#thank you so so so much ough

[that-was-anticlimactic]

hi corey !! happy valentine's day 💗 i thought it was so sweet how u sent the moots personalized valentines and got inspired. so here we are fkjhfdjh i'm not very good at chibis and had to rush this </3 but. hope u like it ! (i can send u a blank ver too if u want)

[id: a valentine with a chibi drawing of reki kyan from sk8 the infinity. he grins and makes a heart with his fingers, with a little heart doodle above his hand. he puts his other hand on his side. he looks like he does in canon, except that his hair is more curly than spiky, and his skin is a warm brown. the pink text to the left of him reads: 'i want to skate ∞ (infinity sign) with u!' under it is dark pink text, which reads: 'from: olly :) (smiley) / to: corey'. the background is light pink, with an even lighter pink rectangle behind reki and the text. end id.]

olly.

olly.

olly omg.

i am. OIUYTFRGDFCGYUIOGTYFRDXSGYUIOTYHFGRDSXFCGTYU RGIS IS THE CUTEST THING EVERHOLY TRASH

ngl i saw this at like the Best time yesterday because seventh period... yeah not getting into that lol bUT IT MADE ME GIGGLE AND SMILE LIKE A FOOL AND JUST. HE!!! LOOK AT HIM!!! HE LOOKS SO CUTE!!! SO ADORABLE AND SHAPED AND HE!!!

[loves2spwge]

they just want to be one...

commissions @jolyonvane did for me where i asked if he could please please please make stan look as desperate and exhausted as he usually does but is being kept together by all his love for his sbf kyle

[rottmnt-residuum]

Hi, I've read the Residuum comic, and I think the characterization of the boys is really good. I was wondering if you have any tips on how to write them? Especially Mikey, please.

I'd actually recommend re-watching the show with one character in mind. All my notes on the turtles come from doing separate re-watches for each of them. The key is to ONLY watch the character you are focusing on.

In the end, you'll probably be happier with your own personal interpretation. As we are with ours lol

TL;DR

Massive post under the cut

To preface: we'll be contrasting (this Mikey) against the fandoms version of Mikey, as our interpretation is very different. Don't worry if you prefer the fandom version, there's nothing… wrong per se with writing him this way. We just find him flat and uninteresting. (Main author: not me, I just hate him, lol).

Every reader or fan comes into a story with their own biases and experiences. A ton of our view of Mikey is based on how our siblings acted. We see Mikey as the young sibling that got preferential treatment from the whole family, simply due to being the youngest, but is now aging out of the privilege. Which all youngest siblings do at some point or another.

The fandoms version of Mikey is empathetic, naive, vulnerable, co-dependent and quite often a door mat who cries at the drop of a hat. And as much as the fandom like to say that people love him… when this particular character archetype is in other media, they seem to attract the most criticism. Mable pines, Bolin from Korra, people rag on Aang all the fucking time, and Steven Universe is a whole other bag. These characters don't deserve it, and yet it happens anyway.

To flatten Mikey to simply 'the baby' is a disservice. We don't see or write Mikey as the fandom “baby” version (cinnamon roll uwu). Part of this comes from having multiple siblings, so we interpret the times when Mikey does the puppy dog eyes as typical younger sibling bullshit, mostly by the way that the other turtles rarely react to it, if at all.

The other turtles traits can also get projected onto Mikey. Mikey being the fandom therapist is in the same category as this. He isn't a therapist, he's a psychology nerd who likes to psychoanalyze people and meddle in their relationships. (Donnie and Shelldons relationship, Splinter and Draxums...) he's not trying to resolve your emotional issues. Of the turtles, the character that cares the most about people's feelings is Raph. And Leo is more of a consoler than Mikey ever is. It flattens all the turtle's characterizations when you start doing this because you are ripping out parts that are integral to another characters' complexity.

Co-author has told me that they've seen people become confused when going into the show after only reading fan fiction or coming from the movie. They see his characterization as inconsistent and become upset when their view of him is contradicted. This also happens when a fandomized version of him becomes the primary characterization that they use. Sometimes when this disconnect happens (or if they just don't like the character), Mikey characterization is swung in the complete opposite direction.

They make him manipulative and abusive, or someone who is hyper violent and avoids being held accountable for anything. This is an uncharitable interpretation of him and can come off as pretty racist depending on the circumstances. (like if someone considers the turtles black or not)

Every version of Mikey is a shithead (affectionate), even this one. Especially this one, really. When Mikey not doing the "baby schtick" hes mean. If you pay attention to what he's saying, and just not his tone of voice, he's consistently saying pretty mean or condescending stuff. (You could take this as simply naïveté, but he still says mean shit pretty often regardless)

The times he does say genuinely nice stuff the turtles don't exactly expect it from him, at least, in the early season. And while he is mean, and seems to find saying mean things to be funny, Mikey isn't cruel. Nor will he ever be.

