Immortal Immaturity: Difference between revisions

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{{trope}}
{{trope}}
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{{quote|''"There's no point in being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes."''|'''The Doctor''', ''[[Doctor Who]]''}}
{{quote|''"There's no point in being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes."''|'''The Doctor''', ''[[Doctor Who]]''}}
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Another part of this trope is that very often the apparent ages of immortals correspond to their status, so that the leaders are in their 30s with teenaged followers, even when their apparent age should have no relationship to their true age.
Another part of this trope is that very often the apparent ages of immortals correspond to their status, so that the leaders are in their 30s with teenaged followers, even when their apparent age should have no relationship to their true age.


If [[The Mind Is a Plaything of The Body]], then this trope may result as a consequence. See [[Emotional Maturity Is Physical Maturity]] for the broader concept of physical age being more important than actual age as regards emotions.
If [[The Mind Is a Plaything of the Body]], then this trope may result as a consequence. See [[Emotional Maturity Is Physical Maturity]] for the broader concept of physical age being more important than actual age as regards emotions.


{{examples}}
{{examples}}


== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==
== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==
* Chibiusa, a.k.a. Sailor Chibi-Moon, from ''[[Sailor Moon (Manga)|Sailor Moon]]'' looks and behaves like a five-year old. According to the manga, she's about 900. She still seems to find kindergarten challenging.
* Chibiusa, a.k.a. Sailor Chibi-Moon, from ''[[Sailor Moon]]'' looks and behaves like a five-year old. According to the manga, she's about 900. She still seems to find kindergarten challenging.
** She spent much of this time in suspended animation in the anime, and it's implied that her growth was physically ''and'' mentally stunted. Somewhat creepy, but justified.
** She spent much of this time in suspended animation in the anime, and it's implied that her growth was physically ''and'' mentally stunted. Somewhat creepy, but justified.
* The Wolkenritter from ''[[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]]''. Vita looks like a child, and acts like a child -- though it could be fairly said that she's just immature, which is a problem that doesn't automatically go away with age. Her rather sucky role in life up to that point, and during the second season, probably also contributed to her lack of control via lots of emotional pain. Still, it's awfully coincidental that the most child-like Knight in appearance would be the most childish in behavior, given that they're all supposed to be the same age.
* The Wolkenritter from ''[[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]]''. Vita looks like a child, and acts like a child -- though it could be fairly said that she's just immature, which is a problem that doesn't automatically go away with age. Her rather sucky role in life up to that point, and during the second season, probably also contributed to her lack of control via lots of emotional pain. Still, it's awfully coincidental that the most child-like Knight in appearance would be the most childish in behavior, given that they're all supposed to be the same age.
** Despite this, she claims to be an adult when going to a public bath in ''[[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Strikers]]'' Sound Stage 01.
** Despite this, she claims to be an adult when going to a public bath in ''[[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS]]'' Sound Stage 01.
* Chizuru of ''[[Kanokon (Light Novel)|Kanokon]]''. On the one hand, she ''is'' a fox spirit, with all the instincts that entails, but on the other, she's ''four hundred years old'', so you'd think she'd know that trying to rape a [[Shotacon|shota]] is bad manners. Her [[Hot Shounen Mom|mom]] is a little better but still has entirely too much fun with said shota herself.
* Chizuru of ''[[Kanokon]]''. On the one hand, she ''is'' a fox spirit, with all the instincts that entails, but on the other, she's ''four hundred years old'', so you'd think she'd know that trying to rape a [[Shotacon|shota]] is bad manners. Her [[Hot Shounen Mom|mom]] is a little better but still has entirely too much fun with said shota herself.
* ''[[The Twelve Kingdoms (Anime)|The Twelve Kingdoms]]'': There are immortal characters who are over a hundred years old, but still act and consider themselves as teenagers.
* ''[[The Twelve Kingdoms]]'': There are immortal characters who are over a hundred years old, but still act and consider themselves as teenagers.
* Evangeline of ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]'' likes to act refined (difficult when she has to look up at the person), but sometimes lapses into childish whimpering (usually when she trips and falls). Whenever she starts to subvert this and act her age, [[Robot Girl|Chachamaru]] usually tells her "please don't start pretending you're old."
* Evangeline of ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]'' likes to act refined (difficult when she has to look up at the person), but sometimes lapses into childish whimpering (usually when she trips and falls). Whenever she starts to subvert this and act her age, [[Robot Girl|Chachamaru]] usually tells her "please don't start pretending you're old."
** She even lampshades this on at least one occasion, laughing ruefully about how her [[Really Seven Hundred Years Old|pre-pubecent]] form [[The Mind Is a Plaything of The Body|influences her self-perception and personality]].
** She even lampshades this on at least one occasion, laughing ruefully about how her [[Really Seven Hundred Years Old|pre-pubecent]] form [[The Mind Is a Plaything of the Body|influences her self-perception and personality]].
** It's also implied that Albireo "Colonel Sanders" Imma is much older than he appears. He spends a good chunk of his post-Tournament Arc appearance making fun of Evangeline. Especially her [[Embarrassing Middle Name|middle name.]]
** It's also implied that Albireo "Colonel Sanders" Imma is much older than he appears. He spends a good chunk of his post-Tournament Arc appearance making fun of Evangeline. Especially her [[Embarrassing Middle Name|middle name.]]
* {{spoiler|Rika}} from ''[[Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni]]'' could be considered something of a subversion. Despite being [[Really Seven Hundred Years Old]], her outward behavior and speech patterns are still those of an adorable, cheerful girl. As it turns out though, this is only an act so as not to alarm everyone who's oblivious to Hinamizawa's dark secret. Mentally, she's a rather serious adult. That said, she hasn't grown nearly as old mentally as she thinks she has.
