Splinter (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)

Master Splinter, or simply Splinter, is a fictional character from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics and all related media.

Origin story

Splinter has three origin stories, and which one is used depends on the medium. In the original version of the tale, he was Hamato Yoshi's pet, in other versions he is Hamato Yoshi himself, but always mutated into the form of a man-sized rat. In another he is a mutant rat with no connection to Yoshi.

Mirage Comics, original films, 2003 cartoon and 2014 film

In both the original comics and the live-action movies, Splinter was the pet rat of a ninja named Hamato Yoshi in Japan. Intelligent for his species, Splinter was able to learn his master's art by mimicking his movements while he practiced. Yoshi became embroiled in a dispute with a fellow ninja by the name of Oroku Saki, and he was eventually murdered by Nagi's brother Oroku Saki who sought revenge for his brothers death. However, in the 1990 film and 2003 TV series Nagi was removed entirely. Additionally in the 1990 film, Splinter escapes from his cage during the murder, and attackes Saki, clawing at his face. Saki in turn sliced his ear off. It is suggested this mutilation is the reason Saki took the Shredder disguise to hide the scars. While in the 2003 TMNT cartoon it was Hun's face who Splinter clawed.