#rottmnt don suave

[turtleblogatlast]

Thinking about the Don Suave scene and what it means in terms of LGBTQ+ representation because my brain does nothing if not torment me with random topics to ramble about on the regular.

Anyway, I just wanted to ramble about why I like the scene but to get it out of the way - the scene can very easily be interpreted in so many different ways, and all of them are valid. I personally see it as Leo having at least some attraction to a man. And the following is an explanation of my own interpretation and thoughts on it and what it means especially for Leo’s portrayal in the grand scheme of things.

Long-winded interpretation under the cut!

Now, to start with, it’s important to me that in the scene Leo looks at Don Suave in the very beginning and then for the entirety of the rest of the time the man is on screen, Leo’s eyes are closed. Yet, in the end, he is still visibly enamored with Don Suave, happily cuddling up to him as he’s being carried away.

You can very easily interpret this as Leo being spellbound and that’s honestly super valid and I believe he likely was at least somewhat in the beginning, but considering how fast he looked away and how he never looked again, I personally think it makes more sense to read it as Leo just finding the man attractive, at least somewhat. (For the record, I personally headcanon Rise Leo as bisexual with a heavy preference for men, but I want to be blunt when I say that any interpretation is valid. Literally any. Ace, pan, gay, bi, none of the above or a mixture of something new literally all of it is more than okay and fair. Hell you could even interpret this entire scene as more romantic attraction than physical and it would still work. Anything goes!! Don’t bother people, guys, really.)

The main reason I take this scene to be at the very least LGBTQ+ adjacent isn’t just because of how it’s portrayed, but because of who Leonardo is. Not in terms of Rise of the TMNT, but in terms of the entire Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles™️ franchise.

Leo’s a character who, while changing with each iteration, has still at his core been around for decades upon decades as “the blue one”. One fourth of the team. He’s the one most are going to look at as the Leader, and oftentimes he is the one closest to having the title of Main Character. Not to say the others aren’t just as important, but Leo’s presence in the A plots of basically all TMNT media is often something very main character-esque.

And that’s very, very important to note. Here we have a Main Character of a prolific and decades long-running franchise distributed by a children’s television network. You can play around with his and his brothers’ characters all you like, but there is always going to be challenges to dodge around, especially since this was still in 2018-2019.

For example, you can play around with their designs so long as they’re color coded turtles, but their sexualities? Now that’s tricky.

“But what about Hypno and Warren?” Not main characters and also they’re Rise originals. They have a lot more room to play around with than a character like Leo does. But even talking about main characters in the franchise, you could arguably have an easier time playing around with Donnie or Mikey’s sexualities than Leo or even Raph, as (unfortunately) the former two tend to get more B plots, so they’d likely have had a little more leeway (still not a lot though.)

So, where does this leave us?

It leaves us in a place where outright stating and/or showing undeniable proof of Leo’s attraction to men is very, very difficult. So, workarounds!

Workarounds like the entire Don Suave situation.

To be honest, as left up to interpretation and lowkey and deniable as it is, this whole scene means a lot to me because of who Leo is as a character. It’s just nice when we get so see even the bare bones of representation with characters that have been such a large part of pop culture for decades, y’know? Even if more would be so much nicer, this is better than I thought we’d ever get for these boys.

And, again, literally nothing I’ve said is the only way to interpret it, I’m more than happy when people interpret media on their own honestly, it’s just something I’ve been thinking of lately and I was wondering if others felt the same way.

Whatever you think when you interpret this scene or Rise Leo as a whole, I just thought this would be interesting to think about, even if it was ramble-y, haha.

#rottmnt #rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles #rottmnt headcanons #rottmnt leo #rise leo #rise don suave #rottmnt don suave #I lied I’m back to ramble because I’m just #so bad at keeping my mouth shut #or uh #not typing word vomit #anyway- yeah this is my personal interpretation #I believe Leo was legitimately mesmerized by Don Suave’s powers…in the beginning #but even the series’ creator says it was ‘at least PART of what was going on with Leo’ so #idk it’s something that’s been on my mind and I was wondering if anyone else felt the same?? #may delete this later who knowssss #pleaaaase feel free to disagree I just like to talk lol #but yeah sometimes I look around at how much media has LGBTQ+ rep in it now and it honestly makes me emotional?? #(we always always ALWAYS could use more but) #we did not have even a crumb of this as kids #but also like most of that rep is new properties #and I just was thinking about what that could mean #idk man idk #once again please don’t take this as facts it is VERY MUCH NOT #man I was looking around for good images to use and found jack all #anyway tho did you know Donnie often has bi colors around him and Leo is often dressed in the colors of the trans flag- #okay anyway back to the caves I go this comic won’t draw itself #I gotta spray myself with water any time I go to type long winded essays because they’re not great for the mental health fr

[tomiyeee]

“wow you guys are handsome...”

#rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles #rottmnt leo #rottmnt don suave #rottmnt art #rottmnt #my art #mangastudio #moving this one to the top of the queue cuz i think leo deserves it #doodles

[godsfaultycreations]

WE RUSHED TO FINISH THIS DAY OF THE Rise August Art Challenge !!!

