Raphael Hamaro | ROTTMNT

"This whole situation" is a recurring phrase in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, usually used as a comedic euphemism for his mutation, and less commonly as a general term for any fantastically bizarre situation. Throughout the series, various mutants and humans use the phrase, along with accompanying hand gestures, as a running gag.

"Anata wa hitori ja nai" (「あなたは一人じゃない」) is a Japanese phrase meaning "you are not alone." It is a traditional expression of encouragement from the Hamato clan, reminding clan members to support the living and the spirits of their ancestors.
History: Raphael saw a memory of his father, Hamato Yoshi, grieving the separation from his mother, Atsuko, who was leaving on a mission. She said this phrase to him. Later, during a battle with Shredder, Karai was mortally wounded and, as she died, uttered the same words to the Turtles. She and Todd fled to a hideout, where April later arrived, having found Karai. Before dying, Karai declared April part of the Hamato clan and allowed her spirit to enter her so she could teach the Turtles ninpo. Raph asked Karai to translate the phrase, and this understanding helped the Turtles unlock the power of Hamato ninpo.
Interesting facts: The phrase consists of five words: "anata" (you), "wa" (subject), "hitori" (one person), "ja" (is/be), "nai" (not). Literally, "you are not alone." In Japanese, addressing someone by their first name is more common than using "you," and pronouns are often omitted. The phrase can be addressed to one person or to each member of a group—as in the case of Karai, who addressed four brothers simultaneously.

A mutant is any creature exposed to a mutagen, Oozesquitoes, or otherwise undergoing some form of transformative mutation. The idea of ​​a mutant is a common trope in comics and science fiction. The new phenotypes that emerge from fictional mutations typically go far beyond typical biological mutants and often result in the mutated lifeform exhibiting superhuman abilities or qualities.
Franchise: Within the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, the term "mutant" is almost exclusively used to refer to any creature affected by a mutagen, rather than natural mutations. A mutagen can mutate a creature in a variety of ways, from animals acquiring human traits (e.g., the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), to humans acquiring animal traits (e.g., Bebop and Rocksteady), to either acquiring traits from other objects (e.g., Muckman), or simply increasing in size and strength (e.g., Super Shredder). In general, however, a mutagen can mutate any living organism, transforming it into the last thing it touches, or, if an animal comes into contact with it, mutating it into a form typically corresponding to the creature's age.
Info: In Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, instead of being carried in a container, the mutagen is carried by Oozeskito, causing anyone bitten by it to mutate into a mutant. As in the 1987 television series and the 2012 series, anyone who comes into contact with the animal or plant transforms into a mutant similar to those they last encountered. The yokai alchemist Baron Draxum plans to use Oozeskito to mutate humanity, while Big Mama wants to create fighters for her Battle Nexus. Technically, all yokai are mutants, as they are descended from mutational contact with the Empyrian, but despite this, yokai do not associate themselves with the term "mutant" and have an established society and a significantly longer history than Baron Draxum's mutants.

Humans (taxonomic name: Homo sapiens) are the inhabitants of planet Earth. They are the dominant species on the planet and belong to the order of primates and the family Hominid.
Homeworld: Earth
Classification: Mammal
Limbs: Two arms. Two legs.
Movement: Bipedal
Habitat: Most land masses
Average Height: Varies. The average height for men is 173 to 178 cm. The average height for women is 160 to 162 cm.
Status: Modern
Info: Humans are a recurring character in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise and are the primary species the Ninja Turtles interact with throughout their adventures. For unknown reasons, many mutants, originally animal-like creatures in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, develop certain human traits, such as bipedal posture, opposable thumbs, and intelligence. Humans appear as both villains (such as Oroku Saki or Baxter Stockman) and allies (such as April O'Neil or Casey Jones). In "Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," humans weren't always the sole dominant species on Earth. Historically, they shared that status with the yokai until they forced them into hiding in the Hidden City.

