Anime's Dere Types, Explained

“Dere” refers to an archetype given to different characters in Japanese anime. Each type of dere has different character traits that define a character’s actions and personality. Some dere types are more popular than others, and some are so obscure that they might be nearly unheard of.

That said, there are a surprisingly large number of dere archetypes, with some being more common than others. The following dere archetypes are some of the most common ones seen across anime, but rarer ones have also been included, along with examples of characters from various anime series that fit those respective archetypes.

Updated on April 19th, 2024: This list of the best dere types has been updated with new characters whom anime fans know and love, including characters from recent anime who have become fan favorites. While some dere types are embodied in dozens or even hundreds of characters, anime fans want to meet the best, most popular, and best-written examples of these types of deres and see how they add new depth to otherwise simple archetypes.

Goudere Characters Are Comically Obsessed With The Object Of Their Affections

Term Derived From: Gou Gou (Boisterous) + Dere Dere (Loving)

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Famous Goudere Characters:

• Albedo (Overlord)
• Kuroko Shirai (A Certain Magical Index)
• Kokomi Teruhashi (The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.)
• Tohru Kobayashi (Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid)
• Miyako Shikimori (Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie)

Goudere is one of the rarer dere types and there aren’t too many around, but it’s an interesting archetype to look at. “Gou” can refer to a few different Japanese words, such as “gouki” (either “strong demon” or “fortitude,” depending on which kanji is used), but it’s most often attributed to the phrase “gou gou,” which means something like “boisterous.” Goudere characters are fanatical about impressing their love interest, up to the point of making comical mistakes in their efforts to please them. Tohru from Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid is a great example of a goudere who goes out of her way to anticipate her love interest’s every need and fulfill it, whether Kobayashi wants her to or not.

The Goudere archetype is also one of the simplest dere types, since it’s conventional love cranked up to 11, and is similar to the equally simple megadere archetype. So, goudere characters are better remembered for their unique personal traits, such as a hobby, goal, or funny habit. Just being a goudere doesn’t make a character memorable, while famous archetypes like tsundere and yandere are enough to make a character unforgettable.

Tsundere Characters Use Their Harshness To Mask Their True Feelings

Term Derived From: Tsun Tsun (Cold) + Dere Dere (Loving)

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Famous Tsundere Characters:

• Kana Arima (Oshi no Ko)
• Fern (Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End)
• Asuka Langley Soryu (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
• Kyo Sohma (Fruits Basket)
• Kurisu Makise (Steins;Gate)
• Edward Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)

Tsundere is perhaps the most common dere archetype found in anime and manga. “Tsun” refers to the Japanese onomatopoeia “tsun tsun,” which indicates turning away in disgust or anger. Tsundere characters have harsh personalities and openly show animosity towards their love interest. But if their love interest compliments them or shows any appreciation for them, tsundere characters will become shy and embarrassed.

Often, tsundere characters choose to be standoffish or defensive to hide their embarrassment while secretly feeling happy their love interest notices them. Some tsundere can become comically violent when embarrassed by their love interest. However, there is a subset of tsundere that has become less popular among fans, that being the problematic “violent tsundere girl” type. Such girls tend to use physical force to push away people who pry into their feelings or annoy them, with examples ranging from Tomo Aizawa to Akane Tendo and Asuna Kagurazaka. The tsundere archetype is best when it avoids such extremes and focuses on meaningful drama and character development rather than excessive physical comedy.

Yandere Characters Have A Frightful & Dangerous Obsession With Their Love Interests

Term Derived From: Yanderu (Sick) + Dere Dere (Loving)

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komi miku shoko

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Famous Yandere Characters:

• Yuno Gasai (Future Diary)
• Sekai Saonji (School Days)
• Satou Matsuzaka (Happy Sugar Life)
• Kaede Fuyou (Shuffle!)
• Yukako Yamagishi (Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure)

Yandere characters are lovesick. They are obsessed with their love interest and will relentlessly pursue them, regardless of whether the feelings are returned. “Yan” refers to the Japanese word “yanderu,” meaning sick. On the outside, yandere characters are kind and sweet, blending in with others very well. This sweet surface belies the dangerous obsession for their love interest roiling within their hearts. Yandere characters are masters of deception until anything involving their love interest comes into play.