This shit-headery behavior is found in both 2003 and 18 Mikey. They have a degree of social intelligence that lets them use it to annoy people into doing what they want. 18 just has the advantage of being baby faced and having better tonal control. He's good at using people's perception of him to get what he wants.

Let Mikey have his problematic traits, but don't overexaggerate them. He doesn't revel in fooling people. He loves doing character bits, and the baby faced one just happens to be one of them. However, to infantilize or to deem him incompetent is to piss him off, he wants to be viewed as a competent part of the team and competent as an individual. He's not insecure about being young, he just doesn't want to be treated like he can't do anything.

Mikey above all is an optimistic character, he sees the brighter side quite often and is conscious of the harm his actions have on people. Mostly after the fact, but he consistently attempts to rectify the harm he has personally done to peoples lives. (Todd, Bullhop, Draxum). Food and shelter seems to be a thing that he considers to be a right. He doesn't cross a boundary twice once he learns of it, and he never pushes people too far (if he likes you, that is. if he doesn't know you or doesn't like you, he doesn't give a singular shit. But that is standard to most people.). He doesn't care about people's stuff, though. He breaks things all the time.

Mikey understands boundaries, but he doesn't automatically recognize them. He needs them to verbalized or for there to be a very obvious reaction to the boundary being crossed (unfortunately, for Todd and Donnie). Sometimes people mess up (esp. younger people), and it can take a while for teens to learn where boundary is, but he fully respects the boundaries he does know about. He doesn't act petulant when he's told about boundary, he apologizes, accepts it, and moves on. He doesn't dwell.

Mikey doesn't hold on to distressing emotions. He bounces between emotions quickly, but isn't effected in the long run. One thing Iv'e seen people often conflate is the difference between sensitive and vulnerable. Mikey is sensitive, but I have never seen him vulnerable to others. To be sensitive is to be easily influenced by the current situation. To be vulnerable is to hold that influence for a long time. Characters can have one, both, or neither of these traits. But Mikey is not vulnerable. It is the difference between compressing memory foam and a piece of metal until they deform. One will pop back, the other does not.

Those who are vulnerable but not sensitive will take longer to effect, but once you do, they will hold on to that emotion for a very long time. The vulnerable, are grudge holders. (leo). But like I've said, Mikey bounces back. What a character does has an effect on his emotions, but it doesn't make a lasting impression.

Forgiveness is another thing people like to push on him. It is not that Mikey forgives people easily, it's just that he doesn't hold grudges. He neither forgives nor forgets, but he does not ruminate. He's generally affable, first impressions seem to be a big part of how he views people. He is idealistic, and doesn't assume people are unchanging and/or evil, but he's not a mark.

Mikey isn't so much as naive or overly trusting… it's just that he's inexperienced. He doesn't get fooled by anyone in the series except meat sweats, and that's because Meatsweats is on Todd drugs. Mikey just didn't notice when he started faking. He's not… actually all that aware of people's emotional states, passively. He has to tune in to notice things like that.

Mikey isn't someone who really tries to regulate others emotions, either. The fandom like to make Mikey afraid of his brothers fighting and others being upset, but Mikey doesn't actually care. The most distressed we ever see him in a fight is in the movie, and he's not SCARED, he's just concerned (and then alarmed once it turned physical). If anything, outside extenuating circumstances (like the movie), Mikey actually seems to find their fights annoying.

(Mikey actually seems to have a pretty short fuse, but his bounciness doesn't really let it linger very long, lmao)

(One pet peeve of fandom Mikey is the constant crying, crying at fights, crying at insults, crying for no reason all the time. Sure, he tears up when he gets emotional, but when Mikey is genuinely crying It's when he's desperate, like when he's hungry, or when he's trying to save Leo from certain doom. Same thing, really.)

Mikey respects no one (we love him for this). He admires people, he admires his family: April, the turtles, his dad, Lou Jitsu. He admires Rupert Swaggert, but he respects none of them. No one is sacrosanct to the Mikey.

Above all, the way we write characters is to give them a past that informs how they act now. We view Mikey and the other turtles as teenagers that were kids, and that will be adults. Yes they all have “problematic” traits, but 1) good characters need flaws, and controversial traits are one of the best to use, and 2) they're teenagers, don't expect adult behaviors from them, also don't expect them to be kids. They're minors, not toddlers.

This is getting as long enough as it is, so we'll stop here, but this is a very broad overview of how we characterize him. There's a lot we didn't cover here, but if we even started on hobbies, or the real minutia of his quirks and ticks, or even how he feels about other specific characters... we'd be here all day. So I hope this is good enough lol

If there was something you wanted to know in particular, you'll need to get specific. Feel free to ask again ahahh

[anemonet]

L is for Late!...to post...ahem uh i mean im in a zine!!!! the @hermitzine zine even, where everyone did an amazing job and you should check it out :D

[the-one-teapot]

05.06 - “Construction”

[commanderthalys]

I had the pleasure of commissioning @spindlewit to draw my two babes ahhhh I love them so much!!!

[egginfroggin]

Hmmmm.