Yokai are a diverse species of supernatural creatures in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In this version, they have a unique mutant origin and live in a vast underground chamber called the Hidden City, forming their own culture distinct from other mutants, who were primarily the result of Baron Draxum's experiments.
Biology and appearance: Yokai are extremely diverse: they are typically anthropomorphic animals (ranging from real to fictional species), including legendary creatures (jorogumo, ogres, mermaids). Some may be made of a single material (such as bone) or appear human. They can be both intelligent (often walking upright) and non-intelligent (used as animals). Yokai live longer than humans and age more slowly—they can exist for millennia, and an age of 200–300 years can correspond to a human's 20–30 years.
History: Yokai have existed for "thousands of eons" and were originally mutated by the Empyrean substance leaked from the Weeping Titan. They were the "original mutants" and the basis of myths and legends. Originally living on the surface, they were driven underground by humans.
Society and Culture: Yokai hide from humans, primarily inhabiting the Hidden City. On the surface, they disguise themselves (often with brooches), with the exception of certain safe establishments. They do not identify themselves as mutants and do not use this term, although their appearance is difficult to distinguish from mutants. Mystical powers are widely used in society, and there are specialized communities (such as the City of Witches). Yokai have their own written language. They do not taboo travel to the surface and do not harbor widespread fear or contempt for humans. Alchemy and science are often considered culturally unacceptable—the Council of Heads calls alchemy an insult to yokai nature, and the word "scientist" is used by witches as a derogatory term.

The Lair is the home of Splinter and the Mad Dogs, located in the sewers of New York City, above the Hidden City. The center is a three-story atrium, illuminated by string lights and natural light. The first floor contains the brothers' bedrooms, surrounded by water connected by ramps and planks. The second floor contains Splinter's bedroom, a kitchen, an arcade, a storage room, and a basketball hoop. The third floor is Donnie's lab.
The TV room is marked with blue norens. It features a large screen, Splinter's chair, bean bags, a "Do Not Touch" cabinet, a microwave, a refrigerator, a booth with a round table, and posters and weapons on the walls. The kitchen has a metal floor, wooden cabinets, a gas stove, a large island table, a neon sign, and posters. There are two bathrooms: one small with a bathtub and sink, the other spacious with four sinks and an unusual toilet made from a pipe.
The arcade is darkened and features a variety of games, including air hockey, World Fighter II, pinball, Pants Pants Revolution, Mortal Fist, racing, and more. The Turtle Tank garage is soundproofed and contains tires, boxes, mannequins, shelves, a sewer outlet for the tank, and a lockdown button. There's also a medical bay, a comic book safe, a rehearsal room, and the annual "Den Games" arena (racing and Pipe Goop Chicken). The den is air-conditioned and has Wi-Fi.
History: After escaping the Hidden City, Splinter established a lair in the sewers where he raised his sons. It was destroyed during the Foot Clan invasion. In the film, the family moved to a new location near an old subway station, smaller in size, with bedrooms inside a train car.
Interestingly, unlike other versions, this lair is visited by guests without much secrecy (Donnie is willing to tranquilize a guest if necessary). The word "lair" is pronounced with the stress on "lay-er." There is no precise map of the lair, making it difficult for the creators to determine the characters' routes. An unproduced episode proposed an entrance through a huge pipe into the Hudson River. The most neutral location, color-wise, is the television room.

