Act Your Age

Are we ever gonna see Phineas and Ferb as teenagers? Yes. Yes, we are.

In this special episode set ten years in the future, a teenaged Phineas must decide between two colleges while grappling with the discovery that Isabella has had a crush on him since they were kids. Ferb and the gang try to bring the two together so they can admit their true feelings for each other before Isabella leaves for school. Meanwhile, Doof wants a midlife crisis and builds a Mid-Life Crisis-Inator.

Episode Summary
'''In a live-action intro, Dan Povenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh, the creators of the show, read some fan letters. One of the letters asks if they will see Phineas and Ferb as teenagers, and Dan replies they will and introduce the episode taking place ten years in the future.'''

As summer reaches its end, a teenaged Phineas is contemplating to Ferb which college or university he should go to, being the only one in their friend group who hasn't decided where he's going yet. Ferb suggests that Phineas get in the randomizer booth they'd installed in their room and let fate decide. Phineas gets into the booth, which is full of the many acceptance letters he had received from different schools around the world. However, he is not really sure about any of the choices he is given. Baljeet comes into the room and mentions that he had just been telling Buford about what life is like in college. He tells them that he has already graduated and is now a professor, and is hoping for Buford to attend his classes; though Buford is leaning towards attending film school instead. Baljeet suggests to Phineas that maybe he would be happy going to the same school as Ferb will be attending in Britain, or perhaps going to law school like Candace, but Phineas turns these suggestions down. He finally narrows down his choices between two colleges, Danville University and Tri-State State College.

At O.W.C.A, Irving, now working as an intern, notices Doofenshmirtz's inator alert going off and informs his superior, Commander Carl. Carl is surprised by this, since Doofenshmirtz had given up evil years ago, ever since he started teaching high school science. Carl decides to tell Major Monogram about the alert. Monogram, who has since retired to Bora Bora, reminisces upon hearing that Doofenshmirtz may have returned to evil, and tells his former intern to say hi to Doofenshmirtz for him. Carl then calls Perry, who is also enjoying his own retirement. After hearing that Doofenshnirtz may be active again, Agent P gets back to work.

In the kitchen, Phineas, Ferb, Buford and Baljeet are all making snacks for themselves. Still on the topic of colleges and universities, Baljeet tells Phineas that Isabella will be attending Tri-State State, and Phineas mentions that he had not seen Isabella all that often over the past summer. Baljeet mentions that he had always believed Phineas and Isabella would have ended up as a couple by now, but Phineas says he feels as though he is stuck in the friend zone with her. Both Baljeet and Buford are amused by this thought, since they both knew about Isabella's crush and even Ferb, though Phineas himself had no idea. Surprised by the revelation that Isabella had always had a crush on him, Phineas decides to clear his head by going for a walk. Buford and Baljeet then decide to try to get Phineas and Isabella together before she leaves.

Meanwhile, at the building formerly known as Doofenshmirtz Evil Incorporated (the word "evil" has since been removed from the sign), Perry arrives to visit his old grey-haired nemesis. Doof is confused to see Perry today, since it is not bowling day, but then realizes that he must have set off the inator alert. Perry gestures toward a menacing-looking machine behind him, and Doofenshmirtz assures Perry his latest inator is not evil, and that the menacing-looking machine behind them isn't even the inator. The real inator is a gold chain he had been working on, which, when activated, will help him go through a Mid-Life Crisis so he can fit in with other people his age, which he explains through song. After the inator is charged up, Doofenshmirtz's mid-life crisis begins.

At the Nosh Olé Mexican-Jewish Café, the now teenage Fireside Girls discuss the art of manipulation when Ginger attempts to persuade Baljeet to go to the movie she wants to see, rather than the one he wants to see. Isabella, who is working as a waitress there for her mom, brings the girls their order. Gretchen asks where Baljeet is, and Ginger replies he is at Phineas' house. The girls also contemplate how Phineas and Isabella are not a couple. Deciding that they should take it upon themselves to set Phineas and Isabella up with each other before she leaves for college, Adyson instructs Ginger to text Baljeet about their plan. In the living room, Baljeet receives Ginger's text, but does some manipulation of his own to make it seem like it was Ginger's idea all along.

