Brief Candle in the Dark. My Life in Science

Title: Brief Candle in the Dark. My Life in Science
Author(s): Richard Dawkins
Release year: 2015
Publisher: Bantam Press

Why in Database: This book is the second volume of Richard Dawkins’ autobiography (in the first, An Appetite for Wonder: The Making of a Scientist , we havent found any turtle elementrs), it have one turtle element:

We hired a python from an animal supply house. This raised unexpected difficulties. In the first place, the snake arrived in a box labelled, in Japanese, ‘Live Turtles’. This was because the supply house feared that the parcel delivery workers would refuse to handle a box if it was labelled ‘Live Snake’.

Author: XYuriTT

Short films – Live action


In this note, we focus on various shorts with real people, actors (all other shorts, except for documentaries, are animated).

Habeas Corpus (Year: 1928)
The turtle appears in the scene in the cemetery, one of the heroes (unaware of it) puts a lamp on the turtle’s shell. Reptile walks away with that lamp.

Pups is Pups (Year: 1930)
Turtles appear in this movie in two versions. The first is a verbal reference, one of the boys says “You must think you are turtle” to the muddy girl. Later, real turtles appear, heroes make with them (and other pets) a confusion/chaos at the elegant dog show.

I’m a Monkey’s Uncle (Year: 1948)
A comedy short film, about a family of cavemen. The turtle appears in the form of a real pet that bites one of the heroes on the nose. Unfortunately, a turtle caught in this way is destined for a meal. The reptile can be seen in the scene in which he was caught and in the scene in the “kitchen” (however, there are no drastic scenes with killing of him or anything like that).

Tunnel (Year: 1998)
A very surreal film at times. The turtle first appears in it in the form of a real turtle, which the child riding the same subway car, shows to the main character. Then scenes with a real turtle are interspersed with scenes with a huge turtle that seems to be standing on the subway route and in which the vehicle finally, with a tragic effect on an animal larger than him, rides in.

La jeune fille et la tortue (Year: 1999)
A very turtle movie, the reptile appears for quite a long time. Unusually, this is a turtle talking to its owner (but it speaks “magically”, has no mouth motion animation or anything like that, the turtle itself is just an ordinary turtle).

Our Time Is Up (Year: 2004)
This film is about a therapist who meets a number of people with various problems. One of them is a man who is terrified of turtles. As part of the therapy, he is confronted with the object of his fear, a turtle walking towards him on the floor. The turtle is mentioned in the dialogues with this character, and is visible in the described scene.

Ana y Manuel (Year: 2004)
A turtle appears for a very short time as a domestic pet which, however, is released “into the wild”.

Hallelujah! Gorilla Revival (Year: 2008)
At the end of this short video, we can get a pretty good look at a turtle residing in some kind of white mush.

Old Malockee (Year: 2011)
A documentary-styled film about the “turtle hunter” who hunts the turtle named “Old Malockee”. The hunter wants to get revenge for killing his father. A lot of different turtle scenes appear in this short film.

Breaking Belding (Year: 2013)
A short parody, in the title itself referring to Breaking Bad, and in the content, to the episode Negro Y Azul of this series, in which a turtle appeared with the head of one of the characters on his shell. In addition, one of the characters is called Lisa turtle, which in turn is a reference to the series Saved by the Bell.

Wu gui (Year: 2014)
A film with two human heroes, one is trying to sell the turtle to someone, the other, a woman, shows an interest in the turtle, but more the man himself, whom he takes to make a photo session. The turtle is seen in various scenes throughout the movie.

ACCELERATE Be the Tortoise Not the Hare (Year: 2014)
A video referring to The Tortoise and the Hare and encouraging viewers to be like a turtle, not a hare, that is, to slow down,approach life more calmly, etc. In addition, there is a fragment of a movie with Bert the turtle in one scene.

Go To Sleep Sadie (Year: 2014)
The main character has a turtle named Rafael (a reference to Ninja Turtles?), and he appears in a few scenes during this short film.

Ferro Sonho (Year: 2015)
A turtle is shown in three different, short scenes.

Turtlepocalypse! (Year: 2016)
Short video created by the crew working on a different, normal length movie (Predatory Moon). The turtle is shown here, mainly by people’s reactions to it, as a unique, dangerous and bloodthirsty beast.

Einstein-Rosen (Year: 2016)
An interesting film, about a form of time travel – the turtle is one of the objects that the protagonist threw through the space-time hole (Einstein-Rosen Bridge, hence the title, but TD is not a place for a deeper exploration of this particular topic) and as such has a short scene where the characters they are young and even shorter when you see him among the things that “fell out of the hole” when the heroes are adults.

Le jour où maman est devenue un monstre (Year: 2017)
Turtle only appears in one scene in this film, when the action takes place in the veterinary office, where one of the main characters – mother – works.

The Marvin Family Tortoise (Year: 2018)
A film about Topher Marvin, who lives in a trailer and professes various conspiracy theories – he is in the possession of Reginald, a turtle. He is seen in several scenes including sleeping in one bed with his owner.

Tortoise (Year: 2018)
A movie full of turtle in which the main character, while driving a car, notices and stops in front of the turtle, which he picks up. And who it turns out, or so it seems, knows how to talk and talks to his finder. Unfortunately, the trailer in which he lives is not a very safe place for the turtle, because he is killed by a bowling ball falling from the shelf.

Gacha Gacha (ガチャガチャ) (Year: 2018)
The main character has a turtle in her apartment, he appears in a large number of scenes. Also, on the shelf with figurines, you can see one that looks like a Kappa.

The Sweet Turtle Bachelor (Year: 2019)
A parody of the television format The Bachelor. The title probably says it all, the main element of the parody is substituting a turtle for a real human bachelor. As such a turtle (the creators decided to use a figurine/model instead of a real animal) is visible in many scenes.

Firehawk – a Star Trek fan production (Year: 2022)
One of the characters visible on the bridge has a head that can cause solid turtle vibes.

Author: XYuriTT

Destiny 2

Title: Destiny 2
Year: 2017
Producer: Bungie
Publisher: Activision (2017–2018), Bungie (2019+)
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
Genre: FPS/action game
Note based on: Internet sources

Why in Database: As in the first part, here too, turtles appears in a minimal form, two mentions in the descriptions of the equipment available in the game.

The first mention is in the description of the Dark Horse machine (one of the Sparrows models) and refers to The Tortoise and the Hare:

“Under his helmet, Marcus grins.” I don’t think this is one of those ‘tortoise and the hare’ things, Bast, “he says.” I— “”


The second item with a turtle mention is Solstice Greaves (Rekindled) , an armor that protects the legs:

“Holliday’s right, Commander. We’re not burning the bulk of our fuel supply to get to Saturn and turtle up. You said it: We’re going there to rally. People need something to rally to.”

Source: Ponda, Developed: XYuriTT

Destiny

Title: Destiny
Year: 2014
Producer: Bungie
Publisher: Activision Blizzard
Platforms: Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4
Genre: FPS/action game
Note based on: Internet sources

Why in Database: Turtles appear in this game in smallest possible way – in the description of one of the available items. Gloves of the Jade Rabbit have the description: “There was a moment where the hare chose not to defeat the tortoise.” which is an obvious reference to the story The Tortoise and the HAre.

In the “vicinity of the game” you can find one more turtle element, because in the second live action trailer (Become Legend) one of the characters says “Does anyone speak space turtle?”, this “space turtle” refers to the Cabal race.

Source: Ponda, Developed: XYuriTT

Cyberpunk 2077

Title: Cyberpunk 2077
Year: 2020
Producer: CD Projekt Red
Publisher: CD Projekt Red
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Google Stadia
Genre: Role-playing action game
Note based on: PC/Windows

Why in Database: Turtles appear in two ways in this game. The first one is more important, because the turtle is an important element of one of the quests available in the game, Happy Together (which, due to the turtle element in the quest, seems to be an obvious reference to the band The Turtles). At some point in the game, near your apartment, you can find two policemen who are knocking on the apartment of their friend, Barry Lewis, who, as a result of despair after the death of his friend, quit the service and locked himself in his apartment. A twist is the fact that the deceased Andrew’s friend was a turtle, which was not obvious from the beginning. The pet’s tombstone:

In loving memory of my best friend

ANDREW

You were a tortoise, but you listened like a person.
You were with me when grammy explained what was right.
You are the last memory of a better world.