Michelangelo is a mutated, exquisite box turtle, the youngest of the brothers. His weapon is a kusari-fundo with mystical properties (fire, weight control, fire vortexes). Aliases: Dr. Delicate Touch, Dr. Feelings, Dr. Positive. Nicknames: Mikey, Michael, Orange, Miguel, Angelo. Born in October 2005. Family: father Splinter, creator Draxum; brothers Raphael, Leonardo, Donatello; adopted sister April.
Personality: Playful, intuitive, creative (illustration, music, cooking), has a keen eye for pop culture. Easily frightened, often retiring, but enjoys thrillers. Disdains lies and doesn't keep secrets. Competitive, family-oriented, compassionate. Uses three "doctors" for communication: Delicate Touch, Feelings, and Positivity. Sentimental, values ​​intimacy, quick-tempered, strives for independence, and believes in himself.
History: An ordinary turtle in Draxum's lab, mutated by Lou Jitsu's DNA. Rescued with his brothers, raised in the New York sewers by Splinter, befriended by April.
Abilities: Mystical Kusari Fundo, Ninjutsu, Stealth (Blend to Environment), Light-Blocking. High speed (on par with Leo), agility, strength, durability, and shell retraction. Cooks, plays the mandolin, skateboards, does ballet, paints (like a Banksy), and has a "super tongue" for eating.
Appearance: Dark green, miniature, yellow plastron, blue-gray shell with a sunflower pattern, stickers on the plastron, orange mask, stockings, bracelets, knee pads with red faces, cake with an emblem.
Fun Facts: The least comical version, often hiding behind his shell. Orange is the "color of life," has a gap in his teeth, is close to Leo, enjoys extreme sports, boy bands, and rap, is a gamer and has the tag "Flavortown," attended a rodeo clown, is interested in horoscopes, always chooses the "scissors" style, and may have ADHD.

Donatello is a mutated spiny soft-shell turtle. He wields a high-tech version of the bo. Nicknames: Dynamite Don, Bootyyyshaker9000, Othello von Ryan, Purple Knight, Atello-Drone.
Nicknames: Donnie, Purple, D, Pepino, Green, Purple Rain, Mr. Number, Don Ton, Mr. Science, Vomitello. Born October 2004. Weapon: Tech-Bō. Family: Father: Hamato Yoshi (Splinter), creator of Draxum; brothers: Raphael, Leonardo, Michelangelo; adoptive sister: April O'Neil; creator of SHELLDON.
Personality: Donnie is reckless, enjoys risk and violence, and is prone to drama and extravagance. He is emotional, easily irritated, craves praise, but is often aloof. He is argumentative, a firm believer in science, and disdains mysticism. He is self-confident, boastful, and panics when things go wrong. He is sometimes irresponsible and passive-aggressive, sarcastic, and rude to his brothers. He dislikes being touched and prides himself on technology, which is why his ninjutsu skills are underdeveloped.
Abilities: Weapon transformation mastery, bojutsu, genius-level intellect (chemistry, physics, engineering, biology, mathematics, etc.), enhanced forging, enhanced memory, sign language, basic ninjutsu, stealth, high speed, agility, superhuman strength. Also skateboards, dances, plays guitar, and sings.
Appearance: Dark jade skin, soft, spiky shell, average height, slender figure. Wears a purple mask with a patterned eyebrow, steel goggles with multicolored lenses, gloves, purple knee and elbow pads, a techno glove on his left forearm, and a belt with an emblem.
Fun Facts: His catchphrase is "Fibonacci." He's the only one with visible eyebrows (on his mask). He's afraid of beach balls, bees, and spiders. He wore glasses as a child, but his vision is fine. He enjoys techno music. He's won a library competition three times. He doesn't use mystical weapons, but he sees mysticism through a crystal in his glasses. He finds geology boring and dislikes monkeys and Hawaiian pizza. He's right-handed. The creators imply that he's on the autism spectrum.

Leonardo is a mutated red-eared slider, one of the main characters and the current leader of the Mad Dogs. He wields a mystical odachi that creates portals. He was born in October 2004. He possesses peak human physical abilities, mastery of ninjutsu, swordsmanship, strategic thinking, and the ability to generate blades and portals through Hamato Ninpo. His weapon is a portal odachi.
Family members: father Hamato Yoshi (Splinter), creator of Draxum, brothers Raphael, Donatello, Michelangelo.
Personality: Leo is cheerful, witty, and often jokes, using humor as a defense mechanism. Self-confident to the point of arrogance, his brothers are irritated by his bragging. He is prone to lying to avoid trouble and flattering others to achieve his goals. He is rational and skeptical of the supernatural, but admires magic. He is easily distracted by entertainment, lazy, values ​​comfort, and often avoids training. However, in crisis situations, he displays resourcefulness and charisma, convincing his brothers to obey. Irresponsible and unreliable, but capable of empathy and attempts to correct mistakes. In the film, his immaturity leads to serious consequences, but he understands the value of teamwork and is willing to sacrifice himself. His arrogance conceals deep insecurities.
Abilities: Kenjutsu, portal creation, Odachi Bomb technique, basic ninjutsu, stealth, high speed, agility, strength, strategic adaptation, endurance, and shell retraction. Can also cook (but not toast), skateboard, and sing.
Appearance: Lime skin, yellow stripes, red crescents near the eyes, yellow plastron, gray-blue shell with a blue pattern, black eyes. Wears a blue bandana, dark turquoise gloves and socks, a blue belt with holsters, and a turtle emblem.
Interesting facts: His flaw is immaturity. He loves glam rock and basketball, and sometimes speaks Spanish (he learned it from TV). He was an Olympic champion in the den for five years. He doesn't like the name "Mad Dogs," but he doesn't change it.

