non traditional relationships. Laird and Eastman are NOT on the project anymore, which means anything can happen. Already the show mimics the 80s show and the comics, bringing back characters that were scrapped ages ago and changing up the relationships. What can be considered canon isn't canon anymore and fans know it. We have new faces running the show, new takes on the character and new takes on the relationships. Will Apriltello happen? I have no idea. But I can tell you this: it can and COULD happen. Many fans adore the idea, including people who are old fans of the original series in the franchise and fans who are also both children and parents.
4. Other evidence that Apriltello could happen:
The second piece of evidence comes from Mae Whitman, the voice actress for April herself. First link is a written interview by Teen Vogue, the other is a video from Comic Con:
www.teenvogue.com/entertainmen…
www.escapistmagazine.com/video…
More interviews to come.
-C-
original drama llama by Quelfabulous