Doofenshmirtz, who has now dyed his grey hair black and is riding a jet-ski with Perry, crashes his jet-ski into a sailing yacht. Excited in the heat of the moment, he then suggests taking the yacht for a spin, but the yacht sinks and Doofenshmirtz's hair dye begins to wash off in the water, making it grey again. Doofenshmirtz then decides to get a sports-car and swims his way back to shore.

At the Danville Retirement Home, Phineas meets up with Nana Shapiro. Phineas tells Nana he is still indecisive about where to go to college. Nana then mentions that Isabella came over to say goodbye, which surprises Phineas since Isabella's college does not start for another two weeks. Nana tells him she is actually leaving today as soon as her waitress shift ends at the Café. Nana Shapiro suggests he go to the restaurant if he has anything to say to her.

In the backyard, the teen Fireside Girls, Baljeet, and Buford begin setting up a romantic dinner for Phineas and Isabella. Ferb suggests to leave well alone and not force them to get together, but Adyson suggests otherwise. Gretchen explains further the romantic dinner and Katie ask if it doesn't work that Buford brings the sign to show them "Think About Love".

At a car shop, Doofenshmirtz is looking at sports cars to try out. He tries a red one, but he crashes it. The salesman tells him they have the same model in yellow. This excites Doofenshmirtz.

In the kitchen, the girls are all cooking the dinner. Baljeet suggests to Buford that he wear the cupid costume, since it worked for him and Mishti, but Buford refuses. Upon hearing about Mishti, Ginger begins to get jealous, but Adyson tells her to let it go.

In downtown Danville, Doofenshmirtz is taking his new sports car and Perry for a wild ride. During this, they latch onto a dumpster. Doofenhsmirtz lets it go at the next turn and the dumpster speeds past the restaurant.

Isabella begins to say goodbye to her mother as she gets ready to go to college. Her mom gives Isabella her final paycheck and a hug. As Isabella walks away and begins to put her paycheck in her wallet, a photo of Phineas drops out. She then begins to reminisce about all the past summers she spent with Phineas and contemplates What Might Have Been.

Phineas reaches the restaurant, but Vivian tells him he just missed her. She then tells him she knew about Isabella's crush as well. Phineas leaves and does some contemplating of his own about how oblivious he was to Isabella, even though, in hindsight, her attempts at romantic advances were really obvious.

Back in the backyard, Ferb puts a vase of flowers on the table and the girls believe the dinner to be perfect. They attempt to call Isabella on their cells, but various things hinder them from doing so. They are so distracted that they fail to notice the dumpster from earlier rolling into the backyard and taking the romantic dinner away.

By this point, Doofennshmirtz and Perry are in a plane about to skydive. Doofenshmirtz decides to hit on the cute jump instructor, but she pushes him out of the plane. Perry acknowledges her politely and quickly jumps out before she has the opportunity to push him too. As they fall, Perry opens both his and Doofenshmirtz's parachutes. Doofenshmirtz decides he has had enough of his mid-life crisis and takes the inator off and drops it. Below, the inator latches onto Lawrence, who, under the effects of the inator, rushes into the kitchen and tells Linda that he is impulsively going to switch his morning tea from Earl Grey to Darjeeling.

Phineas reaches Isabella's old house, but then notices her sitting on one of the steps of his house across the street. He walks over and sits next to her. Isabella tells him she came to say goodbye since she's heading to college early, because she has been accepted into various extracurricular activities at the school. Phineas then tells her what Baljeet said to him about her having crush on him, which Isabella admits to. She then says she gave up on the idea of getting together with him around high school, and Phineas admits that was when he began to have feelings for her. The two sadly contemplate the bad timing of their respective crushes on each other. Isabella then mentions that she is going to Tri-State State, which makes Phineas' decision about which college to go to easier: he decides to attend her college so they can be together. The Fireside Girls and Baljeet, Buford and Ferb, who had come around the house from the backyard while Phineas and Isabella were talking, overhear their conversation and are happy to see that they are together now. Phineas and Isabella embrace, and Isabella gets back in her car, telling him that she'll see him in two weeks, and drives away. Ferb approaches Phineas and commends him for his choice. Vanessa then drives up in the yellow sports car and Ferb gets into the passenger's seat. They offer Phineas a ride, to which he accepts.

