Being open and honest, a huge part of our anime viewing enjoyment comes from picking our new young husbando or waifu. Yes, we like the stories but there is always room for a new best guy or best girl. Senior characters tend to take a back seat unless they are funny or badass. We look to flip the script and send some love their way with this post. This is because August 21 is National Senior Citizen Day. One day a year we honor the elderly and recognize their struggles.
This countdown is a bit unique from my other lists. Using various polls, it seems that fans lean toward older male characters. This is largely due to the popularity of shonen series. However, I did not want a list of dudes. Therefore, I rummaged through the characters and came up with this list of favorites. This was challenging, as there are a lot of great seniors in anime. I am not saying that our list will replace your waifu or husbando but these are some great elderly characters. These are the results of my efforts.
As you review the post, please feel free to let me know if I overlooked a favorite senior citizen. Leave a comment below and let me know your picks.
10. Elrasla Grilaroc
- Birthday: Unknown
- Appearance: Rising of the Shield Hero, ep. 6 ‘A New Comrade’ (2019)
We begin our list with a character from one of my favorite anime. Elrasla Grilaroc is a vibrant senior who once was a top-notch adventurer. In her youth, she became a master in the martial arts of Hengen Musou. Elrasla would give up on teaching and fighting after seeing her pupils and friends die in a war with Siltvelt. Content to be a farmer, she would get a new lease on life after meeting Naofumi Iwatani.
The exact age of Elrasla is unknown, but she claims her power level matches it. A petite woman, she has long gray hair in a braided ponytail over her shoulder. Age has not dulled her youthful purple eyes. She wears a Chinese-style dougi. Once content to waste away, she is a combat advisor to the story’s lead and trains the villagers of Lurolona in martial arts techniques.
Despite her age, Elrasla can transform anything she gets her hands on into a weapon. Unfortunately for us, the anime does little to expand on her and her skills. This is the key reason why ‘Granny’ cannot rise any higher than tenth place on our list.
9. Zeno Zoldyck
- Birthday: … 1932
- Appearance: Hunter x Hunter, ep. 35 ‘Killua × Punishment × Family Meeting’ (2000)
Hunter x Hunter fans may appreciate the next entry. Head of the Zoldyck family, the sixty-nine-year-old Zeno is a powerful Nen user. His skills include the ability to launch objects at his targets. This is a useful skill given the family’s trades in death for hire. Zeno is the grandfather of the story’s co-star, Killua Zoldych.
Upon first appearance, Zeno’s stature is deceptively modest. His grey-white hair stands on end but windswept to the back. Almost like he runs in a wind tunnel. He has a hunched back, which causes him to lean forward. Slowed by age, Zono retains a keen intellect and eminence fighting skills. No hip replacements here, as he jumps great distances to land gracefully.
Hunter x Hunter fans will note that Zeno is the only character to break the fourth wall. This quality adds to the old man’s charm. The total package, Zeno Zoldych is one of our favorite anime senior citizens.
8. Dr. Kureha
- Birthday: September 8
- Appearance: One Piece, ep. 80 ‘A Doctorless Island? Adventure in the Country Without a Name!‘ (2001)
One Piece is known for its vast menagerie of characters. None is more striking than Drum Island’s own Dr. Kureha. At 141 years old, she is the leader of the Isshi-100. A group of a hundred doctors who defy King Wapol’s edict to become pawns of the state. The Isshi-100 works in secret or runs the risk of execution.
Dr. Kureha is a bit of a rebel, which her appearance mirrors. At six foot two inches, she is a lean woman. Her grey hair is long and flowing but in a rough-and-tumble sort of style. She wears jean pants and a cutoff t-shirt adorned with a flame pattern. Dr. Kureha wears a belly ring, which adds to her renegade persona. Despite her façade, Dr. Kureha is all about treating her patients.
One could devote an entire blog post about Dr. Kureha. She is an amazing character with a lot of heart despite a rough exterior. Dr. Kureha is, without question, one of the most colorful elders in our countdown.
7. Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryuusai
- Birthday: January 21
- Appearance: Bleach, ep. 24 ‘Assemble! The Gotei 13’ (2005)
Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryuusai is the oldest person on our list. At 2100+ years young, he is the captain of the 1st Division of the Gotei 13. As a young man, Yamamoto was head instructor at the ‘Genji School.’ His fighting skills coupled with a strong sense of justice would lead him to becoming the Gotei 13’s founder. Far from being a spring chicken, Yamamoto is without equal in strength and wisdom.
Despite being a towering figure, Yamamoto is not a tall man. He is a bald man, with his only hair being a long white mustache and beard. A prominent feature is the two scars across his forehead that he received in his prime. Yamamoto does not have a left arm, which Sousuke Aizen cut off. Along with OP fighting abilities, he welds the ‘Flowering Blade Young Flame.’ His is the oldest and most powerful fire-type blade technique.
Yamamoto is a god among the Gotei 13. This may be the reason for Tite Kubo’s choice of Gustav Holst’s ‘Mars, the Bringer of War,’ as Yamamoto’s theme song. This warrior-statesman comes in at seventh place in our roll call.
6. Theresa Rapual
- Birthday: March 28
- Appearance: Black Clover, ep. 30 ‘The Mirror Mage’ (2018)
Almost halfway through our list and Shonen is leading the character lineup. Not willing to stray too far from the path, let us introduce Black Clover’s Theresa Rapual. She is a nun and former member of the Magic Knight’s Crimson Lion squad. In her youth, she taught fire magic to the House Vermillion’s children. Fighting and the gore at the front forced Theresa to take a role in the church to protect children. She now uses fire-based healing magic to protect the children in her care.
At sixty-five years old, Theresa is one of the youngest elders in our countdown. She is average height but fearsome, as one would expect from a former Crimson Lion. Her nun uniform veils her physical features. Despite her clothing, she has a large scar spanning her forehead to her left cheek. Although age has depleted her magic, Theresa still can hold her own when it comes to protecting the children in her care.
There are many fans who see parallels between Theresa Rapual and the real-life Mother Teresa. The two are charismatic and known for their work with children. Gutsy and caring, Theresa Rapual has earned a spot in our countdown.
5. Kaede
- Birthday: Unknown
- Appearance: InuYasha, ep. 1 ‘The Girl Who Overcame Time… and the Boy Who Was Just Overcome’ (2000)
Lifting the lid on the top five, the next senior is Kaede from InuYasha. She was the first villager to greet the lead character. In her youth, Kaede and her older sister lost their parents. The two would gather herbs and practice archery, with the goal of one day being a priestess. They both would get their wish and place Kaede on the path to a rocky link with Inuyasha. Now much older, she lives a peaceful life and parts words of wisdom to Kagome about this new world’s history.
Age has been kind to Kaede. She has long grey hair, tied into a loose ponytail. Like in her youth, a white ribbon keeps the ponytail from unfurling. Her eyes are brown. In youth, Kaede was a beautiful woman and often compared to her older sister. Wrinkles replaced her smooth skin but it remains fair. In addition to her looks, Kaede is a pretty good archer.
Like many on our list, there is a lot to say but too much for a character summary. We can best describe Kaede as a mother and priestess-warrior. Serving in a support role, she is often the device used to advance the story. A well-written character, Kaede lands at the midpoint of our countdown.
4. Monkey D. Garp
- Birthday: May 2
- Appearance: One Piece, ep. 68 ‘Try Hard, Koby! Diary of Koby-Meppo’s Marine Struggles’ (2001)
The word tenacity comes to mind in describing the next senior on our list. Monkey D. Garp is a Marine Vice Admiral and grandfather to Luffy D. Monkey. Known as the ‘Hero of the Marines,’ this sailor welds great power. He is one of a few people alive who lived during the time of the ‘Pirate King.’ A principled man, the Vice Admiral turned down several promotions to Admiral due to his contempt for the World Nobles. Called ‘Garp the Fist,’ he has great strength despite never showing signs of using Devil Fruit.
