Known as the “Party Dude” among the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Michelangelo is a goofy, happy-go-lucky turtle who loves to have fun. He is typically portrayed as wearing an orange bandanna, with his weapons being two nunchaku, and sometimes a grappling hook and a tonfa. Michelangelo is also considered the fastest turtle, in addition to being a natural athlete. He is also called Mikey, and is considered the most relaxed among the Turtles.
Michelangelo was named after the artist who painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. His carefree nature earned him the status of the “baby” in the family. He also likes to spend his time just watching television or skateboarding, instead of getting serious about his identity like his brothers. Being upbeat and light-hearted, the rest of the Turtles have gone protective over him, especially Raphael. They believe him to be the youngest, but this has often led to a number of misconceptions about him. Michelangelo has been underestimated most of the time, but he has developed a high level of sensitivity to those around him. He laughs off insults thrown at him, and doesn’t like confrontation. He tries to avoid arguments, but his constant joking around sometimes frustrates the other Turtles.
Michelangelo became known as “Cowabunga Carl” in the TMNT movie. He performed at children’s parties in order to support the family. The absence of his brothers seemed to have affected Michelangelo, but his lively and innocent demeanor came back upon the other Turtles’ return. He remains to be the comic relief in the film, retaining his good-natured jokes and humorous commentaries. He has also maintained his status as a fantastic skateboarder in the film. Michelangelo was portrayed in the 1987 movie by David Fraser and voiced by Robbie Rist. In TMNT, he was voiced by Mikey Kelley.