Leonardo, commonly nicknamed Leo, is a
superhero
A superhero or superheroine is a fictional character who typically possesses ''superpowers'' or abilities beyond those of ordinary people, is frequently costumed concealing their identity, and fits the role of the hero, typically using their ...
appearing in ''
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' (''TMNT'') is an American media franchise created by comic book artists Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. It follows Leonardo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Leonardo, Donatello (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), D ...
'' comics and related media, and created by
American comic book
An American comic book is a thin periodical literature originating in the United States, commonly between 24 and 64 pages, containing comics. While the form originated in 1933, American comic books first gained popularity after the 1938 publ ...
artists
Kevin Eastman
Kevin Brooks Eastman (born May 30, 1962) is an American comic book writer and artist best known for co-creating the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with Peter Laird. Eastman was also formerly the editor and publisher of the magazine ''Heavy Metal ...
and
Peter Laird
Peter Alan Laird (born January 27, 1954) is an American comic book writer and artist. He is best known for co-creating the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with writer and artist Kevin Eastman.
Early life and career
Laird was born on January 27, 1 ...
. He is one of the four central characters of the franchise, along with his brothers,
Donatello
Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi ( – 13 December 1466), known mononymously as Donatello (; ), was an Italian Renaissance sculpture, Italian sculptor of the Renaissance period. Born in Republic of Florence, Florence, he studied classical sc ...
,
Raphael
Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino (; March 28 or April 6, 1483April 6, 1520), now generally known in English as Raphael ( , ), was an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance. List of paintings by Raphael, His work is admired for its cl ...
, and
Michelangelo
Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (6March 147518February 1564), known mononymously as Michelangelo, was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect, and poet of the High Renaissance. Born in the Republic of Florence, his work was inspir ...
. Leonardo is often depicted as the leader and strategist of the turtles.
Often shown wearing an ocean blue bandana, his
signature weapon
A signature weapon (or trademark weapon or weapon of choice) is one commonly identified with a certain group or, in the case of literature, epic poems, comics, and film, where it is a popular '' trope,'' for both heroes and villains to be associ ...
s are a pair of swords (named
katana
A is a Japanese sword characterized by a curved, single-edged blade with a circular or squared guard and long grip to accommodate two hands. Developed later than the ''tachi'', it was used by samurai in feudal Japan and worn with the edge fa ...
s in many versions of the series). He is traditionally portrayed as the most mature and disciplined of the Turtles, displaying a stoic demeanor and a strong sense of responsibility. Like his brothers, he is named after an
Italian Renaissance
The Italian Renaissance ( ) was a period in History of Italy, Italian history between the 14th and 16th centuries. The period is known for the initial development of the broader Renaissance culture that spread across Western Europe and marked t ...
artist, in this case
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (15 April 1452 - 2 May 1519) was an Italian polymath of the High Renaissance who was active as a painter, draughtsman, engineer, scientist, theorist, sculptor, and architect. While his fame initially rested o ...
. In the
original comics, all four of the Turtles wear red masks, but for the creators to tell them apart, he was written and redrawn to have an ocean-blue mask.
Comics
Mirage
Leo is the protagonist of the comics. He does not explicitly refer to himself as a leader in the early stories, except in issue #44 ("The Violent Underground"). He is the one to usually take charge of the turtles when
Splinter
A splinter (also known as a sliver) is a fragment of a larger object, or a foreign body that penetrates or is purposely injected into a body. The foreign body must be lodged inside tissue to be considered a splinter. Splinters may cause initia ...
is not present. He is often at odds with his more hot-headed brother
Raphael
Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino (; March 28 or April 6, 1483April 6, 1520), now generally known in English as Raphael ( , ), was an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance. List of paintings by Raphael, His work is admired for its cl ...
.
In ''Leonardo'' #1 (What Goes Around... ...Comes Around!), Leo goes out for a run on the rooftops of New York City and is ambushed by the
Foot Clan
The Foot Clan (also known simply as the Foot) is a fictional ninja clan in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, serving as the main antagonists. It is led by the devious Shredder and his second in command Karai. The Foot Clan was original ...
. He puts up an fight against an army of Foot Ninja but is overwhelmed. Beaten to near unconsciousness, he is thrown through
April O'Neil
April O'Neil is a fictional Character (arts), character from the ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' comics. She is the first human ally of the Ninja Turtles.
April made her first appearance in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Mirage Studios), Mir ...
's apartment window. The remaining Turtles and Splinter are forced to continue the fight, but even with the aid of
Casey Jones
John Luther "Casey" Jones (March 14, 1864 – April 30, 1900) was an American railroader who was killed when his passenger train collided with a stalled freight train in Vaughan, Mississippi.
Jones was a locomotive engineer for the Illinois Cen ...
, the odds are against them. In the end, the building catches fire and the police arrive, but they secretly escape to Northampton, Massachusetts. Leonardo recovers from his physical wounds, but he lost his confidence. He repeatedly attempts unsuccessfully to hunt for deer. While out hunting, he sees April fall through ice into a lake, and he rescues her. In subsequent issues, it is implied that Leonardo has regained most of his confidence.
In the ''Return to New York'' storyline (''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' (vol. 1) #19-21), Raphael demands that the Turtles return to New York to confront the Foot Clan and the
Shredder. He accuses Leonardo of cowardice, and the arguing brothers fight. Leonardo is beaten by Raphael, who throws Leonardo through the wall of the barn and leaves. Along with his younger brother
Donatello
Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi ( – 13 December 1466), known mononymously as Donatello (; ), was an Italian Renaissance sculpture, Italian sculptor of the Renaissance period. Born in Republic of Florence, Florence, he studied classical sc ...
and his youngest brother
Michelangelo
Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (6March 147518February 1564), known mononymously as Michelangelo, was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect, and poet of the High Renaissance. Born in the Republic of Florence, his work was inspir ...