@rise-august-art-challenge

Day 4 - Yokai

come on people you didn't actually expect us to choose just ONE yokai, did you??

#rise august art challenge #rise art challenge #rottmnt art challenge #rottmnt sunita #rottmnt don suave #rottmnt baron draxum #rottmnt huginn #rottmnt muninn #rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles #unpause rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles #save rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles #rottmnt #save rottmnt #unpause rottmnt #rise season 3 #rottmnt season 3 #mars arting #cam helping out #gods faulty creations #HELP I STRUGGLED TO DRAW EVERYONE THIS TIME CRIES

[itzjazzyjazzin]

f! Don Suave for the win

#rottmnt #rottmnt fanart #rottmnt oc #save rise of the tmnt #unpause rise of the tmnt #rottmnt leo #rottmnt don suave #tmnt

[rottmnt-background-screenshots]

There are very few men I would consider attractive. This man in number 1 of those few.

#rottmnt #rottmnt screenshot #rottmnt don suave

[chris-4]

Risebruary day 12- Don Suave

#rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles #rottmnt #risebruary #rottmnt art #rise season 3 #save rottmnt #rottmnt donnie #rottmnt leo #rottmnt Don Suave

[moon-dragons]

today is september 15 so long live mexico!!

/hoy es 15 septiembre haci que ¡¡viva mexico!!

#rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles #teenage mutant ninja turtles #rottmnt #rotmnt #tmnt #rise of the tmnt #save rottmnt #rottmnt don suave #tmnt 2018

[itsclippingbinch]

Rottmntober Day 13: Favorite yokai as a human!

“Wow you guys are handsome.”

#rottmntober #rottmnt #rottmnt Don suave #is this cheating? #probably #how convenient that my fav yokai has a human form in the show #kind of #my art

[teenagenutant]

love the Future Leo au just bc He Knows Things

You know the embarrassing stuff you think No one will ever know about because you would take that info to your GRAVE.

Anyway smug F!Leo making fun of current Leo about his most embarrassing crushes.

betrayal..

#tmnt #rottmnt #tmnt leo #future leo #hamato leonardo #my turtle art #turtle asks #thanks for the ask!! using these prompts as a transparent excuse to try out fleo expressions hehe #there are SO many things leo planned on taking to the grave but master leonardo's ass is not helping🙄 #don suave the most of all because that baby gay crush requires CONTEXT LMAO

[flamingoducks]

risebruary day 12!! no caption just a hot man i guess (LMAO 💀)

prompt list by sariphantom!

#rise of the tmnt #rottmnt #rottmnt fanart #rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles #rottmnt leo #rise leo #don suave #risebruary

[jojo-rolo]

“Do not stare directly at...Don Suave.” 👁️👁️ 🌹

#rottmnt #my art #don suave #guiño ;) #suggestive #? #I mean it is a pinup... #not for the faint of heart #I had such a blast drawing and painting this! #jojo-rolo

[junsei-draws-rotasu]

Shredder, can't you just change clothes and not be dramatic into changing with a hologram. Also. Y'know what lowkey looks like?

THIS!

#tmnt #tmnt 1987 #tmnt87watch #this is the origin of Don Suave #rottmnt #rise of the tmnt #tmnt 2018 #tmnt 2k18 #rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles

[this-is-specifically-for-art]

This fuckin guy <3

(Reblogs > likes) 🥺

#art #clue art tag #fanart #rottmnt #tmnt #rottmnt donnie #rottmnt donatello #DON SUAVE IS A TAG FOR RISE BAHAHWHDHEHD #doodles #rottmnt fanart #save rottmnt #just remindijg yall 👀 i do sketch requests 👀

[sotogalmo]

11:41

No Don Suave content????? What the hell-

__

11:51

*edit: okay. Checked the tags. Yay!!! Don Suave!!!

#time diary(?) #audrey/kellie's time diary #don suave #rise don suave #rottmnt #rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles #rise of the tmnt #don suave rottmnt #this is crazy

[takaaxo]

Woooo my first rottmnt -w- I wanted to do a prompt to get me motivated, I love them so much, PLEASE NICK I WANT SEASON 3!!

Raph being my favourite, he's JUST A SWEETHEART LIKE HOW CAN ANYONE HATE HIM?! How he cares for his brothers, and he's such a gentle giant💖😭

Mikey is relatable to me, mainly because he's the youngest and I'm the youngest in my siblings too and there's more perks that he does that I feel more than the others.

Donnie is such a cool design to me, especially the fact the turtles are based on a different species of turtle and him having a physical disadvantage to the rest yet solves around it with his battle shell is MUAH 💋 also all his gadgets are cool looking.

Karai is so underrated, as my girl just PERISHES, I wished she had more screentime, to you know have family bonding with the turtles. Like I ACHE FOR MORE FAMILY DYNAMICS MAN!