At these moments, the facade drops, and their willingness to do literally anything to be with their love interest takes over. They’re known for violent acts, including kidnapping and murder, and have even been known to kill their love interests to prevent them from getting close to anyone else. Yuno Gasai from Future Diary is an especially famous female yandere. As a general trend, yanderes tend to be female characters, and some anime fans adore them as an example of a “bad girl” waifu. Yandere waifus can be controversial, though, since plenty of anime fans reject the idea of embracing a criminal-minded character as an ideal love interest and won’t defend their actions.

Deredere Characters Are Honest About Their Love

Term Derived From: Dere Dere (Loving)

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Famous Deredere Characters:

• Ochaco Uraraka (My Hero Academia)
• Eru Chitanda (Hyouka)
• Yui Hirasawa (K-ON!)
• Akari Akaza (Yuru Yuri)
• Marin Kitagawa (My Dress-Up Darling)

The deredere meaning simply describes characters who are purely love-struck, since there’s no other term mixed in with “dere dere.” These characters are energetic and sweet, and they openly express their affection for their love interests in a healthy way. They also tend to be selfless in their love, generously sharing the object of their affection with their friends and associates. That means derederes are the least prone to jealousy or possessive feelings.

Deredere characters typically aren’t insecure about their love interest being involved with others, making them the most balanced dere type around. The ever-popular Ochaco Uraraka from My Hero Academia is a good example of a female deredere character. Anime fans might also say the deredere archetype has the fewest complications since it’s honest, straightforward love without unique angles such as a cool, aloof exterior or incredible shyness. Such an archetype might even feel a bit boring in the eyes of anime fans, since a deredere character doesn’t mix romance with something more exotic like extreme attachment, a prickly attitude, or sympathetic insecurities. Derederes tend to be popular because of their more unique personal traits instead, such as Marin Kitagawa’s cosplay hobby and Ochaco’s grit as a student hero.

Dandere Characters Are Shy & Soft-Spoken

Term Derived From: Danmari (Silent) + Dere Dere (Loving)

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Famous Dandere Characters:

• Hinata Hyuga (Naruto/Naruto Shippuden/Boruto)
• Ami Mizuno (Sailor Moon)
• Shoko Komi (Komi Can’t Communicate)
• Sawako Kuronuma (Kimi ni Todoke)
• Yu Ishigami (Kaguya-sama: Love Is War!)

Dandere characters are composed and typically non-emotional, sometimes due to overwhelming shyness. “Dan” refers to the Japanese word “danmari,” meaning to keep silent or taciturn. Dandere characters usually don’t speak unless spoken to, and even then, they’ll likely say very little. Dandere characters aren’t coolly aloof like kuuderes, however. They’re quiet and unexpressive because they’re too timid to speak up and often lack self-confidence, especially where their own worthiness as a lover is concerned.

Danderes also tend to put themselves down and apologize for their behavior to make sure they don’t upset anyone. The powerful Hinata Hyuga from Naruto is an exemplary dandere character who shows how the dandere archetype is really the “ugly duckling” archetype since many danderes have great potential but hold themselves back with self-doubt and fear. Thus, danderes are buds waiting to bloom, and they are beautiful and inspiring when they do. That makes their character arcs highly compelling.

Himedere/Oujidere Characters Want Their Love Interests To Treat Them Like Royalty

Term Derived From: Hime (Princess) or Ouji (Prince) + Dere Dere (Loving)

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Famous Himedere/Ouijedere Characters:

• Erina Nakiri (Food Wars!)
• Mary Saotome (Kakegurui)
• Lelouch Lamperouge (Code Geass)
• Tamaki Suoh (Ouran High School Host Club)
• Ciel Phantomhive (Black Butler)

Himedere and Oujidere are two sides of the same coin. “Hime” refers to the Japanese word for “princess,” while “ouji” is the Japanese word for “prince.” These characters don’t have to be actual princes and princesses, but tend to act like royalty and they want their love interests to treat them as such. Often, but not always, himederes act like this to run away from their deep-seated problems, such as abandonment issues.