, Leonardo returns to New York and reunites with his wayward brother in the old sewer lair. The three go along with Raphael's plan to storm the Foot Headquarters, where once again Raphael goes off on his own to fight the Shredder. He is ambushed and beaten by the Shredder's Elite guard but is rescued by Leonardo. This prompts Raphael to cede to Leonardo's leadership, leaving him to fight the Shredder. Leonardo engages in a bloody battle with Shredder that ends up on the rooftop of the building. Leonardo ends the battle by decapitating the Shredder just as the building implodes. The Turtles later burn the Shredder's corpse on a funeral pyre in a nearby Manhattan harbor.
In the ''City at War'' storyline (''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' (vol. 1) #50-62), a feud between various factions of the Foot Clan over leadership breaks out. As fighting ensues in the streets of New York, the Turtles and the civilian populace get caught in the middle. Leonardo grows weary of constant battle with the Foot Clan and seems fraught with indecision. The Turtles are approached by
Karai, the leader of the Foot Clan in Japan who has come to New York to unite the Foot. She presents the Turtles with an offer of a truce between the Foot and the Turtles if they help her kill Shredder's Elite Guards, which are a major obstacle to her reorganizing the Foot. Despite Raphael's objections, Leonardo persuades his brothers to accept Karai's offer and all four Turtles successfully work with Karai to eliminate the Elite Guard.
In Volume 2 of the
Mirage Studios
Mirage Studios was an American comic book company founded in 1983 by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird in Dover, New Hampshire. The company was best known for the ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' (''TMNT'') comic book series and the subsequent fra ...
comic, the turtles begin living in separate places. Leonardo decides to live in a newfound sewer lair. Michelangelo and Raphael notice a change in Leonardo and note that he seems more easygoing, though Raphael points out that his and Leonardo's natural order is to be "buttin' heads."
Years later in Volume 4, Leonardo still leads his brothers (all four now in their thirties) in fights against crime. Leonardo and Raphael's conflict seems to have lessened. When the Utroms arrive on Earth and reveal alien life to humans the Turtles become free to mingle in everyday society. The Turtles help the Utroms acclimate to life on Earth and work alongside the Foot Clan as security. One Foot Clan member is Cha Ocho, who Leonardo has a rivalry with due to an encounter years earlier. Karai approaches Leonardo for help when a mysterious force begins attacking various Foot Clans; only the New York branch is left intact. His investigation takes him to the Battle Nexus, where he meets Oroku Yoshi (who wears armor similar to the Shredder's).
This incarnation of Leonardo makes an appearance in the ''
Turtles Forever
''Turtles Forever'' is a 2009 American animated superhero film that is a crossover between two different incarnations of the ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' franchise. The plot follows the Turtles of the 2003 animated television series as they ...
'' crossover special voiced by
Jason Griffith
Jason Adam Griffith is an American actor. Best known for his voice acting work, he portrayed Sonic the Hedgehog and Shadow the Hedgehog for the 4Kids Entertainment English dub of the anime ''Sonic X'', and reprised both roles for ''Sonic the Hedg ...
.
Image Comics
In Volume 3 of the
Image Comics
Image Comics is an independent American American comic book, comic book publisher and is the third largest direct market comic book and graphic novel publisher in the industry by market share. Its best-known publications include ''Spawn (comics) ...
series, Leonardo was initially portrayed as similar to his Mirage counterpart (at the time, Image was picking up where Volume 2 left off). In the later issues, he lost a hand when it was eaten by King Komodo, although this did not seem to deter him. He tried to use a prosthetic hand, which was given to him by Donatello, but he preferred to wear a steel cap which came with a retractable blade. In the IDW-published conclusion, ''TMNT Urban Legends 25'', after an altercation with Lady Shredder which smashed his steel cap beyond use, Leonardo's hand was found to have grown back.
Archie Comics
The
Archie Comics
Archie Comic Publications, Inc. (often referred to simply as Archie Comics) is an American comic book publisher headquartered in the village of Pelham, New York. The company's many titles feature the fictional teenagers Archie Andrews, Jug ...
series initially began as an adaptation of the 1987 animated series, so Leonardo was portrayed like his animated counterpart. As the series progressed, it began telling original stories. Leonardo demonstrated a dislike for firearms. A future version of Leonardo was depicted, having founded a ninja school. Four of his top students were depicted: Nobuko, possibly his love interest; Miles, a young black man; Carmen, a Latina woman and possibly his love interest; and Bob, an anthropomorphic baboon. These students seemed to have an "extended family" relationship with the Turtles, Bob, in particular, referring to them as uncles.
IDW Comics
Although the
IDW series is a re-imagination of the franchise, Leonardo is initially portrayed as similar to his Mirage counterpart. Leonardo is the eldest brother and the leader of the four. In the ''Cityfall'' saga, he gets captured by the Foot while he and his brothers try to save Casey and is taken to a Shinto witch by the name of Kitsune, who uses her dark magic to brainwash him into working for Shredder as his chunin (second-in-command), which infuriates
Karai. He is saved by his brothers and their allies, however, after the death of the Shredder at the hands of his father, Splinter, who took over the Foot Clan after the battle, Leo once again became the chunin, but, like last time, it did not last. The relationship between Splinter and his sons deteriorated after he decided to take another life, going against the philosophy he taught them to always follow. He revealed that this was, in fact, an intentional way of pushing them away from him, as he believes being around him would be too much of a threat to them, as shown during the events of the comic book. Leonardo assumed leadership over the Clan Hamato, and since then, they have come into conflict with the Foot Clan several times.
