If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.
TMNT creator reveals that Donatello’s name was determined in a coin toss. Here’s what it almost was…
One of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles almost had another name
![](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.thepopverse.com%2Fmedia%2Fimg_3508-55ojkmq1ocqfndpnssfn5rqlvu.webp&w=1280&q=75)
Popverse's top stories of the day
- Netflix's One Piece has chosen the anime's first great arc as the climax for season 2
- Popverse convention panel archive: Watch panels from NYCC, MCM, C2E2, ECCC, and more on-demand!
- Our Flag Means Death's Kristian Nairn says season 3 is "down to the fans," and that "they're doing exactly the right thing"
Leonardo leads, Bernini does machines.
In another world, those would’ve been the lyrics to the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles theme song. The famous crime-fighting Turtles all got their names after famous Renaissance artists, but it took some time to settle on which Renaissance artists it would be. In Donatello’s case, it was took weeks of debate.
During a spotlight panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2024, TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman recalled how he and Peter Laird came up with the Turtles’ names.
“I said wouldn’t it be funny if they were like Leonardo Da Vinci or Michaelangelo. We laughed and said that was perfect,” Eastman said.
The duo named Leonardo, Michaelangelo, and Raphael, but had trouble coming up with the third name. “We had the first three and the last one who had an argument for two weeks. I liked the sculptor named Bernini better than Donatello. We did a coin toss, so Donatello was almost named Bernini.”
It’s interesting to think about how different TMNT lore would be if that coin had landed on the other side. Would Turtle Power be as strong as it is today if one of the Turtles was called Bernini? Sometimes the right name can make or break a character. Eastman may have lost the Bernini battle, but I think we’re all better off for it.
Want to know what's coming up next in pop culture? Check out our guides to upcoming movies, upcoming TV shows, upcoming comics, and upcoming comic conventions. If you're looking for specific franchises or genres, we have all the upcoming MCU, upcoming Star Wars, upcoming Star Trek, and upcoming DC movies & TV for you. If you're a fan of superheroes and not specific to just Marvel or DC, we have overall guides to all the upcoming superhero movies and upcoming superhero TV shows (and new seasons) as well.
About Comic-Con International: San Diego
When people say 'Comic-Con' they think San Diego Comic-Con. The signature convention of the world returns for 4.5 days of news and vibes.
Dates
-
Location
San Diego Convention Center
United States
Follow Popverse for upcoming event coverage and news
Find out how we conduct our review by reading our review policy
Let Popverse be your tour guide through the wilderness of pop culture
Sign in and let us help you find your new favorite thing.
![login](/_next/image?url=%2Fstatic%2Fplaceholder.webp&w=1024&q=75)
Comments
Want to join the discussion? Please activate your account first.
Visit Reedpop ID if you need to resend the confirmation email.