In this continuity, the Hamato Clan's culture, along the Hamato Way, is selfless, driven by the clan's commitment to protecting humanity from the Shredder. With the Shredder already suppressed, this duty is preemptive, requiring every Hamato Clan member to maintain lifelong vigilance for the Shredder's resurrection and be prepared for anything that threatens to execute him. A Hamato Clan member's personal sacrifice in service of this cause (e.g., eternal isolation, death, etc.) is highly valued and considered a glorious honor and sacred duty within the clan. The clan's glorification of self-sacrifice only began after Karai's world-saving act of self-sacrifice, which contrasted with Karai's own principles of protecting clan members and maintaining family ties. Red and black are the traditional colors of the Hamato Clan. A traditional Hamato Clan saying is "Anata wa hitori ja nai." The Hamato clan crest is similar to the Hamato clan symbol from the 2012 television series. Both symbols resemble a five-slice pepperoni pizza (representing Splinter and the four turtles). However, the 2012 television series crest design is more complex, as it also resembles a stylized turtle viewed from above, or a kikyo (bell), which is also used in the family crests of the Fumizuki and Toki clans.

The Hamato clan (Japanese: ハマト一族 Hamato Ichizoku) is a ninja family of Japanese origin, descended from Hamato Karai.
Function: Global protection of the ninja clan from Shredder
Ingredients: Hamato Karai. Mystic Aura. Hamato Sho. Hamato Atsuko. Hamato Yoshi. Raphael. Leonardo. Donatello. Michelangelo. April O'Neil. Piebald
Enemies: Foot Clan
History: In feudal Japan, Hamato Karai was the daughter of Foot Clan leader Oroku Saki. After the alien Krang imbued Saki with the Kuroi Yoroi armor, transforming him into the Shredder, Karai renounced her father and founded the Hamato Clan to combat him. Shredder was defeated 500 years ago during the Sengoku period: Karai sealed herself and him in the Twilight Realm. The armor was dismantled, and its faceplate was repurposed into a tetsubin teapot named Skully, which the clan kept as a relic. Over time, the clan dwindled. In the 1960s, Hamato Atsuko gave birth to Hamato Yoshi, but later died on a mission, leaving Yoshi and Sho behind. Yoshi abandoned ninjutsu and became an actor, playing the martial artist Lou Jitsu, and became famous in Japan and the United States. In the mid-1990s, he was kidnapped by Big Mama and forced to participate in Battle Nexus in the Hidden City beneath New York City. Around 2005, he encountered the alchemist Draxum, mutated, and escaped with four young turtles, who also mutated, merged with his DNA, and became his biological sons—the true members of the Hamato clan. Yoshi, calling himself Splinter, lived with his sons in the New York sewers, leading a sedentary lifestyle and only occasionally teaching them ninjutsu, without passing on Hamato Ninpo. Several years before 2018, they befriended April O'Neil, who became a close friend and sister to them.

Fun Facts: "Mad Dogs" is the team's official name in the series and the only name they regularly use to refer to themselves. A recurring joke throughout the series was that they were never fully named, or were referred to as "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" or even "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" for a variety of ridiculous reasons, similar to the previous series. Raph suggested the name "Mad Dogs." The Reservoir Dogs regularly use the phrase "This whole situation" as a euphemism for their mutation, often prompting them to disguise themselves.