Television
1987 animated series
In the lyrics for the
1987 TV series' theme song, Leonardo is stated to be the leader of the turtles; his orders are usually followed, and he is a serious do-gooder who does not joke around. He was attracted to a young
kunoichi
is a Japanese term for . In popular culture, it is often used for female ninja or practitioner of ninjutsu (''ninpo''). The term was largely popularized by novelist Futaro Yamada in his novel in 1964.
Although kunoichi have appeared in numerou ...
named
Lotus, a swordswoman prodigy from Japan who was hired by
Krang
Krang (also spelled Kraang) is a supervillain appearing in ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles''-related media, most frequently in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987 TV series), 1987 animated series and its associated merchandise, such as the ''Te ...
to replace Shredder, whom she defeated (along with Rocksteady and Bebop). She and Leonardo dueled to a standstill before she resorted to a trick sword to knock him out. When they met the second time, she tried to convince him to join her as a "ninja for hire", but he refused. She turned on Krang and escaped to continue her mercenary lifestyle, telling Leonardo that there was little good in goodness, though she hoped that they would one day be on the same side.
Leonardo takes his role of being a leader seriously. He can be bossy which annoys his brothers. Mostly they will obey, but sometimes they will not. In a Season 4 episode "Leonardo lightens up", his brothers got so annoyed that they used a personality alternator to make him loosen up, which lead to huge problems but ended up going back to normal in the end.
When the cartoon series starts out, he is shown with having a level head, akin to his leadership qualities in the comic. However, as the series carried on, he became more of a hero of a group of superheroes and spoke in a high pitched voice, which was very different from the original, deeper pitch in the first season.
Leonardo seems to enjoy reading. For example, many times when the Turtles are at home, Leo is reading a book. In the episode ''Four Musketurtles'', he is the only Turtle that read ''
The Three Musketeers
''The Three Musketeers'' () is a French historical adventure novel written and published in 1844 by French author Alexandre Dumas. It is the first of the author's three d'Artagnan Romances. As with some of his other works, he wrote it in col ...
''. Another good example is in "Leonardo is Missing"; while the other Turtles go to an arcade, Leonardo stays at the lair and reads. In the Season 6 episode "Snakes Alive", it is revealed that Leonardo has
Ophidiophobia
Ophidiophobia (), or ophiophobia (), is fear of snakes. It is sometimes called by the more general term herpetophobia, fear of reptiles. The word comes from the Greek words "ophis" (), snake, and "phobia" () meaning fear.
Research
About one-t ...
, but confronted it later.
In the Season 3 episode "Take Me to Your Leader!", Leonardo gives up his leadership and walks away after a dream he believes convinces him he is no longer a good leader. The others have to find him, and stop
Shredder,
Krang
Krang (also spelled Kraang) is a supervillain appearing in ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles''-related media, most frequently in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987 TV series), 1987 animated series and its associated merchandise, such as the ''Te ...
, and
Bebop and Rocksteady
Bebop and Rocksteady are a fictional duo of mutant warthog and rhinoceros that have made appearances in various media releases of the ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' franchise. The two characters are henchmen who follow the orders of the franch ...
from draining energy from the Sun with a Solar Siphon and store it in solar batteries.
However, Leonardo returns when he spots a bridge collapsing due to snow. After a man says that everybody talks about the weather but nobody does anything, Leonardo realizes his responsibility and begins to search for his brothers. He later finds them, and together they save the Earth.
Leonardo's
voice actor
Voice acting is the art of Acting, performing a character or providing information to an audience with one's voice. Performers are often called voice actors/actresses in addition to other names. Examples of voice work include animation, animated, ...
was
Cam Clarke
Cam Clarke is an American voice actor, known for his work in animation, video games, and commercials. Among his notable roles are Leonardo and Rocksteady in the 1987 ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' animated series, Shotaro Kaneda in the 1989 ...
. This role was the actor's "breakout role", and is still one of his best-known roles in the 1987 cartoon. In the crossover film ''
Turtles Forever
''Turtles Forever'' is a 2009 American animated superhero film that is a crossover between two different incarnations of the ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' franchise. The plot follows the Turtles of the 2003 animated television series as they ...
'', this version of Leonardo is voiced by
Dan Green. Leonardo made a couple of appearances in the 2012 series in the episode, "The Manhattan Project". He and the other turtles along with Casey and April are seen through a portal by their 2012 counterparts walking on a road and he made a speaking cameo along with the other turtles at the end of the episode when a space worm from the 2012 dimension started terrorizing the street. All four turtles see the worm and spring into action while shouting their famous catchphrase, 'Cowabunga'. Clarke reprised his role as Leonardo for the cameo. This would mark the first time in over 28 years the 1987 TMNT cast would return to their roles, with the sole exception of
Rob Paulsen
Robert Frederick Paulsen III (born March 11, 1956) is an American voice actor and voice director, known for his roles in numerous animated television series and films. He received a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Pro ...
who returned to the TMNT franchise as Donatello in the 2012 series. The 1987 turtles then had a crossover with the 2012 turtles in the season 4 episode, "
Trans-Dimensional Turtles" then in the three-part series final "
Wanted: Bebop & Rocksteady".