I frickin love April, I love her energy and such a sister vibe. I would love her as a friend, how she fits perfectly with each turtle ESPECIALLY DONNIE it just shows how much of a good character she is.

I love Señor Hueso, he's such a funny side character, I love how he calls Leo "pepino" and how bro just fuses into ✨Don Suave✨

#rottmnt #april o'neil #rottmnt donnie #rottmnt mikey #rottmnt raph #rottmnt leo #rottmnt karai #rottmnt senor hueso

[sunflowhamato]

ROTTMNT Curiosities Part.3

The turtles honored Karai, and would talk to her whenever they needed guidance

Originally Karai would have been in 8 episodes (11 minutes) or 4 (22 minutes), she would help Donnie with his desire for recognition, Raph's anxiety, Mikey's aversion to family conflict, and Leo in his potential as a leader, as well as April letting him know that she is also a Hamato

The Rise movie takes place months after the end of the second season

The photo at the beginning of the movie was taken just before the Krang arrived.

If the series were renewed, they would touch on the theme that humans already know about them, addressing issues of misunderstood heroism to maintain their reputation as full-time heroes, and that some people hate them, as well as how they adapt to this new change

The crossover between the different versions of TMNT was never discussed, but it can happen (Although it is complicated to use two types of animation in the case of 2012)

2012 Leo and Rise Leo would get along badly at first, but would end up being great friends. The Mikeys would get along well from the beginning

There was a story to tell about Big Mom and Stinkbomb

The team never realized that there was no episode with the duo of Raph and Donnie (but they would if the series is renewed)

In the apocalyptic future it may be that Donnie is taller than Leo, and Raph is at least 6 feet, Mikey would have grown, but due to the use of the Ninpo on him he would become smaller

Mikey could be enough for multiverse episodes

In the series the invasion would not have happened like in the movie

Ron would like to see a Spin-off of CJ and Cassandra wandering the world and fighting the remains of Krang (Where Draxum could join)

There are Krang everywhere, there may be some good Krang

The Rat King could be the next villain, Shredder could return, Bishop could be a thorn like J. Jonah Jameson for the turtles, he would be like an ally, but don't trust the turtles (a few ideas if the series is renewed)

Baxter Stockboy would mutate, and become a man, but his voice and mentality would be that of a child

There were no plans for Beebop and Rocksteady

It could be that Mikey from the future communicated with his dead brothers

There are other hidden cities such as Tokyo, where it was thought that they would be

The prison dimension is to get rid of the villains

In terms of power with the Ninpo, Mikey is the strongest, followed by Donnie, Raph the next, and Leo is the one who depends the least on the Ninpo, he uses physical and mental abilities

CJ is around 20 years old or a teenager. Leo from the future would be in his early 40s. Young April is 18 just like Raph

The movie was already planned before they found out about the hiatus, it didn't change much since it was set a little far from the series, so it didn't receive many changes

Don Suave is attractive to any gender or orientation Leo has a little insomnia

Donnie's fear of beach balls started at a young age as seen in “Lair Games”

His favorite video game is “Crazy Copter”

The bounty hunters in the first episode are called “Garm and Freki”

Baba Yaga was planned to be introduced

Donnie is the team doctor

Ant and Andy had the idea that the turtles were of different species

Kids would put cereal before milk (haha, good tip)

In Origami Tsunami the test audience thought Leo was the leader

Kendra is Indonesian

Raph feels bad when he is alone, because his brothers are the strength he needs to survive.

Leo's hair reference in Bad Hair Day is because of the guy in the middle

A rivalry between Baxter and The Purple Dragons was thought of

A little HeadCanon that Donnie has a pumpkin-growing rivalry with a woman named Ethel Crabtree

Hypno is New Zealander

In Al Be Back, Raph was Raphy White in “Barry White”, his hair is similar to James Brown, Leo is a glam rocker in the vein of David Bowie, the New York Dolls or Sweet

“Othello Von Ryan”, is a reference to the strange Liz Taylor commercial in the 80s

Dale is based on Dale Malinowski

The boys' nickname is: Othello Von Ryan, Dr. Delicate Touch, Cool Teen Randall, Neon Leon and the Red Angel of Preventing Harm

Mikey knew that April's apartment upstairs was unoccupied, where he sent Draxum

Raph's hero names, he doesn't realize they spell his name R.A.P.H until later

If the series is renewed, several discarded episodes could return without a problem, and everything would resume from the end of the movie

There is a completely complete episode that Nick never released

If the series were renewed it would be at least another 3 seasons

The pitch process for an episode is organic, a writer has a pretty solid idea, people propose ideas, the key piece is finding the growth story not only of the story, but also of the character

The difficult part of the series was fitting the entire plot into 11 minutes for one episode, there were great things that were eliminated for this reason, the general opinion (from high ranks) was that action shows lasted 22 minutes to sell toys, while comedies got ratings

#rottmnt #rottmnt leo #rottmnt raph #rottmnt donnie #rottmnt mikey #rottmnt april #rottmnt cassandra jones #rottmnt casey jr #rottmnt draxum #rottmnt splinter