* {{spoiler|Rika}} from ''[[Higurashi no Naku Koro ni]]'' could be considered something of a subversion. Despite being [[Really Seven Hundred Years Old]], her outward behavior and speech patterns are still those of an adorable, cheerful girl. As it turns out though, this is only an act so as not to alarm everyone who's oblivious to Hinamizawa's dark secret. Mentally, she's a rather serious adult. That said, she hasn't grown nearly as old mentally as she thinks she has.
** Played straight with {{spoiler|Hanyuu, a.k.a Oyashiro-sama}}, who's even older, but is really quite shy and easily flustered.
** Played straight with {{spoiler|Hanyuu, a.k.a Oyashiro-sama}}, who's even older, but is really quite shy and easily flustered.
*** She can be quite serious and mature though. The manga tends to make her overly mature, and the anime tends to make her too immature.
*** She can be quite serious and mature though. The manga tends to make her overly mature, and the anime tends to make her too immature.
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* Pretty much every nation-tan in ''[[Axis Powers Hetalia]]''. Most of the characters have a "human age" of around early teens to late twenties, but being anthromorphizations of nations they are all hundreds or thousands of years old. They usually act more like their human ages ([[Man Child|and sometimes even younger]]). Taken to the extreme with the bubbly and youthful China, listed with a Human age of 4000 and immortal.
* Pretty much every nation-tan in ''[[Axis Powers Hetalia]]''. Most of the characters have a "human age" of around early teens to late twenties, but being anthromorphizations of nations they are all hundreds or thousands of years old. They usually act more like their human ages ([[Man Child|and sometimes even younger]]). Taken to the extreme with the bubbly and youthful China, listed with a Human age of 4000 and immortal.
* Wait, [[Inuyasha]] is ''not'' [[Really Seven Hundred Years Old|about fifteen]]?
* Wait, [[Inuyasha]] is ''not'' [[Really Seven Hundred Years Old|about fifteen]]?
* In ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist (Manga)|Fullmetal Alchemist]]'', Greed has a habit of referring to older humans in a disrespectful way ("old fart", "pops", and the like), which fits this persona/appearance as a punk in his early twenties. However, it's kind of odd when [[Fridge Logic|you consider]] that he's [[Really Seven Hundred Years Old|closer to three hundred years old]].
* In ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist (manga)|Fullmetal Alchemist]]'', Greed has a habit of referring to older humans in a disrespectful way ("old fart", "pops", and the like), which fits this persona/appearance as a punk in his early twenties. However, it's kind of odd when [[Fridge Logic|you consider]] that he's [[Really Seven Hundred Years Old|closer to three hundred years old]].
** And {{spoiler|the new one is less-than-one / sixteen, except he's regained access to the previous incarnation's memories, so...}}
** And {{spoiler|the new one is less-than-one / sixteen, except he's regained access to the previous incarnation's memories, so...}}
* ''[[Kyou Kara Maou]]'''s Wolfram von Bielfield is eighty-four, and not only does he behave like a particularly bratty and childish fifteen, sword skills he's been honing for ''sixty years'' can't stand up to a determined baseball swing from [[Ordinary High School Student]] Yuuri, if Wolfram loses concentration in rage.
* ''[[Kyou Kara Maou]]'''s Wolfram von Bielfield is eighty-four, and not only does he behave like a particularly bratty and childish fifteen, sword skills he's been honing for ''sixty years'' can't stand up to a determined baseball swing from [[Ordinary High School Student]] Yuuri, if Wolfram loses concentration in rage.
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* The main devils of ''[[The World God Only Knows]]''. Elsie's about 300 and behaves like a ditzy 12 year old. Her classmate Haqua is a little better - but only a little, being about as emotionally mature as a human teen. It's a reliable source of humor in the scenes focusing on them.
* The main devils of ''[[The World God Only Knows]]''. Elsie's about 300 and behaves like a ditzy 12 year old. Her classmate Haqua is a little better - but only a little, being about as emotionally mature as a human teen. It's a reliable source of humor in the scenes focusing on them.
** To be fair, the implication is that they basically ''are'' human teens. They're at the stage of just having graduated and taking up bottom rung jobs.
** To be fair, the implication is that they basically ''are'' human teens. They're at the stage of just having graduated and taking up bottom rung jobs.
* Mina Tepes from ''[[Dance in The Vampire Bund]]'' seems to suffer from this intremittently. It is never made clear how much is an intentional put on, how much is her relaxing when not obliged to [[The Woman Wearing the Queenly Mask|put up a strong front]], and how much is neither; but there are times it is hard to remember that she is older than fifteen... and [[The High Queen|other]] [[Manipulative Bitch|times]] when it is hard to mistake her (despite her [[Undead Child|height]] and [[Legal Jailbait|figure]]) for anything younger than fifty.
* Mina Tepes from ''[[Dance in the Vampire Bund]]'' seems to suffer from this intremittently. It is never made clear how much is an intentional put on, how much is her relaxing when not obliged to [[The Woman Wearing the Queenly Mask|put up a strong front]], and how much is neither; but there are times it is hard to remember that she is older than fifteen... and [[The High Queen|other]] [[Manipulative Bitch|times]] when it is hard to mistake her (despite her [[Undead Child|height]] and [[Legal Jailbait|figure]]) for anything younger than fifty.
* Holo from ''[[Spice and Wolf]]'' looks and usually acts like a girl in her teens despite being a harvest god hundreds of years old.
* Holo from ''[[Spice and Wolf]]'' looks and usually acts like a girl in her teens despite being a harvest god hundreds of years old.


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* One of the subplots in the latter part of ''[[Preacher (Comic Book)]]'' is the general immaturity of the vampire Cassidy, and its destructive impact on not just himself but the people he comes into contact with.
* One of the subplots in the latter part of ''[[Preacher (Comic Book)]]'' is the general immaturity of the vampire Cassidy, and its destructive impact on not just himself but the people he comes into contact with.
