The 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Splinter' meme, often referred to as the 'Growing Up' or 'Father and Sons' template, typically features a comparison between two images: one showing a young Master Splinter guiding four small turtles, and another showing the grown Ninja Turtles supporting an aging Splinter. This emotional contrast has become a staple for expressing gratitude, the passage of time, and the deep influence of mentors, parents, or childhood interests. Since its rise in the late 2010s across social media platforms like Twitter and Reddit, users have utilized it to celebrate everything from evolving music tastes to the long-term impact of teachers, making it one of the most wholesome and relatable formats in the meme world.