Tsundere

Tsundere (ツンデレ) is a Japanese term for a personality that is initially combative (cranky), and then loving (spoony). Tsundere is a combination of the two words tsuntsun (ツンツン), and deredere (デレデレ). Tsuntsun is defined as "aloof, morose, pointed", and deredere is defined as "exhausted, lovestruck". Tsunderekko is a related noun, referring to a girl with a tsundere personality, as meganekko is for a girl with glasses.

The term tsundere was originally inspired by characters from ren'ai video games . The archetypical tsundere character starts in the tsuntsun phase as an unpleasant or violent acquaintance. As the story progresses, the character, sometimes suddenly, enters the deredere phase, becoming more meek and loving. While tsunderekko are not exclusive to Japanese entertainment, the term tsundere came about as a result of the need to describe the many tsunderekko found in games and harem anime. Like nekomimi, tsundere is considered a moe-inspiring character trait.

The term is most often used in English by the anime blogging community, and is beginning to catch on elsewhere. As mentioned previously, it is generally applied to female characters; the male equivalent would be a bishōnen that appears cold and aloof and then becomes caring and loyal. This character type appears to be even more popular among women than the female tsunderekko is among men.

Tsundere characters

Anime and manga

• Airi Sawagashi (Kage Kara Mamoru!)
• Akane Tendo (Ranma 1/2)
• Al Azif (Demonbane)
• Anko Uehara (Great Teacher Onizuka)
• Asuka Langely Sohryu (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
• Beth (Petite Princess Yucie)
• Eri Sawachika (School Rumble)
• Evangeline A.K. McDowell (Negima!: Magister Negi Magi)
• Chisame Hasegawa (Negima!: Magister Negi Magi)
• Franca (Coyote Ragtime Show)
• Glenda (Petite Princess Yucie)
• Hazuki (Tsukuyomi -Moon Phase-)
• Hayase Mitsuki (Kimi ga Nozomu Eien))
• Hiiragi Anri (Happiness!)
• Izumi Sawatari (He Is My Master)
• Kaname Chidori (Full Metal Panic!)
• Kazuki Arisaka (Tonagura!)
• Layla Hamilton (Kaleido Star)
• Louise Françoise le Blanc de la Vallière (Zero no Tsukaima)
• Meryl Stryfe (Trigun)
• Meia Gisborn (Vandread)
• Mizukoshi Mako (D.C. ~Da Capo~)
• Motoko Aoyama (Love Hina)
• Naru Narusegawa (Love Hina)
• Ophiucus Shaina (Saint Seiya)
• Pandora (Saint Seiya)
• Revy (Black Lagoon)
• Rika Akiba (Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora)
• Rin Kamishiro (Maburaho)
• Saki Akasaka (Mahoraba)
• Sakura Haruno (Naruto)
• Sara Shirogane (Futakoi/Futakoi Alternative)
• Satsuki Kitaoji (Ichigo 100%)
• Shana (Shakugan no Shana)
• Shikimori Ibuki (Happiness!)
• Shayla-Shayla (El-Hazard)
• Silvia De Alisia (Sousei no Aquarion)
• Sonozaki Mion (Higurashi no Naku Koro ni)
• Suiseiseki (Rozen Maiden)
• Suzuka Asahina (Suzuka)
• Suzumiya Haruhi (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya)
• Talho Yuki (Eureka Seven)
• Tamayo Kizaki (Angelic Layer)
• Triela (Gunslinger Girl)
• Tatiana Wisla (Last Exile)
• Yuzan Kaibara (Oishinbo)
• Ayako Takasu (Mamoru-kun ni Megami no Shukufuku wo!)

Game

Note: Many of these games have also been made into anime.

• Akiha Tohno (Tsukihime)
• Al Azif (Demonbane)
• Anri Hiiragi (Happiness!)
• Ayu Daikuji (Kimi ga Nozomu Eien)
• Eimi Oba (Comic Party)
• Karen Tachibana (Soul Link)
• Kyo Fujibayashi (Clannad)
• Mai Shibamura (Gunparade March)
• Mako Mizukoshi (D.C. ~Da Capo~)
• Makoto Sawatari (Kanon)
• Michiru (AIR)
• Nami (Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life)
• Ranpha Franboise (Galaxy Angel)
• Rin Tohsaka (Fate/Stay Night)
• Ruri Himeyuri (ToHeart2)
• Satoko Hojo (Higurashi no Naku Koro ni)
• Takako Itsukushima (Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru)
• Tomoko Fujinami (Canvas 2 ~Niji Iro no Sketch~)
• Tomoko Hoshina (ToHeart)
• Touka (Utawarerumono)
• Yu Yamanami (Soul Link)
• Yuina Himoo (Tokimeki Memorial)
• All heroines of Tsuyokiss CoolxSweet

Other

• Ayane (Dead or Alive)
• Buttercup (Powerpuff Girls)
• Erika Hayasaka (Megatokyo)
• Gamu Kiki (Kokoro (Tokyo Mew Mew))
• Helga G. Pataki (Hey Arnold!))
• The Girl (My Sassy Girl)
• Julie-Su (Sonic the Hedgehog (comics))

See also

• Yandere