* Somewhat back and forth in ''[[Fables (Comic Book)|Fables]]''. Most of the characters act like the thirty-somethings they are physically, except for Pinocchio, who, [[Not Growing Up Sucks|much to his annoyance]], is still pre-pubescent. (Though for some reason the artist is fond of drawing him with a rather strong jaw.)
* Somewhat back and forth in ''[[Fables (Comic Book)|Fables]]''. Most of the characters act like the thirty-somethings they are physically, except for Pinocchio, who, [[Not Growing Up Sucks|much to his annoyance]], is still pre-pubescent. (Though for some reason the artist is fond of drawing him with a rather strong jaw.)
* In ''[[Tom Strong (Comic Book)|Tom Strong]]'', Tesla Strong, despite really being seventy-five years old, looks, acts, and is treated like a teenager.
* In ''[[Tom Strong]]'', Tesla Strong, despite really being seventy-five years old, looks, acts, and is treated like a teenager.
* {{spoiler|Topher}}, the vampire foe of the ''[[Runaways (Comic Book)|Runaways]]'', is an aversion. He hasn't aged past being a teenager in 100 years. Hasn't stopped him from making a killing on the stock markets in the 1920s and losing it all in the Dot Com bubble.
* {{spoiler|Topher}}, the vampire foe of the ''[[Runaways]]'', is an aversion. He hasn't aged past being a teenager in 100 years. Hasn't stopped him from making a killing on the stock markets in the 1920s and losing it all in the Dot Com bubble.
* In ''[[The Super Hero Squad Show]]'' comic, Eternity is revealed to be an avid collector of entities.
* In ''[[The Superhero Squad Show]]'' comic, Eternity is revealed to be an avid collector of entities.




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== [[Film]] ==
== [[Film]] ==
* In Terry Jones's film ''[[Erik the Viking (Film)|Erik the Viking]]'' the Norse gods are petulant children who don't care about mortals.
* In Terry Jones's film ''[[Erik the Viking]]'' the Norse gods are petulant children who don't care about mortals.
* Mr. Magorium of ''[[Mr. Magoriums Wonder Emporium]]'' certainly counts. Of course, he does owns a magical toy store...
* Mr. Magorium of ''[[Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium]]'' certainly counts. Of course, he does owns a magical toy store...
* In ''[[Dogma]]'', God is mentioned as being "a Skee-Ball fanatic". When we finally see her, she spends some time doing a handstand (and falling).
* In ''[[Dogma]]'', God is mentioned as being "a Skee-Ball fanatic". When we finally see her, she spends some time doing a handstand (and falling).
** Then again, there's a difference between being mature and having no sense of fun.
** Then again, there's a difference between being mature and having no sense of fun.
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== [[Literature]] ==
== [[Literature]] ==
* In ''[[The Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy]]'', Wowbagger the Infinitely Prolonged has made it his mission to insult every being in the universe. Personally. [[Self-Imposed Challenge|In alphabetical order.]]
* In ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]'', Wowbagger the Infinitely Prolonged has made it his mission to insult every being in the universe. Personally. [[Self-Imposed Challenge|In alphabetical order.]]
** Which only began after the awesomeness of being immortal finally wore off and the eternal boredom set in.
** Which only began after the awesomeness of being immortal finally wore off and the eternal boredom set in.
* [[Lampshade Hanging|Lampshaded]] in [[Ken MacLeod]]'s novel ''Newton's Wake'': A rejuvenated woman says people like her just get a bit "cannier", and passes the rest of it off as fatigue poisons and neural decay.
* [[Lampshade Hanging|Lampshaded]] in [[Ken MacLeod]]'s novel ''Newton's Wake'': A rejuvenated woman says people like her just get a bit "cannier", and passes the rest of it off as fatigue poisons and neural decay.
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* The gods of [[David Eddings]]' ''[[Elenium]]'' and to a significantly lesser extent Dweia from ''The Redemption of Althalus'' are prone to some rather immature emotionalism. It's explicitly explained by the world-weary Sparhawk and the worldly con man Althalus in both cases as almost stemming ''from'' their immortal nature; having never needing to fear death or be chastised they don't develop maturity as well in some aspects of their personality.
* The gods of [[David Eddings]]' ''[[Elenium]]'' and to a significantly lesser extent Dweia from ''The Redemption of Althalus'' are prone to some rather immature emotionalism. It's explicitly explained by the world-weary Sparhawk and the worldly con man Althalus in both cases as almost stemming ''from'' their immortal nature; having never needing to fear death or be chastised they don't develop maturity as well in some aspects of their personality.
** Curiously, the ''least'' immature Styric deity in Sparhawk's world seems to be Aphrael, the Child Goddess. One of her brothers, Setras, appears more concerned with sunrise artwork than with humans and has to have every plan explained to him in words of one <s> syllable</s> [[Buffy-Speak|bit that words are made out of]].
** Curiously, the ''least'' immature Styric deity in Sparhawk's world seems to be Aphrael, the Child Goddess. One of her brothers, Setras, appears more concerned with sunrise artwork than with humans and has to have every plan explained to him in words of one <s> syllable</s> [[Buffy-Speak|bit that words are made out of]].
* Edward from ''[[Twilight (Literature)|Twilight]]''. Basically he acts like a teenager.
* Edward from ''[[Twilight (novel)|Twilight]]''. Basically he acts like a teenager.
** A more frightening take on this is the immortal children: a child who becomes a vampire will never be able to gain the self-control of an adult vampire, and will instinctively slaughter everything instead. Combine that with super-vampire strength, speed, etc. and the supernatural ability to make anyone who lays eyes on them fall obsessively in love and fight to the death to protect them, and it's no wonder it's illegal to bite children.
** A more frightening take on this is the immortal children: a child who becomes a vampire will never be able to gain the self-control of an adult vampire, and will instinctively slaughter everything instead. Combine that with super-vampire strength, speed, etc. and the supernatural ability to make anyone who lays eyes on them fall obsessively in love and fight to the death to protect them, and it's no wonder it's illegal to bite children.
