Who is Karai?

[loganjamesalex]

I know Usagi but not her. I looked her up on the wiki but I got a little confused by all the different versions of the character. Which version of Karai is this? Who is she? The 80's Mirage comics version? Did she ever crossover with the cartoon media in any way like the cartoon comics?

[Elbow]

The short version: This is based off the 2003 version, based on comments in interviews. That said, she DOES have moves and callbacks to moves from Tournament Fighters from the 90s.

She was created in the comics and introduced in 1992, and she is-- in a nutshell-- Shredder's replacement.

She has been in other animated versions of TMNT, but not the 87 version. You can consider her a 'deep cut' inclusion for the hardcore fans.

[Allard]

Originally posted by Elbow:

The short version: This is based off the 2003 version, based on comments in interviews. That said, she DOES have moves and callbacks to moves from Tournament Fighters from the 90s.

She was created in the comics and introduced in 1992, and she is-- in a nutshell-- Shredder's replacement.

She has been in other animated versions of TMNT, but not the 87 version. You can consider her a 'deep cut' inclusion for the hardcore fans.

Such a deep cut, she was in three TV shows and three movies (not counting Turtles Forever).

[Mixolydian]

Following Elbow's great post above, if you want to check out her appearance in the 2003 show, here's a complete playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rte5FM8Rjmk&list=PLWqeLdAtBxYIce1XboO-8jjtgajg9_Z5g&index=1

(Steam doesn't show playlists, copy the link and paste into a browser)

Karai's first appearance was season 2 episode 15: City at War part 2. From then on, she became a fairly regular character on the show.

[Elbow]

Originally posted by Allard:

Such a deep cut, she was in three TV shows and three movies (not counting Turtles Forever).

Keep in mind a massive portion of people consider 87 as the end-all be all of TMNT and the rest is just whatever. So, yes, to a majority of people she is a deep cut. I'm sure a massive chunk of people who watched the 2014 film didn't even realize Karai was in it. (though that might work in her favor lol)

[Mixolydian]

Originally posted by Elbow:

Originally posted by Allard:

Such a deep cut, she was in three TV shows and three movies (not counting Turtles Forever).

Keep in mind a massive portion of people consider 87 as the end-all be all of TMNT and the rest is just whatever. So, yes, to a majority of people she is a deep cut. I'm sure a massive chunk of people who watched the 2014 film didn't even realize Karai was in it. (though that might work in her favor lol)

It's funny because I grew up with the '87 show and loved it. When this game came out last year, I went back to check it out again out of nostalgia, and it hasn't aged well at all, IMO. I can't stand it and it feels like it's a totally different show from the one in my childhood memory.

Then I heard about the 2003 show and discovered it's a million times better. Apparently it's fairly accurate to the comics too. It seems like a shame that it doesn't receive more recognition, and now I wish this game was based off the 2003 show.

[Allard]

Originally posted by Mixolydian:

Originally posted by Elbow:

Keep in mind a massive portion of people consider 87 as the end-all be all of TMNT and the rest is just whatever. So, yes, to a majority of people she is a deep cut. I'm sure a massive chunk of people who watched the 2014 film didn't even realize Karai was in it. (though that might work in her favor lol)

It's funny because I grew up with the '87 show and loved it. When this game came out last year, I went back to check it out again out of nostalgia, and it hasn't aged well at all, IMO. I can't stand it and it feels like it's a totally different show from the one in my childhood memory.

Then I heard about the 2003 show and discovered it's a million times better. Apparently it's fairly accurate to the comics too. It seems like a shame that it doesn't receive more recognition, and now I wish this game was based off the 2003 show.

Based.

The update that was released alongside the DLC adds some alternate palettes for all playable chars, including the ones based on the '03 show.

[Mixolydian]

Originally posted by Allard:

Originally posted by Mixolydian:

It's funny because I grew up with the '87 show and loved it. When this game came out last year, I went back to check it out again out of nostalgia, and it hasn't aged well at all, IMO. I can't stand it and it feels like it's a totally different show from the one in my childhood memory.

Then I heard about the 2003 show and discovered it's a million times better. Apparently it's fairly accurate to the comics too. It seems like a shame that it doesn't receive more recognition, and now I wish this game was based off the 2003 show.

Based.

The update that was released alongside the DLC adds some alternate palettes for all playable chars, including the ones based on the '03 show.

Yeah I was very happy to see the 2003 colors. :D

[Arashenstein]

Originally posted by loganjamesalex:

I know Usagi but not her. I looked her up on the wiki but I got a little confused by all the different versions of the character. Which version of Karai is this? Who is she? The 80's Mirage comics version? Did she ever crossover with the cartoon media in any way like the cartoon comics?

She is from 2003 series. I highly recommend forget whatever you saw in 1987 as TMNT and start watching 2003 TMNT. The story is fantastic, it is very serious and dark and the villain is truly a villain. Karai is a fantastic character with a very developed story. I cannot go back to 1987 anymore or even the films after watching 2003 this year. Whoever made and wrote those was doing it with full passion. They left no plot holes and no flaws, amazing ending and incredible story timeline.

[Josh-Sothoth]

Originally posted by Spamwad:

Odd choice as we already have two human characters Casey and April. I would have chosen pretty much any mutant instead like Ghengis Frog.

