TV-Series
Description
Old Child, also known as Hugh, is one of the eight Servamps in the anime Servamp and holds the position of the Servamp of Pride. His full name is Hugh the Dark Algernon III, and his alias Old Child comes from a moniker that roughly translates as the forgotten one of the good old days. Although he appears to be a small child of about seventy-six centimeters in height, he is the second oldest of the eight Servamps. He has short black hair, sharp red eyes, and prominent fangs, and he dresses in an elaborate gothic style meant to evoke a dignified vampire, wearing a black suit with red coat-tails, a crimson-lined black cape, a tall top hat, and a monocle, and carrying a pipe that he sometimes uses like a walking cane.
His origin is unusual. Before becoming a Servamp, he existed as Algernon III, a wealthy and reclusive nobleman who lived alone in a castle outside a nearby town. The townspeople disliked him, and his habit of wearing black clothing reinforced his reputation as an outsider. The only person who visited him was a young boy named Hugh. Algernon initially tried to drive the boy away, but he eventually allowed him to stay, and the two formed a quiet companionship, even though they had little to talk about. Because Algernon never revealed his real name, the boy nicknamed him the Dark. When Algernon died of old age, content that his final days had been brightened by the boy's company, the grieving Hugh was found wrapped in Algernon's black cloak. The Count, the creator of the Servamps, then approached the boy and granted his wish to revive the old man, placing Algernon's soul into the boy's young body and turning it into a vampire, since Algernon's original body was too old to sustain him. Realizing he had been manipulated through Hugh's affection, Algernon was horrified and swore vengeance against the Count, though he kept this hatred concealed from the other Servamps.
In personality, Old Child embodies the pride and dignity of his role, but because he looks like a child, his arrogance often comes across as a small child trying to act mature and authoritative. He speaks in an old-fashioned, aristocratic manner, using the tone of an elderly person, and he is generally calm and highly knowledgeable about vampires and Servamp affairs, including matters such as the substance known as Jin. He often lectures others by beginning statements with the phrase a real vampire, describing what he considers proper vampiric behavior, yet he does not always live up to the standards he preaches. He also has an openly childish side, enjoying parfaits and becoming absorbed in toys, and on one occasion he eagerly tried to take every toy offered with a children's meal. At a later point in the story, after losing his powers, he adopts the frail mannerisms of an old man, complaining about back pain, showing memory lapses, and preferring tea, though later developments suggest this elderly behavior was not entirely genuine.
His primary motivation stems from his resentment toward the Count, who used the boy Hugh's love for him to force Algernon into a new body and a vampire existence. He quietly pursues vengeance against the Count while continuing to cooperate with his fellow Servamps. In the larger conflict, he joins the Servamp family's efforts against Tsubaki, the vampire who claims to be the eighth brother, and he also expands his network of subclass vampires and investigates Tsubaki's activities. According to his own account, he once lived in a large mansion in the United Kingdom that was demolished while he lay powerless during daylight, and he later ended up in Japan after accidentally falling asleep inside a cargo container. While tracking the scent of blood he describes as gourmet, he arrived at a hot spring lodge run by the Sendagaya family. Mistaken for an ordinary customer, he was given a room facing direct sunlight, which is intolerable for a vampire, and he watched as Tetsu Sendagaya boarded up the window to accommodate him. Impressed by Tetsu's straightforward nature and his potential as an Eve, Old Child contracted with Tetsu, and it was Tetsu who gave him the name Hugh. The pair later take part in the battles against Tsubaki, during which Old Child is caught in a trap and loses his powers, and he and Tetsu eventually join the other Servamps and their Eves in the ongoing struggle.
His key relationship is with Tetsu Sendagaya, his Eve. Their partnership is a mix of mentorship and mutual reliance. Old Child acts as an instructor, guiding Tetsu in matters concerning vampires and combat, and he helps Tetsu, who struggles with remembering things, by breaking tasks into simpler steps. Tetsu, in turn, places complete trust in Old Child's judgment and often repeats that Hugh is always right, while also acting as a protective caretaker because of Old Child's childlike form, doing things such as drying his hair and preparing his meals. The two maintain a close physical bond, with Old Child frequently perched on Tetsu's shoulder or resting in his lap. Among the other Servamps, he is noted for his pride and is said to dislike C3, the organization connected to Servamp affairs, more than his siblings do. His attitude toward the Count is one of hidden hatred, and he is careful not to reveal it to the others.
In terms of abilities, Old Child can transform into a small black bat, particularly when exposed to direct sunlight, and in this form he can still speak and even keeps his monocle. He can also disperse into a swarm of bats to overwhelm or attack opponents. His contract grants his Eve Tetsu the Lead ability called Black Box, which summons a swarm of bats from inside Old Child's coffin, with Old Child controlling them in battle as coordinated offensive attacks. He also claims to command the largest number of subclass vampires among the Servamps. His extensive knowledge of vampire lore and his status as the second oldest Servamp make him one of the more informed members of the group, and his development in the story centers on the contrast between his ancient, prideful nature and the genuine bond he forms with his Eve, a bond that stands apart from the manipulated origin that defines his past.