Abilities: The Mad Dogs received some ninjutsu training from their father, Splinter, though by the time they were teenagers, this training had largely ceased due to Splinter's own doubts. Initially, they had weapons provided to them by Splinter: a pair of sai for Raph; a pair of katanas for Leo; a pair of nunchaku for Mikey: Donnie was trained to use a bō, but being highly intelligent and cunning, he created for himself the even more advanced Tech-Bō. All of these weapons, with the exception of the Tech-Bō, were destroyed during their first encounter with Draxum's guards in the series premiere, "Mystical Chaos." The Mad Dogs later infiltrated Draxum's lab in the Hidden City, where they obtained mystical weapons that granted them special abilities: Raph claimed a pair of tonfa capable of creating solid energy constructs; Mikey claimed a kusari-fundo, which could transform into a flaming whip. Leo claimed a walker capable of creating portals. Donnie didn't take the mystical weapon, but the Tech-Bō owner kept it.

The Mad Dogs, also known as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, are the main characters of Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Leader: Raphael (former). Leonardo (current).
Cast: April O'Neil. Casey Jones II. Donatello. Leonardo. Mayhem / Mayhem. Michelangelo. Raphael.
History: The Turtles were originally normal juvenile turtles in the lab of the youkai alchemist Baron Draxum in the Hidden City. 13 years before the main story, Draxum freed martial artist Lou Jitsu from the Battle Nexus to use his DNA to mutate the turtles into a genetically engineered army of mutants. Lou Jitsu protested the exploitation of animals, but Draxum continued the experiment. During the battle, the lab was damaged, causing a chemical spill, and Lou Jitsu escaped with the turtles. Returning to the surface, Lou Jitsu himself began to mutate into a rat, while the turtles began to resemble human infants. He settled with them in the sewers of New York City, raising them as sons, and through his DNA, they became biologically related to each other and to him. Renouncing their previous names, he became known as Splinter. He taught them ninjutsu but kept his past secret. Over time, he became lazy and withdrawn, and the brothers, along with their human friend April O'Neil, lived freely, using their skills as needed. One day, April and the turtles encountered the yokai Mayhem, who was being hunted by Draxum's guards. During the encounter, they entered the Hidden City, infiltrated Draxum's laboratory, and retrieved a mystical weapon. Draxum recognized them as his former test subjects and offered them work for him, but they refused, fought him, rescued April and Mayhem, and returned to the surface. Afterward, Raphael, the eldest brother, named the team the "Mad Dogs," and they continued to operate under that name.

Raph wields the mystical energy of tonfa. Often activating it by striking the tonfa heads, he uses the energy offensively and defensively. He can create energy constructs in the shape of his body, expanding them to gigantic proportions or altering limbs to combat larger opponents. He can add additional limbs and form an energy shield. The speed of his punches increases, amplified by mystical power. Raph creates gigantic fists for attacks and grabs, powerful enough to pierce surfaces. He controls the number and length of his fists. By enveloping his hands in energy, he amplifies his punches and can also separate his energy fists from his body, using them as additional limbs. As the leader of the Mad Dogs, Raph has developed a keen sense of strategy. Although planning is difficult for him, he quickly refines his plans and has become more cautious in dangerous situations, avoiding mistakes. By asking a question out loud, he summons a mental image of "Sentient Raph" to assist in problem-solving. They can physically interact, and Sentient Raph retains Raph's personality and memories. He is autonomous, appears at will, doesn't always react, and only assists one summoner. Raph has basic ninjutsu skills, but they haven't been honed due to Splinter's reluctance and lack of focus. He can infiltrate areas undetected, especially after training in the "Ancient Art of Hide and Seek," but scents can give him away. His slow movements allow him to make close contact with opponents undetected. Raph possesses high speed, moving faster than the eye, and is also agile—he can successfully dodge, perform sharp turns, and somersaults. His strength is immense, surpassing that of normal humans and other Mad Dogs, making sparring with his brothers dangerous. In stressful situations, Raph emits various scents (fear, amazement, victory), which his family calls "stinky." His body can withstand injuries that would be fatal to humans, and his shell is especially durable, with ridges capable of cutting through materials. Raph is an experienced skateboarder and enjoys it as a hobby.

