In most anime series, characters typically are set at a certain age to help viewers understand them put themselves in the character's shoes. Some of these characters can have the best character designs in anime or questionably bad designs.

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On the other hand, many fans stumble upon confusing aspects regarding anime characters who appear young but are beyond hundreds of years old. This puzzling lore detail can cause most fans to be either intrigued or weirded out. But regardless of how one feels about their age, several characters have earned recognition in their own right.

Updated on February 21, 2022 by George Voutiritsas: The anime landscape is filled with characters of all ages, but age, like other things in life, can be deceptive. A large number of anime series fall under the fantasy genre, meaning they feature supernatural beings with surprisingly long lifespans. In most cases, these characters look extremely young, despite the fact they've been alive for centuries. An anime character usually lives that long because they aren't human, or because they obtained some form of immortality.

15 Vampire Knight: Kaname Kuran (10,000+ Years Old)

Kuran Looking At His Sister

In Vampire Knight, only a handful of pureblood vampire families remain, and Kaname is the head of the Kuran family. As a pureblood, Kaname is immortal, and he can heal from any injury as long as it does not come from an anti-vampire weapon.

He possesses telekinesis, and the ability to erase memories. Kaname can also control other vampires against their will and turn his body into a weapon. He happens to be the original Kuran, making him one of the progenitors of the vampire race, which originated over 10,000 years ago.

14 Code Geass: C.C. (500+ Years Old)

C.C. The Girl Who Gave Lelouch His Geass

Lelouch vi Britannia has a number of strengths, including his Geass-an ocular ability which forces people to obey his commands. He received his Geass from C.C., a mysterious girl with green hair. She once possessed a Geass of her own, and it caused anyone around her to love her.

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C.C. received the Code of Immortality from a nun in medieval times, and as a result she does not age like a normal human. She cannot be killed by normal means either. Biologically, C.C. looks like she is 16, but she is actually more than 500 years old.

13 Kamisama Hajimemashita: Tomoe (628 Years Old)

Tomoe smiling at Nanami in Kamisama Kiss.

Demons usually live far longer than humans, which explains why Tomoe from Kamisama Hajimemashita looks like a teenager despite being over 600 years old. He eventually meets a human girl named, Nanami, and he gradually falls in love with her.

Tomoe could use blue flames to burn anything around him, and other demons feared him because of his strength, which was said to be comparable to a god's. In his younger days, he and his partner, Akura-ou caused death and destruction throughout the demon world.

12 Bleach: Toshiro Hitsugaya (100+ Years Old)

Hitsugaya In His Bankai State

Toshiro Hitsugaya may have not been involved in Bleach's most unique fights, but he is still one of the strongest Soul Reapers in the series. He wields Hyorinmaru, which is considered to be the strongest ice-type Zanpakutō, and it gives him the power to create and control ice.

Since he looks like he is 13, Toshiro is often teased because of his youthful appearance, but Soul Reapers live for a very long time. Time passes much slower in the Soul Society, and as a result, Toshiro is chronologically more than 100 years old.

11 Inuyasha: Sesshōmaru (1,000+ Years Old)

Jaken Following Sesshomaru

Believe it or not, there are a few Isekai anime critics actually like, and Inuyasha is one of them. Inuyasha is a half-demon, and for a long time, his brother Sesshōmaru hated his existence. Sesshōmaru is full demon, and his true form is that of a giant dog with massive claws and fangs.

In terms of his physical appearance, Sesshōmaru looks like he is 19, but he has lived for more than 1,000 years. He is one of the strongest demons of his time, and considering how young he technically still is, his powers still haven't reached their peak.

10 Seven Deadly Sins: Meliodas (3,000+ Years Old)

Meliodas is happy while looking at something or someone

Meliodas is The Seven Deadly Sins's main protagonist and arguably, one of the coolest characters among the sins. Regardless of his height and looks, Meliodas is a fearsome and powerful 3,000+-year-old leader of the sins. Meliodas is well respected by his followers and the main female protagonist Elizabeth Liones, a woman he holds dear.

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Essentially, after losing a fight with the anime's Demon King, Meliodas was cursed with immortality that states every time he'd die, he'd be reincarnated and have his emotions slowly eaten away. Meliodas' backstory and his many adventures with the sins make this A-1 Pictures anime a must-watch.

9 Hellsing: Alucard (598 Years Old)

Alucard has a devious smile in Hellsing ultimate

One of the best vampires in anime is the gunslinging, blood-thirsty vampire Alucard from Hellsing and Hellsing Ultimate. Although Alucard looks like a young man with charming looks, he's 598 years old. Considering Alucard is a vampire, viewers will understand how this strong warrior maintains his youthful appearance.

Nonetheless, another feat which allows this vampire to maintain his sharp and youthful looks is his blood-sucking habit. This habit not only helps Alucard heal his injuries but is can also add more years to his life.