His origin is unusual. Before becoming a Servamp, he existed as Algernon III, a wealthy and reclusive nobleman who lived alone in a castle outside a nearby town. The townspeople disliked him, and his habit of wearing black clothing reinforced his reputation as an outsider. The only person who visited him was a young boy named Hugh. Algernon initially tried to drive the boy away, but he eventually allowed him to stay, and the two formed a quiet companionship, even though they had little to talk about. Because Algernon never revealed his real name, the boy nicknamed him the Dark. When Algernon died of old age, content that his final days had been brightened by the boy's company, the grieving Hugh was found wrapped in Algernon's black cloak. The Count, the creator of the Servamps, then approached the boy and granted his wish to revive the old man, placing Algernon's soul into the boy's young body and turning it into a vampire, since Algernon's original body was too old to sustain him. Realizing he had been manipulated through Hugh's affection, Algernon was horrified and swore vengeance against the Count, though he kept this hatred concealed from the other Servamps.
In personality, Old Child embodies the pride and dignity of his role, but because he looks like a child, his arrogance often comes across as a small child trying to act mature and authoritative. He speaks in an old-fashioned, aristocratic manner, using the tone of an elderly person, and he is generally calm and highly knowledgeable about vampires and Servamp affairs, including matters such as the substance known as Jin. He often lectures others by beginning statements with the phrase a real vampire, describing what he considers proper vampiric behavior, yet he does not always live up to the standards he preaches. He also has an openly childish side, enjoying parfaits and becoming absorbed in toys, and on one occasion he eagerly tried to take every toy offered with a children's meal. At a later point in the story, after losing his powers, he adopts the frail mannerisms of an old man, complaining about back pain, showing memory lapses, and preferring tea, though later developments suggest this elderly behavior was not entirely genuine.
His primary motivation stems from his resentment toward the Count, who used the boy Hugh's love for him to force Algernon into a new body and a vampire existence. He quietly pursues vengeance against the Count while continuing to cooperate with his fellow Servamps. In the larger conflict, he joins the Servamp family's efforts against Tsubaki, the vampire who claims to be the eighth brother, and he also expands his network of subclass vampires and investigates Tsubaki's activities. According to his own account, he once lived in a large mansion in the United Kingdom that was demolished while he lay powerless during daylight, and he later ended up in Japan after accidentally falling asleep inside a cargo container. While tracking the scent of blood he describes as gourmet, he arrived at a hot spring lodge run by the Sendagaya family. Mistaken for an ordinary customer, he was given a room facing direct sunlight, which is intolerable for a vampire, and he watched as Tetsu Sendagaya boarded up the window to accommodate him. Impressed by Tetsu's straightforward nature and his potential as an Eve, Old Child contracted with Tetsu, and it was Tetsu who gave him the name Hugh. The pair later take part in the battles against Tsubaki, during which Old Child is caught in a trap and loses his powers, and he and Tetsu eventually join the other Servamps and their Eves in the ongoing struggle.
His key relationship is with Tetsu Sendagaya, his Eve. Their partnership is a mix of mentorship and mutual reliance. Old Child acts as an instructor, guiding Tetsu in matters concerning vampires and combat, and he helps Tetsu, who struggles with remembering things, by breaking tasks into simpler steps. Tetsu, in turn, places complete trust in Old Child's judgment and often repeats that Hugh is always right, while also acting as a protective caretaker because of Old Child's childlike form, doing things such as drying his hair and preparing his meals. The two maintain a close physical bond, with Old Child frequently perched on Tetsu's shoulder or resting in his lap. Among the other Servamps, he is noted for his pride and is said to dislike C3, the organization connected to Servamp affairs, more than his siblings do. His attitude toward the Count is one of hidden hatred, and he is careful not to reveal it to the others.
In terms of abilities, Old Child can transform into a small black bat, particularly when exposed to direct sunlight, and in this form he can still speak and even keeps his monocle. He can also disperse into a swarm of bats to overwhelm or attack opponents. His contract grants his Eve Tetsu the Lead ability called Black Box, which summons a swarm of bats from inside Old Child's coffin, with Old Child controlling them in battle as coordinated offensive attacks. He also claims to command the largest number of subclass vampires among the Servamps. His extensive knowledge of vampire lore and his status as the second oldest Servamp make him one of the more informed members of the group, and his development in the story centers on the contrast between his ancient, prideful nature and the genuine bond he forms with his Eve, a bond that stands apart from the manipulated origin that defines his past.