Raph is an energetic and passionate leader, known for his impulsiveness and valiant spirit. He always makes decisions, sometimes successful, sometimes well-intentioned. Raph is not known for his wit, but he quickly reconsider ineffective strategies and is willing to try any tactics. Despite his frequent stupidity, he possesses an innate wisdom and sees great potential in the team. He has difficulty admitting mistakes and taking credit for others' work, but he is gradually improving in this area. Raph is inventive, prone to absurd conclusions, openly gentle and kind, not afraid to say hurtful things, but also not averse to a joke. Being the strongest, he easily notices the vulnerability of others and feels a duty to protect them, although his brothers sometimes consider him overly anxious. Raph is deliberately restrained in his physical strength with his loved ones, but in battle he often underestimates it and accidentally destroys important things. He is fair, responsible, and strives to correct mistakes in important matters. Raph reminds his brothers of the mission's goals and redirects their focus. He's more mature than the others, able to discipline them and correct their lax attitudes when necessary. However, he lacks empathy for those who have hurt him, can be wary, and becomes angry when something he holds dear is humiliated. Raph is deeply attached to his brothers and can't stand loneliness—it makes him thoughtless and cruel, which he tries to avoid. He's patient, but loses his temper when his brothers interfere or act foolishly in dangerous situations. Raph is easily swayed by emotions, suffocates under pressure, and becomes insecure under intense scrutiny. His status as the older brother creates tension: he patronizes his brothers, while they expect him to solve all their problems. Raph wants them to be more responsible, but his overprotectiveness unwittingly encourages their childishness.

Raphael is the eldest of the Turtles and the leader of the team, unlike Leo. Raph's weapon of choice is a tonfa instead of his usual sai, using it in the early events of "Mystical Chaos" before breaking it. In this version, Raph is an alligator snapping turtle, known in real life not only as the largest species of snapping turtle but also as the largest species of freshwater turtle in North America, hence his large frame. In this version, Raph's physical profile is also similar to the various incarnations of Slash, most of whom are also snapping turtles. One of Raph's catchphrases is "Like a boss." Raph regularly speaks in the third person. Raph usually only reads books in the middle. According to Leo, Raph is also considered a leader who "figures it out as he goes along." In "Mascot Melee," Donnie reveals that Raph is allergic to peanuts. Raph's spontaneous exclamation is "Jumpin' Jack Flash!" — possibly a reference to the Rolling Stones song of the same name or the 1986 film starring Whoopi Goldberg. A recurring joke is that when Raph talks on the phone with his brothers, he speaks in a soft, unintentionally patronizing voice. Raph apparently has a social media account where he posts. Raph's favorite genre of music is R&B ("Al Be Back"). Despite Raph's affection for animals, they usually fear or hate him, most likely because of his gigantic frame. Raph wears a headset retainer with his pajamas. Raph claims he can fit his entire fist in his mouth. As Donnie says in "Snow Day," Raph gets stuck in a pirate voice while watching the film "Jupiter Jim Sails the Seven Galaxies." Raph has a habit of impulsively pressing large red buttons. According to Leo in "Mind Meld," Raph is "terrible at taking photos." It's not uncommon for Raph to get into physical fights with himself. Raph admits to being a "tankophobe." In a cancelled episode of "Wedding Smahser," Raph's online account would have been revealed as "Crude_Dude84."