Glad it wasn’t up to you then. Karai all the way.

[Mixolydian]

Originally posted by Arashenstein:

Originally posted by loganjamesalex:

I know Usagi but not her. I looked her up on the wiki but I got a little confused by all the different versions of the character. Which version of Karai is this? Who is she? The 80's Mirage comics version? Did she ever crossover with the cartoon media in any way like the cartoon comics?

She is from 2003 series. I highly recommend forget whatever you saw in 1987 as TMNT and start watching 2003 TMNT. The story is fantastic, it is very serious and dark and the villain is truly a villain. Karai is a fantastic character with a very developed story. I cannot go back to 1987 anymore or even the films after watching 2003 this year. Whoever made and wrote those was doing it with full passion. They left no plot holes and no flaws, amazing ending and incredible story timeline.

Totally agree, and I'd also add that the voice acting in the 2003 show was amazing, especially the turtles themselves.

Also, the animation was done by a Korean anime studio and looks quite nice, especially compared to the '87 show's old school rough animation. I love the art style in general of 2003 too, though IMO unfortunately it had a downgrade in seasons 6 and 7.

[Arashenstein]

Originally posted by Mixolydian:

Originally posted by Arashenstein:

She is from 2003 series. I highly recommend forget whatever you saw in 1987 as TMNT and start watching 2003 TMNT. The story is fantastic, it is very serious and dark and the villain is truly a villain. Karai is a fantastic character with a very developed story. I cannot go back to 1987 anymore or even the films after watching 2003 this year. Whoever made and wrote those was doing it with full passion. They left no plot holes and no flaws, amazing ending and incredible story timeline.

Totally agree, and I'd also add that the voice acting in the 2003 show was amazing, especially the turtles themselves.

Also, the animation was done by a Korean anime studio and looks quite nice, especially compared to the '87 show's old school rough animation. I love the art style in general of 2003 too, though IMO unfortunately it had a downgrade in seasons 6 and 7.

I pretend season 6 and 7 do not exist :D I just love the voice act relation between Ralph and Miky. I am 32 and I never watched TMNT before, I started watching them a few months ago and these two still make me laugh hard. The dialogues are amazing and the chemistry is just awesome.

[Mixolydian]

Originally posted by Arashenstein:

Originally posted by Mixolydian:

Totally agree, and I'd also add that the voice acting in the 2003 show was amazing, especially the turtles themselves.

Also, the animation was done by a Korean anime studio and looks quite nice, especially compared to the '87 show's old school rough animation. I love the art style in general of 2003 too, though IMO unfortunately it had a downgrade in seasons 6 and 7.

I pretend season 6 and 7 do not exist :D I just love the voice act relation between Ralph and Miky. I am 32 and I never watched TMNT before, I started watching them a few months ago and these two still make me laugh hard. The dialogues are amazing and the chemistry is just awesome.

100% agreed here too, especially about Raph and Mikey. Their voice actors are perfect and their dialogue is hysterical. :D

A lot of people find Mikey very annoying in 2003, and yeah, he can be very annoying. I still love him though, especially since he's often setting Raph up for a hilarious line, reacting to his total nonsense.

[loganjamesalex]

Huh, I figured since this game was such a love letter to to the 80's TMNT and Usagi was also around in the 80's if I am not mistaken that when I saw there was an 80's version of this character that would be the one they used. However I understand it a bit more now, especially since they added the 2003 colors as alt colors so you can cosplay 2003 squad.

I hope they add more characters from other series too. I always liked Slash the turtle but I felt his 87 version was the weakest version, maybe they might add him with his iconic black bandana.

[Allard]

Originally posted by loganjamesalex:

Huh, I figured since this game was such a love letter to to the 80's TMNT and Usagi was also around in the 80's if I am not mistaken that when I saw there was an 80's version of this character that would be the one they used. However I understand it a bit more now, especially since they added the 2003 colors as alt colors so you can cosplay 2003 squad.

I hope they add more characters from other series too. I always liked Slash the turtle but I felt his 87 version was the weakest version, maybe they might add him with his iconic black bandana.

While this game is 95% the 87 show, the rest of it is just a little bit off. Raph's in-game personality is angry as opposed to sarcastic - as it was in... well, every version of TMNT other than the '87 show. Casey Jones is a playable character despite being very much a side char in the '87 show (but he was prominent in other versions). April being an action girl is also something that wasn't really seen in the '87 show. The Turtle Blimp has TMNT on it instead of TURTLES. It's subtle, but it piles up.

The 1987 show actually did have its own version of Karai... sort of. The character was called Lotus Blossom and she was pretty much the Karai prototype, since the episode she debuted in was aired before Karai's comic debut. Other than the name, they are pretty much the same character - a kunoichi with a sense of honor who has some romantic tension with Leo and all that jazz. She was in two or three episodes.

[Devsman]

Karai is one of the coolest characters in the property. The two defining pieces of her role is that she's Shredder's right hand and future successor but at the same time she and Leo have a more nuanced relationship than archenemies.

Now, the details of how that works are all over the place. I've seen stories where she's played as a total wildcard, stories where she defects and becomes a legit Turtle ally, even stories where she is stone cold and Leo believes in her somehow anyway.