instead of being men (and women, [happy Unico?] )

Well, at least you used gender-neutral language, but this time it's ageist.

I meant to say gender-indiscriminate; gender-neutral language is they, people, etc., whereas yours was gender-specific.

Anyway, your ageist assumption -- that your antagonists' behavior is due to their need to 'grow up and be adults' (and whatever that's supposed to mean) -- is what I disagree with.