Coming Out of Their Shells tour
The live-action "Coming Out of Their Shells" concert tour kickoff event at
Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall (also known as Radio City) is an entertainment venue and Theater (structure), theater at 1260 Sixth Avenue (Manhattan), Avenue of the Americas, within Rockefeller Center, in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York C ...
would see Leonardo cast as the band's bass player, taking a secondary role while Michelangelo would take the role of lead singer and guitarist. However, once the Turtles are confronted by the Shredder and his forces during portions of the show, Leonardo again takes his role as the Turtles' battlefield commander, as they begin to defer to his orders during the various fight scenes in the show. Cam Clarke reprises his role as the voice of Leonardo in the speaking segments for the concert between songs though he is not credited on the video release or on the Making Of VHS tape.
1997 live-action series
From 1997 to 1998, Leonardo along with the other Ninja Turtles was featured in a short-lived live-action series ''
Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation'', as well as a crossover episode with ''
Power Rangers in Space
''Power Rangers in Space'' is a television series and the sixth season of the ''Power Rangers'' franchise, based on the 21st Super Sentai series '' Denji Sentai Megaranger''.
''In Space'' was a turning point for the Power Rangers franchise, as ...
''. In it, he carried one double-bladed
ninjaken instead of two and his
sibling rivalry
Sibling rivalry is a type of competition or animosity among siblings, whether blood-related or not.
In childhood, siblings generally spend more time together than they do with parents. Sibling bonds are influenced by factors such as parental ...
with Raphael drove many episodes. In one episode where they were sparring, Raphael took advantage of Leo's apparent physical weakening, insulting, mocking and taunting his brother to make him more reckless, until finally, Leo lost his temper and angrily kicked Raph so hard that he sent Raph flying across the sewer den. They spent the rest of the episode arguing and challenging each other to tests of skill (some of them quite absurd) until finally using arm wrestling to decide who would live in the sewer and who would leave. Although Leo won, it was decided that Raph should stay. In this series, Leonardo was portrayed by
Gabe Khouth
Gabriel Forest Khouth (November 22, 1972 – July 23, 2019) was a Canadian voice and television actor who worked for Ocean Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Early life
Khouth was born in North Vancouver. His younger brother is voice actor ...
and voiced by
Michael Dobson.
2003 animated series
In the
Mirage Studios
Mirage Studios was an American comic book company founded in 1983 by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird in Dover, New Hampshire. The company was best known for the ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' (''TMNT'') comic book series and the subsequent fra ...
and
4Kids Entertainment
4Kids Entertainment, Inc. (formerly known as Leisure Concepts, Inc. and later known as 4Licensing Corporation; stylized as 4K!DS ENTERTAINMENT) was an American licensing company. The company was previously also a film and television production ...
2003
animated TV series
An animated series, or a cartoon series, is a set of animated films with a common title, usually related to one another. These episodes typically share the same main heroes, some different secondary characters and a basic theme. Series can either ...
, Leonardo is voiced by
Michael Sinterniklaas
Michael Tremain Sinterniklaas () is a French-born voice actor and ADR director based in the United States. He has provided voices for a number of English-language versions of Japanese anime films and television series, as well as cartoons and v ...
.
Leonardo is the eldest brother, and leader of the group, quiet and the most serious of the four. He has a very close bond with Splinter, and has a strong sense of honor, ethics, and
Bushidō
is a Samurai moral code concerning samurai attitudes, behavior and lifestyle. Its origins date back to the Kamakura period, but it was formalized in the Edo period (1603–1868). There are multiple types of bushido which evolved significant ...
. Leonardo's twin swords are slung across his back. Episodes that deal with the Shredder and
honor
Honour ( Commonwealth English) or honor (American English; see spelling differences) is a quality of a person that is of both social teaching and personal ethos, that manifests itself as a code of conduct, and has various elements such as val ...
usually also focus on Leonardo, and he is often the Turtle who "saves the day". Leonardo is a more self-doubting character than in previous incarnations. His brother
Raphael
Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino (; March 28 or April 6, 1483April 6, 1520), now generally known in English as Raphael ( , ), was an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance. List of paintings by Raphael, His work is admired for its cl ...
often quarrels with him and resents his leadership, sarcastically calling Leonardo "Fearless Leader", although the two are shown to be very close at times. Though Leonardo's relationships with his younger brothers
Donatello
Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi ( – 13 December 1466), known mononymously as Donatello (; ), was an Italian Renaissance sculpture, Italian sculptor of the Renaissance period. Born in Republic of Florence, Florence, he studied classical sc ...
and
Michelangelo
Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (6March 147518February 1564), known mononymously as Michelangelo, was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect, and poet of the High Renaissance. Born in the Republic of Florence, his work was inspir ...
are not as volatile, both have made comments alluding to the high standards the former has set, and his tendency to make them look bad. Despite this, his brothers view him as a pillar of strength and are at a loss when he is injured or absent. One of Leonardo's most prominent qualities is his determination to believe in the good and the best in people, even potential enemies; such as
Karai.