Raphael is an alligator snapping turtle who mutated and became partially human. He is the eldest Turtle and the former leader of the Mad Dogs. He wielded a pair of tonfas that generated mystical energy.
Nicknames: Red. Rover Red Reign. Raging. Red Savage. Raph. Red Harm Preventer Angel. Red Fox 2.
Nicknames: Rafi. Raf-a-doodle. Big Daddy. Red. Big Red. R-Dog. Raf-a-roni. Red King. Raf-a-la. Boss. Todd the Leader. Green Number Two.
Date of birth: October 2003
Weapon: Mystical energy generating tonfa.
Family Members: Hamato Yoshi (father with human mutation). Baron Draxum (creator, father). Leonardo (brother). Donatello (brother). Michelangelo (brother). Big Mom's Assistant (sister). Unnamed Turtle (brother). Piebald (adopted sister by Yoshi). April O'Neil (adopted sister, member of the Hamato clan). Hamato Karai (ancestor of human mutation through Sho). Oroku Saki (ancestor of human mutation through Karai).
Biography: As the eldest brother, Raph is the self-proclaimed leader of the group. He thinks he can use his fists to get out of any situation. But while Raph's muscles are bigger than his brain, his heart is bigger than his muscles. He's not a mean guy. He's just determined. He never backs down from a fight and always tries to save the day.
Quotes: "If you fly too close to the bull, you'll get stung." "Nice shot, man. Too bad I grabbed the ring." "We're so good, we don't even need to play to make people go crazy, baby." "Stairs like a boss." "I wasn't sure they knew what a week was." "Write that down, I said, but no. The brain is nature's notepad." "We're going to punch ourselves and keep on punching until we shatter this piece of armor right into our little hands." "Get ready for Operation Fire Scarf-Tickle-Collar!" "These guys are going to beat the Daves." "Ha! Look at you guys! Fake whining over obviously fake acid." "Oh, yeah. Some people say I'm an expert, but I reckon you can always learn more."

Species: Alligator-snapping turtle (originally). Mutant, half-turtle, half-human (currently)
Gender: Male
Height: 6' 0"
Bandana color: Red. Dark red (like the Hamato clan ninja)
Eye color: Yellow sclera
Hair color: No
Appearance: Raphael is introduced as a large freshwater turtle mutant/yokai with fern-green skin, possessing features of an alligator snapper. He is the tallest member of the Mad Dogs, which is attributed to his species being the largest freshwater turtle in North America. Unlike his brothers, he seems to lean more towards his turtle DNA than his human side in terms of physical build. Raph possesses a large, slightly worn, and bulky build. He has large, muscular legs and arms consisting of three fingers on each hand and two toes on each foot. He has a large, golden-orange plastron with two spikes protruding from the top, and a dark green carapace consisting of three dorsal ridges running down it. This is followed by identical spikes on the upper shoulders. With separate spikes protruding from both elbows. His eyes are onyx, followed by pale yellow sclerae and teeth, with a prominent crooked tooth in the upper right corner. Above his head, he wears a durag-like bandana, bright Arsenal Red, with two torn tails trailing behind. He also has matching red compression cuffs on his elbows, shorts, and belt. The turtle emblem attached to it is lined up in the middle. Additionally, Raph sometimes has several bandages on his body. On his plastron (in the shape of an X), as well as on his left forearm and right shin, there are white adhesive bandages. This is finished off by long bandages wrapped around his wrists and ankles. When his Hamato Ninpo is unlocked and after the movie, his belt and shorts are black, he dons matching fingerless gloves and knee-high socks. One of the white adhesive bandages remained on his plastron.

Raf's relationship with his brothers is sometimes strained due to his status as an older brother. He tends to view them as little children he must take care of, which can lead to his unintentionally patronizing attitude. In turn, his brothers often expect him to shoulder numerous responsibilities and solve problems they themselves are too lazy to handle, which greatly irritates Raf. This creates a cycle in which Raf wants his brothers to be more responsible and reliable, but at the same time indirectly rewards their attitude through his caring behavior.

Raph began his life as a young turtle in Draxum's lab. Wanting to create an army of mutants with powerful fighting abilities, Draxum used Lou Jitsu's DNA and his mucus to transform Raph from a normal turtle into a mutant. He and his brothers were kidnapped from Draxum's lab by Lou Jitsu immediately after their mutation, and Raph was raised in the sewers of New York City alongside his brothers, Splinter. Eventually, Raph and his brothers met a human girl named April and formed a strong bond with her over the years.