Autistic Donatello - Tumblr Posts
brains and the brawn?? huh? jam and jelly??? square and rectangle?!??! WHO?? OHHHH u mean the autism duo lol i gotcha
ROTTMNT Appreciation Post #3: Donatello
Like his brothers before him, Rise Donnie is pretty different from what we've seen in the past. Also like his brothers? I. Love. Him.
Where do I begin with this absolute madlad? Donatello. Dramatello. Greatest Of All Turtles--the GOAT, if you will. He's smart. He's sassy. He's dramatic. He's hilarious. His inventions are awesome. There's a lot going on under his "insufferable genius" facade, too. He feels like he's only worth as much as his inventions. He craves praise and validation. He puts a ton of thought into everything he creates for his loved ones. He may not know how to express his feelings all the time, but when he figures it out, he can show some of the purest kindness and love in the series.
Let's not reduce him to his inventions, either. He has a ton of interests--music, science, reading, Jupiter Jim comics (though Leo is the bigger comic book nerd this time around), skateboarding... And he's passionate about all of them. "Passionate" is a good word for Donnie in general. When he finds something he loves, he goes all in on showing appreciation for it.
All of the Rise turtles mean a lot to me, but Donnie hits different. He's the first turtle I was exposed to, and it was through a video showcasing his autistic traits. I also happen to be autistic. He's some of the first genuinely entertaining, heartfelt representation I've ever seen. He isn't pushed to the sidelines, treated like a weirdo (more than the others, anyway), babied, or reduced to his special interests. He's a nuanced character who gets lots of screentime, and he's adored by both his family and so many fans of this show just for being him. Are there people who dislike him? Yeah, and that's okay. That's just part of being not a stereotype, but a character. That means so, so much.
I don't know if Donnie's a hearttype or a kintype or what, but man, I want to be him. He's my favorite character, yeah, but it's even more than that. He almost feels like an exaggerated cartoon version of me. I dunno. Maybe I'm just projecting way too much. Either way, I love Donnie, and he means a lot to me.
Dedication and Potential
Now that I've gotten the backstory out of the way, maybe I can elaborate on truly forming those sibling bonds. It's "fun" writing instead of "work" writing, anyway. See this post for the meanings and general theme of the titles.
~
Regiomontanus. Born in 1436 in Königsberg, died in 1476 in Rome. He put together some of the very first trigonometric tables, constructed some astronomical tables, devised an astrological house system, and facilitated the development of Copernican heliocentrism. Though the wider public may not recognize him, he is at least significant enough to have been the namesake for a crater on the Moon.
He also happens to be the namesake for a newly-created sea turtle mutant.
Regiomontanus. Reggie. Gigi. Monty. Gio. Montana. Whatever you want to call them, they're a new acquaintance to and potential family member of another group of mutants. These ones are mutant turtles, however, instead of turtle mutants; there is a distinction. The youngest of this group, Michelangelo, readily accepts Gio as a new sibling. The others, though? They didn't show it at the time, but they're a bit apprehensive.
Donatello, the second-youngest, judges Gio with particular scrutiny. He prefers to take his time when making big decisions. Mikey's quick, almost impulsive acceptance of the new mutant does not sit well with the softshell. What if they aren't what they seem? he ponders. What if they're just trying to worm their way into our inner circle so they can hurt us?
This calls for an interrogation.
Mikey is giving Gio a tour of the brothers' home--their lair--when Donnie calls the latter to his laboratory. They gladly comply. Science in all forms had always fascinated them, including the various tools used by scientists. They're excited to see what the lab has in store...only to be immediately thrown into a chair and hooked up to something that resembles an EEG. EEGs. Ew. No. They had only developed epilepsy a few years ago, and consequently had only endured a few EEGs, but they still dreaded the experience every time.
"What are you doing...? What are you doing? Let me go! Get this thing off of me, please!!"