At times, Leonardo is shown to be very hard on himself, as he feels that a lot is expected of him. As in the Mirage comics, Leonardo is ambushed and seriously injured by the
Foot Clan
The Foot Clan (also known simply as the Foot) is a fictional ninja clan in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, serving as the main antagonists. It is led by the devious Shredder and his second in command Karai. The Foot Clan was original ...
and he feels he let his family and himself down. He has the same feelings after the final battle with the Shredder-his anger and self-doubt were caused by Karai, who he believed was an honorable ally, but she was unable to go against her master's orders, eventually causing her to stab Leonardo (albeit unintentionally). Leonardo also feels extremely inadequate, as he believes that again, he let himself and his family down, this time by finding no other way to destroy the Shredder than to blow up the spaceship that both the Turtles and the Shredder were on; the Turtles and Splinter would have perished if they had not been rescued by Utroms. Because of what happen in the last battle against the Shredder, Leo becomes bitter and increasingly stern with himself and adopts a greatly aggressive personality, which has been likened to Raph's previous impulsive and hotheaded ways on many occasions. Leonardo also shows considerably less reluctance in using violence to interrogate people, and devotes himself to even greater lengths of training in order to protect his family.
Not wanting to worry his family, Leonardo decided to not tell them about his true feelings about their final battle against the Shredder, although he open up to April and Usagi about his problems. However, Leonardo ended up making his family concern for him anyway and they didn't like his attitude. Eventually, Leonardo finds inner peace under the guidance of the
Ancient One
The Ancient One is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is a New York City–based comic book publishing, publisher, a property of the Walt Disney Company since December 31, 2009, ...
, who trained Splinter's sensei,
Hamato Yoshi
Splinter, often referred to as Master Splinter or Sensei by his students/sons, is a fictional character from ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' comics and all related media. A mutant rat, he is the grave and stoic sage of the Turtles, their ninj ...
. From their final battle with the Shredder, Leonardo was the only Turtle to sustain truly lasting damage; part of the shell on his upper left shoulder had its edge shorn. Nevertheless, he is the most skilled of the Turtles, being the only one trained by two ninja masters, capable of facing and defeating Karai, the new Shredder, in a one-on-one fight, as well as defeating all three of his brothers at once in a sparring match.
In the fifth season, of the eight acolytes under the Tribunal's training, Leonardo is the only one who does not receive a weapon from the Spirit Forge. It is implied that his spirit is his weapon, and anything he holds is merely an extension. (This was hinted at in previous seasons.) His otherworldly form is that of a dragon, a rare form, unheard of in someone his age. It is shown destroying evil guarding the second artifact. This avatar is first shown in "More Worlds Than One". His brothers later exhibit dragon avatars as well. In the fifth episode "Beginning of the End", he is given the sword "Gunjin" (one of the Fangs of the Dragon that commands the "White Flame of the Dragon King") by the wounded Faraji, who believes the sword was meant to be Leo's. Leo returns Gunjin in episode 12 "Enter the Dragons" when Faraji returns to help battle the Tengu Shredder because he believes the sword truly belongs to Faraji.
In the
Fast Forward
To fast-forward is to move forwards through a recording at a speed faster than that at which it would usually be played, for example two times or two point five times. The recordings are usually audio, video or computer data. It is colloquiall ...
season and the
Back to the Sewers season, the damage that occurred to Leonardo's shell as stated above has somehow been repaired.
Leonardo is trained not just by Master Splinter but the Ancient One himself, Hamato Yoshi's trainer and adoptive father. From then on, Leonardo is far more experienced and skillful at even more complex ninjitsu moves than even Splinter, Raph, Mikey, and Donnie all at once. In the third part of the first season episode series "Return to New York", he cuts the
Shredder's head off in a one-on one-duel in Shredder's domain.
Leonardo is the most skilled at
ninjutsu
, and are terms for the techniques and skills used by spies and scouts in pre-modern Japan known as ninja. Some of these techniques are recorded in ninja scrolls, some which have been published and translated. The study of these scrolls have c ...
and other forms of
hand-to-hand combat
Hand-to-hand combat is a physical confrontation between two or more persons at short range (grappling distance or within the physical reach of a handheld weapon) that does not involve the use of ranged weapons.Hunsicker, A., ''Advanced Skills in ...
he all learned from his adopted father and master,
Splinter
A splinter (also known as a sliver) is a fragment of a larger object, or a foreign body that penetrates or is purposely injected into a body. The foreign body must be lodged inside tissue to be considered a splinter. Splinters may cause initia ...
. As his weapons are dual katanas, he is proficient in "the ways of the sword" and basic knife-throwing techniques. If need be, he can use Qi Qong to slow his own bodily functions to survive temporarily without oxygen. After training sessions with "the Ancient One" he developed an intuitive/psionic-like ability to see what has previously transpired by "allowing thought to flow out and within."
2012 animated series
Leonardo again leads the team in
Nickelodeon's animated series. In this latest version, Leonardo seems to be less experienced and still perfecting his fighting skills and leadership abilities to make more solid decisions and gain more trust from his three brothers. He regularly watches an animated science fiction show called ''Space Heroes'' (a parody of ''
Star Trek: The Animated Series'') and uses it as a guide for his leadership skills, often attempting to quote from the show in an attempt to sound intimidating and heroic, even if most of his attempts fall flat due to him sounding too cliché.
Leonardo's weapons here are purely dual katanas, which he uses in the Niten Ryu style of
kenjutsu
is an umbrella term for all ('' ko-budō'') schools of Japanese swordsmanship, in particular those that predate the Meiji Restoration. Some modern styles of kendo and iaido that were established in the 20th century also included modern forms o ...
, making him an excellent swordsman. Despite the fact the other three turtles have added traits in this series, Leonardo is almost completely normal but now has blue eyes.
Upon the sudden demise of his adopted father and master, he reluctantly steps up as sensei in addition to being the leader, which puts even more pressure on him. He is visited, on occasion, by the spirit of Splinter who encourages him to lead his family and friends to stop new evils.
