Master Splinter is unlike any father. He’s a mutant rat raising four sons who are turtles. Now that is an interesting combination. Anyway, every version of Splinter is different regarding personality. However, the context is still the same. He is a dad first and a ninja master second. His loyalty to the TMNT is unwavering.
Splinter shows the turtles the love they deserve while also teaching them how to fight battles and how not to fight when the stakes are too high for them to handle. Sure, Raphael charges in without thinking, and Leonardo overthinks things and fears failure, but that’s life, and Splinter understands that.
The rest of the TMNT have unique places in their dad’s heart. Donatello always wants to prove that he’s just as capable as his two older brothers. Meanwhile, youngest brother Michelangelo is soft and squishy and loves the pizza and the bro time.
Splinter is wise and forthright. He understands how to juggle being a parent and being a teacher, but knows he is not perfect and that he may favour one son [Leo] over the others. There is always the argument between Raph and Leo that Leo’s the favourite being the eldest and the teacher’s pet because he’s always (almost) perfect and afraid to get into trouble.
If he does get into trouble, Leo blames himself and believes he has failed. In conclusion, Splinter has to remind his son that there is no such thing as perfection and if there was, there would be no villains to take down.