While driving, Isabella comes to a stoplight, and Vanessa's car pulls up next to hers. Phineas gets out of the backseat, and Isabella gets out of her car to ask Phineas what he is doing. Phineas replies, "This," and then kisses her. Off to the side, watching from their car, Vanessa jokingly tells Ferb that she never realized Isabella had a thing for Phineas, to which he replies, "Seriously?" She then tells him that she knew all along, and that everyone knows, before the light changes to green and they drive off. As Phineas and Isabella kiss, she tells him that it was worth the wait, to which he agrees.

'''Swampy begins to sob uncontrollably when seeing the gang all grown up and going to college. Dan tries to console him, but excuses himself and leaves the still weepy Swampy alone.'''

Songs

 * "Mid-Life Crisis"
 * "Ballad of Badbeard" (instrumental)
 * "What Might Have Been"
 * "Danville for Niceness" (instrumental)

End Credits
Last verse of "What Might Have Been" while Jeff "Swampy" Marsh continues to sob in the background. Dan Povenmire then yells at him to get a grip.

I know what we're gonna do today
None.

Hey, where's Perry?
None.

Perry's entrance to his lair
None.

Oh, there you are, Perry
None.

Evil Jingle
Doofenshmirtz hmm-hmm Incorporated!

Background Information

 * This episode takes place 10 years after the events of the series.
 * This is a Valentine's Day special.
 * Doofenshmirtz's old appearance marked the fourth time an elderly version of Heinz had been featured in the show. The first was in "Lights, Candace, Action!" and the second and the third were in "Phineas and Ferb's Quantum Boogaloo".
 * This is the first episode to premiere in 2015.
 * According to this episode, Isabella had been coming over "every day for eleven summers." One of the montages during "What Might Have Been" suggests the summer the rest of the show is set in takes place sometime in the early-middle of that period.
 * It appears that everyone, including Vanessa Doofenshmirtz, and Vivian Garcia-Shapiro were aware of Isabella's crush on Phineas, while Phineas remained oblivious.
 * Dan Povenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh appear as themselves in live-action bookending the show by reading some fan mail.
 * Ferb and Vanessa appear as a couple in this episode.
 * It's revealed that Ginger was aware of Baljeet's crush on Mishti and was very jealous.
 * Ginger and Baljeet appear as a couple in this episode.
 * Doof mentions having friends in "Mid-Life Crisis" but in "Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension", He mentions not having friends at all.
 * When Doofenshmirtz and Perry go in car, Perry puts a similar face that he put in during the musical number of "The Doonkelberry Imperative"
 * The only characters who looked like they normally do are Linda, Lawrence, Vivian, Vanessa, Perry, and Nana Shapiro.
 * The characters' future.
 * Candace: Goes to Law school.
 * Baljeet: Becomes a Professor at an unspecified college. Dates Ginger Hirano.
 * Buford: Attends an unspecified college and majors in film.
 * Ginger: Dates Baljeet.
 * Dr. Doofenshmirtz: Gives up evil after becoming a science teacher at Vanessa's old high school.
 * Carl: Becomes the head of the O.W.C.A., known as Commander Carl.
 * Major Monogram: Retires to Bora Bora.
 * Agent P: Retires, but is still on-call in case his old nemesis becomes evil again.
 * Irving: Works at the OWCA., presumably as an unpaid intern.
 * Phineas and Isabella: Become a couple and attend Tri-State State College together.
 * Ferb: Attends Camford-on-Oxbury in England and is dating Vanessa.
 * Vivian Garcia-Shapiro: works at her family restaurant.