In addition to his natural ninjitsu skills, he eventually developed the strong innate ability to heal via an enchanted mantra known as "the healing hands". By chanting the incantation and making the right
hand seals, Leo is fully capable of revitalizing his inner strength and counteracting even the most lethal of poisons and venom of "the healing hands". He managed to develop and utilize it to counteract the lethal venom of Karai, and attempted to use it on her to release her from the Shredder's control but failed. He then succeeded in saving Casey and Michelangelo from death. According to
Splinter
A splinter (also known as a sliver) is a fragment of a larger object, or a foreign body that penetrates or is purposely injected into a body. The foreign body must be lodged inside tissue to be considered a splinter. Splinters may cause initia ...
, he shows great gifts as a healer, and that being at the edge of his life had given him "a
power
Power may refer to:
Common meanings
* Power (physics), meaning "rate of doing work"
** Engine power, the power put out by an engine
** Electric power, a type of energy
* Power (social and political), the ability to influence people or events
Math ...
that few martial artists can tap."
The character was voiced by actor
Jason Biggs
Jason Matthew Biggs (born May 12, 1978) is an American actor. The accolades he has received include a Screen Actors Guild Awards, Screen Actors Guild Award, alongside nominations for a Daytime Emmy Awards, Daytime Emmy Award and a Satellite Award ...
up until "The Wrath of Tiger Claw". Biggs then departed the series and was replaced by Dominic Catrambone for the remainder of the second season;
Seth Green
Seth Benjamin Green ( ''né'' Gesshel-Green; born February 8, 1974) is an American actor. His film debut was '' The Hotel New Hampshire'' (1984), and he went on to have supporting roles in comedy films in the 1980s, including '' Radio Days'' ( ...
then took on the role for the remainder of the series, this change in voice was explained in the series as a throat injury sustained in the season 2 finale.
2018 animated series
In the 2018 animated series, ''
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
''Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' is an American animated television series developed by Ant Ward and Andy Suriano for Nickelodeon. Based on the ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, it is a re-im ...
'', "Leonardo, the self-professed "coolest" brother possesses irreverent charm and a rebel heart". Unlike past versions, he is not the official leader of the turtles until the second season finale, and boasts a less serious, more laidback, charming, sardonic, and joke-cracking personality. This incarnation of Leo is the second born brother, with Raphael being the oldest. Despite his apparent immaturity and goofiness, Leo is quick-witted and strategic by nature. He initiatively leads his brothers whenever something has happened to Raphael, who is the group's de facto leader throughout the first two seasons. Despite coming off as somewhat arrogant, he also demonstrates insecurity and self-doubt. At the end of the season 2 finale "Rise", Splinter appoints Leo the new leader of his sons, much to the shock of him and his brothers. He is voiced by
Ben Schwartz
Benjamin Joseph Schwartz (born September 15, 1981) is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for his recurring role as Jean-Ralphio Saperstein on the NBC sitcom '' Parks and Recreation'', his starring role as Clyde Oberholt on the Sh ...
.
In ''
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie'', Leo ends up doing more harm than good when his ego causes an alien race called the
Krang
Krang (also spelled Kraang) is a supervillain appearing in ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles''-related media, most frequently in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987 TV series), 1987 animated series and its associated merchandise, such as the ''Te ...
to invade and Raphael to be captured. But over the course of the film Leo becomes more adept at fulfilling the role of leader. He sacrifices himself by trapping both himself and the Krang in the prison dimension to save the world (and possibly to make-up for all the harm he’s done), being content knowing that his family was safe from a future where the Krang decimate the planet. He is saved from the prison dimension at the end of the film thanks to Mikey's new mystic powers and Leo reconciles with Raphael.
'' Tales of the TMNT'' (2024)
Leo appears in ''
Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
''Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' (called ''Tales of the TMNT'' in its later Volume 2 incarnation) is an anthology comic book series that was published by Mirage Studios starting in May 1987. It acted as a companion book to the main ...
'', a follow-up 2d-animated series sequel to ''
TMNT: Mutant Mayhem'', with
Nicolas Cantu
Nicolas Cantu (born September 8, 2003), known by his internet pseudonyms Junky Janker and TheCAN2Network, is an American actor, internet personality, video producer, and former animator.
Cantu is best known for being the third voice of Gumbal ...
reprising his role from the latter film.
Films
Original trilogy
In ''
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' (''TMNT'') is an American media franchise created by comic book artists Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. It follows Leonardo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Leonardo, Donatello (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), D ...
'', Leonardo was fairly modest and sensitive, rarely issuing direct commands and seemingly much more relaxed around his brothers thinking of himself as more of an equal than a leader. It was he who first communicated telepathically with a kidnapped
Splinter
A splinter (also known as a sliver) is a fragment of a larger object, or a foreign body that penetrates or is purposely injected into a body. The foreign body must be lodged inside tissue to be considered a splinter. Splinters may cause initia ...
and seems the most anxious about
Raphael's health after his ambush by the Foot Clan. He fought alongside his brothers against The Shredder in the climactic battle and was the only one of the four to actually injure The Shredder, but, like his brothers, could not defeat him. Due to the focus on Raphael in the film's plot, Leonardo's personality was rarely explored and his leadership position in the team took a back seat. Leonardo was portrayed by David Forman and voiced by
Brian Tochi
Brian Tochi (born Brian Keith Tochihara) is an American actor. During the late 1960s through much of the 1970s and 1980s, he was one of the most widely seen East Asian child actors working in U.S. television, appearing in various TV series and ...
