Turtle ages

[Sage Ninja]

I believe that they are all basically the same age with only their mental age being the real factor.

I think in just about every medium the ages go Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michaelangelo. The new toon seems to be the only medium so far to deviate from this age order, with Raphael being the second oldest and Don being the seond youngest.

And why the heck is Michaelangelo going to have blue eyes in the movie That just seems weird to do. Espically since the other turtles are all going to have black irisless eyes like they have always have. I hope mikey's blue eyes aren't going to be too noticeable in the movie because I think the turtles having colored eyes is going to be a bug out. And how does blue eyee make you appear younger? Are they doing this under the impression that blue eyes make you look more innocent or something?

[Rooish]

It looks very strongly to me that Don, Raph and Leo all have brown eyes, not black irisless eyes. In fact, it looks from the screencaps that they have different shades of brown (Don's are the darkest and Raph's are the lightest), but I might just be seeing things. It would be cool if they all had different eye colours. I do like that they have pupils; no pupils are cool for the comics and cartoons, but movies need the expressiveness of pupils.

I think blue eyes hold a sort of innocence in them (according to many people) that the animators have monopolised on in order to make Mikey seem like the baby brother.

[Jo Dawn]

Originally Posted by Sage Ninja

I think in just about every medium the ages go Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michaelangelo. The new toon seems to be the only medium so far to deviate from this age order, with Raphael being the second oldest and Don being the seond youngest.

How in the world did you get that? I've never seen evidence that they moved ages around. If anything, the way they acted reinforced fact.

[Warhorse]

Originally Posted by Rooish

It looks very strongly to me that Don, Raph and Leo all have brown eyes, not black irisless eyes. In fact, it looks from the screencaps that they have different shades of brown (Don's are the darkest and Raph's are the lightest), but I might just be seeing things. It would be cool if they all had different eye colours. I do like that they have pupils; no pupils are cool for the comics and cartoons, but movies need the expressiveness of pupils.

I think blue eyes hold a sort of innocence in them (according to many people) that the animators have monopolised on in order to make Mikey seem like the baby brother.

No, your not seeing things. Raph, Don and Leo all have brown eyes, and they are different shades.

I also like Mikey's baby blues. I think it's a really cool move to do that. Something really different.

Also, the Turtles did not always have black irises either.. They had colored eyes in the other motion picture movies as well! But they were all brown.

[Rooish]

Originally Posted by Jo Dawn

How in the world did you get that? I've never seen evidence that they moved ages around. If anything, the way they acted reinforced fact.

No, I definitely see that too. Raph in the new toon is very much Leo's right-hand Turtle, whereas Don is less assertive and mature (he's always with Mikey, after all. I'm worried the new movie will be like that, too.

[Masked Ninja]

Yeah, I tend to cast Raph as second-oldest too, probably because he's more assertive than Don. [and in ways my family kinda matches the TMNT in that order, even though we only have 3 kids. I'm oldest (Leo), my sister is middle (her favorite is Don, but she acts a little more like Raph), and my brother is the youngest (Mikey)]

Of course, I don't mind a nonassertive Don - I prefer him that way, I think. He's not a hermit, nor is he a pushover... but at the same time he doesn't demand attention or dominance. He does his thing, by himself if he has to, and it doesn't matter because he enjoys his own company as much as that of his brothers, and the quiet is good for working. But if he was left alone for too long, he'd want some family time. And while fighting is not his favorite thing in life (as it might be for Raph), he sure can deal some damage if you tick him off.

[Jo Dawn]

Non assertive does not equal young. Ever.

I've never placed Raph in the second oldest role ever. He doesn't fit. It doesn't make sense.

Granted, though... I'm not sure what this thread's here for anymore. The question was answered, opinions aside. Fact is fact.

[Rooish]

Yeah, we know. But since it seems to at least three of us that one of the mediums has gotten the age order wrong, why can't we discuss it? Anyway, it's not so much his lack of assertiveness in the new show that makes Don seem young; it's his immaturity (as in, his gushing over girls and hanging out with Mikey), and the fact that Raph tends to take on second-in-command.

[oldmanwinters]

Originally Posted by Rooish

Yeah, we know. But since it seems to at least three of us that one of the mediums has gotten the age order wrong, why can't we discuss it? Anyway, it's not so much his lack of assertiveness in the new show that makes Don seem young; it's his immaturity (as in, his gushing over girls and hanging out with Mikey), and the fact that Raph tends to take on second-in-command.

I think that's a fair proposition. I especially thought that in "Tales of Leo", Raph's monologue implied that he always figured he'd be "top turtle" because he was "biggest" and "strongest." Raph's leadership aspirations seem to imply that he was considerably close to Leo in age so that the leadership of the brotherhood was initially somewhat in doubt. Leo's superior skill, however, convinced Raph otherwise. Also, their constant rivalry and competitiveness (in the 2k3 toon at least) could be interpreted to suggest they are the closet in age.

[Jo Dawn]

Well, I know the early video games got it wrong (and I don't count 2K3, as there's no evidence of age being wrong) and some box backs... But why discuss it? It was a MISTAKE. Someone didn't do their job and find out the facts.

As for Don, he's not immature. Maybe he's MORE mature, liking girls. And, really... maturity is not defined by... Raph taking charge does not mean he's older. It just means he likes to be in control. That's all. We can go back and forth by saying 'Don is smarter and a really logical thinker!' (which really does signify maturity)... but it doesn't matter how the discussion goes. Fact is fact is fact. No real discussion needed.

The only discussion I'd like to have is how idiotic the people who made those mistakes are, and why they weren't corrected. I hate mistakes like. They show poor workmanship.