Production Information

 * On November 15, 2012, Robert F. Hughes posted a tweet in which he said that Madison Scheckel had come to write with them a Phineas/Isabella song.
 * On December 14, 2012, Dan Povenmire tweeted the photo of Vincent Martella singing the aforementioned song.
 * On March 1, 2013, Dan Povenmire, Jeff "Swampy" Marsh and Jake Whetter had a Spreecast chat. Fans were welcome to send in questions using Spreecast, Facebook, or Twitter with the hashtag "#PlatypusDay". During Spreecast, Dan and Swampy had confirmed an emotional Phineas/Isabella episode in Season 4, and mentioned that the song made them both cry.
 * On May 10, 2013, Robert F. Hughes mentioned via Twitter that this episode is not the Season 4 finale and its name is "Act Your Age".
 * On May 18, 2013, Bernie Petterson has confirmed that he and Kim Roberson are the writers and storyboard artists for this episode.
 * On August 28, 2013, Robert F. Hughes confirmed that this episode will be a 22-minute long episode (30 minutes with commercials).
 * On December 16, 2013, Aliki Theofilopoulos Grafft confirmed that this episode's animation is already done at least for a week from that moment.
 * On January 14, 2014, Dan and Swampy posted a tweet from their recording session for the episode with Alyson Stoner.
 * On January 22, 2014, Dan post two script doodles of "Act Your Age".
 * During their July 22nd, 2014 Spreecast to promote "Phineas and Ferb: Star Wars", Dan Povenmire noted that this episode would air in February 2015.
 * A few scenes of this episode were shown at the 2014 SDCC.
 * The teenage versions of Phineas and the gang were drawn by DeviantArt user Ashley "KicsterAsh" Simpson. Dan Povenmire created a DeviantArt account for himself just so he could ask her to design for this episode. Simpson is given a credit at the end for "Character Design".
 * Of the teenage Fireside Girls, only Gretchen and Adyson have the same voice actresses as their younger counterparts. The voice of Ginger is provided by Ming-Na, the real life mother of Michaela Zee, the current voice of Ginger, who also voices Dr. Hirano.
 * Rumors circulated among the public that this episode would be the series finale. Because of this, numerous crew members have made public announcements to deny it.
 * After the Russian version aired, Dan Povenmire explained on Twitter that he did not want it to air anywhere else before it aired in the United States.
 * Some of the voices, noticeably Buford's, were electronically modulated down to make them sound ten years older.

International Premieres

 * May 10, 2014 (Disney Channel New Zealand)
 * August 12, 2014 (Disney Russia - YouTube)

Errors

 * The ending credits misspell Milly's name "Millie".
 * When we see Isabella entering the backyard in her toddler, kid, tween and teen ages, if examined closely it appears she somewhat becomes the same size as the fence.
 * Phineas has freckles on his head when seen as a toddler, preschooler, kid and teen, but when seen as a tween he does not have them.
 * In Isabella' part of the song, when Isabella's adult, tween and preschooler selves sing backup, tween Isabella's right foot appears to be standing on adult Isabella's left foot.
 * When Vanessa pulls up in the yellow sports car it only has two seats. When she pulls up beside Isabella's car it has an additional third seat in the back on it's own. Additionally there is no additional seat beside the one in the back.
 * When Phineas comes up to Isabella's car at the end she rolls down the window and leaves the car. When the car is in the next shot the window is rolled up.

Continuity

 * Carl mentions placing Doof as a high school science teacher. ("Doof 101")
 * Carl is seen as the head of the O.W.C.A. again. ("Phineas and Ferb: Save Summer")
 * Baljeet mentions the time Isabella got cartoon hearts in her eyes, which was seen in "Rollercoaster".
 * Buford wears a diaper for some reason again (his cupid costume) and Baljeet mentions whenthe Buford wore that costume during his and Mishti's date. ("That Sinking Feeling")
 * A Hightail Delivery Company truck is once again seen. ("Delivery of Destiny", "Mind Share", "Night of the Living Pharmacists")
 * During the song, flashbacks are seen from the following episodes:
 * Rollercoaster
 * That Sinking Feeling
 * Run Away Runway
 * Phineas and Ferb Summer Belongs to You!
 * Rollercoaster: The Musical!

