Ancients
Ancients are a colloquial term used to refer exceptionally long-lived individuals. Since it is a colloquial term, there is not a universal definition, but a good rule of thumb in determining whether or not someone is an Ancient is whether or not they were born before the Unification Wars. As of modern day in To the Stars they are typically over the age of 350.
Since clinical immortality via Project Eden was achieved relatively recently in the story (circa. 2240 - 2300), all Ancients are necessarily Magical Girls.[1]
Ancient culture is thus deeply influenced by the experiences of Magical Girls in a resource-scarce past. Ryouko muses about the generational gap between Ancients and people born post-Project Eden while she watched Akemi with her friends in Chapter 11, the biographical film about Akemi Homura:
Watching about Homura’s childhood, she pondered just how different a world the “Ancients” hailed from. No one to rely on but you and your team, always living on the edge of survival, a world where failure didn’t mean someone would pick you up so you could try again, but death, plain and simple death. A world where you couldn’t even leave your section of the tiny city without risking conflict; a world where you always had enemies, whether you wanted them or not.[2]
Notable Ancients
Oldest Living Magical Girl:
