New guy with a question
 

What really intrigues(sp) me about the turtles is the fact that they are brothers. The whole brotherly love aspect makes it human. Now granted I haven't reead any of the comics, but even watching the movies and series (more so the movies) you can really get a feel for the love between them. My question is who is the oldest, and what is the order by age?

Uhhh I think they were all "born" at the same time.

yes but. .
 

Logically yes, I guess I just saw some conflicting info that said Leo had a year on the rest of them. Even if they were the same age. . . doesn't one of them have to hatch first??

Well unlike mammals who come out one at a time... reptiles come from eggs and can hatch at the same time. Leo probably is a year ahead when it comes to skill tho.

I can tell you:

One website reference says that Leonardo is 16, Michaelangelo is 15 and a half years, and Donatello and Raphael are 15.

One game reference, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (The Arcade Game) on the arcade and game versions, the turtles are placed from left to right in this order: Leonardo, Michaelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael.

A third reference was this TMNT book that I read about the origin of the Ninja Turtles. Leonardo, Michaelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael are named in that order.

Does this help?

Was this all official? BTW the turtles are always placed in that order, partically because it's a way to balance the colors...

They all are same age, but you could say that Leo is the big brother. He is the most responsible one etc.

Sometimes. . .
 

In the previous cartoon they were placed in a different order

Leo
Don
Raph
Mikey


Also, I'm sure you guys have noticed that during the credits for the first movie the rap song claims that Raphael is the leader.

Yes, but it's just a song. Raphael rhymes with Splinter, thats the reason.

. .
 

I think it was more so because the movie featured Raph a little more than the other 3.

No, it was just the song.

I'm not talking about the cartoon theme
 

I'm talking about the movie theme, which has no connection with what you are saying about rhyming Raphael's line with Spinter's line in the song.

And I know it is just a song, I was just making a statement.

My soundtrack CD is out in my car...so i can't check this right now...but splinter does not rhyme with raphael. its not even a slant rhyme. And...there is not a foot/meter match either...splinter has two foot raphael has three.

I believe it is because: leonardo, michaelangelo and donatello (all rhyme) make up the team with one other fellow (slant rhyme with donatello) raphael...he's the leader of the group transformed from the norm by the nuclear goop (slant rhyme with group)... its not the splinter line...its that you have to group the o's together...

"all the good ones end in O"-Michaelangelo TMNT 2

Sorry if that got technical...i'm an english major

You win!

I wasn't trying to win
 

I thought that that song was lame, they couldn't even get their turtles straight!

Again, my frame of refrence is limited due to the fact that I have yet to read the comics, but it seems to me that based on the movies, Raph has classic middle child syndrome.

it isn't so much that raph has middle child syndrome...its just a song...I like the song...good beat. Youre right...they call raph the leader and every good turtles fan knows that's not true. If the song writers were cleaver they would have done dif. grouping, or found a new rhyme to make it make more sense.

To answer the origional question. I always just believed they were quads. I mean even in humans, brothers can be the same age and only by minutes does one claim older or younger.

However, as to who takes the leadership role...it doesn't matter what age you are it depends on your personality. A natural leader will take the lead and the others will follow...acording to their own personalities. Take a look at the Diliey (sp?) Six. These are six children that were born at the same time...one of the girls is the leader (i forget which one) and I don't think she's the oldest.

My personal experience with multiples is this: I dated an identical twin. His brother was older than him by a few minuets...but it was the one I was dating (younger of the two) that was the clear responsible leader.

yeah okay.

Shadow Jones

.
 

When I speak of Raph having middle child syndrome, I am refering to the actual movie itself and not the soundtrack. However, I do agree with you in what you are saying about age having nothing to do with leadership ability. For fantasies sake though, people like to have it nice and clean cut. You know what I mean, he's the leader therefore he is the oldest and the strongest, wisest. . .

i was speaking of the movie the cartoon show the comics....all accross the board leo is the leader. and it doesn't have to be THAT clean cut...because if you ask me...i think eastman and laird did a great job of not making it that simple...that's part of the apeal...and why people can have such an active forum like this one.

yeah

Yeah, I agree that they are all the same age too. Physically.

Mentally, the ages do differ. Like Leo acts the oldest, then Raph, Don and Mike (mr Peter Pan syndrome!)

HT... who is actually 28, acts like she's 23, and looks like she's 18. :P

that's great when you turn 50!!

I'm 21, I act 25 I look 19