How Old Are Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?

January 3, 2023 by Marjorie R. Rogers, MA (English), Certified Consultant

In the world of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, it is difficult to say exactly how old they are. In human years, they would be considered teenagers, but in turtle years they could be much older. Their exact age is a bit of a mystery, but what we do know is that they are definitely not as young as they used to be.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles first appeared in 1984, which means that they are at least 34 years old. However, their origin story was slightly different back then. In the original comics, the turtles were exposed to radiation and mutated into their current form.

However, in the more recent rebooted comics from IDW Publishing, their origin story was changed so that they were instead mutated by a serum created by Baxter Stockman.

How old are the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? This is a question that has been asked by many fans over the years. The answer, however, is not as straightforward as one might think.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles first appeared in their self-titled comic book in 1984. In this comic, they were teenagers. However, their ages were never actually given.

It wasn’t until later when the turtles made their debut in animation that their ages were finally revealed. In the original cartoon series that aired from 1987 to 1996, the turtles were teenagers aged 15 to 17. However, in the 2003 animated series that ran for five seasons, their ages were changed to 19 to 21.

And then in the 2012 CGI animated series, they were once again teenagers aged 15 to 17. So what does all this mean? Well, it’s pretty clear that the age of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles varies depending on which continuity you’re looking at.

In other words, there is no definitive answer to this question.

History Of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Which Ninja Turtle is Oldest?

In the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics, created by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman, Leonardo was the leader of the group and was therefore considered the oldest. In subsequent incarnations, including the popular 1990s cartoon series, Leonardo is still often portrayed as the eldest brother.

What is the Age Order of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are a team of four crime-fighting mutant turtles. The order of their ages is Leonardo, the oldest, followed by Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo, the youngest. They were named after Italian Renaissance artists by their creator, Peter Laird.

The TMNT live in the New York City sewers and fight against criminals and other evil forces that threaten the city. They are trained in ninjutsu by their sensei, Splinter, who is also a mutant. Leonardo is the leader of the group and is characterized as being disciplined and serious.

He wields two katanas and his signature color is blue. Raphael is the hotheaded member of the group and often gets into fights with Leonardo. He uses sais as his weapons and his color is red.

Donatello is the brains of the group and creates many of their gadgets and tools. He uses a bo staff as his weapon and his color is purple.

How Old is Raphael Tmnt?

Raphael is one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, created by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman. He is usually depicted as the group’s second-in-command and leader of the “red” team, wearing a red mask and wielding two sais. In the Mirage comics, Raphael was initially presented as hotheaded and rebellious, often clashing with his eldest brother Leonardo over leadership of their team.

In later stories however he matured considerably, becoming more patient and level-headed. In the IDW comics he has reverted to his original personality from the Mirage comics. In all incarnations Raphael is characterized as being sarcastic, streetwise and temperamental; in many respects he serves as comic relief within the series.

He also has a strong sense of honor and loyalty to his friends and brothers which has been tested on several occasions throughout various storylines. So how old is Raphael? In human years he would be in his early 20s, but since he’s a turtle that lived in the sewers for most of his life (until recently), it’s hard to say for sure.

His exact age isn’t really known, but according to TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman, Raphael was around 15 years old when the comic first started in 1984.

How Old are the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 1990?

In the early 1990s, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were created by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman. They were originally depicted as four humanoid turtles who were mutated by radioactive ooze and trained in ninjutsu by their sensei, Splinter. The turtles’ first appearance was in an issue of Mirage Comics, which was published in May 1984.

In this issue, they are shown to be around 15 years old. Since then, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have appeared in numerous comic books, TV shows, movies, and video games. In most of these incarnations, they are shown to be between 16 and 18 years old.

However, there have been some instances where their ages have been revised. For example, in the 2003 animated series (which is set in 2105), they are 23 years old. And in the 2012 live-action film (which is set in 2014), they are 21 years old.

So based on their various appearances over the years, it appears that the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ ages can range from 15 to 23 years old.

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Age Order

Who doesn’t love the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? These crime-fighting, pizza-loving turtles have been a pop culture phenomenon since they first appeared in comic books in 1984. Over the years, they’ve starred in several animated TV series, live-action movies, and video games.

One of the things that makes the TMNT so popular is that each of the four main characters has a distinct personality. Leonardo is the leader, Raphael is the rebel, Donatello is the brains, and Michelangelo is the party animal. This variety ensures that there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Another aspect of the TMNT that fans love is the fact that they are teenagers. This allows kids (and adults) to relate to them as they navigate their way through adolescence. It also means that there’s plenty of drama and comedy to be had as these hormone-fueled heroes battle villains both on and off screen.

So what is the order of oldest to youngest when it comes to these teenage terrapins? Here’s a look at their ages: Leonardo: 16 years old

Raphael: 15 years old Donatello: 14 years old

Conclusion

In the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics, the turtles were all 15 years old. In the current IDW continuity, they are between 16 and 17 years old. In most other continuities, they are either 19 or 20 years old.