Discussion: Kaito Tenjo’s height
So, some people noticed that is quiet strange that Kaito Tenjo from “Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal” and “Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC V” is small for his age. Like in this post:
https://relatablepicturesofkaitotenjo.tumblr.com/post/160277582388/you-guys-haruto-is-so-smol-zomg-me-hes-like
Being 18 and 5′5 feet (167cm) is not an average height for him. Though it seems his father, Dr. Faker, is like him very skinny and maybe not a very tall guy like Chris Arclight (Quinton) with 185cm, he’s still taller than his son Kaito. So, maybe around 5′8 to 6 feet (176 to 180cm)?
And did you noticed that he’s wearing boots with heels? Maybe trying to be a bit taller with them?
Anyways, there could be 5 reasons or rather 5 explanations for his smaller height:
1) Yu-Gi-Oh! is of course a japansese Manga and Anime series. As we have seen in the very first “Yu-Gi-Oh!” there’s Yugi Muto, who is according to the Fandom, 5 feet (153cm). He is around 16 years old and he is indeed very small for his age at that time. So, Kaito maybe has the same situation with his height, just being not tall but also not being too small actually. Though, there is Yuma (158cm), 13 y/o, and Shark (164cm), 14 y/o, who are smaller than him but in the matter of time, they might become taller due to the growing process of their teen time. So all in all, the creators were not being focused explaining any further details why they designed Kaito being smaller for his age. It is maybe a simple fact and nothing else.
2) There might be also a genetic aspect. We never saw and heard something about Kaito’s and Haruto’s mother, so we don’t know what she looked like and what her height was. She could’ve been a bit smaller than Kaito with his 18 years but generally it’s obvious that Kaito’s body structure resembles more like his father (expcept the height). On the other hand, it might be also a case that there’s a genetic change which came suddenly and didn’t let Kaito grow to his average height being as tall as his father once.
3) “The Photon Transformation”: “ As the World Duel Carnival finals began, Photon Transformation had taken a heavy toll on Kite's body and tests that were ran by Orbital 7 revealed that if Kite continued the way he was going, he would die. “ says the qote from the Fandom. This may also explain his small height due to being always under full pressure using this mode the whole time.
4) The last theory for Kaito’s smaller height could be the hard and brutal training during his time with Dextra and Nistro by Heartland. This may seem rather strange, but another reason for not growing normally can be also physical and mental stress and pain which can lead to this reason. Kaito was being physically attacked by the Duel robotor, in episode 54 during Dextra’s flashbacks, and generally, the three would train more to become the “Elite Duelists of the generation” and they suffered a lot of more. Kaito did also experienced mental pain while seeing how his brother was taken away, how Chris pushed him on the ground, giving him a death glare and leaving him saddened and shocked alone in the rain without any explaination. After all, Kaito became during this 5 to 6 prior years very cold and brutal towards other people (except Haruto) and didn’t even trust his father. It may be also the fact that he some kind of “PTSD” or “ Haphephobia” due to slap Yuma across his face as he grabbed his collar in episode 95 or again in episode 54, not letting Dextra touching him, OR in episode 105 where Yuma saved him from falling down the mountain by grabbing his left hand, which Kaito immediately pulled back with an annoyed glare. In episode 117 we see a small Flashback of Kaito’s training with Chris where Chris determined to let Kaito reach his limits with continuing beating him as he stood up and activated his power with a scream to win against Chris. Or the night where he and Hart tried to run away and he than he was subdued by the police in episode 40.
Here are some impressions:
5) Being a lonely genius with a very complex and very interesting character, his shorter height explains also the impression why he looks younger for his age, like around 15-16 y/o. You can also imagine that basically his beginning of his teenage age ended spiritually at age 12 or 13 where Haruto was taken away and the acceptance of his future life as a “Numbers Hunter”. So, basically he never had his best teenage years being only focused on his only task to save his brother’s life as well to become then of age with 18. This could also explain why Kaito is talking and hanging out with Yuma and his friends so often, beside Chris, Dextra and Nistro. If he’s with them, he may feel some kind of his youth back.
The years he lost to be found again with his new friends.
Actually, from a different perspective he remained with his body as a 13 y/o boy.
After all, these are only my theories and tries for explanations to solve the fact that Kaito is small for his age.
