The Best Raphael Quotes From Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Summary

Fans can see themselves in TMNT characters.
Out of the Shadows sticks to the spirit of the 80s cartoon.
Raphael’s wisdom and self-awareness shine through.

One enjoyable aspect of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is that viewers can identify with one or more of the main turtle characters. Some might relate to the carefree “party animal” Michelangelo, the intelligent yet socially awkward Donatello, or the determined and decisive leader Leonardo.

Many turtle enthusiasts, however, have a soft spot for the “cool yet brusque” character named Raphael. He’s a Turtle who prefers action over conversation, often leaping into fights before considering the questions. He frequently clashes with his elder brother Leo, feeling consistently overshadowed as the second-in-command. Some of Raphael’s most memorable dialogues span from amusing to emotional, demonstrating that he is not just a hothead but a character with depth and complexity.

7. “Let’s Just Say We’re Four Brothers Who Hate Bullies And Love This City.”

They Are What They Are

Most fans of the Ninja Turtles might prefer to brush off the movies produced by Michael Bay as if they never existed. However, it’s worth noting that “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows” offers an enjoyable experience. This film is more in line with the spirit of the 1980s cartoon and, importantly, its plot revolves around the Turtles themselves, unlike some other adaptations.

The turtles stumble upon a vat of purplish goop, which might transform them into humans. When Raphael learns that Leonardo and Donatello concealed this knowledge from him and Michelangelo, it causes tension within the group. Faced with the possibility of alien brain Krang releasing his Technodrome over New York City, the turtles contemplate using the goop to make humans more receptive to their presence. Eventually, Raphael decides that New York should accept them regardless of their form.

6. “Geez. What A Hard Case!”

The Irony Is Lost On Raphael

In simpler terms, the TV movie titled “Turtles Forever” is a heartfelt homage to the series’ past, combining characters and events from the ’80s cartoon and the 2007 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) film. The narrative unfolds as Turtles from the 2003 storyline meet their ’80s counterparts, who are mysteriously transported to the 2003 world by the Shredder’s Technodrome. As the tale progresses, it leads both sets of Turtles to the original black-and-white dimension from which they originated. A significant moment occurs when the 2003 Raphael encounters his grittier predecessor, leading to a tense confrontation that causes Raphael to utter this particular line.

This series of words, accompanied by the 80s Turtles’ amused response, suggests he’s oblivious to his own nature. Being the temperamental one among the four brothers has always been his trait. Finding a version of himself who is even more hot-tempered, he fails to recognize the striking similarities between them.

5. “First Rule, Ignore Mikey. Your Life Will Be Much Easier.”

Sage Advice For Hanging With The Turtles

Season 1, Episode 3, “Attack of the Mousers”

One thing Michaelangelo enjoys is teasing his sibling Raphael, often leaving him feeling aggravated. Across various stories, Mikey can be spotted playing pranks on his easily angered brother and provoking him. Despite wanting to physically confront him at times, Raphael’s genuine affection for his brother is evident. This is shown in the 2003 adaptation when he shares with April O’Neil her first piece of advice for navigating life in the Turtles’ world.

Raph doesn’t express ill will as he shares the rule. Instead, he casually joins April on the couch, smiling as he speaks. Raphael understands that Micahelangelo behaves this way naturally, and it’s just one of the many traits that make him Raph’s brother.

4. “What’s A Guy Gotta Do To Get Some Food Around Here?”

Typical Teenagers

Back in the ’90s, I found myself immersed in the world of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In this particular tale, it was Raphael who ventured away from our makeshift lair within April O’Neil’s humble abode. Little did he know that a band of ruthless Foot Clan ninjas lay in wait, ready to deliver a brutal beating upon the hapless turtle.

Struck down by their relentless attacks, Raphael was left unconscious and near death, plunging him into a coma from which he would only emerge much later. To ensure his fragile state remained stable, Leonardo kept a vigilant watch over our brother at April O’Neil’s secluded farmstead.

With the Foot Clan having reduced her apartment to rubble, April, the Turtles, and their ally Casey Jones were left with no choice but to seek refuge on this rural sanctuary. It was here that we would regroup and plan our next move against the sinister organization that threatened not only us, but the entire city itself.

Upon waking up, Raphael’s initial utterance is a demand for something to eat. This might seem a bit humorous in dialogue, but it rings true when you consider it as a line spoken by an adolescent mutant turtle. Teenagers are known for their frequent snacking, and these reptile-like creatures require energy too.

3. “A Jose Canseco Bat? Tell Me You Didn’t Pay Money For This.”

In the 1990 Turtles film, during a nighttime stroll outside their lair in New York City, Raphael encounters Casey Jones, a vigilante armed with a hockey stick. As Raphael interrupts Casey from assaulting some street thugs, a fight ensues, with Casey brandishing two baseball bats. Raphael seizes one bat, taking a closer look at it, which leads to the famous line and an accompanying facepalm moment.

The joke referring to the bat is a subtle dig at Jose Canseco, who, during the film’s creation and debut, was a player for the Oakland Athletics. At that time, he had several brushes with the law, such as accusations of reckless driving and possessing a semi-automatic firearm in his vehicle in California. However, even without this background information, the line remains funny on its own.

2. “I’m Through Taking Orders.”

Although some turtle enthusiasts may fondly recall the original live-action Turtles movies, it’s worth checking out the 2007 animated film titled TMNT. In this movie, our turtle friends encounter a fresh adversary and grapple with family issues. During these challenging times, Raphael adopts an undercover identity as the motorcycle-riding, chain-wielding vigilante called Night Watcher in his spare hours.

Many turtle lovers look back fondly at the original live-action Turtles movies, but the 2007 animated film TMNT is definitely worth watching. In this movie, our beloved turtles confront a new enemy and grapple with family problems. As they navigate these difficulties, Raphael secretly lives two lives – one as a vigilante called Night Watcher who rides motorcycles and wields chains in his free time.

When I face off against Night Watcher and unveil his identity, my relationship with Leo reaches its peak tension. Leo’s leadership over me has been a constant source of frustration for Raph. When he tells me I lack the right temperament and claims superiority, it only fuels my resolve to settle this disagreement decisively.

1. “Fighting Is For Grownups, And That’s Only If You Got No Other Choice.”

Director	Stuart Gillard
Cast	Elias Koteas, Paige Turco, Vivian Wu, Shab Shimono, Stuart Wilson
Release Date	March 19, 1993
Runtime	96min

Raphael has consistently shown a short fuse throughout his life. He’s quick to be provoked, often resorting to physical violence over rational thought when facing difficult circumstances. Despite Master Splinter’s efforts to curb his temper, it’s proved challenging to do so effectively.

In “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3,” often criticized among the original trilogy, the turtles are mysteriously transported back in time to ancient Japan by a mystical staff. Here, Raphael forms an alliance with a young lad named Yoshi who yearns for battle with the daimyo. However, Raphael encourages him that combat should be a last resort and instead, he should cherish his youth. Essentially, Raphael shares the lessons he learned from his teacher and serves as a mentor or even a paternal figure to this new generation, if you will.

2025-03-02 10:34