Determining the absolute youngest kid in anime is tricky because "age" can be ambiguous (real-world equivalent age versus actual age) and depend on interpretation. However, based on known information and characters with definitively stated ages, Platelets from Cells at Work! are among the youngest, being only 7 to 10 days old.
Here's a breakdown considering different factors:
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Literal Age: The Platelets from Cells at Work! are cellular components, and their lifespans are explicitly stated to be only a matter of days. This makes them extremely young relative to human characters.
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Apparent Age/Developmental Stage: Many very young-looking anime characters have ambiguous or unclear ages, making direct comparisons difficult. Characters like Baby Beel from Beelzebub (around 2 years old) appear older than the Platelets, even though their biological ages are close comparatively (relative to overall lifespan).
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Other Contenders: While other characters like Anya Forger from Spy x Family (4-5 years old) are considered young protagonists, they are significantly older than the Platelets in terms of literal age.
Why Platelets stand out:
- Clear Age Definition: Their age is explicitly stated within the anime.
- Biological Age Correlation: Their short lifespan directly correlates with their biological function and stage of development.
Therefore, while there might be even younger entities in other anime series with less defined age parameters, the Platelets from Cells at Work! are a strong contender for the title of "youngest" based on explicitly stated age.