* Lampshaded with the "teenaged" vampires in [[Discworld (Literature)|Discworld]]'s ''Carpe Jugulum'', who are three hundred years old, and wish their parents would treat them as such... but don't act it.
* Lampshaded with the "teenaged" vampires in [[Discworld]]'s ''Carpe Jugulum'', who are three hundred years old, and wish their parents would treat them as such... but don't act it.
** Also, Granny Weatherwax to the [[The Fair Folk|Queen of Elves]] in ''Lords and Ladies'':
** Also, Granny Weatherwax to the [[The Fair Folk|Queen of Elves]] in ''Lords and Ladies'':
{{quote| "You call yourself some kind of goddess and you know nothing, madam, nothing. What don't die can't live. What don't live can't change. What don't change can't learn. The smallest creature that dies in the grass knows more than you. You're right. I'm older. You've lived longer than me but I'm older'n you. And better than you. And, madam, [[Screw You Elves|that ain't hard]]."}}
{{quote| "You call yourself some kind of goddess and you know nothing, madam, nothing. What don't die can't live. What don't live can't change. What don't change can't learn. The smallest creature that dies in the grass knows more than you. You're right. I'm older. You've lived longer than me but I'm older'n you. And better than you. And, madam, [[Screw You, Elves|that ain't hard]]."}}
** Discworld's gods tend to be rather lacking in maturity as well as brains. (Thinking is what worshipers are for.) Small gods, who haven't attracted any followers, are even moreso: a pinch of ego and some willpower.
** Discworld's gods tend to be rather lacking in maturity as well as brains. (Thinking is what worshipers are for.) Small gods, who haven't attracted any followers, are even moreso: a pinch of ego and some willpower.
* Sam and Hailey from ''[[Only Revolutions]]'', who are "allways [sic] sixteen".
* Sam and Hailey from ''[[Only Revolutions]]'', who are "allways [sic] sixteen".
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* Nearly every freaking god in ''[[Everworld]]'' is basically a five year old in terms of maturity and level of trust. This is a combination of naivete, an inability to change, and a lack of survival instinct. Some of the few exceptions include [[Magnificent Bastard|Loki]], [[Complete Monster|Huitzilopochtli]], [[Only Sane Man|Athena]], and [[Eldritch Abomination|Ka Anor, the God Eater]].
* Nearly every freaking god in ''[[Everworld]]'' is basically a five year old in terms of maturity and level of trust. This is a combination of naivete, an inability to change, and a lack of survival instinct. Some of the few exceptions include [[Magnificent Bastard|Loki]], [[Complete Monster|Huitzilopochtli]], [[Only Sane Man|Athena]], and [[Eldritch Abomination|Ka Anor, the God Eater]].
* The fey in ''[[Wicked Lovely]]''. They are immortal, or at least [[Really Seven Hundred Years Old]], but they very rarely act or look anything more than early-twenties. Probably the best example is Keenan, who is a 900 hundred year old teenager in pretty much all respects.
* The fey in ''[[Wicked Lovely]]''. They are immortal, or at least [[Really Seven Hundred Years Old]], but they very rarely act or look anything more than early-twenties. Probably the best example is Keenan, who is a 900 hundred year old teenager in pretty much all respects.
* ''[[Honor Harrington (Literature)|Honor Harrington]]'' occasionally addresses the implications of slowing the aging process and how much of your personality is influenced by hormone levels based on your age. Puberty and its associated mood swings has years added on to it.
* ''[[Honor Harrington]]'' occasionally addresses the implications of slowing the aging process and how much of your personality is influenced by hormone levels based on your age. Puberty and its associated mood swings has years added on to it.
* In [[Chronicles of Amber]], most of the Amberite Princes initially think and act like [[Prince Charmless|charmless]] [[Royal Brat|Royal Brats]], but as the series goes on and conflicts force them to work together, develop into [[The Wise Prince]].
* In [[Chronicles of Amber]], most of the Amberite Princes initially think and act like [[Prince Charmless|charmless]] [[Royal Brat|Royal Brats]], but as the series goes on and conflicts force them to work together, develop into [[The Wise Prince]].


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* As mentioned in the page quote, the Doctor, from ''[[Doctor Who]]''. The Eleventh version's claim to be "universally recognised as a mature and responsible adult" is played as the biggest lie he's ever told, given that it shorts out his psychic paper (the same paper that once convinced a stranger he was the King of Belgium). This isn't exactly a new development, either: the Fourth Doctor ran around munching on [[Genius' Sweet Tooth|candy]] and the First started out acting like a spoiled teenager.
* As mentioned in the page quote, the Doctor, from ''[[Doctor Who]]''. The Eleventh version's claim to be "universally recognised as a mature and responsible adult" is played as the biggest lie he's ever told, given that it shorts out his psychic paper (the same paper that once convinced a stranger he was the King of Belgium). This isn't exactly a new development, either: the Fourth Doctor ran around munching on [[Genius' Sweet Tooth|candy]] and the First started out acting like a spoiled teenager.
** In the revival series, the Master is something of a [[Psychopathic Manchild]], to help cement him as the Doctor's [[Evil Counterpart]].
** In the revival series, the Master is something of a [[Psychopathic Manchild]], to help cement him as the Doctor's [[Evil Counterpart]].
* Less straightforward example: Older vampires from within the ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV)|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' universe tend to project "moderately clever adult who's been around the block a few times" more than "old man". Angel's interest in [[Badass Longcoat|looking cool]] is occasionally lampshaded as age-inappropriate, despite the series stressing his maturity relative to the [[Competence Zone|teens and 20-somethings he hangs out with]].
