Annin

Directory: Characters → Deities → Local Deities

"Child! How dare you insult me? You're in my world now!" — "The End, The Beginning"

Annin
アンニン
An'nin
Anime name	Annin
Alias	Tajoro Taijōrōkun
Debuts
Debut	"Mystery of the Dark World"
Appears in
Characteristics
Race	Deity
Gender	Female
Professional Status
Address	Mount Five Element
Personal Status
Relatives	King Yemma (boss) Grandpa Gohan (attendant)

Annin (アンニン, An'nin) is the guardian of the sacred Furnace of Eight Divisions, the border between life on Earth and the Other World. She is among one of the few beings working under King Yemma that does not appear to be an ogre and instead looks to be somewhat human in physical form. Annin is immortal and presumably ageless.

Personality

Annin takes her job as the guardian of the furnace very seriously. Keeping the furnace fire to prevent demons from escaping into the world of the living is her top priority. She also has quite a temper when it comes to her age, as she was very offended when Goku unintentionally makes fun of it. Grandpa Gohan also implied that she gets upset when her noodles are not ready. She's also the kind of person which resolves to settle a discussion with a fight, as per Goku's insistence she decided to battle him over the decision of turning off the furnace. In spite of of all, Annin is a very hospitable and honorable deity, proven by the fact she stopped attacking Goku when he used the Basho Fan during their quarrel, knowing well that obtaining it was the proof of a worthy person.

Biography

Dragon Ball

Piccolo Jr. Saga

Main article: Piccolo Jr. Saga

Annin eating noodles in front of Goku and Grandpa Gohan

Annin is the sole pyre keeper of the Furnace of Eight Divisions, having secured the position for over ten thousand years. She is indeed very ancient due to this fact, even in spite of her attractive and youthful appearance.

Goku confronts Annin about the flames violently erupting on Fire Mountain, which had threatened to obliterate both the Ox-King and his entire village, to propose a hasty solution to extinguish the fires. Annin turns down this request for the sole intent of preventing demons from escaping Other World premises, as if the flames were to be extinguished even for a momentary period of time, they would be permitted total access to the world of the living.

Annin with a resolute expression

Goku, of course, refuses to let up on his request and persists in attempting to convince Annin otherwise; this eventually leads into a brief bout between the two, in which Goku discovers her true age and unintentionally mocks her for it. Enraged at Goku's insolence, Annin transforms into a giant to pulverize the miniature-sized hero, employing various different methods in doing so (such as using her headpieces to attempt to stab Goku, as well as the gales caused by the flapping of her cape). Goku manages to counter her furious attacks due to the unrelenting power and force of the Bansho Fan, which consequently shocks Annin at its convenient and sudden presence.

Annin soon suggests an alternative method of extinguishing the flames, guiding Goku through the flames of the Furnace of Eight Divisions to quell the fire and thus, save the Ox-King and his castle. Following her appearance, Annin is never seen nor mentioned again.

Power

Annin confronts Goku with her guan dao

Annin demonstrates a high degree of control with her guan dao, as well as superb reflexes and power beyond that of natural humans. It is evidenced that Annin possesses a fair degree of strength far exceeding the capacity of Earthlings. This is implied due to her being capable of reducing an entire boulder to smithereens with the simple toss of a mere noodle bowl; the full extent of her strength is revealed during her Giant Form. Theoretically, her strength is heightened to that of monstrous levels in her Giant Form, allowing her to attack more ferociously. During her brief bout with Goku, who was below her fifty ft. (or more) stature, she was able to counter his attacks and, somewhat, battle on an even ground. Though when on the same scale, Goku seemingly outmatched her with little effort.

Techniques

Annin flapping her cape around to summon forth gusts of wind

• Feather Throw – Annin is able to elongate the feathers on her headpiece to attack her opponent. She uses this technique against Goku, in both her base and giant forms. Also used in Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans.
• Swordsmanship – Annin is capable of utilizing her guan dao and its deadly force to the fullest extent, making her capable of dealing out lethal strikes.

Transformation

Giant Form

Main article: Giant Form Annin possesses the ability to increase her size to incredible heights, which multiplies her strength to superhuman levels. She appears to retain her reflexes in this form, and is also able to tackle Goku head-on while using this technique.

Video Game Appearances

• Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans

Voice actresses

• Japanese: Keiko Yokozawa
• English:
  • FUNimation dub: Mae Moreno
  • Blue Water dub: Meredith Taylor-Parry

Battles

• Annin vs. Goku (Anime only)

Trivia

• Annin's name likely comes from annin tofu, a Chinese jellied dessert made with almond milk. The Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word for "almond" is annin (杏仁), which is where the character's name is taken from.
  • Additionally, "annin" is also used to refer to the apricot seed in Japanese.
• Annin is based on the character Taishang Laojun from Journey to the West, as her title in the Japanese version of Dragon Ball, Taijōrōkun (太上老君), is taken from the Japanese pronunciation of his name. In Journey to the West, Taishang Laojun attempts to kill Sun Wukong by placing him inside of a mystical furnace, which was loosely adapted into the plot of the episode Annin features in.

Gallery

Annin attempting to feed Goku Annin pointing Annin with a serious expression Annin in contemplation Annin, after being angered Annin subduing Goku with her headpieces Annin, battle-ready Annin withdrawing her guan dao Annin on the attack Annin attacking Goku with her guan dao Annin shocked by Goku's superb reflexes Annin being struck in the torso by Goku Annin, contentedly staring down at Goku and the others Annin clutching her breastplate painfully Annin in immense pain following an attack from Goku Annin enraged Annin preparing to transform to full size Annin after fully expanding, towering over Goku Annin standing in a condescending position above Goku Annin attempts to stab Goku down with her sharp headpieces Annin's gigantic boot trying to smash Goku Annin uncomfortably being repelled by the Bansho Fan Annin perplexed by Goku's possession of the Bansho Fan Annin at giant size, gripping the handle of the Furnace of Eight Divisions Annin undoing the hatch to the Furnace of Eight Divisions Annin, full body portrait