Noelle Silva from Black Clover is an example of a himedere who’s actually from a royal family, and she demands that everyone treat her as royalty despite being a member of the low-ranking Black Bulls. Notably, Noelle also acts tsundere towards Asta. An example of an oujidere is Ciel Phantomhive from Black Butler. Ciel is arrogant and relies on his servants to do everything. In a way, a himedere is a reverse dandere, an arrogant, overconfident character who must outwardly humble themselves and acknowledge other people as their equals.

Bakadere Characters Are Lovably Dense

Term Derived From: Baka (Idiot) + Dere Dere (Loving)

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Nico Robin, Giyu Tomioka, and Makima

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Famous Bakadere Characters:

• Mako Mankanshoku (Kill la Kill)
• Naruto Uzumaki (Naruto)
• Atsuko Kagari (Little Witch Academia)
• Mash Burnedead (Mashle: Magic and Muscles)
• Son Goku (Dragon Ball)

Bakadere is one of the most comedic dere types in anime. The bakadere archetype refers to a character that is clumsy and often thinks with their heart as opposed to their head. “Baka” is a Japanese word for “stupid” or “idiot.” Bakadere characters commonly overlap with other dere types, like the ahodere. They’re often depicted as buffoons, but on the plus side, bakadere characters tend to be honest and kind, and their hurtful behavior is nearly always an unwitting accident.

Bakadere characters are most commonly seen in slice-of-life anime, though they might appear in action stories too, with Son Goku setting the mold with his himbo bakadere ways. Tohru Honda from Fruits Basket is another classic bakadere character (with a pinch of deredere). It should be noted that while the bakadere archetype has a strong overlap with the himbo archetype, they are not 100% the same, and a character can be one without being the other, though overlap is still common. Mash Burnedead is one example, being a bad student and a dense friend with incredible physical strength.

Kamidere Characters Have A God Complex

Term Derived From: Kami (God) + Dere Dere (Loving)

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Famous Kamidere Characters:

• Light Yagami (Death Note)
• Gilgamesh (Fate/Stay Night)
• Dio Brando (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)
• Haruhi Suzumiya (The Melancholy Of Haruhi Suzumiya)
• Satsuki Kiryuuin (Kill La Kill!)

Kamidere characters are those who have a god complex, with “kami” referring to the Japanese word for “god.” Like most dere types, kamidere characters aren’t restricted to a specific gender, but there are a couple of types of kamidere characters. One trait all kamidere characters share is pride in themselves and their “god-like” talents. Sometimes this manifests in them thinking they are a deity or superior being.

One type of kamidere will have these conceptions but still respect others, while the other type of kamidere will be openly condescending, arrogant, and narcissistic. Although the irredeemable anti-hero Light Yagami from Death Note doesn’t have much interest in love or romance outside his own manipulative goals, he’s still a great example of a kamidere character.

Kuudere Characters Are Cold, Quiet, & Aloof

Term Derived From: Kuuru (Cool) + Dere Dere (Loving)

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Famous Kuudere Characters:

• Rei Ayanami (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
• Yuki Nagato (The Melancholy Of Haruhi Suzumiya)
• Fiona Frost (Spy x Family)
• Frieren (Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End)
• Hirotaka Nifuji (Wotakoi)
• Shoto Todoroki (My Hero Academia)

Kuudere characters are quiet like danderes, but not from a sense of shyness. Rather, kuudere characters are cool, mature, and aloof. “Kuu” comes from the Japanese romanization of the English word “cool,” written in romaji as “kuuru.” Kuudere characters rarely show a caring side, even to their love interest. Outwardly, they act as if they don’t care about what happens to those around them, but they secretly do care – especially when it involves their love interest.