.
In ''
The Secret of the Ooze
''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze'' is a 1991 American superhero film based on the ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' characters created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. Directed by Michael Pressman and written by Todd W ...
'', Leonardo was much more prominent and his leadership position was brought to focus. He is seen on many occasions bickering with Raphael as their sibling rivalry begins to become much more serious. He, like his brothers, was astonished at the return of the Foot but he found that their current homelessness due to their last battle was a more pressing issue and soon he convinced his brothers that they needed to move. Leonardo is once again sensitive, caring, and humorous in this adaption but he now appears much bossier and controlling. This time, Leonardo was portrayed by
Mark Caso and once again voiced by
Brian Tochi
Brian Tochi (born Brian Keith Tochihara) is an American actor. During the late 1960s through much of the 1970s and 1980s, he was one of the most widely seen East Asian child actors working in U.S. television, appearing in various TV series and ...
In ''
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III
''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III'' (subtitled ''Turtles in Time'' in some home media releases) is a 1993 superhero film based on the ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' characters created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. Written and directed ...
'', after traveling back in time to feudal Japan, Leonardo leads his brothers to help a village in trouble from the villainous weapons trader, Walker, and to return home. In the last of the original film's trilogy, Leonardo was once again portrayed by
Mark Caso and voiced by
Brian Tochi
Brian Tochi (born Brian Keith Tochihara) is an American actor. During the late 1960s through much of the 1970s and 1980s, he was one of the most widely seen East Asian child actors working in U.S. television, appearing in various TV series and ...
2007 film
In ''
TMNT
''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' (''TMNT'') is an American media franchise created by comic book artists Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. It follows Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo, four anthropomorphic turtle brothers trained i ...
'', Leo was sent away by Master Splinter to hone his skills in becoming a more efficient leader after Shredder's defeat. April finds him in Central America and while he was hesitant to return to New York City, he does at the right time to take on a new force of evil.
His brotherly relationship with Raphael is strained due to Raphael feeling abandoned by Leo as well as feeling less appreciated by Splinter. Leonardo's vision of the world is perhaps wider than Raph's. In the first movie prequel comic, Leo becomes angry with Raph for trying to leave them in order to save a man from being mugged because 4 heavily armed Triceratons in the sewers could cause devastation to the city. He becomes further angered when Raphael deserts them mid-battle to help an old man. This conflict suggests that the two brothers operate on different levels of morality, though neither is necessarily wrong. Raph states in the comic that he was tired of waiting for disaster to fall on his family and tired of fighting aliens while people in their own neighborhood are being mugged and murdered. Leo, on the other hand, believes that the world of men is the responsibility of the police, while Utroms and Triceratons are their domain... that they should fight only when there is no one else to solve the problem. This also engages Leo in a contradiction when he stays in Central America, using violence to fight local lawlessness and effectively deserting his brothers because he believes as Raph believes, that others need him more. Such parallels suggest that the two brothers are experiencing the same dedication to justice but in a different mentality, albeit in very different locales and using different tactics. In fact, when Leo tracks down and scolds the Nightwatcher (not knowing that he is Raphael), he remarks that he is well aware of the Nightwatcher's good intentions but cannot simply approve of the latter's methods.
Raph challenges Leonardo after arguing about their own individual sense of justice and the reasons for their actions. Leonardo discovers that Raphael is the Nightwatcher and the two engage in an emotional fight. Raph almost kills Leo out of anger and then retreats due to shame and his brother's deep and confused stare. Leo is captured by the Stone Generals and the Foot Clan but is rescued by his family later before the final battle where Leo and Raph finally resolve their differences, Raph accepting Leo as their leader while Leo confesses to needing Raph. Leo is voiced by
James Arnold Taylor
James Arnold Taylor (born July 22, 1969), also known by his initials JAT, is an American voice and television actor. He is known for voicing Ratchet in the ''Ratchet & Clank'' franchise, the main character Tidus in '' Final Fantasy X'', Shuyin ...
in this film.
Reboot series
Leonardo appears in ''
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' (''TMNT'') is an American media franchise created by comic book artists Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. It follows Leonardo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Leonardo, Donatello (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), D ...
'', portrayed by
Pete Ploszek
Peter Daniel Ploszek (born January 20, 1987) is an American actor best known for his role as Leonardo in the ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' films. He is also known for his role as Garrett Douglas on the MTV supernatural drama series ''Teen Wo ...
in motion capture and voiced by
Johnny Knoxville
Philip John Clapp (born March 11, 1971), known professionally as Johnny Knoxville, is an American stunt performer, actor, producer, and screenwriter. He is best known as a co-creator and star of the MTV reality stunt show ''Jackass (franchise), ...
.
In this movie, he is dedicated to perfecting his ninjutsu skills and will stop at nothing to defend his brothers and the entire city. There are times when his cautious nature makes him clash with his brothers. Leonardo firmly believes it's his ninja duty to protect all people. He tends to have a similar personality to his other counterparts where he is determined to help people and keep his brothers in line. He and Raphael, unlike in their other adaptions, do fight over leadership although they have a brief argument over the Hamatshi and Raphael talking about leaving which Leo debunks Raph's claim. In the movie, he, like Donnie and Raph, does not seek April's attention, unlike Mikey who does. He also appears in the sequel, ''
Out of the Shadows'', although Knoxville didn't return to voice him, and Ploszek provided both motion-capture and voice.
DC crossover film
Leonardo appears in the direct-to-video crossover film ''
Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
''Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' is a 2019 American animated superhero film directed by Jake Castorena and written by Marly Halpern-Graser. Inspired by the DC Comics and IDW Publishing comic book miniseries '' Batman/Teenage Mutant Ni ...