* Less straightforward example: Older vampires from within the ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' universe tend to project "moderately clever adult who's been around the block a few times" more than "old man". Angel's interest in [[Badass Longcoat|looking cool]] is occasionally lampshaded as age-inappropriate, despite the series stressing his maturity relative to the [[Competence Zone|teens and 20-somethings he hangs out with]].
** Anya was also something of an interesting case. Her behavior was explainable at first due to her life as a demon that had no relationship with humans. When it was eventually revealed that she was a human at one point in time, however, the explanation was retconned simply by demonstrating that she was always just plain weird. Spending eleven hundred years as a demon probably did not help.
** Anya was also something of an interesting case. Her behavior was explainable at first due to her life as a demon that had no relationship with humans. When it was eventually revealed that she was a human at one point in time, however, the explanation was retconned simply by demonstrating that she was always just plain weird. Spending eleven hundred years as a demon probably did not help.
** Spike, a vampire over a hundred and forty years old, mopes like a teenager when Drusilla breaks up with him. He gets some motherly advice from Joyce Summers, a human woman a fraction of his age. (The fraction in this case being 'less than a third but more than a quarter'.)
** Spike, a vampire over a hundred and forty years old, mopes like a teenager when Drusilla breaks up with him. He gets some motherly advice from Joyce Summers, a human woman a fraction of his age. (The fraction in this case being 'less than a third but more than a quarter'.)
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* In the TV shows ''[[Hercules: The Legendary Journeys]]'' and ''[[Xena: Warrior Princess]]'', the gods are pretty much just 30-year-olds (or even 12-year-olds that look 30) with big egos.
* In the TV shows ''[[Hercules: The Legendary Journeys]]'' and ''[[Xena: Warrior Princess]]'', the gods are pretty much just 30-year-olds (or even 12-year-olds that look 30) with big egos.
** Which is either a case of Did The Research or a coincidence, as the Greek gods were often portrayed as petty and cruel in the original mythology, as noted below.
** Which is either a case of Did The Research or a coincidence, as the Greek gods were often portrayed as petty and cruel in the original mythology, as noted below.
* Trelane, in the ''[[Star Trek the Original Series]]'' "The Squire Of Gothos," was an extremely powerful near-god and hundreds if not thousands of years old, but acted like a child...and by the standards of his race, he was--''his parents'' showed up at the end to drag their whining kid home.
* Trelane, in the ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]'' "The Squire Of Gothos," was an extremely powerful near-god and hundreds if not thousands of years old, but acted like a child...and by the standards of his race, he was--''his parents'' showed up at the end to drag their whining kid home.
** Q from the [[Star Trek the Next Generation|later series]] was similar, but more in line of the ''Hercules'' and ''Xena'' gods: looks to be 30, huge ego, power to match.
** Q from the [[Star Trek: The Next Generation|later series]] was similar, but more in line of the ''Hercules'' and ''Xena'' gods: looks to be 30, huge ego, power to match.
*** And, of course, Peter David would make Trelane a Q (non-canonically) in the novel ''Q-Squared''.
*** And, of course, Peter David would make Trelane a Q (non-canonically) in the novel ''Q-Squared''.
** Jadzia Dax, though not technically immortal, has several lifetimes of experience. Yet you wouldn't know it if [[Informed Attribute|they hadn't told you about it.]]
** Jadzia Dax, though not technically immortal, has several lifetimes of experience. Yet you wouldn't know it if [[Informed Attribute|they hadn't told you about it.]]
* Averted with ''[[Highlander (TV)|Highlander: The Series]]''. Given the way they live -- constantly on the lookout for people with swords, forced into kill-or-be-killed duels, watching mortal friends grow old and die, moving around to avoid detection -- most Immortals trade their immaturity for a more practical outlook on life. The only immortal child shown uses his apparent innocence as a honey trap so he can kill other Immortals.
* Averted with ''[[Highlander (TV series)|Highlander: The Series]]''. Given the way they live -- constantly on the lookout for people with swords, forced into kill-or-be-killed duels, watching mortal friends grow old and die, moving around to avoid detection -- most Immortals trade their immaturity for a more practical outlook on life. The only immortal child shown uses his apparent innocence as a honey trap so he can kill other Immortals.




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== [[Video Games]] ==
== [[Video Games]] ==
* ''[[Xenogears (Video Game)|Xenogears]]'' features several characters who are quasi-immortal. Some have lived for hundreds of years, a few for as many as ten thousand. {{spoiler|Emperor Cain and the Gazel Ministry}} act as one might imagine. The former is a world-weary, very old man who has kept his moral compass intact due to guilt over a sin committed long ago, the former being very anxious to transcend to a higher level of existence and possessing of no moral compass whatsoever. Then, there is {{spoiler|Miang}}, who has lived as long, but in a different manner: she possesses a new body when her current one dies. When we meet her, she has the body of a beautiful young woman and appears to act like one, being flirtatious and sexually-active. Yet, it's difficult to tell how genuine this is, because her entire existence is devoted to executing the mother of all [[Plan|plans]], and everything she does serves this end.
* ''[[Xenogears]]'' features several characters who are quasi-immortal. Some have lived for hundreds of years, a few for as many as ten thousand. {{spoiler|Emperor Cain and the Gazel Ministry}} act as one might imagine. The former is a world-weary, very old man who has kept his moral compass intact due to guilt over a sin committed long ago, the former being very anxious to transcend to a higher level of existence and possessing of no moral compass whatsoever. Then, there is {{spoiler|Miang}}, who has lived as long, but in a different manner: she possesses a new body when her current one dies. When we meet her, she has the body of a beautiful young woman and appears to act like one, being flirtatious and sexually-active. Yet, it's difficult to tell how genuine this is, because her entire existence is devoted to executing the mother of all [[Plan|plans]], and everything she does serves this end.
* In the ''[[Touhou]]'' series, the vampire Flandre Scarlet has a justified reason for typically being portrayed with a naive childish mentality: her sister Remilia has kept her locked-up in the house for the last 500+ years. She never gained perspective about the world. (And a bit insane on top of that.)
