There are many character archetypes in anime and Japanese games that you will often see repeatedly. Four archetypes are more common than the “deres,” tsundere, kuudere, dandere, and yandere.
The main differences between these character archetypes can be tied down to their personality and how they act around someone they’re attracted to. Tsunderes act rude and high and mighty to cover up their feelings of affection. Yanderes are seemingly normal but are actually a bit psychotic. Kuuderes are calm, cool, and responsible. They also tend to be a bit emotionless despite feeling a great deal of emotions. Lastly, Danderes are antisocial and quiet, but can be more social once they open up.
The Japanese term “dere” is derived from “dere dere,” which is an onomatopoeia that means “lovestruck.” Combining this word with other words creates new terms that describe the love interests of anime and video games. These terms are often used to describe female characters but can also be used to describe male characters.
Keep going to know more.
What’s a Tsundere?
The tsundere is the most popular of all the deres. The Japanese word “tsuntsun”, which means “aloof” or “high and mighty,” is what gives tsundere its name. Tsunderes can be a bit rigid on the outside, but they are loving inside.
Tsunderes often feel embarrassed or unsure about their romantic feelings. They become more belligerent and egotistical when they are near the people who have their affections. These characters are characterized by their constant struggle between pride and love.
As tsundere characters grow and accept their feelings, they frequently remain in “tsun mode” in public but become more “dere” in private.
A character who says, “It’s not that I like you or anything,” is almost certain to be a tsundere.
Examples of Tsundere characters:
- Asuka Langley Soryu (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
- Naru Narusegawa (Love Hina)
- Yukari Takeba (Persona 3)
- Lulu ( Final Fantasy X).
Tsundere, a slang born online, describes the character nature of anime and video game characters. Tsundere is the combination of two words “Tsun Tsun” and “Dere Dere”. Both terms refer to the person’s attitude. “Tsun Tsun” refers to a cold/blunt/curt mentality, and “DereDere” is when someone becomes spoony in front of their/her lover.
What does a Yandere mean?
Yandere is another character archetype. “Yan” is derived from “yanderu“, which means “to be sick” and in this instance, it refers to being mentally sick or “crazy”. The “crazy” is usually an inner struggle for the character.
A yandere may appear normal on the outside. She is happy, social, and well-liked. Love drives her insane, often violently. A yandere is driven by fear. She fears another person (usually another girl), will take her lover. She is prepared to kill and kidnap anyone she can to stop this.
There are two types of yanderes: possessive and obsessive. Obsessives will kill everyone and everything that stands in their way of having their true love. Possessives will even kill those they love to ensure they never have another.
Example of Yandere characters:
- Yuno Gasai ( Mirai Nikki – The Future Diary).
- Kotonoha Katsura and Sekai Saionji (School Days)
- Catherine (Catherine).
- Hitagi Senjogahara (Nisemonogatari)
- Kimmy Howell ( No More Heroes2).
It is not the same as tsundere. Instead, it refers to an anime character who is either violent or psychotic and is affectionate to the main character. One of the most popular examples of a Yandere is Yuno Gasai from Future Diary. She starts as a seemingly normal girl, but things escalate when she is obsessed with the main character, Yuuki. She eventually ends up causing a lot of deaths.
What makes a Kuudere?
Kuudere’s “kuu” is derived from the Japanese pronunciation of “cool” (kuru). It is used to describe someone who is composed and calm on the outside. They are responsible and take control of situations. They are the ones everyone turns to when they need help.
Kuuderes speak in a calm, monotone voice and are seemingly unaffected by the environment around them. They don’t seem overly excited or happy. In extreme cases, they may seem completely emotionless.
Kuuderes can be the school presidents who keep their schools running. Sometimes, they are professional assistants to their superiors, whom they love and respect.
Kuuderes are business-like and strict, but they can be emotional under their self-control. They are afraid of showing weakness, such as confessing to liking someone or being able to rely on them emotionally and professionally. Others are unsure how to express their emotions and, in extreme cases, aren’t even certain what they mean.
Examples of Kuudere characters:
- Rei Ayanami (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
- Riza Hawkeye ( Full Metal Alchemist).
- Presea Combatir ( Tales of Symphonia).
