Determining the oldest anime character is no easy task. With hundreds of anime series spanning decades of releases, there are countless ancient characters to consider. This article will examine some of the oldest and longest-living characters in anime history to help determine who holds the record for the most aged anime character.
What Makes a Character “Old”?
When deciding which anime characters count as truly “old,” we need to establish some criteria. Some things to consider include:
- Literal age – Some characters are immortal or have lived for thousands of years.
- Longevity – Characters who have lived to an extremely old age by mortal standards could be contenders.
- Wisdom – Wise characters are often depicted as elders, regardless of literal age.
- Appearance – Characters with gray hair, wrinkles, etc. give an impression of age.
For this article, weight will be given to a character’s literal age, longevity, and general impression of wisdom and elderness from appearance. Ancient characters who are immortal or have extended lifespans will be top contenders even over some mortal elders.
Ancient Immortal Characters
Some of the oldest anime characters come from stories involving gods, demons, spirits, and other supernatural elements. With magical or divine abilities allowing them to live for thousands of years, these characters have lifespans that vastly exceed any mortal.
Chise Hatori from The Ancient Magus’ Bride
As a Sleigh Beggy, Chise Hatori has tremendous magical power and the ability to absorb life from the world around her. She describes herself as being older than dragon spirits, some of whom are thousands of years old. Making her exact age hard to pinpoint, she is likely one of the oldest characters in anime.
The Sage of the Six Paths from Naruto
The Sage of the Six Paths is credited as the creator of ninjutsu in the Naruto series. He lived over 1,000 years before the events of the show. As an immensely powerful figure spoken of in legend, his extreme age and wisdom make him one of anime’s oldest characters.
ZeedMillenniummon from Digimon
ZeedMillenniummon is the final evolved form of Millenniummon, a Digimon antagonist from the distant past. Millenniummon lived for thousands of years, and ZeedMillenniummon has existed since time immemorial. With a lifespan dating back to prehistory, ZeedMillenniummon is one of the oldest beings in the Digital World.
Immortal Objects and Spirits
In addition to immortal characters, some of the oldest “characters” in anime are actually objects or spirits that have existed for millennia.
The Tree of Ages from Dragon Ball
The Tree of Ages from Dragon Ball is millions of years old. Old Kai was sealed within it for generations. As an ancient plant and a tie to ages past, the Tree of Ages is likely one of the oldest living things in the Dragon Ball universe.
Laplace’s Demon from Re:Creators
Laplace’s Demon takes the form of an antique doll. As a manifestation of humanity’s collective unconscious, it describes itself as being ancient. Representing the timeless nature of stories and imagination, Laplace’s Demon essentially has no age.
Sea God from Spirited Away
The bitter Sea God spirit in Spirited Away is based on ancient Japanese legends. Angry at humans for polluting waters once pure, the Sea God is implied to be as old as the Earth’s seas and coastlines. Its immense grudge reflects an impossibly long lifespan.
Ancient Mythical Beings
Creatures from ancient myths also qualify as some of anime’s oldest characters. Be they dragons, spirits, or demigods, these characters originate from legends passed down through millennia.
King Enma from Dragon Ball
Based on the judge of the dead in Buddhist mythology, King Enma has existed for millions of years judging mortal souls entering the afterlife. He witnessed the extinction of the dinosaurs. As an immortal and supremely powerful god, King Enma is ancient by any measure.
Ryūjin from Dragon Ball
Also drawn from Buddhist lore is Ryūjin, the Dragon God. Commanding the sea since prehistoric times, Ryūjin is tied to ancient legend. Known for his wisdom, he is an elder deity and one of the oldest beings in the Dragon Ball pantheon.
Manda from Naruto
Manda is a colossal serpent who has lived for thousands of years. Invoked using secret summoning jutsus passed down generations, Manda is a being as old as the esoteric traditions that bind him. His tremendous lifespan makes him ancient even by mystical standards.
Extremely Long-Lived Mortals
While immortal characters have endless lifespans, some mortals have managed to extend their lives far beyond normal limits. Through magic, spiritual arts, or uncanny longevity, these characters have lifespans measuring centuries or even millennia.
Genkai from Yu Yu Hakusho
The psychic Genkai trained for decades to increase her lifespan far beyond normal. She lived over 70 years by channeling her spirit energy. For a mortal, her hundreds of years give her exceptional age and wisdom.
Bookman from D.Gray-man
Bookman belongs to a clan of history recorders with extended lifespans. He has preserved records for over 100 years. Though not immortal, Bookman’s centenarian status makes him uniquely ancient for a human.
Admiral Akainu from One Piece
The Marine Fleet Admiral Akainu has been shown in flashbacks from over 50 years ago looking identical to his current self. Marines in One Piece have access to special life-extending surgery. So while his exact age is unknown, Akainu is likely over 100 years old.
Wise Elders
Some characters stand out due to their wisdom and sage-like demeanor, rather than any stated age. They act as mentors and represent the experience of ages through their insight.
Master Roshi from Dragon Ball
Though his exact age is debated, estimates place him between 300 and 500 years old. Master Roshi trained generations of fighters, spreading his wisdom. His teachings are a bridge between the old turtle hermit martial arts and modern styles.
Head Captain Yamamoto from Bleach
The exact age of Yamamoto from Bleach is uncertain. As the founder of the Soul Reaper academy over 2,100 years ago, he is at least that old. Revered for generations as the Head Captain, he represents the institutional memory of the Soul Society.
Hoozuki from Naruto Shippuden
Hoozuki was an elder monk, known for wisdom and spiritual insights. Though his age isn’t revealed, as a respected sage he gives the impression of being exceptionally aged. His teachings reflect centuries of accumulated knowledge.
The Great Old Ones
Some characters are unfathomably ancient, dating back to time immemorial or the very creation of the universe. These primal beings represent the theme of antiquity itself.
Chaos from Sailor Moon
The God of Chaos, Chaos is neither male nor female. It is said to be the origin of all things in the universe. As an amorphous sentience existing since the beginning of time and space, Chaos may be the oldest entity in anime.
Truth from Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
The mysterious being called Truth resides in the void. It embodies the universe’s arcane truths that predate recorded history. Bound to the founding principles underlying reality, Truth seems to be a timeless manifestation of the world’s essence.
Origin from FMA
The Original Homunculus named Origin is also unfathomably old in Fullmetal Alchemist. It claims to have existed forever as the energy of the Earth itself. As a primal life force, it is a fundamental part of reality.
Winners by Category
Based on the categories above, here are some contenders for the title of oldest anime character:
| Category | Oldest Character |
|---|---|
| Immortal Character | Chise Hatori |
| Immortal Object | Laplace’s Demon |
| Mythical Being | Ryūjin |
| Long-Lived Mortal | Bookman |
| Wise Elder | Master Roshi |
| Primordial Entity | Chaos |
Conclusion
Naming the single oldest anime character is challenging with so many options across genres and franchises. In terms of literal age, primordial beings like Chaos seem to be the oldest. However, ancient sages like Master Roshi represent the essence of old age through their wisdom. Ultimately, factors like age, wisdom, mysticism, and impact on their series help determine the most elder anime characters. But regardless of who is oldest, very old characters fascinate viewers by linking anime tales to a sense of antiquity and legends passed down over time immemorial.