April O'Neil facts for kids
Quick facts for kids April O'Neil |
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Artwork for the cover of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vol. 1, 11 (June 1987) Art by Kevin Eastman.
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Mirage Studios (1984–1995, 2001–2010) Image Comics (1996–1999) IDW Publishing (2011–present) |
| First appearance | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #2 (October 1984) |
| Created by | Kevin Eastman Peter Laird |
| Voiced by | Renae Jacobs Veronica Taylor Sarah Michelle Gellar Rebecca Soler Mae Whitman Catherine Taber Kat Graham |
| In-story information | |
| Full name | April O'Neil |
| Species | Human Human/Utrom hybrid Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012 TV series) |
| Partnerships | Splinter Leonardo Raphael Donatello Michelangelo Casey Jones (boyfriend/fiancee) |
| Notable aliases |
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April O'Neil is a super cool character from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics and shows. She's the very first human friend of the Ninja Turtles! April often teams up with the Turtles and their friend Casey Jones, who she later falls in love with.
April first appeared in the Mirage comic series in 1984. Back then, she was a computer programmer. Later, she became a brave news reporter in the Turtles' first animated series. In other TMNT stories, she's been a warrior and many other exciting things!
Many talented actors have voiced April. Renae Jacobs voiced her in the 1987 cartoon. Veronica Taylor took on the role in the 2003 cartoon. Sarah Michelle Gellar voiced her in the 2007 movie TMNT. In the 2012 animated series, Mae Whitman voiced a teenage April. In live-action movies, April has been played by Judith Hoag (1990), Paige Turco (1991, 1993), and Megan Fox (2014, 2016).
Contents
April's Comic Book Adventures
April's Start in Mirage Comics
In the original Mirage Comics stories, April O'Neil was a smart computer programmer. She worked for a scientist named Baxter Stockman. April helped him program his MOUSER robots.
But April soon found out Baxter was using the robots to rob banks! She ran away, and the robots chased her into the sewer. Luckily, three of the Turtles saved her. The Turtles later stopped a big MOUSER invasion.
After leaving Baxter, April opened an antique shop. Sadly, the shop was destroyed in a fight between the Turtles, Shredder, and the Foot Clan. April and the Turtles went to a farm in Northampton, Massachusetts to recover.
Later, April and Casey Jones became a couple. They even raised a child named Shadow together.
In a later comic, April was attacked by a robot controlled by Baxter Stockman's brain. She was injected with tiny robots called nanobots. The Turtles, with help from the Utroms, used special turtle nanobots to save her. This attack made April question her own past. She learned she was a living drawing brought to life by her father's pen! This made her wonder about what was real.
The Mirage Comics version of April usually has dark brown or black hair. But in most other versions, she's a redhead.
April's Warrior Training in Archie Comics
In the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures comics by Archie Comics, April started like her 1987 cartoon self. But she soon became a skilled warrior! She trained with Splinter.
Because of her adventures, she lost her TV news job. She then became a freelance reporter. In one story, April even mutated into a turtle herself! This made her the first female turtle in the series.
April's Role in IDW Comics
In the IDW comics, April is a very smart science student. She works at Baxter Stockman's lab, Stock Gen. This is where she first meets the Turtles and Splinter, who were just lab animals back then. She even gives the Turtles their names!
April later almost gets hurt by ninjas from the Foot Clan. This makes her decide to learn self-defense from Casey Jones. Casey then introduces her to the now-mutated Turtles and Splinter. April often helps the Turtles in their battles. She also investigates Stockman's secret projects. April and Casey start a relationship, but they later drift apart.
April on Television
April as a Reporter (1987 Series)
In the 1987 cartoon series, April Harriet O'Neil was a TV reporter for Channel 6 News. She was strong-willed and loved her job. She often disagreed with her boss, Burne Thompson. April was also best friends with Irma Langinstein, the receptionist.
April was reporting on thefts when she was attacked by street punks. She ran into a storm drain and was saved by the Turtles! They took her to their sewer lair and told her their story. April became their main link to the outside world. She used a special device called a Turtlecom to talk to them.
April's friendship with the Turtles gave her amazing news stories. She always tried to convince people that the Turtles were heroes, not criminals. Shredder often kidnapped April to try and trick the Turtles.
April was usually shown as a capable and independent woman. She helped the Turtles by using Channel 6 computers to find information. Her blue news van was a classic! April usually wore a bright yellow jumpsuit with white boots. Later, she wore a brown leather jacket. She kept helping the Turtles even after Shredder was defeated.
Who Voiced April in 1987?
April was originally voiced by Renae Jacobs. She auditioned in Los Angeles in 1986. Renae wanted April to be a strong and loyal friend. She felt April should be serious about her work and wanted to be taken seriously.