* In the ''[[Touhou]]'' series, the vampire Flandre Scarlet has a justified reason for typically being portrayed with a naive childish mentality: her sister Remilia has kept her locked-up in the house for the last 500+ years. She never gained perspective about the world. (And a bit insane on top of that.)
** Remilia herself is said to have the personality of a selfish, spoiled brat. She [[Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass|can get serious]] if the situation really merits her attention, and is actually [[Magnificent Bastard|remarkably on top of things]], but her behaviour is that of a spoiled nine-year-old about 95% of the time.
** Remilia herself is said to have the personality of a selfish, spoiled brat. She [[Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass|can get serious]] if the situation really merits her attention, and is actually [[Magnificent Bastard|remarkably on top of things]], but her behaviour is that of a spoiled nine-year-old about 95% of the time.
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{{quote| Tenshi: [[Fluffy Cloud Heaven|Every day is singing, singing, drinking, dancing, and singing again, over and over]]... I was bored out of my mind! So I came down to the surface and watched you playing with all kinds of different [[Youkai]]... Seeing that made me think, "[[And You Thought It Was a Game|I want to play disaster resolution too]]." [[Designated Villain|So I caused one. A disaster, I mean]].<br />
{{quote| Tenshi: [[Fluffy Cloud Heaven|Every day is singing, singing, drinking, dancing, and singing again, over and over]]... I was bored out of my mind! So I came down to the surface and watched you playing with all kinds of different [[Youkai]]... Seeing that made me think, "[[And You Thought It Was a Game|I want to play disaster resolution too]]." [[Designated Villain|So I caused one. A disaster, I mean]].<br />
Tenshi: [[Who Wants to Live Forever?|I don't want to go on living the boring life of a celestial forever.]] }}
Tenshi: [[Who Wants to Live Forever?|I don't want to go on living the boring life of a celestial forever.]] }}
* ''[[Mother 3 (Video Game)|Mother 3]]'' has {{spoiler|Porky. He will stay that way forever due to both time warping too many times and for trapping himself in the Absolutely Safe Capsule at the end of the game.}}
* ''[[Mother 3]]'' has {{spoiler|Porky. He will stay that way forever due to both time warping too many times and for trapping himself in the Absolutely Safe Capsule at the end of the game.}}
* ''[[Fate Stay Night|Fate/Stay Night]]'': Saber is, we are told, not actually fifteen; after receiving her sword {{spoiler|and becoming King Arthur}}, she didn't age over the next ten years, and she's really in her twenties. Not only does nobody mention how strange it is for her to have a romance with the seventeen year old main character, but she's as naive emotionally as a real seventeen year old, which is [[Hand Wave|Hand Waved]] by claiming that {{spoiler|as the king}} she had no personal life.
* ''[[Fate/stay night]]'': Saber is, we are told, not actually fifteen; after receiving her sword {{spoiler|and becoming King Arthur}}, she didn't age over the next ten years, and she's really in her twenties. Not only does nobody mention how strange it is for her to have a romance with the seventeen year old main character, but she's as naive emotionally as a real seventeen year old, which is [[Hand Wave|Hand Waved]] by claiming that {{spoiler|as the king}} she had no personal life.
** Ciel from ''[[Tsukihime]]'' has a similar situation going on, but in that case it's actually lampshaded in Kagetsu Tohya.
** Ciel from ''[[Tsukihime]]'' has a similar situation going on, but in that case it's actually lampshaded in Kagetsu Tohya.
* Arcueid Brunestud, of the visual novel ''[[Tsukihime]]'', is also much like the previous entries. She's an ancient [[Our Vampires Are Different|True Ancestor]], but she was [[Tyke Bomb|bred to be a weapon]] and not a person by her own race, and so they kept her asleep all the time except when she was sent to kill someone... so her demeanour on the outside world is not unlike that of a curious and confident child, marveling at everything new she comes across and being generally naive and emotionally outspoken. [[Justified Trope|She really]] ''[[Justified Trope|isn't]]'' [[Justified Trope|any older emotionally than she acts.]]
* Arcueid Brunestud, of the visual novel ''[[Tsukihime]]'', is also much like the previous entries. She's an ancient [[Our Vampires Are Different|True Ancestor]], but she was [[Tyke Bomb|bred to be a weapon]] and not a person by her own race, and so they kept her asleep all the time except when she was sent to kill someone... so her demeanour on the outside world is not unlike that of a curious and confident child, marveling at everything new she comes across and being generally naive and emotionally outspoken. [[Justified Trope|She really]] ''[[Justified Trope|isn't]]'' [[Justified Trope|any older emotionally than she acts.]]
* The angels and demons in the ''[[Disgaea]]'' series are all over a thousand years old, but since time flows differently in their dimensions, they age 100 times slower then normal and act exactly as old as they look.
* The angels and demons in the ''[[Disgaea]]'' series are all over a thousand years old, but since time flows differently in their dimensions, they age 100 times slower then normal and act exactly as old as they look.
* Xiaomu of ''[[Endless Frontier]]'' and ''[[Namco X Capcom (Video Game)|Namco X Capcom]]''. She may be a 700+ year old sage fox, but she can be immature about certain things, enough to be even [[Spank the Cutie|spanked]] for them.
* Xiaomu of ''[[Endless Frontier]]'' and ''[[Namco X Capcom]]''. She may be a 700+ year old sage fox, but she can be immature about certain things, enough to be even [[Spank the Cutie|spanked]] for them.
* Prishe from ''[[Final Fantasy XI]]'' is a [[Hot-Blooded]] [[Tsundere]]. Granted, she's only in her 30s chronologically, but she doesn't act 30.
* Prishe from ''[[Final Fantasy XI]]'' is a [[Hot-Blooded]] [[Tsundere]]. Granted, she's only in her 30s chronologically, but she doesn't act 30.
