Just thought I'd ask because of all the conflicting information I've been reading. Would anyone here happen to know the EXACT birthdays and ages of the Kagaku Ninjatai? I know that the Japanese are quite fond of putting out complete profiles of their anime characters, and they even include birthdays and blood types. I'm really confused because some sites say that Ken is older than Joe, but other sites say that it's Joe who's older. Would someone happen to have the correct information? Oh, while I'm at it, just how old is Berg Katse too??

I know Tatsunoko fan will chime in here with the fact that in canon there are NO available birthdays for the team. However, for those of us who enjoy thinking about this anyway, ( James!) this is from the White Shadow website: What are the birth dates of the characters? Tatsunoko never released an official set of birthdays for the members of the Kagaku Ninjatai. Therefore, the following dates are "fanon," based on astrological charts done by a group of Japanese fans. They are: Ken: April 4, 1984 Joe: November 15, 1984 Jun: May 2, 1986 Jinpei: June 13, 1992 Ryu: March 20, 1985 Dr. Nambu: January 27, 1962 Berg Katse: October 3, 1974 Source: the fanzine, "Das Chronisch GM Syndrom" Vol. 2, published in 1983

OK the series was made in 1972... So, they were born after? Thats right I share Berg Katses birthday...

Originally posted by Ebonyswanne OK the series was made in 1972... So, they were born after?

Yes, the series was supposed to begin in 2001.

Funny, my nephew's birthday is April 4th like Ken, and my mother's birthday is May 2nd, like Jun. Now, if my boyfriend had just been born three days later, he'd have the same birthday as Joe. Sigh...

Hi all!

I know Tatsunoko fan will chime in here with the fact that in canon there are NO available birthdays for the team.

Well, I really don't need to since you've already done it for me. Still, it doesn't hurt to remind people that, no matter how much fun they may be, any birthdays associated with the team are nothing more than dates picked out by fans. As for their ages, that's a little more official. According to Tatsunoko, the ages of the characters are as follows: Ken - 18 Joe - 18 Jun - 16 Jinpei - 10 Ryu - 17 Dr. Nambu - 48 Kamo - 60 Berg Katse - 30 Gel Sadra - 3 Egobossler - 28 Kempeler - 35 Mekandor - 38 It is generally assumed that these are their ages when the first series started (Not that Tatsunoko ever updated their information in regard to their ages). Add two years for the end of the first series, two more years for the beginning of the second series, and one more year for the start of the third series. The 2001 date for the start of the first series was never included in the series. That information came from an interview with Chief Director Hisayuki Toriumi, who explained that the staff chose that date as a "behind the scenes" date for the series. They chose 2001 in part because of the movie "2001: A Space Odyssey" and in part because it was a date far enough in the future that the advances in science they were proposing might be possible, but not so far out that the world would likely look completely different than what their audience was familiar with. I hope this helps! James

I wish we had an ISO now coming up with nonpolluting INEXPENSIVE energy sources. If gas goes any higher, we'll all go back to horses and carts!

Originally posted by Transmute Jun I know Tatsunoko fan will chime in here with the fact that in canon there are NO available birthdays for the team. However, for those of us who enjoy thinking about this anyway, ( James!) this is from the White Shadow website: What are the birth dates of the characters? Tatsunoko never released an official set of birthdays for the members of the Kagaku Ninjatai. Therefore, the following dates are "fanon," based on astrological charts done by a group of Japanese fans. They are: Ken: April 4, 1984 Joe: November 15, 1984 Jun: May 2, 1986 Jinpei: June 13, 1992 Ryu: March 20, 1985 Dr. Nambu: January 27, 1962 Berg Katse: October 3, 1974 Source: the fanzine, "Das Chronisch GM Syndrom" Vol. 2, published in 1983

Dear TJ, Really sorry for the late reply. Been covering an International Food Expo over the weekend and I'm really exhausted. I'm supposed to be resting today, but I have a very important meeting that I dare not miss. You'll probably find out what this meeting was about tomorrow. He he he. In any case, thank you very much for the information! I really appreciate it!! Sincerely, Rory

Originally posted by tatsunokofan Hi all!

I know Tatsunoko fan will chime in here with the fact that in canon there are NO available birthdays for the team.