Sure, ya can discuss it. Doesn't change the fact that it's Leo, Don, Raph, Mike. I guess I just don't see the point. They were just mistakes.

Also, their constant rivalry and competitiveness (in the 2k3 toon at least) could be interpreted to suggest they are the closet in age.

Not really. Actually, that implies a 'younger middle child' sensibility. Most likely the third oldest. Hence, Raph.

[Jo Dawn]

OK, this is a double post, but it's LONG...

So here you go. They all fit right where they're supposed to.

First child (Leo): Believes must gain and hold superiority over other children.
Being right, controlling often important.
May develop competent, responsible behavior or become
very discouraged.
Sometime strives to protect and help others.
Strives to please.

Second (Don): Mediator
Even Tempered
Has Perfectionism, Logic
Dry humor, sensitivity

Middle (Raph): Has neither rights of oldest nor privileges of youngest.
Feels life is unfair.
Feels unloved, left out, "squeezed."
Feels doesn't have place in family.
Becomes discouraged and "problem child" or elevates self by pushing down other siblings.
Is more competitive, wants to overtake older child.
May become a rebel or try to outdo everyone. Competition can deteriorate into rivalry.

Baby (Mike): Expects others to do things, make decisions, take
responsibility.
Feels smallest and weakest. May not be taken seriously
Remains "The Baby." Places others in service.
Can be irresponsible



They all fit.

[Rooish]

Originally Posted by Jo Dawn

Well, I know the early video games got it wrong (and I don't 2K3, as there's no evidence of age being wrong) and some box backs... But why discuss it? It was a MISTAKE. Someone didn't do their job and find out the facts.

As for Don, he's not immature. Maybe he's MORE mature, liking girls. And, really... maturity is not defined by... Raph taking charge does not mean he's older. It just means he likes to be in control. That's all. We can go back and forth by saying 'Don is smarter and a really logical thinker!' (which really does signify maturity)... but it doesn't matter how the discussion goes. Fact is fact is fact. No real discussion needed.

The only discussion I'd like to have is how idiotic the people who made those mistakes are, and why they weren't corrected. I hate mistakes like. They show poor workmanship.

Sure, ya can discuss it. Doesn't change the fact that it's Leo, Don, Raph, Mike. I guess I just don't see the point. They were just mistakes.

Oh, I totally agree on Pete's official order. Leo, Don, Raph, Mike.

Hm... I guess I see Don and Raph's placements as "controversial" in the new show (I don't think indiscriminate crushes on every girl encountered is very mature, but I don't think angry rebelliousness is very mature either), whereas in the other versions of the TMNT I never saw much straying from the "proper" age order that Peter Laird gave. What I see in the new toon gives me the impression that the writers think Raph is older than Don. That bothers me a lot. I guess I was trying to discuss that... how the new 'toon writers (who are supposedly in close collaberation with Peter Laird) could get it wrong. Which is what you seem to want to discuss (although you think they wrote Don as second oldest, anyway). So yay for being on the same page?

Edit: Just read your second post. Very very informative. It's just that Don's so starry-eyed and he needs saving a lot in the new show (like in "Outbreak") that sometimes I feel that the show gets it wrong.

[Jo Dawn]

Ah, I misread what you had written before, it seems. My apologies for that.

Indeed, I wonder myself if the writers are getting it wrong. Granted, the birth order isn't always exactly true, but normally, it is very close. Yes, that bothers me if they are writing it wrong, why that is so if they are working with Laird?

[Rooish]

No worries, I wasn't very clear. I just hope they get it right in the upcoming movie, as sometimes in the new show I feel they have it wrong. I mean, Kevin Munroe's loved the TMNT since the original comics, so I think he should have a feel for their ages. That birth order thing you posted was pretty creepily bang-on. I'm a youngest child, and although I like to think I'm not too annoying and helpess, I think I identify most with Mikey because of it. I'm also a second child, though--as in I have only one sibling.

[Jo Dawn]

Well, there's tons about it out there. I could only really post a bit. Hours worth of reading, really, heh. But yes, facinating stuff, that is.

Very interesting to read and compare.

[oldmanwinters]

So...

how old is Venus?

[Kunoichi_Haruko]

Originally Posted by oldmanwinters

So...

how old is Venus?

::backs away slowly::
Oh boy, I don't wanna be here for this....

[Warhorse]

Originally Posted by oldmanwinters

So...

how old is Venus?

Now that is funny!

Reading Joe Dawn's despcription of some basic formula someone got together. Well, I never met a family that came down to that science. If anything, the oldest was the screw up, and the younger they are, the smarter they got by learning from their older siblings mistakes. But that's just what I have found in my own experience.

[Sage Ninja]

Originally Posted by Jo Dawn

How in the world did you get that? I've never seen evidence that they moved ages around. If anything, the way they acted reinforced fact.

Jeez, what the hell! You don't have to get snippy about it

I think blue eyes hold a sort of innocence in them (according to many people) that the animators have monopolised on in order to make Mikey seem like the baby brother.

I'm not trying to put down blue eyes because people with blue eyes is very pretty and all, but blue can some times look kind of cold. I just hope that they don't give him wicked light blue eyes because I feel that would him look a little cold and...un-Mikeyish. Some how I think blue eyes on Mikey would make look kind of creepy. I hope his eyes are a more of a normal blue than an ice blue.

[Jo Dawn]

Originally Posted by Sage Ninja

Jeez, what the hell! You don't have to get snippy about it

...Snippy? I wasn't being snippy, haha. I was asking.

Cut down on the caffeine, dear.