* All of the four goddesses of ''[[Hyperdimension Neptunia]]'' exhibit this trope, one way or another.
* All of the four goddesses of ''[[Hyperdimension Neptunia]]'' exhibit this trope, one way or another.
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== [[Web Comics]] ==
== [[Web Comics]] ==
* The undead warlock Richard from ''[[Looking for Group]]'' borders on [[Man Child]] at times.
* The undead warlock Richard from ''[[Looking for Group]]'' borders on [[Man Child]] at times.
* ''[[El Goonish Shive (Webcomic)|El Goonish Shive]]'' takes the effort to make it a [[Justified Trope]] as the immortals erase their own memories to avoid the complete boredom involved in knowing everything.
* ''[[El Goonish Shive]]'' takes the effort to make it a [[Justified Trope]] as the immortals erase their own memories to avoid the complete boredom involved in knowing everything.
** Played straight with Chaos, the all powerful nobody-knows-what with the attention span of a gnat who manifests as a [[Creepy Child]].
** Played straight with Chaos, the all powerful nobody-knows-what with the attention span of a gnat who manifests as a [[Creepy Child]].
** Its pretty clear that she's an immortal who refused to "die" (the erasing memories thing); the immortal who explained the whole thing mentioned that they get "more powerful and less sane" as time passes, which describes "Pandora Chaos Raven" (self-named) pretty well.
** Its pretty clear that she's an immortal who refused to "die" (the erasing memories thing); the immortal who explained the whole thing mentioned that they get "more powerful and less sane" as time passes, which describes "Pandora Chaos Raven" (self-named) pretty well.
* The angels Rumisiel, Cassiel, and Vashiel from ''[[Misfile (Webcomic)|Misfile]]'' range from 437 years old to possibly several thousand years old and yet still act like teenagers.
* The angels Rumisiel, Cassiel, and Vashiel from ''[[Misfile]]'' range from 437 years old to possibly several thousand years old and yet still act like teenagers.
** Especially Rumisiel and Cassiel; Vashiel is somewhat more believable, just deeply honest (to the level that it's physically impossible for him to lie) and highly clueless about stuff he hasn't paid much attention to in his long history of smiting.
** Especially Rumisiel and Cassiel; Vashiel is somewhat more believable, just deeply honest (to the level that it's physically impossible for him to lie) and highly clueless about stuff he hasn't paid much attention to in his long history of smiting.
** Also horny and uncomfortable with it, but since angels in this setting are both immortal and an actual breeding species and he's clearly in his breeding years, this makes some kind of sense.
** Also horny and uncomfortable with it, but since angels in this setting are both immortal and an actual breeding species and he's clearly in his breeding years, this makes some kind of sense.
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* In ''[[Order of the Stick]]'' Xykon is not particularly mature for an immortal lich with more than a century of life behind him. ''[[Start of Darkness]]'' reveals that he was never very mature to begin with, even as an eighty-year old man. He even lampshades how, even at his advanced age, his "life's wisdom" boils down to little more than "sure, being a badass villain is a barrel of laughs, but what's the point if you can't even enjoy the little things in life" (which to him is mostly watching people die gruesomely and drinking coffee). That said, Xykon can be surprisingly clever and patient if he ''wants'' to.
* In ''[[Order of the Stick]]'' Xykon is not particularly mature for an immortal lich with more than a century of life behind him. ''[[Start of Darkness]]'' reveals that he was never very mature to begin with, even as an eighty-year old man. He even lampshades how, even at his advanced age, his "life's wisdom" boils down to little more than "sure, being a badass villain is a barrel of laughs, but what's the point if you can't even enjoy the little things in life" (which to him is mostly watching people die gruesomely and drinking coffee). That said, Xykon can be surprisingly clever and patient if he ''wants'' to.
** Redcloak is another example, played in a different way. His aging processes has been retarded by the magical cloak he wears, and he's eventually called out on this by his ([[Big Little Brother|normally aging]]) younger brother: He's spent most of his time following the Dark One's directives (and later, Xykon's) and hasn't used any of that time to actually live a life; and because he never ages, he hasn't been forced to move on from [[Doomed Hometown|the tragedy]] of their past the way Right-Eye had to.
** Redcloak is another example, played in a different way. His aging processes has been retarded by the magical cloak he wears, and he's eventually called out on this by his ([[Big Little Brother|normally aging]]) younger brother: He's spent most of his time following the Dark One's directives (and later, Xykon's) and hasn't used any of that time to actually live a life; and because he never ages, he hasn't been forced to move on from [[Doomed Hometown|the tragedy]] of their past the way Right-Eye had to.
* Mab and most of the other Fae from ''[[Dan and Mabs Furry Adventures]]'', sort of. Essentially everything they do is a matter of "[[It Amused Me]]," but they operate and think in an entirely different way from anyone else, and evidence suggests that they can also be mature if that's what amuses them at the time. Additionally, since they're immortal and have a flexible view of time, this behavior might be a way to avoid going totally insane. There is also a somewhat sinister slant to their apparent immaturity, especially given their general view of things as being a game of sorts, and that fact that despite near-omnipotence they will still allow their friends to die in preventable ways.
* Mab and most of the other Fae from ''[[Dan and Mab's Furry Adventures]]'', sort of. Essentially everything they do is a matter of "[[It Amused Me]]," but they operate and think in an entirely different way from anyone else, and evidence suggests that they can also be mature if that's what amuses them at the time. Additionally, since they're immortal and have a flexible view of time, this behavior might be a way to avoid going totally insane. There is also a somewhat sinister slant to their apparent immaturity, especially given their general view of things as being a game of sorts, and that fact that despite near-omnipotence they will still allow their friends to die in preventable ways.
** This behavior also appears in some of the mortal-but-extremely-long-lived characters. Abel and Kria don't always act like they are in their 400's. Dan and Regina have some excuse though since they actually are in their 20's.