Yet another meme redraw for you all this fine day

It hasn't been officiated by Nintendo yet, but frankly, I do subscribe to the theory that DMK corrupted Sectonia via the mirror; I also think that Taranza has every right to knock him out cold for it

Tell me, which bin do you think DMK belongs in, recycling or trash?

Also I did the perspective after one in the morning on this, don't mind how skrungled DMK is

Also if anyone knows the meme this is based off of and can give me its name or a link to it, please do so if you wouldn't mind, I couldn't find it and had to do this all from memory

Have a good day, everyone ^^

(Program: Krita; time: about 3 hours [same time half the effort as the last one. huh])

[fortegrace]

I drew the future-past gang for the Future Witness: Lucina Zine over at @holoframeworks. Leftover sales will be opening at a later date so go and give them a follow for updates!

[commsroom]

once again, wonderful art of eiffel and hera from @quibbs!! 💫

[amberluvsbugs]

Happy Birthday, Amber!! 🥳🎉🎊🎂✨ Hope you’re having a wonderful time today, and as always, you are AMAZING!! I also drew this in my art style as a gift for you of your test shot of CatNap before creating a cartoon. I posted this a few weeks ago and I had fun drawing this. I hope you like it that I drew for you, and have a great birthday. And keep being awesome. 💖🌟✨🦋

Oh my god!!!!! This is so fucking precious what the heck wahhh ;;O;; Christ the details on the flowers and the piece in general is so so stunning... thank you so so much I'm gonna fucking cherish this for the rest of my life ;;;;

[caycanteven]

This was a commission piece for @under-art-reblogs with Rook absolutely styling and looking GORGEOUS! Thank you so much again for supporting me and my work! 🥰🫶I always love getting to see this beautiful girl again!

[zorbs64]

they never stop, art fight is neverending (you could say i'm gluttonous)

The Carnivore for @reginaldubel

[notdysfunk]

Hey, just wanted to say that looking at your art makes me want to draw again. Thanks for that.

OH MY GOSH??? GAH- I???? BWUH!? THIS WAS SUCH A PLEASANT SURPRISE IN MY INBOX???? I'm so soo glad my art could have such a positive impact on you AA THAT MEANS SO SO SOO MUCH TO ME WAAAH!!!😭💕💞 THIS IS THE SWEETEST AUGHH THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! 💥💥😭😭💕

[oorangesoda]

i hope u feel better soon boo !!!!!! i also wanna gush a little bc i love ur shane so much .. i love seeing him big and hairy like THATS HIMMMM !!!!!!! and i LOVE how much beard u give him like UGH .. so shane so delish .. i believe in u pookie 💕 i love seeing him and callum pop up on my dash they r so hot

TWIDDLING MY THUMBS!!! KICKING MY FEET!! 💚💚💚 THANK YOUUUUU

genuinely SUCH a sweet compliment… I’m weak in da knees… please… Kendall and Shane warm my heart SO MUCH 🥹🥹

Big hairy Shane lovers unite 💪!!!

And thank u sm I’m gonna try and recover as QUICK as possible :’)

Please have this little Shane and Callum bit for ur sweetness 🙇‍♂️

Think of it like a little follow up to the post shower beer from earlier!! Cal has very strong feelings about Shane shaving his beard/stubble…

[jadebrightwind]

@hlkproductions snuck into my discord DMs and just dropped this into my lap like it wouldn’t crush me into the center of the earth with the weight of its majestttyyyYYYYYYY

huWWAUUUGHHHHH THANK YOU FOR EXTENDING MY LIFEFORCE THIS IS???? GORGEOUS???? She looks so sweet and serene and????? Ough the sea green highlights in her hair that match her eeeyyysss just *chef’s kiss* icing on this magnificent cake this good fucking fooooodddd

Also tagging the lovely @the-leyline-directory because they have now both gifted me OC art and I just??? Your styles are so different and so beautiful I keep looking back and forth like OUGH they are so nice and sweet and so SKILLED LIKE??? HUWAGHJFLLSKS

Running my booth at FaxExpo atm but once I get back and my life calms down a little bit GONNA DRAW MORE I am inspired it’s go time you kind folks sending me into the YYH orbit like a fucking canon lessGOOOOO

And if you haven’t already done it LOOK AT THEIR ART IT’S SO GOOD WHAT ARE YOU STILL DOING HERE COMMISSION THEM!!!

[shewaslikeasunflower]

MAGICANT SILLIES OMGG!!! art collab with @mewunderthetruck!

THIS WAS SUPER FUN TO DO!!! mew did almost the entirety of the background (holy crap he did AMAZING???), and i did the sky, the lighting and the big cloud they’re sitting on! And then we both drew our aus together! go look at the magicant prince au!! hes so aiwjfoenfkwk

my magicant prince claus au isnt finished yet aiwjfikekfn BUT I HAD TO DRAW HIM FOR THIS TTHEY LOOK SO CUTE TOGETHER IM GONNA CRY