Hassam is a minor but pivotal character in the anime Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals, serving as the grandfather of the young summoner Linaly. He is presented as a very old man, visibly frail and dependent on his granddaughter for support due to his advanced age. His appearance is distinct, featuring a bald head, a long black mustache, and permanently squinting eyes. He typically wears small tinted pince-nez spectacles along with purple and yellow monk-like robes, and around his neck are various prayer beads. This attire, combined with a traditional Buddhist Kasa hat, gives him the demeanor of a wise but aging spiritual guide.

As a direct descendant of Bartz, the hero from Final Fantasy V, Hassam carries a quiet pride in his ancestry. He often recalls the legendary battle against the great evil Exdeath, a connection to the past that shapes his sense of duty. In the present day, two hundred years after those events, he is the one who first senses a terrible disturbance in the world's balance. This ominous feeling drives his primary motivation: to protect the remaining elemental Crystals from falling into the hands of the wizard Ra Devil.

Despite his noble intentions, Hassam is portrayed as clumsy and physically weak, frequently tripping and falling due to his age. This frailty is a key part of his character, as it forces him to rely entirely on Linaly to carry out their mission. At the start of the story, he sets out for the Wind Shrine with Linaly, but their journey is fraught with danger. During a trek through a desert, Hassam trips and falls down a rocky ledge, inadvertently disturbing a monstrous Antlion. The creature chases them, and though the swordsman Prettz arrives in time to slay the monster, Hassam is left severely weakened by the ordeal. He is taken to a nearby town where he becomes bedridden and is unable to continue the quest.

This injury marks a turning point in his role. Unable to travel, Hassam entrusts Linaly and the reluctant adventurer Prettz with the task of securing the Wind Crystal. From his sickbed, he transforms into a spiritual guide for the pair. Using a magical Yin-Yang charm, he is able to communicate with Linaly across great distances, offering essential guidance that helps them protect the Crystal and ultimately defeat the destructive god Deathgyunos. This ability demonstrates that while his physical body is weak, his spiritual and magical knowledge remains a powerful asset.

In terms of personality, Hassam is critical and somewhat protective, particularly regarding his granddaughter. He quickly notices Prettz's budding romantic feelings for Linaly and openly disapproves, attempting to dissuade her from pursuing a relationship with the young man. This skepticism toward Prettz adds a layer of interpersonal conflict to the early part of their adventure, as Hassam views him as an unworthy or distracting companion. He is shown to be somewhat proud of his heritage and is the primary source of exposition about the world's history, using his knowledge to set the plot in motion.

Hassam does not undergo a dramatic personal transformation, as his main development is a physical decline that shifts his function from an active participant to a passive mentor. However, his establishment as a descendant of Bartz connects the sequel directly to its predecessor, and his sacrifice of the journey for his granddaughter’s safety highlights his role as a selfless guardian. In the end, after the crisis is averted, Hassam is shown to have recovered sufficiently to return to a peaceful life, sailing down a river in a boat with Linaly and Prettz, suggesting that the three have found a harmonious resolution despite his earlier misgivings.