** This behavior also appears in some of the mortal-but-extremely-long-lived characters. Abel and Kria don't always act like they are in their 400's. Dan and Regina have some excuse though since they actually are in their 20's.
*** Incubi and succubi in general are creatures of emotion, and apparently have a harder time controlling their own in turn, though the clan leaders are more than capable of being serious - perhaps because they are millenia old. Demons have no such excuses, however.
*** Incubi and succubi in general are creatures of emotion, and apparently have a harder time controlling their own in turn, though the clan leaders are more than capable of being serious - perhaps because they are millenia old. Demons have no such excuses, however.
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* ''[[Futurama]]'' parodied this trope in the episode "Where No Fan Has Gone Before": it turns out that Melllvar the "immortal" energy being is only 34.
* ''[[Futurama]]'' parodied this trope in the episode "Where No Fan Has Gone Before": it turns out that Melllvar the "immortal" energy being is only 34.
** Played for laughs in the opposite direction though - when Melllvar's mother drags him off to dinner and Fry makes a Star-Trekky comment about how they thought he was a mighty, god-like being, but he was only a child (see Trelane, above). Then his mother says, "Child? He's thirty-four," playing up the [[Basement Dweller]] trope.
** Played for laughs in the opposite direction though - when Melllvar's mother drags him off to dinner and Fry makes a Star-Trekky comment about how they thought he was a mighty, god-like being, but he was only a child (see Trelane, above). Then his mother says, "Child? He's thirty-four," playing up the [[Basement Dweller]] trope.
* Disney's ''[[Gargoyles (Animation)|Gargoyles]]''
* Disney's ''[[Gargoyles]]''
** Demona. Macbeth doesn't suffer from the same problem, having accepted life and its troubles more than she does. (Macbeth is a somewhat dodgy aversion. The event that granted them their immortality turned him into an old, if [[Grandma, What Massive Hotness You Have!|fit]], man at the same time.) Demona, by the way, was an old woman at the time, and part of the deal had them swapping ages. And even when she ''was'' an old woman, she was still an immature punk, while Macbeth was fairly mature as a young man.
** Demona. Macbeth doesn't suffer from the same problem, having accepted life and its troubles more than she does. (Macbeth is a somewhat dodgy aversion. The event that granted them their immortality turned him into an old, if [[Grandma, What Massive Hotness You Have!|fit]], man at the same time.) Demona, by the way, was an old woman at the time, and part of the deal had them swapping ages. And even when she ''was'' an old woman, she was still an immature punk, while Macbeth was fairly mature as a young man.
** The [[The Fair Folk|Children of Oberon]] frequently do act like children: immature, god-like, arrogant children. As [[Word of God|Greg Weisman]] said, they have "[[Spider Man|Great power. Little or no responsibility]]," in addition to being immortal, and apparently never needing to worry about disease or even feed themselves. They get to spend their whole lives playing games and fighting each other. They aren't necessarily evil, but even the best of them don't actually grasp concepts like mortality.
** The [[The Fair Folk|Children of Oberon]] frequently do act like children: immature, god-like, arrogant children. As [[Word of God|Greg Weisman]] said, they have "[[Spider-Man|Great power. Little or no responsibility]]," in addition to being immortal, and apparently never needing to worry about disease or even feed themselves. They get to spend their whole lives playing games and fighting each other. They aren't necessarily evil, but even the best of them don't actually grasp concepts like mortality.
* In ''[[Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends]]'', the imaginary friends don't age, either mentally or physically. Since they were made to be childhood companions, they're almost all intrinsically child-like.
* In ''[[Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends]]'', the imaginary friends don't age, either mentally or physically. Since they were made to be childhood companions, they're almost all intrinsically child-like.
** This also applies to Madame Foster, who, in spite of being this trope under her [[Obfuscating Stupidity|old lady demeanor]], strangely enough imagined one of the only serious and straightforward friends in the series.
** This also applies to Madame Foster, who, in spite of being this trope under her [[Obfuscating Stupidity|old lady demeanor]], strangely enough imagined one of the only serious and straightforward friends in the series.
*** [[Fridge Brilliance|Fridge]] – All of the other imaginary friends leave their creators and move on to be friends to other children. It's entirely possible that because Madame Foster never left her Funny Bunny that he aged with her. Possibly the same thing may happen with Bloo.
*** [[Fridge Brilliance|Fridge]] – All of the other imaginary friends leave their creators and move on to be friends to other children. It's entirely possible that because Madame Foster never left her Funny Bunny that he aged with her. Possibly the same thing may happen with Bloo.
* Takua, one of the oldest beings in the ''[[Bionicle]]'' universe, likes to put light crystals on his head and run around pretending to be a bunny rabbit.
* Takua, one of the oldest beings in the ''[[Bionicle]]'' universe, likes to put light crystals on his head and run around pretending to be a bunny rabbit.
* On ''[[Adventure Time (Animation)|Adventure Time]],'' thousand-year-old [[Our Vampires Are Different|vampire]] [[Ensemble Darkhorse|Marceline]] offhandedly comments ([[Crowning Music of Awesome|in song]]) that she's not a ''mean'' person, but has "lost track of her moral code" at some point over her long life. [[Characterization Marches On|She seems to find it]] over the course of other episodes, though she still runs largely on [[It Amused Me]] and [["Just Joking" Justification]].
* On ''[[Adventure Time]],'' thousand-year-old [[Our Vampires Are Different|vampire]] [[Ensemble Darkhorse|Marceline]] offhandedly comments ([[Crowning Music of Awesome|in song]]) that she's not a ''mean'' person, but has "lost track of her moral code" at some point over her long life. [[Characterization Marches On|She seems to find it]] over the course of other episodes, though she still runs largely on [[It Amused Me]] and [["Just Joking" Justification]].


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