Allusions

 * Harry Potter - Ferb says that he is going to a school in England with wizarding.
 * The Diamond Head Game and Beat The Clock - The booth that Phineas and Ferb use to decide what college to go to bears a resemblance to the volcano wind machine from the 1970's Hawai'ian based The Diamond Head Game and the 'Swirling Whirlwind of Cash and Prizes' from the 2002-2003 version of the classic stunt show Beat the Clock.
 * Cambridge and Oxford - Ferb's college choice is a parody of these two rival English Universities.

Trivia

 * Second episode to take place in the future. ("Phineas and Ferb's Quantum Boogaloo")
 * Phineas and Ferb and the gang are all around 18-20 years old in this episode.
 * Another episode to use live-action. ("Rollercoaster", "Candace Loses Her Head", "Phineas and Ferb Musical Cliptastic Countdown Hosted by Kelly Osbourne", etc.)
 * Second episode where Dan and Swampy appear on-screen. ("Tri-Stone Area")
 * Third episode to heavily involve Isabella and Phineas's relationship ("Happy Birthday, Isabella", "It's No Picnic").
 * Third time Isabella doubts her feeling toward Phineas. ("The Beak", "Phineas and Ferb Summer Belongs to You!")
 * Paul's delivery van can be seen in "Delivery of Destiny"
 * Third time Isabella and Phineas kiss (Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension, "Phineas and Ferb: Star Wars"), and the first time Phineas kisses Isabella. The previous two times, Isabella kissed him. Though, this is the first time the regular universe versions of Phineas and Isabella have ever kissed, to their knowledge (The real first time was erased from their memory in Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension, and the only other time it happened was to the alternate versions of them in the "Star Wars" universe).
 * This is one of the many episodes in which Perry doesn't battle Doofenshmirtz.
 * Perry doesn't interact with any of the kids in this episode, only with Doofenshmirtz and the OWCA members, and he is not shown in his "dumb animal" persona. None of the kids comment on his absence.
 * If Perry was adopted five years before the series and this episode is placed ten years later, then he must be at least fifteen years old here, but he doesn't seem to be old in this episode. In Phineas and Ferb's Quantum Boogaloo, 20-years-later Perry does look old and wrinkled. Platypi in captivity have lived to age 17.
 * Candace only has a very brief cameo in this episode again. ("Brain Drain", "Buford Confidential")
 * Carl says, "Great googly moogly!", which was Monogram's catchphrase.
 * This marks the second time someone suggests giving Perry a girlfriend. ("Nerds of a Feather")
 * Fifth time every Fireside Girl has a speaking role. ("Isabella and the Temple of Sap", "Bee Story", "Happy Birthday, Isabella!", "Night of the Living Pharmacists")
 * Irving is seen in this episode, he is working at O.W.C.A. with Commander Carl.
 * Fourth time Carl is seen with a mustache. ("Atlantis", "That's the Spirit", "Phineas and Ferb Save Summer")

Reception
This episode received positive reviews from critics and fans. John Blabber of bubbleblabber.com stated a love story on Phineas and Ferb was Pretty good. It also tools to be really, really good, quality beats quantity every day of the week.

Cast

 * Vincent Martella as Phineas
 * Ashley Tisdale as Candace
 * Thomas Sangster as Ferb
 * Caroline Rhea as Mom
 * Richard O'Brien as Dad
 * Dan Povenmire as Dr. Doofenshmirtz, Himself, Additional Voices
 * Jeff "Swampy" Marsh as Major Monogram, Himself, Male judge
 * Tyler Mann as Commander Carl
 * Maulik Pancholy as Baljeet
 * Bobby Gaylor as Buford
 * Alyson Stoner as Isabella
 * Olivia Olson as Vanessa
 * Jack McBrayer as Irving
 * Eileen Galindo as Mrs. Garcia-Shapiro
 * Carol Kane as Nana Shapiro
 * Ariel Winter as Teen Gretchen
 * Madison Pettis as Teen Adyson
 * Dana Davis as Teen Holly
 * Ming-Na Wen as Teen Ginger
 * Dannah Phirman as Teen Milly (misspelled and credited as "Millie")
 * Soleil McGhee as Teen Katie
 * Mackenzie Phillips as Female judge, jump instructor
 * Diedrich Bader as car salesman