Kuudere characters are often misunderstood as cold and heartless. This is because, in anime, they are portrayed as emotionless and don’t bother with socializing. However, a Kuudere will start to soften up when they are approached by the right person.
The meaning behind this term is derived from the two fundamental moods of a Kuudere. “Kuu” or “Kuuru,” means “cool,” referring to when they are awkward and emotionless. “Dere” is short for “Deredere,” which means “lovey-dovey.” The latter mood usually comes out when they cry randomly or confess their feelings. Among all the examples of this character archetype, who is the best-written Kuudere female character in anime?
10 Nico Robin — One Piece
Nico is the archaeologist of the Straw Hat Pirates in One Piece. After the destruction of her island, Ohara, young Nico was left as the only survivor. She is called “Devil Child,” because she learned to read the ancient language at eight years old by spying on her island’s researchers. Unfortunately, the ancient script is considered a crime against the World Government, which is why her hometown got destroyed.
As the only person alive who can read the forbidden text, Nico Robin is always on the run from the authorities. This causes her to become emotionless and cold, as she doesn’t have anyone by her side. However, after meeting Monkey D. Luffy and the rest of the crew, Nico breaks her icy persona and smiles more often. Additionally, she starts caring and relying on her crew members.
9 Touka Kirishima — Tokyo Ghoul
Touka is a ghoul that used to work as a waitress in Anteiku, a coffee shop in Tokyo Ghoul. Although she smiles and acts shy around customers, it’s only a mask to hide her other side. Touka Kirishima was a cheerful, energetic girl in her youth. But after the death of her parents and the disappearance of her younger brother, she becomes cold and ruthless.
When Kaneki Ken transforms into a ghoul and starts working with Touka, he breaks her icy demeanor little by little. Eventually, she becomes more comfortable with him and begins to interact with others. In the end, Touka decides to let go of her insecurities and falls in love with Kaneki.
8 Eve — Black Cat
Tearju Lunatique is a scientist in the anime Black Cat. She creates a clone called Eve, then uses nanomachine technology that allows the double to transform any part of her body into a weapon. Like many Kuudere characters, Eve is cold and almost robotic, mostly because of her lack of knowledge about human nature.
However, after joining Sven Vollfied and Train Heartnet to work as Sweepers (people who catch criminals and receive their bounty), Eve becomes a more approachable person. She likes to discover things and read books to gain a better understanding of the world around her.
7 Chizuru Hishiro — ReLife
Chizuru is one of the ReLife experiments in the anime ReLife. Because of her mother’s job, she changes schools often, which leads her to lose many friends in the process. This causes Chizuru to stop giving an effort to make new friends, and instead, relies on herself completely.
Sadly, it only gets worse. Because of the lack of human contact, Chizuru becomes socially awkward and stops showing emotions to the point she is considered cold by her peers. Nonetheless, after meeting Arata Kaizaki in the ReLife experiment, Chizuru begins socializing and forming bonds with many of her classmates. She is even seen smiling from time to time, thanks to his encouragement.
6 Shizuku Mizutani — My Little Monster
Given the nickname ‘Dry Ice’ by her classmates, Shizuku Mizutani was often ignored by others due to her nonchalant and cold attitude. She firmly believes that one can only grow by solving their own problems. As a result, Shizuku would ignore her classmates when they are in trouble and tell them to solve it alone, resulting in a growing gap between her and her peers. She strives to become hard-working like her mother, who works overtime, covering up for her jobless father. This is why she is always seen focusing on her studies and refusing to get distracted.
But that’s not the case when she’s with Haru Yoshida. After a while, Haru appears and starts showing her that it’s okay to have fun and do other activities rather than studying, thus bringing out her Dere side. Many friends will also join the duo, later on, revealing Shizuku’s kind and loving personality.
5 Anna Kobayakawa — Rainbow Days
Anna is one of the female deuteragonists and Natsuki Hashiba’s love interest in Rainbow Days (Nijiiro Days). She is a quiet, kind girl who prefers to do everything on her own because, she doesn’t want to bother anyone. Therefore, Anna doesn’t socialize a lot with her classmates, and is often seen with an expressionless face. This causes most of her schoolmates to regard her as a cold, serious, gloomy girl.
Until a certain point, Anna Kobayakawa’s only friend is Mari Tsutsui. However, after meeting Natsuki and spending time with his friends, she becomes an open person and expresses her emotions more. Eventually, she and Natsuki develop romantic feelings for each other and start dating.
4 Kikyo — InuYasha
Kikyo is a very caring person that often puts others before herself. She would treat everyone equally and doesn’t mind taking care of injured enemies, although they have hurt her before. Many would stay away due to her expressionless face and cold aura. But the Priestess is a very caring person and children especially love playing with her.
She mostly cares about her little sister, and Inuyasha later on. At first, the latter would fight Kikyo to get the Sacred Jewel. However, after a while, both develop romantic feelings for each other. The Priestess often shows her true emotions around Inuyasha, revealing her Dere side.
3 Violet Evergarden
Violet is a former soldier who played a huge role during the War’s final battle in Violet Evergarden. All her life, she has been treated as a weapon or a tool for war, which is why she is considered an enormous asset to the Leidenschaftlich army. Violet was raised to have no feelings, and only exists to follow orders without questioning authorities.
At the end of the War’s final battle, Violet loses both of her arms, and sadly, her most precious person, Gilbert Bougainvillea, passes away. Before his death, he confesses his feelings and tells her he loves her sincerely. Growing up as a tool without a basic understanding of people’s emotions, Violet doesn’t know what love is. So, with the help of Claudia Hodgins, she becomes an Auto Memory Doll, a person who helps others express their feelings in letters, in an attempt to understand her own feelings better.
2 Tachibana Kanade — Angel Beats
Tachibana is the president of the afterlife school’s Student Council in Angel Beats. She’s in charge of helping the students solve their personal problems and move on. Although Tachibana appears human, her frosty and emotionless expressions say otherwise. Because of the Angel’s inexpressive visage, people around her can’t really tell what she’s feeling. What’s so funny is that for a good portion of Angel Beats, most characters think she doesn’t have a consciousness, until she surprises them with her intelligence.
After meeting Yuzuru Otonashi, Tachibana starts opening up bit by bit and showing different emotions. Eventually, they get closer, until they develop romantic feelings and discover the connection they made when they were alive.
1 *Mikasa Ackerman — Attack on Titan
Mikasa Ackerman is one of the most Kuudere characters anyone would encounter. She can be ruthless when someone threatens her family, especially Eren. She gives off a cool, cold vibe that many would find intimidating, thus choosing to stay away. Additionally, Mikasa is an outstanding soldier with exceptional abilities that helps increase the distance between her and the others.
On the other hand, there is a gentle and soft side to her that no one seems to know except her loved ones. This side of her is mostly preserved for Eren, but he ignores it most of the time. If someone she cares about gets hurt, Mikasa will be blinded by fury and will sometimes put her life at risk, like the time she endangered her life when Eren was presumed dead.