"Don't worry. You'll only be connected for a few minutes." Donnie knew that didn't sound reassuring in the slightest, but he was trying his best. "This is essentially a lie detector--one that's much more reliable than a polygraph. For my sake...for everyone's sake...I need to make sure we can trust you."
"You could have just asked! You didn't have to hook me up to this thing without telling me what the heck is going on!!!"
"...In retrospect, that would have worked. Probably better." He sighs softly. "I'm sorry. I've...never been good about this kind of thing."
Gio takes a deep breath, then exhales with resignation. "It's...it's fine. I get where you were coming from; don't want a possible criminal to get away that easily..."
"Exactly! You get it!"
Though still irritated, they couldn't help but smile a bit. Something about Donnie's enthusiasm reminded them of themself.
"Now," he interjected, "I'm going to ask some baseline questions, then give you an interrogation proper. If you pass, you're in. I'll accept you as one of us. Oh, I have another idea--after this, if you pass the interrogation... May I perform some other tests on you?"
"Uh... Why?"
"When people like you get mutated, they also tend to develop strange powers and abilities. I'd like to see if you have, and what they are."
"Ooh! In that case, heck yeah!"
"Great," he remarked with a smile. "Then let's begin."
As Donatello promised, the interrogation only lasted a few minutes--somewhere between ten and fifteen. Though the machine's similarity to an EEG made Gio nervous, they were able to remain relatively calm and provide truthful answers to the questions asked. Thus, they passed.
"Well, it appears as though our inner circle is secure. You're in. Welcome to the family."
"Thank you...!" Gio beamed with joy...and relief that they were finally disconnected from those accursed electrodes.
"On to the ability tests?"
"Sure!"
Donnie's first move is to construct a makeshift fish tank and fill it with water. After all, Gio is a sea turtle. He supposes that their abilities would likely be enhanced underwater. When the tank is full, Gio hops in. The water is surprisingly warm, pleasantly so. Perhaps Donnie understands the agony of diving into an ice-cold pool.
"First test: lung capacity. Submerge whenever you're ready, Gio."
"Got it!"
They inhale as deeply as possible, then close their eyes and fully submerge their body. Donnie presses a button on his wristband, serving as a stopwatch, as soon as they're fully underwater. When Gio reopens their eyes, they panic. Why is everything so bright? It's like the sun itself is in here!! They resurface to escape the illumination, panting with overstimulation.
"Gio? Gio!! What happened? Are you okay?!"
"I opened my eyes, and it was just too bright in there! I don't know why! It isn't usually that bright underwater...!"
Donnie's thick eyebrows furrow with thought. "Maybe that's one of your new abilities--sensitive underwater vision!"
They climb out of the tank, then curl up beside one of its walls. "That makes sense...but at the same time, with how bright it was, it might be more of a curse... Just one more thing to be super sensitive to..."
Donnie frowns with concern, then sits next to them. "Hey, it's okay. I get it. I'm sensitive to stuff, too."
"How so?"
"This might sound stupid, but...I literally can't handle seeded fruits. The seeds just feel so gross...!"
Gio smiles. "I'm like that with stuff like tomatoes and grapes. They're too squishy, too fleshy, too slimy."
"And how about sudden, loud noises? I just want to find the source of that noise and rip it to shreds!"
"Dude, same! ...Hey, uh... This might seem out of left field, but... You don't happen to have autism, do you?"
"...Maaaaaaaaaybe. Why do you ask?"
"Because I do, and you sound a lot like me. It seems like we have more in common than I thought," the sea turtle says with a smile.
Donnie beams back. "Yeah. You might be right. ...You know, I think I have an idea as to how we might get your vision under control."
"How?"
"Maybe I can make you a pair of goggles with light-filtering properties--kind of like sunglasses. How does that sound?"
"I think that could work. ...Thank you."
"Anything for my family."
"...So what would have happened if I failed that test, anyway?"
"Simple. Lasers to the face."
"Goooot it."
The turtles stand up, then exit the lab for a pizza break. The goggles can wait a little bit. Right now, it's time to bond in a less clinical environment.