Kuuderes rank among the most confident -dere types without being arrogant or obnoxious about it, and more than most -dere types, kuuderes have an air of being choosy about their love interests. They are never desperate or pushy – they calmly wait for a worthwhile love interest to come along, then patiently build up a quiet, stable romance with them. Kuuderes, more than most -dere types, have firm standards and would rather have no love life than a weak or rushed love life.

Sadodere Characters Manipulate Others & Appear Very Cruel

Term Derived From: Sado (Sadistic) + Dere Dere (Loving)

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Tomo Aizawa from Tomo-chan is a Girl! and Lum from 1981 anime Urusei Yatsura

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Famous Sadodere Characters:

• Hayase Nagatoro (Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro)
• Mami Nanami (Rent-A-Girlfriend)
• Himiko Toga (My Hero Academia)
• Akiko Yosano (Bungou Stray Dogs)
• Kurumi Tokisaki (Date A Live)

Sadodere characters love to manipulate others in cruel ways. Just as the “kuu” in kuudere comes from an English word, the “sado” in sadodere refers to the Japanese pronunciation of the English word “sadomasochism.” Sadodere characters get pleasure from putting their love interest in tough situations that cause either pain or humiliation, whether it be physical or emotional.

Sadodere characters lack empathy for others and only take an interest in those they value. An example of a sadodere is Kurumi Tokisaki from Date A Live. Kurumi often manipulates Shidou Itsuka throughout the series and feels that she is the only person who’s allowed to do so. Kurumi saves Shidou in different situations, but usually with the intention of hurting him later.

Shundere Characters Are Melancholic Loners With Introverted Personalities

Term Derived From: Shun (Sadness) + Dere Dere (Loving)

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Famous Shundere Characters:

• Tomoko Kuroki (Watamote)
• Nozomu Itoshiki (Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei)
• Megumi Hanajima (Fruits Basket)
• Mei Misaki (Another)
• Rei Kiriyama (March Comes In Like A Lion)

Shundere characters are commonly portrayed to be sad or melancholic throughout the series. “Shun” refers to the Japanese onomatopoeia “shun…,” which denotes a sense of melancholy and sadness. Shundere characters don’t always need a reason to be sad, as being gloomy is typically enough to earn a character the shundere moniker.

An example of a shundere is Tomoko Kuroki from WataMote: No Matter How I Look at It, It’s Your Guys’ Fault I’m Unpopular!. Tomoko is an introvert who feels out of her element in social situations. She tries to fit in several times over the series and fails spectacularly, usually due to her own naivete and hubris… and usually feels depressed as a result. Shunderes have strong potential to be written as victims in need of saving or help with the power of friendship and love, though it doesn’t have to be that way. Some shunderes, such as Tomoko, try to save themselves and fix their melancholic lives with their own two hands. It depends on what the story calls for and what the author prefers.

Hiyakasudere Characters Enjoy Teasing Their Love Interests

Term Derived From: Hiyakasu (Tease) + Dere Dere (Loving)

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The Essentials of a Bakadere Anime Character – And Why We Love Them

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The Essentials of a Bakadere Anime Character – And Why Fans Love Them

A bakadere is a goofy, foolish anime character who appeals to fans with their nonsensical behavior. When done right, this can be very endearing.

Famous Hiyakasudere Characters:

• Hana Uzaki (Uzaki-chan Wants to Hang Out!)
• Takagi (Teasing Master Takagi-san)
• Mayoi Hachikuji (Monogatari Series)
• Blair (Soul Eater)
• Holo (Spice & Wolf)

This is another of the more unheard-of archetypes, but that may be due to the fact they overlap with other dere types like tsundere and sadodere. “Hiyakasu” references a Japanese verb meaning “to banter, make fun of, or jeer at.” Accordingly, hiyakasudere characters take pleasure in teasing and flirting with their love interests.

