NINJA TURTLES OR RENAISSANCE ARTISTS? Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Donatello- do you know them as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or Renaissance Artists? The answer is: they are both!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles In 1983, Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird were hard at work on the latest chapter of a comic book when Eastman, struck by unknown inspiration, drew a masked, nun-chuck-wielding “ninja turtle.” He showed it to Laird, and the two of them laughed at the silly image. They ended up drawing turtles, and after some consideration, eventually decided to make the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles their next comic book project. The pair chose to name the turtles after their favorite Renaissance artists. They were differentiated by their different weapons and colors. Since the Ninja Turtles were born, they have appeared in comic books, television series, feature films, video games, and many other products. The Renaissance The Renaissance was a time period that occurred between the 14th and 17th centuries, starting in Italy and spreading all over Europe. The era is mostly known for its art. The Renaissance was full of incredible artists, including the men who inspired the names of the Ninja Turtles.

Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo da Vinci is probably the best known of the Renaissance artists, famous for his masterworks, The Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. He was a classic “Renaissance Man,” perfecting skills as an artist, inventor, scientist, architect, engineer, and more. The Ninja Turtle, Leonardo, or Leo, is the courageous leader of the group. He often bears the burden of responsibility for his brothers, which commonly leads to conflict with Raphael. The artists, Raphael and Leonardo, are rumored to have

not gotten along in real life, too. ©Teaching to the Middle Michelangelo Michelangelo was born thirteen years after da Vinci, following in his footsteps as a Renaissance Man. He was an accomplished artist, poet, architect, and engineer. He is well known for his sculpture, David, the Pieta, and the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. The Ninja Turtle Michelangelo, or Mikey, is the most stereotypical teenager of the team. He is a free-spirited, relaxed jokester, and is often recognized for his love of pizza. He provides comic relief, but is still adventurous. His name was originally misspelled by his creator, Peter Laird, as “Michaelangelo.”

Raphael Raphael is known as the third of the great master artists of the Renaissance. His works were extremely influential, even though he only lived to the age of 37. He produced a huge number of works in a short time, including the School of Athens. As a Ninja Turtle, Raphael, or Raph, is the team’s bad boy. He is physically strong and has an aggressive nature. He seldom hesitates to throw the first punch. He has a sarcastic attitude, but is intensely loyal to his brothers. Donatello Donatello worked mainly as a sculptor during the Renaissance. The realism he was able to create was a welcome change from the stiff, un-lifelike statues of the Middle Ages. One of his most famous works was Saint Mark. The Ninja Turtle Donatello, or Donnie, was originally named Bernini after the great architect and artist, but Laird decided he wanted another name ending in “o.” Donatello is the least violent of the Ninja Turtles, preferring to use his knowledge to solve conflicts. However, he never hesitates to defend his brothers.

Whether you know the names Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Donatello, for their artistic talent or ninja skills, they are all impactful figures! ©Teaching to the Middle Name______NINJA TURTLES OR RENAISSANCE ARTISTS? Compare and Contrast: Identify similarities and differences between the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the Renaissance Artists. RENAISSANCE NINJA TURTLES BOTH ARTISTS

True or False?: Place a check in the correct column.

Statement T F

1. Artists, Leonardo and Raphael’s close relationship is reflected in the Ninja Turtles comic.

2. The Ninja Turtles’ personalities are reflective of the artists they were named after.

3. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were named after Renaissance artists.

4. The original names of the Ninja Turtles were Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael.

5. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has become very popular since its creation in 1983.

©Teaching to the Middle Multiple Choice: Choose the best answer.

6. Which best describes the text structure of this selection? A. Problem and Solution B. Compare and Contrast C. Sequence D. Cause and Effect

7. Which best completes the following analogy? Michelangelo: Sistine Chapel :: Donatello : ______A. The Last Supper B. The School of Athens C. Saint Mark D. Pieta

8. Which of the following is an accurate statement about the Ninja Turtle characters? A. Raphael is the leader of the Ninja Turtles. B. Leonardo is the least violent of the Ninja Turtles. C. Donatello is the jokester of the Ninja Turtles. D. Michelangelo’s name was originally misspelled by the creators.

9. With which statement would the author mostly agree? A. The Renaissance artists were more important than other artists. B. The Renaissance artists inspired the creators of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to name their characters after key Renaissance figures. C. The creators of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles did not take the personalities of the Renaissance artists into account when creating their characters. D. Renaissance artists hoped they would one day live on in a comic book, known as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

10. “The Ninja Turtle Michelangelo, or Mikey is the most stereotypical teenager of the team.” What is the best definition of stereotypical, as used in the previous quote? A. Possessing the qualities one would expect in a type of person B. A person who ends up being more annoying than expected C. Possessing the qualities of a younger person D. A person whom emulates the qualities of a famous person ©Teaching to the Middle