A bit of Donnie propaganda for @autismswagsummit
Why you should vote Donnie:
He's the smart one without being just "the smart one."
He's funny.
He's sassy.
He likes '80s music and dancing to said '80s music.
He has fabulous fashion sense.
His inventions are awesome (seriously, I want a Turtle Tank of my own).
His powers, once he unlocks them, are awesome. Give me the mystic tech.
He's a father to at least two robots (S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. and the P.S.D.D.).
He can still be a little stupid despite being "the smart one."
He does his best to show his loved ones just how much he cares about them. He isn't always successful, but he tries.
He struggles with processing his emotions, but he isn't villainized or ostracized for it. It's just part of him.
He has sensory issues, but just like his alexithymia, he isn't shamed for them by the other characters or the writers. He's just who he is.
Most importantly...his eyebrows. His Sharpied-on eyebrows. They're goofy and silly, and I love them.
So get out there and vote for Donnie!
Squaring up for the @autismswagsummit vote today
I know I already posted Donnie propaganda last night, but every vote counts! Go vote when the polls open up!
The poll is up! Let's go! Manifesting a Donnie sweep!
Semifinals
We have a date! Donnie disciples, stay strong!
I have a slight feeling that Shadow's going to be obliterated, given how crazy the Donnie vs. Shigeo poll was, but we can't rest on our laurels. Prepare for the worst, but hope for the best. Shadow made it to the semifinals for a reason. He's a worthy opponent.
Good luck, everyone--on both sides!
Notice: The Wheel of Doom Semifinals and Finals will be postponed until Monday, March 13, due to personal life events.
Enjoy the weekend off everybody! I've also seen people asking if the main bracket Semifinalists will be making it to the Wheel, and the answer to that is yes! As per the community vote made before Semifinals, the losers of the last round will fight each other, instead of the usual randomized matches. Good luck to all of our remaining contestants, and I will see you later!
Plan of Attack
ATTENTION, DONNIE NATION:
As most of you know, Donnie lost in the @autismswagsummit semifinals poll against Shigeo "Mob" Kageyama. However, he has a chance at redemption via the Wheel of Doom. We're going up against Shadow the Hedgehog, the other semifinals loser, on Monday, March 13th, 2023. Shadow is a tough opponent, but I think we can do it if we just keep up the enthusiasm from the semifinals.
What we really need to brace for is the rematch against Mob--and Papyrus--if we do beat Shadow and earn a spot in the finals.
Our loss in the semifinals was a close one, but it was still a loss. Evidently, we need to make some changes. I don't have a guaranteed path to victory. Heck, I don't even have a lot of experience with these things. But I have some ideas.
Expand beyond Tumblr. I think this was one of our weak points in the finals. From what I heard, the Donnie vs. Mob poll really blew up on Mob-favoring Twitter circles, giving him a lot more votes than we anticipated. We need to close that gap. Infect Twitter. Infiltrate YouTube. Invade TikTok. Immerse every social media site in Donnie propaganda.
Appeal to previous Papyrus voters. Mob voters are probably going to stick with their previous decision; it was a choice specifically between Donnie and Mob. We may get a few on our side, but don't count on it. There weren't any barriers keeping Donnie voters from also picking Papyrus last time, though. We might be able to sway a decent number of people toward picking Donnie over Papyrus.
Keep up the propaganda. We're already strong in this department, but we can't afford to lose steam just because we had a minor setback. Keep making awesome videos and great artwork to promote the cause.
Be on time. A few people in the comments on the semifinals said that they would have voted for Donnie, but they were too late. A vote only takes a tap/click, and every vote counts. Make time to vote if you can.
Again, this isn't guaranteed to give us our desired result. It is fun, though, and I feel like it gives us a sense of solidarity--both within our own fandom and with other fandoms. Don't get in over your head, but do your best.
Good luck, everyone.
