Splinter

Lore & Background

In both the original comics and the live-action films, Splinter is a pet rat of ninja Hamato Yoshi in Japan, and uniquely intelligent for his species. Yoshi becomes embroiled in a deadly dispute with fellow ninja Oroku Nagi over a woman named Tang Shen and is eventually murdered in turn by Nagi's brother, Oroku Saki, as revenge for his brother's death. However, in the 1990 film and 2003 TV series, Nagi is removed entirely. Additionally, in the 1990 film, Splinter escapes from his cage during the murder, and attacks Saki, clawing at his face.

Saki, in turn, slices his ear off. It is suggested that this mutilation is the reason Saki took the Shredder disguise to hide the scars. In contrast, in the 2003 animated series, it was Hun's face which Splinter clawed. Without a home, Splinter is forced to run away and live in New York City's sewers.

Due to a traffic accident, four baby turtles and a canister of mutagenic ooze are sent down into the sewer. The canister mutates both Splinter and the turtles into humanoid forms; it also enhances the former's already sophisticated intellect. Splinter names the four turtles Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo (after a book on Renaissance artists that he found in a storm drain) and trains them in the arts of ninjutsu so that they can avenge his dead master, while raising them as his own sons, as well as educating them in scholastic.

Reader's Guide

In the 1987 TMNT series, Splinter and Hamato Yoshi are the same person. He is a martial art instructor for the Foot Clan in Japan, and also has a passion for Renaissance art. Yoshi is framed by his rival, Oroku Saki, for trying to murder their common dojo master. Unable to prove his innocence and expelled from the Foot Clan, Splinter moves to New York City, where he lives as a hermit in its sewers and befriends the rats.

One day, he comes across four baby turtles which were accidentally dropped by a boy through a sewer grate. Yoshi keeps them as pets and treats them like his children. Yoshi and the turtles are inadvertently exposed to mutagen, which mutates them based on other beings they had been in contact with. Thus, the turtles, being in a pet store with people touching them, gain humanoid forms.

Yoshi, having been in contact with sewer rats, becomes a humanoid rat. In the episode 'Splinter No More', Splinter is given the chance to become human again, but realizes he prefers being with the turtles and had no place as a human anymore. Yoshi raises the turtles by himself and gives them the names of his favorite Renaissance artists: Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo. Yoshi is given the nickname 'Splinter', due to his proficiency at breaking wooden boards, and he teaches them the art of ninjutsu in order to protect themselves.

Like many real-life ninja masters, he has a strong sense of honor and follows very strict rules which all four of his students adopt. Splinter always has a wise quote or speech for the turtles and often steps in with his ninja skills when the turtles are caught in a, seemingly inescapable, predicament. Splinter does not have a father/son relationship with the turtles, but still cares for them.

Did You Know?

• In the 1990 film, Splinter escapes from his cage during Hamato Yoshi's murder and attacks Oroku Saki, clawing at his face; Saki slices his ear off, and it is suggested this mutilation is why Saki took the Shredder disguise.
• In the 2003 animated series, Splinter is revealed to be a champion of the Battle Nexus, a multi-dimension-spanning contest.
• In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Splinter is a street rat who learns ninjutsu from online videos and Jackie Chan movies.