8 Trigun: Vash The Stampede (130 Years Old)

Vash is ready to fight

One of anime's best gunslingers ever would be Trigun's Vash The Stampede, who is remarkably 130 years old. To explain Vash's appearance and age, he's known to be an interdimensional human creation made for power source and livestock reasons.

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Not only that, but Vash is a special case considering he can outperform the other human experiments in strategic ways. Vash can live outside the safety zones and is noted by the anime as being able to outlive humans.

7 No Game No Life: Jibril (6,407 Years Old)

Jibril is beyond excited No Game No Life: Jibril (6,407 Years Old)

Probably one of the most sadistic and knowledge-seeking characters in No Game No Life would be Jibril, who is 6,407 years old. Despite having an abnormal age, Jibril is not only the last surviving Flugel member but also the youngest. Although Flugels classify as angels, the main protagonist Sora argues they're more aligned to death angels, since they have destructive powers.

Despite Jibril's brutal conflicts with other supernatural races in No Game No Life, she is an honorable person who plays games fairly and disapproves of cheating. Moreover, her goal is to share new information with others after defeating Sora and his sister Shiro.

6 Noragami: Yato (1,000+ Years Old)

Yato smiling in Noragami while holding a coin

Wishing to be known as the god of fortune rather than one of destruction, Yato is remarkably 1,000+ years old and one of the most powerful gods in Noragami. Despite his age, Yato appears to be a teenager and loves to spend time with his companions Hiyori and Yukine every chance he gets.

Although Yato's a compassionate and comedic god, Yato's backstory contains immense bloodshed, abuse, and the darkness he wishes would vanish without a trace. To pursue this goal, Yato became a delivery god who'd take any task as long as he receives five yen for his services.

5 Yu Yu Hakusho: Koenma (700+ Years Old)

Koenma looks excited Yu Yu Hakusho: Koenma (700+ Years Old)

A character that may leave many fans — including its main character, Yusuke Urameshi — scratching their head in confusion regarding their age is Yu Yu Hakusho's spirit world ruler, Koenma. At a whopping 700+ years old, Koenma appears to be a mere baby sporting a large pacifier and small toddler attire.

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Although he's known for his infant persona, Koenma can transform into a teenaged version of himself. Despite his appearance in both forms, Koenma demands respect from everyone he meets and will not hesitate to throw a fit if someone is out of line or uncooperative.

4 Medaka Box: Najimi Ajimu (3 Trillion+ Years Old)

Ajimu is looking at someone Medaka Box: Najimi Ajimu (3 Trillion+ Years Old)

The puzzling, mysterious female founder of the Hakinowa Academy in Medaka Box is Najimi Ajimu, who is 3,402,193,822,311 years old. Ajimu's appearance and age aren't the only features of hers that will shock fans, but her abilities and power will make them question her further.

Ajimi can crush the ground with a single step, time-travel, see what other people see with their eyes, switch and nullify others' abilities at will, and more. Ajimi may look like an average high schooler with a mysterious personality, but deep down, she's a powerful figure.

3 Hell Girl: Enma Ai (Around 400 Years Old)

Enma Ai looks unfazed Hell Girl: Enma Ai (Around 400 Years Old).

Astoundingly around 400 years old, Hell Girl's Enma Ai is arguably one of the scariest girls in anime and won't show mercy to anyone. Although her appearance may not correlate with her age, Enma's livelihood is dark and depressing.

When Enma was a human 400 years in the past, she got sentenced to death per her village's tradition, and in outrage, burned her village down. Angered by her actions, the god of the underworld punished Ai by stripping her emotions and making her an observer meant to sentence people's souls to the underworld per request.

2 Gate: Rory Mercury (967 Years Old)

Rory Mercury is posing Gate: Rory Mercury (967 Years Old)

A goddess known for her destructive, sadistic attitude toward criminals and unjust people, Gate's Rory Mercury is 967 years old despite looking thirteen. Appearing as a petite girl, Rory is no push-over and will deliver a deadly blow to anyone she feels is evil or mean-spirited.

While she isn't fond of cruel people, Rory is kind-hearted with a strong sense of justice and affection for a character named Yoji Itami. Following the trope of becoming offended when people discuss one's age, Rory will become enraged if people state she is a child.

1 Umineko When They Cry: Bernkastel (1,000+ Years Old)

Umineko When They Cry: Bernkastel (1000+ Years Old)

One of the cruelest female characters in Umineko: When They Cry is the 1000+-year-old Witch of Miracles, Bernkastel. In the franchise, Bernkastel is a demeaning, manipulative, and antagonizing witch to her enemies and acquaintances alike. Despite being a horrible being, Bernkastel had a rough human past regarding imprisonment and torture by the hands of another witch named Lambdadelta.

Regardless, Bernkastel's past and personality aren't the only traits that make her fearsome — she also hones the power to tear apart fictional universes through her manipulation of time fragments. It would be foolish to mistake this deadly witch as a child or teenager.

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