So how old WAS Zach?
 

Watching some of the OT cartoons and being that I'm one of the odd ones that actually like Zach, it raised this question. Yes, I know the stats and such list him as "almost 14" but he never seemed that old to me. I always figured he said he was older in an attempt to not be seen as "just a kid." In some episodes, he seemed 10-11ish but especially in "The Great Boldini" he seemed a lot younger, maybe 8ish.

So maybe a better question is how old does Zach act?

He was actually supposed to be 14.

Despite whatever canon may say (if it says anything) to me he's just a child. Maybe 10.

So he was basically the same age as the turtles?

A year younger. The 1st arcade game (which was based on the OT cartoon) considers Leo 16 years old, and the other Turtles 15 years old, but the cartoon itself doesn't give anything concrete.

Not only Zach, but Buffy Shellhammer who was 15 years old in "Poor Little Rich Girl" acts more like bratty child than a bratty teenage girl, and maybe even Vernon's nephew in "Too Hot To Handle" (if he's supposed to be a teenager). It's weird but the show depicted most human teenagers as children (not only in maturity, but in height as well, if we are assuming the Turtles are around 5 feet tall [152 cm] and strangely, these human teenagers haven't experienced their growth spurt yet :P). One could argue about how the Turtles' ostracization, disciplined fighting, and life-threatening circumstances made them more mature than their more protected human peers, which is logically plausible (not only in the OT but in other TMNT universes as well), but for the OT at least, I don't think the show's narrative was intentionally designed to make that deep implication considering the targeted audience and tone.

For me, I assumed the reason for making these human teenagers more like children, was to appeal more to the kid demographic and exaggerate their idiosyncrasies for the show's comedic tone. Of course this peculiar difference is gone with Carter in season 9 with the more serious toned, "Red Sky Seasons", but then again, he was a teenager entering college (in his late teens) rather than an early or mid-teenager (14-16 years old).

Agree he seemed more like a 10-year-old. Though supposedly he was young teens? Uh huh, maybe a rather very immature young teen. While the Turtles acted more like 20 or so? Righhhht... Age works differently in their world. lol

The point with Buffy Shellhammer was she'd never been allowed to be a child, just had to run a company.

That is true... but the infantile way she was complaining, seemed unlike how a CEO would behave. Maybe there was some type of psychological suppression which made her behave in that childish way, or maybe she's used to whining in getting most things her way... if we were going to go into a more analytical approach with the character. :P

Hmmm... That is an interesting idea where Zach could have lied about his age, and there are hints that the OT Turtles feel burdened by his childish curiosity and adventuring spirit, which could make them believe Zach was actually much younger, but the series doesn't elaborate on that. His older brother Walt though (as seen in "The Fifth Turtle" and especially "The Missing Map"), seems to be on par for the demeanor of a human teenager. It would explain volumes about Walt's envy over his possibly much younger brother in being so close to the Turtles (despite Zach being so childishly annoying), and causing Walt to steal the lair's map in "The Missing Map".

Imagine... an annoying younger brother who is not 2-3 years younger, but 5-7 years younger (if Zach is 8-10 years old) and is favored more by the Turtles than you, which is evident by the Turtles giving Zach, and not you (Walt), a TurtleCOM. ;) Think about that... :lol:

He was 13 years old.

Zach: I'm almost 14!

(Why do they always portray teens shorter than the adult? I'm a teen and I've been taller than my mother for years.)

I could buy him being an immature 13. I knew some awkward kids like that.

Hell, we know some awkward adults here like that. :lol:

HAH! Awesome. That's awesome.

He was 13? Wow. I always pictured him as being 8ish.

When exactly does he mention he is 13? Because while debatable on how many, we definitely had time pass in the OT so if Zack started appearing very early on he could've aged from 8 to 13 or if not that means that he was 18ish in his last appearances and still looking like a kid.

I believe he states it in his first appearance, "The Fifth Turtle" something along the lines of "I'm almost fourteen and my name is Zach." I'm with you though, he always seemed a lot younger than that. Seemed to vary by the episode though. While I CAN say that yes, I have met some 13 (and adults for that matter) year olds who can be very immature, he just didn't strike me as being that old. Truth be told, I really can't say why except he didn't seem to fit. 8-10ish seemed much more reasonable. The way he's animated doesn't help either and I don't just mean his height. Something about the way he looks, dresses, moves just seems more fitting for a younger kid. Hence my head-canon of him lying about his age.

That really makes sense too. I never thought about that kind of reaction but you're right. If I were in Walt's shoes, I'd be pretty peeved.

Though, I guess if I get right down to it, one other thing that always seemed to make me think he was younger was the way the Turtles acted around him. While they certainly seem to appreciate the help he does give them, they also seem like they feel they have to protect him. Granted, he's gotten into a bunch of spots where that feeling is justified but the way they talk to him seems to resemble more of an older brother talking to a sibling several years younger than two individuals that are "around" the same age.

If Zach is 14 how old is his brother Walt?

I always pegged him to be twelve or thirteen from the way he acted.

Zach was definitely a late bloomer. He got grossed out when Don Turtelli called Caitlin his girlfriend. Would've been funny to see him in season 9 as a high school kid. I feel they should've just brought him back a little older instead of introducing that stupid Carter character!

You think Carter was worse than Zack, really? At least Carter could actually fight and do stuff.

I guess I'm partial to Zach just because I was that awkward kid in school getting picked on by jerks and whatnot, wishing I was a Ninja Turtle. Hell, look at the banner in my signature. I pretty much am the real life incarnation of Zach when ya get right down to it.

Plus keep in mind I said they could've aged him a few years to be on the same level with the TMNT and actually know how to fight.

I would have loved to see Zach aged a little bit in the Red Sky season. I wasn't a huge fan of Carter though I didn't hate him. I think it would have been neat to see Zach more able to be involved and more mature. With the amount of idol worship he had for the Turtles, I always figured he'd get into some type of martial arts. That could have been utilized.