UNPOPULAR OPINION!!!
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Yuichi Usagi would get along with Casey Jones and eventually with Raphael, if he would be in the TMNT 2012 series.
Explanation under MORE!!
This is purely for fun and I just love drawing them together. it’s okay, if you don’t get it, you don’t have to!
(I had this marinating, or in better words; rot in my drafts for around 2 months. I have finally decided to share it)
WARNING: A LOT OF YAPPING
If you think about it…
Usagi and Casey are fairly similar! They both strive for action and kick ass before asking any questions. They’re wild cards that make stupid, impulsive decisions.
Casey also believes in justice, that heroes never give up when things get hard. Usagi, what I observed about his character, I’d say, he would agree with his own strong sense of morals too.
(but his pride and ego does gets in the way at first. Luckily, it doesn’t take too long for him to realize his selfishness)
But I believe their first impression, especially for Casey, would see Usagi as someone lame. I mean.. a bunny? Bunnies are harmless! And of course, he would definitely laugh at Usagi’s awful choice of weapon: the yo-yo.
But once Usagi shows how much of a competitive fighter he is, plus, literally shares a brain cell with Casey? OH, IT’S OVER. They would compete over who would kick ass the most, and 100% Casey would be an absolute bad influence for Usagi. No doubt about it.
I am convinced they would get along easily. If Casey gets along with Mikey, what in MY OPINION is fairly similar to Usagi. I must add how Usagi even has little similarities to Leo, Donnie, and Raphael.
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Speaking of Raphael.
Now, the next thing might come across as a huge stretch… Since Casey and Raph are close, Usagi could eventually tag along with them (Casey dragging him) and eventually befriending Raphael.
I don’t think Raph would quickly get along with Usagi. For Raphael, he’ll respect you once you show that you’re worthy to be respected. He did NOT get along with Casey immediately, until Casey had to prove himself to be respected (saving Raphael’s life, shown to share similar approach to things, worked fine- for the most part.. as a duo).
Or Mona Lisa. Not only he felt respect towards her for being an independent, strong and devoted woman. He even fell in love with her after getting punched so hard BY HER. Raph LIKES that.
He hated when Leo shown compassion for one of the purple dragons and even criticized his leading skills. Because, our Raphael believes in setting things right, when the problem is right in front of you, rather just running away (what Leo calls it a tactical retreat)
Raph does NOT have patience for that. For him, waiting around and being compassionate means weakness.
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Yuichi Usagi
He does NOT plan, he goes for it. He sees a problem, he goes straight in. He asks questions after he kicks ass. Though later in season 1, he’s gotten better with his impulsiveness? With the help of his sensei Karasu-Tengu. But what I remember, he still doesn’t plan ahead much.
Another thing about Usagi, that he many times cheated himself from death. He risked his own life for others 3-5 times?
(I’m pretty upset that the show lacked treating these things as something serious or impactful)
And I'm sure most of his act of sacrifice are out of selflessness and a sense of responsibility to bring justice or safety for the people who need.
Raphael would HATE or at least distrust Usagi at first. He’s loud and obnoxious like Mikey, a nerd and has a hero complex like Leo, and honestly? Many other things would just piss Raphael off. He can at least tolerate his brothers, since he loves them dearly.
Usagi? He’s some wannabe samurai, that keeps tagging along, because Casey SWORE that Usagi is his distant twin from another mother.
Basically: Casey is the idiot he loves, Usagi is the idiot he never asked for.
Raphael would only start accepting Usagi, when he shows more of his righteous and fighting side.
I don’t know, but what I noticed… Raphael and Yuichi have something in common and that is passion. Both would not stop or back out from a fight, until the opponent is taken care of for good.
Once Raphael starts liking Usagi..
Raph would be using him as a sparing dummy (that is willing to fight back)
Mikey has his limits, Donnie is a weak fighter and Leo goes by the book. Usagi would be a perfect sparing partner for Raphael. Someone with skill but also ALWAYS willing to get beat up train for hours, without any complaint.
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There you have it! A power trio of 2 idiots and a lesser idiot! Honestly, it might feel out of place.. Since both Raph and Casey are pretty much “bad teenage boys” while Usagi is just… a bundle of innocence.
Usagi may not have a bad boy aura like them, but he could work as some sort of “cushion” or better; a “contrast” for Raph’s and Casey’s delinquent energy. But he won’t be a buzzkill, he’d go along whatever comes to him as fun and freeing.
Notice how all three of them share some sense of necessity to freedom
Raphael doesn’t always like to be lead by someone. Told what to do or follow some rules. In the end he has to, but it kept pushing him into quitting bunch of time, and going out on his own to do things the way HE wants.
Casey in the first introduction of him, it was shown that he doesn’t do much of his school work and mostly spends decent amount of time in the ice rink. To me, he looks pretty free and oriented, whenever he’s doing things in his own way. I believe he prefers to be a free person, rather than be controlled by rules.. Even rebelling the law to be a vigilante.
Usagi as we know him, was implied to be raised by his aunt in her FARM. The farm he kept messing up and making things worse for her. There was a whole sign made that prohibited Usagi from training in the farm.
He felt trapped and wanted to go somewhere and somewhere free: by running away to Neo Edo (Of course, another reason is that he wanted to be less of a burden for his aunt).
And his fighting style, to me, feels less standard and more of his style. Another big stretch.. His yo-yo could symbolize freedom. Which is ironic because his Kaishiki weapon literally captures Yōkai. But in the show, it was shown that he used his weapon to swing around freely (AND I WISH THEY DID THAT MORE). But again.. a big stretch.
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Okay, I’m pretty done explaining the why’s and how’s of their trio dynamic!
I don’t expect people to agree with it and that’s okay. Maybe I gave someone some better ideas about this crossover!
Though whoever sticked through my huge yap of explaining, thank you!
…Also if anyone caught in the first fanart.. Usagi is not canonically afraid of owls. I made it up. Funny enough, he admitted in the show that he likes them.
I thought it would be interesting if he did since owls are silent predators and rabbits rely on their great hearing.. BUT THAT’S ANOTHER YAP FOR ANOTHER DAY!