Richard's Animorphs Forum

Animorphs Section => Animorphs Forum Classic => Topic started by: Acalio-Laron-Jaham on October 17, 2010, 03:55:44 AM

Title: how old were the animorphs meant to be?
Post by: Acalio-Laron-Jaham on October 17, 2010, 03:55:44 AM
at the beginning in #1 'the invasion', and then in mid series like say book number 30 and then finally at the end, in book 54.

I always thought that they were all 13 in the invasion, in their first year of highschool.
Title: Re: how old were the animorphs meant to be?
Post by: Darth Zakryn on October 17, 2010, 08:53:56 AM
Jake said it himself in #54. The Answer, that he "was thirteen when he started. He's sixteen now" and I assume Rachel was perhaps a little older than that, because in #2. The Visitor she said it was "like a twelfth birthday or something," implying older age, perhaps 14. Marco and Jake were around the same age since they grew up together as friends.

As for Tobias... In The Andalite Chronicles Elfangor said it was the beginning of the early eighties, so around 1983 or so. As for Casse... I always assumed she was 12, just a little younger than the others.

But of course, that's only my opinion. ;D
Title: Re: how old were the animorphs meant to be?
Post by: Red on October 17, 2010, 09:58:49 AM
Hmn, but Cassie and Rachel were best friends, implying they were in the same class/year. Did Jake&Marco and Rachel&Cassie ever have any classes together?
Title: Re: how old were the animorphs meant to be?
Post by: LisaCharly on October 17, 2010, 11:34:01 AM
IIRC, there's a scene in one of the earlier books where Marco states he's going to borrow Cassie's notes instead of Jake, because "Jake's are covered in doodles of jets and tanks", which implies they're all in the same class.

Edit: It's in #20.
Title: Re: how old were the animorphs meant to be?
Post by: Aldrea Hammee on October 17, 2010, 03:22:47 PM

Also, Jake states that Rachel is 16 in #53, so she is the same age as he is. Her 12th birthday in #2 would've been her second most recent birthday, unless she hadn't turned 13 yet, which I suppose is possible. I worked out once that #1 has to take place in April or May, so if she has a summer birthday she could still be a 7th grader with Jake and the others.
Title: Re: how old were the animorphs meant to be?
Post by: roguebluejay on October 17, 2010, 04:33:20 PM
Why does the invasion have to be in April/May?
Title: Re: how old were the animorphs meant to be?
Post by: Darth Zakryn on October 17, 2010, 09:08:49 PM

Yeah, good question. Why? And where in #53 did Jake say Rachel was sixteen? An exact quote please?
Title: Re: how old were the animorphs meant to be?
Post by: 11:11 on October 17, 2010, 10:26:44 PM
I can't find where they specifically mention Rachel's age, but on page 9 Jake says "I'm a sixteen-year old kid named Jake Berenson, and I am the leader of the Animorphs."
Title: Re: how old were the animorphs meant to be?
Post by: goom on October 18, 2010, 03:41:54 AM
yup, as they said the ages are 13-16.
we could give or take a year for each, but it should be around there.
Title: Re: how old were the animorphs meant to be?
Post by: Aldrea Hammee on October 18, 2010, 08:01:00 AM
Jake says something along the lines of, "Rachel's 16 years old, and she's seen more combat than a seasoned veteran." I will find the quote for you in a little bit.

As for April/May: In #4, Marco says, "When winter comes, we're gonna be some sad little Animorphs." So, by the time #4 takes place, the Anis have not yet experienced cold weather while fighting the Yeerk war. Therefore, #1 is during a warm, non-winter month. This could be anywhere from April to October. However, we can eliminate July and August because school is in session. We can also eliminate September and October. This is because, by MM #1, summer break is going on. A full year has clearly not gone by between #1 and MM #1, so we have to be in a warm month when school is in session that is not during the fall. That leaves April, May, or the first half of June. I eliminate June because I beleive it's a stretch that the Anis carried out 4 or 5 missions in only 2 weeks, before school ended. May is a stretch too, because that's like a mission a week, but it's possible. In conclusion, #1 took place in April or May, leaning towards April, due to the clues I've described.

Post Merged: October 18, 2010, 08:17:35 AM
Found it. It's on page 42. "She was the goddess of war, my cousin was. 16 years old and a veteran of more battles than a WWII veteran."
Title: Re: how old were the animorphs meant to be?
Post by: Red on October 18, 2010, 07:51:19 PM
Found it. It's on page 42. "She was the goddess of war, my cousin was. 16 years old and a veteran of more battles than a WWII veteran."

*cringes at bad writing* Oh Animorphs, I wish I hadn't started to view you critically.

I am, however, impressed at the deducing skills here! :D

EDIT: This is all totally irrelevant, sorry!
Title: Re: how old were the animorphs meant to be?
Post by: Aldrea Hammee on October 18, 2010, 09:00:08 PM
I know. The sentence, it burns.
Title: Re: how old were the animorphs meant to be?
Post by: LisaCharly on October 18, 2010, 09:01:40 PM
Yeah, ouch. That sentence just...ouch.
Title: Re: how old were the animorphs meant to be?
Post by: Darth Zakryn on October 18, 2010, 09:14:27 PM

Wait... HOW was MM#1 summer break?! Remember, in #7 the Kandrona was due to arrive in three weeks, and MM#1 DEFINITELY takes place a few days after that, because in #8 Rachel says the Kandrona will arrive in another week.

So..... ??
Title: Re: how old were the animorphs meant to be?
Post by: Aldrea Hammee on October 18, 2010, 09:34:05 PM
But isn't Rachel going to camp? I know it's only a weekend, but that seems like a summertime activity.
Title: Re: how old were the animorphs meant to be?
Post by: Darth Zakryn on October 19, 2010, 02:54:29 PM
Yeah, she's going to camp, but within the three week time period that they indicated the Kandrona would arrive, between #7, MM#1, and #8, and #8 DEFINITELY took place on a school day because Ax WENT to school. I always thought Rachel's going to camp was more of a weekend activity, something they even hinted at in MM#1.
Title: Re: how old were the animorphs meant to be?
Post by: Aldrea Hammee on October 19, 2010, 09:54:07 PM
Okay, I see the problem. It's been a while since I've read #7 and I forgot it was during the school year. But it still has to be April or May when #1 takes place. I estimate that about two months go by from #1 to #4, and by Marco's comment it is warm through all of those books. So it still can't be September or October. If #1 took place in October, #4 would take place in December, which is winter. And if it took place in September, #4 would be in November, a cold month even in California.
Title: Re: how old were the animorphs meant to be?
Post by: Darth Zakryn on October 20, 2010, 02:46:37 PM

How come two months go by between #1 and #4? Remember, in #2 Rachel said it's been a week since Tobias was trapped in morph. How about we pm each other from this point on? I am working on the timeline and I'd love your help.