Rest in peace.

The second turtle element in the game is only mentioning in the dialogue that Anthony Harris has with his teacher, about Liam’s turtle that Anthony killed.

Source: Jacek112, Developed: XYuriTT

Malazan Book of the Fallen #2 – Deadhouse Gates

Title: Malazan Book of the Fallen #2 – Deadhouse Gates
Author(s): Steven Erikson
Release year: 2000
Publisher: Bantam Books

Why in Database: The second volume of the ten-book series “Malazan Book of the Fallen” has several turtle elements.

In the first fragment , the turtle is used as a reference in the comparison:

The man writhed on the ground like an upended tortoise, his legs still trapped in their crossed position.

The second reference is to turtles in a military context, some references to the testudo formation can be found here:

‘I’d heard that he was working the soldiers to exhaustion, that he didn’t even need to enforce the curfew since everyone was so eager for sleep and the barracks were silent as tombs by the eighth bell. If not practising wheels and turtles and shield-walls, then what?’

The next fragment is a common phenomenon of “turtle-ing the translation”, ie in English it is only about something very slow, while in the Polish edition we have “turtle pace”.

‘Four and a half feet deep, over four hundred paces… those animals should be crossing at a crawl.

– Cztery i pół stopy głębokości, ponad czterysta kroków… zwierzęta powinny przechodzić rzekę w żółwim tempie.

The next fragment is againwith the added turtle. In the original version, the tortoise (in a way suggesting that the above-described associations with the Testudo formation are rather correct) appears only once, and in the polish edition the name appears twice, the second time the phrase “under shields” was translated as “under the armored back of the turtle “:

Suddenly arrows filled the sky, sweeping down like rain. Horrendous clattering racketed over Duiker’s head as shafts snapped, skidded across the upraised shields, some slipping through to strike armour and helms, some piercing flesh. Voices grunted beneath the turtle’s back. Cobbles pitched underfoot. Yet the carapaced wedge climbed on without pause.
The historian’s elbows buckled as an arrow struck his shield a solid blow. Three more rapped down in quick succession, all glancing impacts that then skittered away across other shields.
The air beneath the shields grew sour and turgid – sweat, urine and a growing anger.

Pod pancernym grzbietem żółwia coraz trudniej było oddychać. Powietrze wypełniał kwaśny zapach potu, moczu i narastającego gniewu.

The last fragments are two mentions of turtles, this time as real animals, and their habits related to hibernation:

The dirt-smeared face above them grinned. ‘Guess what turtles do in the winter?’ he shouted down, then pulled back and out of sight.
(…)
A turtle burrows come winter. The bastards snuck onto the banks last night – under the very noses of Reloe – and buried them.’ selves. What in Hood’s name for?
The sappers, still wearing their shields on their backs, milled about, preparing weapons and other gear. One stepped free to wave the Foolish Dog riders forward.
The ramp trembled.

Source: Mossar, Developed: XYuriTT

Miracle Workers

Title: Miracle Workers
Year: 2019-ongoing
Actors: Daniel Radcliffe, Geraldine Viswanathan, Karan Soni, Steve Buscemi, Jon Bass, Lolly Adefope, Sasha Compère, Peter Serafinowicz, Jamie Demetriou, Mike Dunston, James M. Connor, Jessica Lowe, Theresa O’Shea, Eva Fontaine, David Gant, Caleb Emery, Joey Thurmond, Tony Cavalero
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: USA
Viewing method: First two seasons.

Why in Database: We found turtle element in one episode of this series, the tenth (final) episode of the second season (Dark Ages: Moving Out Part 2). It is an appearance only in dialogue, the heroes are looking for a way to get to the castle, for which one of them proposes to befriend a really big turtle that will transport them on its shell. However, the idea is rejected with the comment that it will be difficult to find a large turtle in the area, especially a friendly one.