'', voiced by
Eric Bauza
Eric Bauza (born December 7, 1979) is a Canadian voice actor based in the United States. He is mostly known for voicing several ''Looney Tunes'' characters, for which he won three Emmy Awards for his performances in '' Looney Tunes Cartoons'' (20 ...
.
''Mutant Mayhem''
Leonardo appears in ''
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem'', the first animated
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' (''TMNT'') is an American media franchise created by comic book artists Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. It follows Leonardo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Leonardo, Donatello (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), D ...
film since ''
TMNT (2007)'', voiced by real teenager
Nicolas Cantu
Nicolas Cantu (born September 8, 2003), known by his internet pseudonyms Junky Janker and TheCAN2Network, is an American actor, internet personality, video producer, and former animator.
Cantu is best known for being the third voice of Gumbal ...
.
He is characterized as trying hard to be seen as serious, only for the others to mock him, making him feel slightly insecure about himself. Over the course the movie, he eventually comes into his own and starts to act more leader-like. He is also portrayed as having a crush on April O'Neil and is the first to suggest helping her, upon seeing her for the first time.
Video games
In
video games
A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual fe ...
, Leonardo is usually portrayed as well-balanced, having strong abilities in all areas, and no glaring weaknesses. His range is rather long, but not as long as
Donatello's; however, Leonardo can usually inflict more damage. In the ''
Tournament Fighters'' games, his moves are the closest to a
Ryu/
Ken
Ken or KEN may refer to:
Entertainment
* ''Ken'' (album), a 2017 album by Canadian indie rock band Destroyer
* ''Ken'' (film), a 1965 Japanese film
* ''Ken'' (magazine), a large-format political magazine
* Ken Masters, a main character in th ...
archetype from the ''
Street Fighter
is a Media mix, Japanese media franchise centered on a series of fighting games developed and published by Capcom. Street Fighter 1, The first game in the series was released in 1987, followed by List of Street Fighter video games, six other ma ...
'' franchise.
Appearances
* Leonardo appears in ''
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash-Up'' as a playable character, with
Michael Sinterniklaas
Michael Tremain Sinterniklaas () is a French-born voice actor and ADR director based in the United States. He has provided voices for a number of English-language versions of Japanese anime films and television series, as well as cartoons and v ...
reprising the role.
* He's one of the main playable characters in ''
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows'', where he is voiced by
Scott Whyte
Scott Whyte is an American actor, best known for his role as Chris Anderson on '' City Guys''. He has also appeared in television series such as ''That '70s Show'' and ''Just Shoot Me!'' and the films '' D2: The Mighty Ducks'' and its sequel, '' ...
.
* He's played by his original voice actor
Cam Clarke
Cam Clarke is an American voice actor, known for his work in animation, video games, and commercials. Among his notable roles are Leonardo and Rocksteady in the 1987 ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' animated series, Shotaro Kaneda in the 1989 ...
in a 2014 game for the
Nintendo 3DS
The is a foldable dual-screen handheld game console produced by Nintendo. Announced in March 2010 as the successor to the Nintendo DS, the console was released originally on February 26, 2011 and went through various revisions in its lifetime, ...
, based on the film of the same name:
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' (''TMNT'') is an American media franchise created by comic book artists Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. It follows Leonardo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Leonardo, Donatello (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), D ...
.
* Leonardo is featured as a playable character in DLC for ''
Injustice 2
''Injustice 2'' is a 2017 fighting video game. It is the sequel to 2013's '' Injustice: Gods Among Us'' and the second installment in the ''Injustice'' series which is based on the DC Universe. It is developed by NetherRealm Studios and publish ...
'', voiced by Corey Krueger. He is the default turtle outside the gear loadout, while the rest of his brothers can only be picked through the said loadout selection, similar to premier skin characters. In their single-player ending, Krang had sent them to the world where the war between the Insurgency and Regime was taking place. After the victory over
Brainiac,
Harley Quinn
Harley Quinn (Dr. Harleen Frances Quinzel, PhD) is a fictional American character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. She was created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm for ''Batman: The Animated Series'' as a henchwoman for the ...
serves some pizza with 5-U-93-R. With this, they became powerful enough to return home and defeat Krang and Shredder.
* He's featured as a TMNT season pass in ''
Smite
''Smite'' is a 2014 free-to-play third-person multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) video game developed and published by Hi-Rez Studios for Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Amazon Luna.[Brawlhalla
''Brawlhalla'' is a free-to-play platform fighting game developed by Blue Mammoth Games. It was originally released for macOS, PlayStation 4 and Windows in 2017, with ports for Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Android and iOS released later. Full ...]
''.
* Leonardo also appeared in ''
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl
''Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl'' is a 2021 crossover fighting game developed by Ludosity and Fair Play Labs, and published by GameMill Entertainment. It is part of the '' Nickelodeon Super Brawl'' series of browser games and mobile games, serving ...
'', with Cam Clarke reprising his role.
* He's a main playable character in the sequel to ''
Turtles in Time
''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time'', released as ''Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles: Turtles in Time'' in Europe, is a 1991 beat 'em up game developed and published by Konami for arcades. A sequel to the original ''Teenage Mutant Ninj ...
'', titled ''
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge''. This is the second official ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' game in which he is once again played by his original voice actor, Cam Clarke.
References
External links
TMNT Community Site – Leonardo BioOfficial Ninja Turtle website
{{Authority control
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