April as a Scientist (2003 Series)
In the 2003 cartoon series, April, voiced by Veronica Taylor, had a new look. Her hair was a dark magenta. Her role was similar to the Mirage Comics version. She was an assistant to Baxter Stockman until his Mouser robots caused trouble. After the Turtles saved her, she became their loyal friend.
April used her scientific and computer skills to help the Turtles a lot. She became especially close with Donatello, who shared her interests. She also learned some combat skills from Splinter. Her quick thinking often saved the Turtles.
April and Casey Jones had a romantic relationship, even though they often argued. In the end of the series, they finally got married! April continued to improve her fighting skills. She even carried a tantō sword. She was also very intelligent and could hack into Shredder's computers.
April as a Psychic Teen (2012 Series)
Mae Whitman voiced a teenage April O'Neil in the 2012 computer-animated series. She had bright red hair. Unlike older versions, she was 16 years old. She also had very strong psychic powers! These powers grew stronger over time. This was because she was half human, half Kraang-mutant. Her mother was experimented on by the Kraang before April was born.
April became a valuable friend to the Turtles. She could go out in the daytime when they couldn't. Splinter even trained her in ninjutsu to become a kunoichi (female ninja). Her first weapon was a metal tessen fan. Later, she earned a special tantō sword.
April can sense others nearby and even hear the thoughts of the Kraang. When she's stressed, she can create a strong psychic wave. She can also move things with her mind (telekinesis). In one season, she wore a yellow spacesuit like her 1980s look. Later, she wore a black suit with yellow stripes to show she was a full ninja.
With a special Sol Star fragment, her powers grew even stronger. She could use telekinesis more easily, detect lies, and sense danger. She could even make a shield of energy! April's natural intuition is almost perfect, according to Splinter.
In the final season, April continued to help the Turtles. She fought alongside them against many enemies. She even met the 1987 versions of the Ninja Turtles! April used her powers to save the two Donatellos from being crushed.
April in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2018)
In the 2018 cartoon, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, April O'Neil is a street-smart teenage girl. She is voiced by Kat Graham and is African-American in this version. This April does many odd jobs around New York and helps the Turtles in any way she can.
April in the Movies
First Live-Action Film (1990)
In the first live-action film, April was played by Judith Hoag. She was a TV reporter investigating mysterious thefts. One night, she was attacked by thieves, but the Turtles saved her! April found Raphael's lost sai (a weapon). Raphael followed her and saved her again from the Foot Ninja.
April was scared at first, but she soon became friends with the Turtles and Splinter. She even let them stay in her apartment after the Foot Clan destroyed their sewer home. April was fired from her job. The Foot Clan attacked again, so April, the Turtles, and Casey Jones went to her family's farm.
April grew very close to the Turtles. Michelangelo even called her "Sis." April and Casey Jones also started a romantic relationship. By the end of the movie, April got her job back and asked Casey for a kiss.
Sequels: Secret of the Ooze and Turtles in Time
In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze, April was played by Paige Turco. She let the Turtles and Splinter stay at her place. She also helped them research the company that made the mutagen that changed the Turtles.
Paige Turco returned as April in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Turtles in Time. In this movie, April is sent back in time to feudal Japan. The Turtles have to travel back in time to rescue her!
CGI Film TMNT (2007)
April was voiced by Sarah Michelle Gellar in the 2007 CGI film TMNT. She and Casey Jones were living together and working for a shipping company. April found Leonardo in Central America at the start of the movie. She was involved in archaeology in this film, not journalism.
April trained in ninjutsu with Splinter. She bought a cool black-and-yellow ninja suit from Japan. She became very skilled with a katana sword. She even fought against the experienced ninja Karai!
Reboot Films (2014 & 2016)
April appeared in the reboot Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with Megan Fox playing the role. In this movie, it's revealed that April's father was involved in creating the mutagen that made the Turtles. Young April was actually the one who released the Turtles and Splinter into the sewers, saving them from the lab's destruction!
Megan Fox also played April in the sequel Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows.
Other Cool Appearances
April has appeared in many TMNT video games. She is often a character who needs to be rescued. In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time, she gives a news report and appears at the end.
April is also a playable character in some games! She can be played in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters for the NES. She's also a playable character in TMNT: Mutant Melee and TMNT: Smash-Up. In the 2014 movie game, she was voiced by Julie Nathanson.
You can also find many April O'Neil action figures! The toy company Playmates Toys has made several versions of her. Some figures show her in her yellow jumpsuit, others as a ninja, and one even shows her transforming into a cat!
Images for kids
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Megan Fox as April O'Neil in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
See also
In Spanish: April O'Neil para niños