Hiyakasuderes aren’t cruel like sadoderes, nor are they prone to embarrassment like tsunderes, meaning this archetype can stand on its own. Holo from Spice & Wolf is a fantastic example of a hiyakasudere. She’s always picking on Lawrence and having playful battles of wits. Like yanderes and sadoderes, though, hiyakasuderes have the potential to be controversial or problematic characters if they are written badly or misunderstood by fans. Such archetypes strike a delicate balance of wicked vs lovable, and it’s easy for something to go wrong with that. Hana Uzaki, for example, has many detractors, but still has her fans, too.

Ahodere Characters Are Clueless About Romance

Term Derived From: Aho (Fool) + Dere (Loving)

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Famous Ahodere Characters:

• Iruma Suzuki (Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-Kun!)
• Hithito Tadano (Komi Can’t Communicate)
• Monkey D. Luffy (One Piece)
• Sakura Kinomoto (Cardcaptor Sakura)
• Asta (Black Clover)
• Soma Yukihira (Food Wars!)

The ahodere archetype is unusual among all the dere types because it overlaps so neatly with several other types, most of all the bakadere and deredere types, so a character can easily be described as both an ahodere and bakadere. Still, ahoderes are not identical to bakaderes, since an ahodere’s foolishness is limited to sensing and interpreting romantic cues from other people. An ahodere can be quite smart otherwise, such as being an ace student or a skilled athlete.

Ahodere characters are romantically clueless, usually for comedic purposes, and nothing short of shouting “I LOVE YOU!” to their face will make them understand another person’s amorous feelings for them. An ahodere might see their lover blushing and assume they’re red in the cheeks because of cold weather, for example, or interpret “I like you” as “You’re a good friend.” Ahoderes are usually written for comic relief, just like their bakadere cousins, and it’s even funnier when an entire harem is involved. Soma Yukihira, for example, attracted the attention of many girls at Totsuki, and managed to miss all of it as a lovable yet dense chef.

Megadere Characters Go Above & Beyond For Love

Term Derived From: Megane (Glasses) + Dere (Loving)

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Famous Megadere Characters:

• Sakura Haruno (Naruto)
• Usagi Tsukino (Sailor Moon)
• Juvia Lockser (Fairy Tail)
• Rae Taylor (I’m in Love with the Villainess)
• Grelle Sutcliff (Black Butler)

It’s not 100% certain where the term “megadere” came from, though it’s believed that it came from the Japanese word for “glasses” or simply the English term “mega.” Megadere is one of the most straightforward dere types of them all, simply being an amped-up version of a deredere. Such characters also have some overlap with the goudere type because of their shared enthusiasm for romance.

Megadere characters simply do more of what a typical deredere would do, showing incredible enthusiasm for their possible or existing romance with the object of their affection. They always go the extra mile to please their lover, and they will admire their lover as a seemingly perfect being. This is the archetype that truly puts a lover on a pedestal and devotes their entire life to getting closer to them. On occasion, a megadere anime character will tap into other dere types to sustain or protect their potential romance, such as Sakura Haruno’s tsundere temper or Juvia Lockser’s borderline yandere ways.

Undere Characters Hold A Subservient Role In Their Relationships

Term Derived From: Un (“Yes”) + Dere (Loving)

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Famous Undere Characters:

• Misa Amane (Death Note)
• Nana Komatsu (NANA)
• Rin (InuYasha)
• Nemu Kurotsuchi (Bleach)
• Raphtalia (The Rising of the Shield Hero)

The undere archetype can be either the most amusing or one of the most disturbing dere types, depending on how it’s portrayed. The key trait to the undere archetype is obedience because an undere character will gladly do anything their love interest asks. An undere is like a volunteer servant, even if it goes against their own best interests.

An undere character can be comedic, they can annoy everyone by sucking up to their love interest like a yes-man, or they can be disturbing because they sabotage themselves with such unhealthy devotion to their love interest, unable to say no to anything. Also, this is a flexible dere type that can easily include other dere types, such as megadere or bakadere, so many underes tend to be other types as well.