At six foot five inches, Monkey D. Garp is a towering figure. He has grey hair and a beard, which accentuates his blue eyes. The Vice Admiral has a rugged face down to the scar over his left eye. A Marine officer’s uniform is his primary attire. He wore a dog mask but as the story progressed, Garp no longer wore it. Although a man of virtue, Monkey D. Garp has competing loyalties. He is faithful to his job and its role but at times this gets in the way of his duty to his family.
At seventy-eight years young, Monkey D. Garp is a man full of life but principled. His grandsons have a similar take on life. This may be the reason Eiichiro Oda depicts the younger Garp as looking like the pair. A dynamic character, Monkey D. Garp is our fourth great senior in anime.
3. Master Roshi
- Birthday: Unknown
- Appearance: Dragon Ball, ep. 3 ‘The Nimbus Cloud of Roshi’ (1990)
The phrase ‘dirty old man’ best describes the third-place entry. Master Roshi or ‘Turtle Hermit’ is a martial arts master. A recluse, he lives on an isolated island at the Kame House. The ‘Turtle Hermit’ will take on any pupil that lands at his doorstep. Students who believe the trek was hard are in for a punishing eye-awakening experience. Outside teaching, Master Roshi likes to play video games and watch TV with occasional internet visits to lewd sites.
Over four centuries old, the ‘Turtle Hermit’ is a short but nimble man. The only hair on his head is a long, white mustache. His most distinguished feature is the trademark sunglasses he wears. He mostly wears beach clothing and a turtle shell on his back but sometimes switches into his martial arts garb. Deceptive, one could mistake him for a beach bum. This would be a blunder, as this is the guy who helped the story’s lead become OP.
Master Roshi fully embraces the beach urchin life. He enjoys life for life’s sake. But if push comes to shove, he can open a can of whoop ass on his target. A major support character, Master Roshi is our bronze medalist for best anime elder.
2. Zeniba
- Birthday: Unknown
- Appearance: Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi (2001)
Studio Ghibli films tend to have a rich cast of characters and gripping themes. The film Spirited Away is no exception to this rule. This tale explores the concepts of family and environment. The focus on kinfolk gives us the silver medalist for elders in anime.
A support character, one of the film’s greats is Zeniba. She is a powerful witch, who happens to be the older twin of Yubaba. The two ladies are polar opposites, as siblings tend to be. Initially, the story’s lead fears for her life upon meeting the elder sister. I guess it does not help that Zeniba threatened the young girl with bodily harm. As the story progresses, we come to view her as a kindly grandmother.
Zeniba’s exact age is unknown. She is a short, stout woman with a grossly large head. Her hair is blonde, tied back into a bun. A key feature between the two sisters is that Zeniba wears glasses. Zeniba has the ability to create shikigami, astral projection, and transform. She lives alone in a cottage in Swamp Bottom.
We come to see ‘Granny’ as a wise and kind old woman. As with families, the siblings have drama but nothing that destroys their bond. Zeniba’s qualities land her in second place on our list of senior citizens in anime.
1. Isaac Netero
- Birthday: ~1879 to 1889
- Appearance: Hunter x Hunter, ep. 10 ‘Failing × Panic × Heavenly Voice’ (1999)
Landing in the top spot, we have another senior from Hunter x Hunter. Isaac Netero is the head of the Hunter Association and Exam Commission. In his youth, Isaac was the most powerful hunter. His powers have only gotten stronger with age. Isaac is an enhancer, a tanking power that makes him OP. Despite being badass, he has a childlike wonder of the world. We see these same qualities in the story’s main character.
Isaac is an unassuming old man. There are some who compare his design to that of the early art of Buddha. He is mostly bald except for a long white ponytail top knot. His eyes are grey but eventually turn white over the course of the anime. Isaac wears a traditional men’s kimono that hides a ripped physique. His most powerful skill is the 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva.
This senior citizen has a zest for life. He was more than just a fighter but a mentor who taught and learned from the next generation of hunters. Isaac Netero is our top mature character in anime.