- Naoto Shirogane (Persona 4)
A slang term used in anime/manga for a cold, blunt, cynical character who doesn’t care about the death of her beloved. She may appear cold and cynical on the outside, but she is caring and kind inside. This differs from tsundere, meaning that the character’s temperature fluctuates between dere and tsun. Kuudere refers to when the character shows her caring side only occasionally.
What do you mean by a Dandere?
The Japanese word “dan” for dandere is derived from “danmari” (Mo Ri) which means silence. A dandere is an antisocial, quiet character.
Danderes are often shy or embarrassed to speak up but want to be social. They fear saying the wrong thing could get them in trouble or make them feel awkward socially, so they avoid speaking up.
Once danderes become friends, they can lose all social inhibitions and be cute and happy, especially with those they love.
Examples of Dandere characters:
- Yuki Nagato ( Haruhi Suzumiya).
- Hyuuga Hinata (Naruto)
- Fuuka Yamagishi (Persona 3)
- Elize Lutus ( Tales of Xillia).
A dandere character archetype is one that is quiet and often associated with shyness. Dan comes from the word “Danmark,” which means quiet and taciturn. “Dere” is an abbreviation for “lovey-dovey.” Not to be confused with Kuudere, which refers to a cool person who becomes lovey-dovey. Although they may appear similar in appearance and behavior, their core character reasoning is quite different. It is better to be cool than silent just for the sake of it.
Are Yandere and Yangire related?
In a way, Yanderes and Yangires are related, but that does not mean they’re the same. A Yandere will act crazy in the name of “love” whereas Yangires are typically psychotic with or without “love”.
Take the anime Mirai Nikki or Future Dairy. One of the main protagonists, Yuno, is the poster girl for Yanderes. She’s seemingly normal but is often crazy about her love interest, Yuki. That makes her a Yandere.
But another character in the show, Ninth or Uryuu Minene, is also psychotic. She goes around with bombs and causes a lot of death and destruction. However, her insanity, unlike Yuno’s, is not driven by love.
She’s “crazy” simply because she is, not because she’s in love with someone. That’s what makes her a Yangire. (There’s more to her character, but discussing it further would be a spoiler).
Are “dere” types exclusive only to the romance genre of anime?
Contrary to popular belief, “dere” types can actually be found in all genres of anime.
Because “deredere” means “love-struck,” people assume it is exclusive only to the romantic side of anime, but it can be applied to all genres of anime.
For example, in the Shonen anime Attack on Titan, one could argue that Mikasa is a low-key Yandere (in which she can get violent when it comes to the person she loves). This can be seen in scenes where she gets jealous whenever Eren shows even the slightest bit of affection towards another girl in the show.
However, because the show’s main focus isn’t on the romance between Eren and Mikasa, her Yandere side is never truly explored. In addition to that, unlike a typical Yandere, Mikasa isn’t so insane as to murder her friends for the sake of Eren. This is why some would call her a “low-key” Yandere.
Conclusion
- Anime and Japanese games commonly feature character archetypes known as “deres.” Their four major types are tsundere, yandere, kudere, and dandere.
- These archetypes are defined by their personalities. And how they behave around someone they are attracted to.
- Tsunderes appear aloof or rude externally but are caring inside. They often struggle with their feelings.
- Yanderes may seem normal but become dangerously obsessed and possessive in love. They even resort to violence.
- Kuuderes are composed, responsible, and seemingly emotionless on the surface, with emotions concealed.
- Danderes are initially antisocial and quiet but open up once they become close to someone.
- These “dere” terms are derived from the Japanese word “deredere,” meaning “lovestruck.” These are commonly used to describe characters in anime and games.
- “Dere” types are in different anime genres, not just romance.
- These archetypes also find application in gaming and other forms of entertainment.
| TSUNDERE | YANDERE | KUUDERE | DANDERE |
| Acts can be rude and mean on the outside, but they are sweet inside. | Although they may appear sweet and charming from the outside, they will willingly kill others to protect them once they love someone deeply. | Acts cool but is not emotionally charged. Later on, however, they show sweetness. | Although they may appear sweet and charming from the outside, once they love someone deeply, they will willingly kill others to protect them. |