– Think, guys! There’s got to be some clever way to get to the castle.
– Okay, I’ve got it. We make friends with a really big turtle and he gives us a ride in his shell.
– That’s a neat idea, Mikey, but I don’t know where we’re gonna find a big turtle around here.
– Especially not a friendly one.

Source: Ponda, Developed: XYuriTT

Fargo

Title: Fargo
Year: 2014-ongoing
Actors: Billy Bob Thornton, Martin Freeman, Allison Tolman, Colin Hanks, Russell Harvard, Bokeem Woodbine, Brad Mann, Kirsten Dunst, Ewan McGregor, Chris Rock, Patrick Wilson, Carrie Coon, Jessie Buckley, Jesse Plemons, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jason Schwartzman, David Thewlis, Ted Danson
Genre: Criminal, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Viewing method: Fourth Season.

Why in Database: In the ninth episode of the fourth season (East/West) one of the characters tells a story about the turtle king, who wanted to “see further”, so he ordered his subjects to stand on top of each other, while he himself from the top of such a structure had a much better view. But for the sake of balance, the turtles at the bottom could not see anything and were additionally crushed by the weight of those above. This is essentially retelling of a Yertle the Turtle story by Dr. Seuss.

– Say there’s a turtle.
– Turtle?
– Hmm, king turtle. He rules over everything he sees. Except he’s a turtle, so he’s real low to the ground.
– I’m gonna put you back in the trunk.
– No, no. Hear me out. So, this king turtle, he calls two of his guys and he tells them to climb on top of each other, you know, like a ladder. And he climbs on their backs. So now he can see further but still just, like, 50 feet. So he calls even more turtles. And one by one, they get on top of each other. And up he goes. Till all the turtles are in a pile. And old king turtle, oh, he can see for miles. Except, the guys on the bottom, are getting crushed. And I’m saying…

Source: Jacek112, Developed: XYuriTT

Boardwalk Empire

Title: Boardwalk Empire
Year: 2010-2014
Actors: Steve Buscemi, Kelly Macdonald, Michael Shannon, Shea Whigham, Stephen Graham, Vincent Piazza, Michael Kenneth Williams, Paul Sparks, Gretchen Mol, Michael Stuhlbarg, Anthony Laciura, Jack Huston, Anatol Yusef
Genre: Criminal, Drama, Historical
Country: USA
Viewing method: Whole series.

Why in Database: We found turtle elements in two episodes of this five-season series – both only in the dialogues.

The first case occurs in the first episode of the second season (21), one of the characters orders turtle soup at a restaurant:

– And for the gentlemen?
– Steak. Turtle soup to start.


The second turtle element is also featured in the first episode, but of season five (Golden Days for Boys and Girls). One of the characters gives a speech in which he says that he was in the cinema in the movie “The Front Page”, in beggining of which there was an animation of Mickey Mouse, which crashed on the island, but which finally floats away on the turtle. It is an interesting double reference, because the mentioned animation itself (“The Castaway” from 1931) is of course with the turtle element, one that the protagonist describes, but also the mentioned film, “The Front Page”, we have in the database because of a small turtle mention in it.

– Saw “The Front Page.” Lively comedy about the newspaper game. Enjoyed it tremendously. The cartoon beforehand. Mickey mouse cast away on a desert island. Just imagine the hijinks that little… Anyone seen it? Then you know what I’m talking about. Gorilla, dancing seals, baby tiger. At one point, Mickey finds a piano… Not important. What is important, He doesn’t give up. He makes the best of the situation. He stays cheerful. And in the end… What happens in the end?
– He sails away on a turtle?
– Sails away on a turtle! You see, friends? Don’t let the naysayers get you down.

Source: Jacek112, Developed: XYuriTT

Thrawn

Title: Thrawn
Author(s): Timothy Zahn
Release year: 2017
Publisher: Del Rey

Why in Database:The turtle element appears in this book only in one scene, the ships are compared to overturned turtles (and thus, by implication, defenseless creatures).

As I said: They can’t support the Chimaera, and the Chimaera can’t support them. They’re basically belly-up turtles surrounded and hemmed in by other belly-up turtles.

Source: Mossar, Developed: XYuriTT