Well, I really don't need to since you've already done it for me. Still, it doesn't hurt to remind people that, no matter how much fun they may be, any birthdays associated with the team are nothing more than dates picked out by fans. As for their ages, that's a little more official. According to Tatsunoko, the ages of the characters are as follows: Ken - 18 Joe - 18 Jun - 16 Jinpei - 10 Ryu - 17 Dr. Nambu - 48 Kamo - 60 Berg Katse - 30 Gel Sadra - 3 Egobossler - 28 Kempeler - 35 Mekandor - 38 It is generally assumed that these are their ages when the first series started (Not that Tatsunoko ever updated their information in regard to their ages). Add two years for the end of the first series, two more years for the beginning of the second series, and one more year for the start of the third series. The 2001 date for the start of the first series was never included in the series. That information came from an interview with Chief Director Hisayuki Toriumi, who explained that the staff chose that date as a "behind the scenes" date for the series. They chose 2001 in part because of the movie "2001: A Space Odyssey" and in part because it was a date far enough in the future that the advances in science they were proposing might be possible, but not so far out that the world would likely look completely different than what their audience was familiar with. I hope this helps! James

Dear James, I would have replied to you sooner, but I've been overworked over the weekend. Again, thanks so much for the wealth of information! But, there is one thing that is still on my mind. Did Tatsunoko Pro ever actually mention who is older between Ken and Joe? Thank you so much once more for the info!! Sincerely, Rory

Hi all!

Did Tatsunoko Pro ever actually mention who is older between Ken and Joe?

No, they did not.. The ages of the characters really didn't get much play in any of the series. About the closest we got was that Ken was 18 years old, by virtue of his being 4 when his father left, and that this was 14 years ago, as per episode #52. How his brithdate fell in relation to Joe's was not addressed. And, since I forgot to mention them earlier, the ages for the OAV versions of the characters (At least those they told us about) are as follows: Ken - 18 Joe - 18 Jun - 16 Jinpei - 10 Ryu - 25 Again, I hope this helps! James

Wow, that's a pretty dramatic age increase for Ryu, going from 17 to 25. I wonder what the thinking was behind that.

Originally posted by lborgia88 Wow, that's a pretty dramatic age increase for Ryu, going from 17 to 25. I wonder what the thinking was behind that.

Clearly you must be at least 25 years old to have a blond and purple mohawk.

Wow, I didn't realize that Ryu was supposed to be 25 either!! I'm not sure what that says about the character if no one even noticed the age difference! Yikes!!!!

That age difference for Ryu in the OAV's surprised me as well. And both Ken and Joe are meant to be the same age and yet Joe looks so much older. I guess it is that bad boy look that makes him appear older.

Originally posted by tatsunokofan Hi all!

Did Tatsunoko Pro ever actually mention who is older between Ken and Joe?

No, they did not.. The ages of the characters really didn't get much play in any of the series. About the closest we got was that Ken was 18 years old, by virtue of his being 4 when his father left, and that this was 14 years ago, as per episode #52. How his brithdate fell in relation to Joe's was not addressed. And, since I forgot to mention them earlier, the ages for the OAV versions of the characters (At least those they told us about) are as follows: Ken - 18 Joe - 18 Jun - 16 Jinpei - 10 Ryu - 25 Again, I hope this helps! James

Thanks very much again, James! Although I must admit that I'm still pretty much in a state of shock in finding out that Ryu was 25 in the OVA.

Well, in my AU, Katse is recruited (reclaimed?) at around age 12 or thirteen, so he could be in his thirties by the time of the Turtle King attack, and have been Lord of Galactor for about ten years. He should be in charge when Joe's parents die. I thought Jinpei was around 12 or 13. That would allow him to get all hormonal when he meets Maria. That's the fun of fanfics!

I thank you UnpublishedWriter for having brought up this thread as I never had the chance before to read through it! I now, in fact, know that I have the same birthday date that was picked out by fans as Ryu's, and my wedding anniversary falls on the day following Berg Katse's birthday! LOL, if I were single I would have been a lot older than Ken and Joe to date them ... not their mother but yet a lot older!

Originally posted by tatsunokofan Hi all! [QUOTE]As for their ages, that's a little more official. According to Tatsunoko, the ages of the characters are as follows: Ken - 18 Joe - 18 Jun - 16 Jinpei - 10 Ryu - 17 Dr. Nambu - 48 Kamo - 60 Berg Katse - 30 Gel Sadra - 3 Egobossler - 28 Kempeler - 35 Mekandor - 38 It is generally assumed that these are their ages when the first series started (Not that Tatsunoko ever updated their information in regard to their ages). Add two years for the end of the first series, two more years for the beginning of the second series, and one more year for the start of the third series. James

It seemed to me in the first episode they all looked so young. Their faces seemed rounder. They appeared to get older as the series went one. The roundness disappeared, especially with Joe. Was it my imagination?

Originally posted by Becky Rock It seemed to me in the first episode they all looked so young. Their faces seemed rounder. They appeared to get older as the series went one. The roundness disappeared, especially with Joe. Was it my imagination?

I don't think it was your imagination. I've often thought that Joe's face looked different -older- later in the series.