UPDATE---
As of March 14th, 2023, Donnie has conquered Shadow. Now he must face Abed Nadir in the Wheel of Doom Finals. It will be a tough battle, but as with the vote against Shadow, I think we can do it.
Stay strong, and good luck.
UPDATE 2---
As of March 16th, 2023, Donnie has defeated Abed. We're officially moving on to the finals!!! Get ready to face Mob again, as well as Papyrus. WE'VE GOT THIS!
Okay, but this is literally me boring my parents to death with my info-dumping. 😭
it's cause you're always on that damned spectrum
incest shippers kill yourselves
200th Post: Propaganda Extravaganza
WHO'S READY TO CRUSH MOB AND PAPYRUS IN THE @autismswagsummit FINALS?!
Okay, maybe Donnie isn't guaranteed to win yet, but maybe some propaganda will help. Good thing I've got some free time thanks to spring break~
Reasons to Vote Donnie:
He survived the Wheel of Doom. He had to put in a little bit of extra work to make it to the finals, and he succeeded.
Here he is on his way out of hell, carrying trophies from his Wheel of Doom battles. (I wanted him to look just slightly deranged, but I think I created Cocaine Turtle. Sorry, Donnie!)
He's canonically autistic. He's the only canonically autistic character left in the running. Who better to represent autism than a character who actually has it?
Here is confirmation from Ron Corcillo, one of the writers for ROTTMNT, that Donnie is autistic.
He has swag. Just look at these outfits from "The Clothes Don't Make the Turtle!"
Fabulous. (Also, JoJo reference in the second picture, I guess.)
He's just awesome all around. He's the smart one of the team, but he can also be short-sighted and stubborn. He puts on an arrogant and self-interested front, but he's gentle and loving deep down. He relies a lot on his tech, but he's still a capable and frankly amazing fighter.
And he absolutely loves his family. :)
He's out for revenge against Mob. We lost the semifinals by one percent. We're here to run it back.
This was Donnie's absolute lowest standing against Mob. It will be difficult, but I think we have a shot if we just band together and keep up the pressure.
So support Donnie in the finals! Vote Donnie!
Excuse me, OP? All I see is an amazing video. "Not well done," my shell. :p
I made a shitty propaganda slides
@autismswagsummit
My list of reasons you should vote for Donatello in the Autism Swag Summit Finals! The propaganda isn't well done, but I contributed what I could.
In all seriousness, vote for who you want. Made this all in good fun, and congrats to the future winner.
As soon as I saw the gif I knew this was goimg to be heartwrenching.
AND I WAS FUCKING RIGHT
This was so soft, seeing Donnie so vulnerable was just...something. You really did an amazing job with this. The whole thing felt so real and genuine, it was really, really good. Thank you so much for this, seeing as he is canonically autistic, although a lot of people do an amazing job at showing that in their fics, I love that this time, the reader was taking care of him when he needed it, because, let's face it, autism isn't fun.
Again, this was so good, it was such a great idea, especially, now that I think about it, how Donnie usually doesn't like physical contact unless he initiates it. So him calming down by physical contact which he is comfortable with and can control just feels very right.
You are so awesome <333
Stay... (Autistic Donatello x GN Reader)
A/N: So this is how I think Donnie would respond to a major sensory overload. I like that they are going deeper into Donatello’s Character. I hope I protrayed him well.
A/N: I know not all people with Autism respond or react like this. I am writing from my own experience since I have Autsim.
A/N: This is for one of my Mutuals! <3 I am happy that you enjoy my writings enough to trust me with this prompt! I hope you like it @robin-the-enby Summary: When the turtles have no more options you get news that Donatello is have a serious sensory overload. You do and try your best to help in any way you can.
Keep reading
Merry Christmas! Donnie finally got his uranium
this is that profile pic for when he took Twitter way too seriously
Sketch dump of Donnies I’ve drawn on the back of receipts at work
POV- you approach each brother and say, “vanilla extract”.
Quick doodle- to appease both Pizza Supreme in the Sky, and the Art gods
