Recently, the new trend is to take the MBTI test, to figure out who you are, where you fit in the world, and what do to do as a career. All that jazz went viral and is still viral, as it defines people based on a series of questions. However, in Japan and in the anime industry, that test and those personality types differ quite a bit, or should I say a lot.
A new anime fan wouldn’t notice these mere personality trait gaps; he wouldn’t be able to name them either, as he is not familiar with them. Yet, perhaps, there he might stand a chance if he were to indulge himself further into the deep, dark secrets of anime. This article will pave the way and lead you towards this knowledge that has become like common sense. As you can see, we have plenty of personality types, precisely ten of them. We shall deal with all of them equally, hopefully, and lay out some examples.
Tsundere
Tsunderes are known as harsh on the exterior, soft on the interior. This phrase describes them rather well. Yet, we must delve into the explanation furthermore, as it is equally important. These characters, tsunderes, portray these harsh, rude, most of time, violent creatures that cannot stand most people, unless you get on their soft side. Tsundere characters tend to have a hard shell to break through. Either way, they are not comfortable showing their soft natures to just anybody they meet, hence their ‘Harsh outside, soft inside’ name. In case you are wondering what the name was derived from, let me elaborate. The Japanese use the term ‘Tsuntsun’ to mean ponted, and ‘deredere’ to mean sweet. In anime, these two terms combined created the word Tsundere, which soon, turned out to portray a personality type. To illustrate this, take a look at Taiga from Toradora! She plays the role of a Tsundere, and quite often, people refer to her as the queen of Tsunderes.
Yandere
Initially sweet, rather affectionate, and loving. These creatures are, by far, the scariest in the anime industry, but also the most loved. Yanderes tend to turn into the scariest people if you were to mess with their loved ones. Their love paints the picture of a stalkeresque persona. Eventually, these Yandere characters turn into stalkers, obsessing over their lovers. They lurk in the shadows, protecting you from all harm, probably with an axe or a knife. That description might paint a clear picture from your canvas, right? If not, let me elaborate. They practically kill for you, because of you, and to protect you from the eyes of the hungry. Yanderes believe that winning you is inevitable, thus there should be no competition concerning you. These Yanderes often play as females, rarely males. However, there lies one male most girls would know of, and that person goes by the name of Balder from Kamigami no Asobi. On the other hand, the girl that is famous for her Yandere gestures is Yuno from Mirai Nikki. The term, once again, is derived from Yanderu, as in ill, combined with deredere, as in sweet.
DereDere
These DereDere characters prove themselves as the sweetest, most energetic people ever, and they portray themselves crystal clear. They do not hide their personality from anyone. DereDeres exist in every single moe show ever. This term is Japanese for lovestruck, which explains the repetition of the word dere that means sweet. They’re like creme with a cherry on top. These characters, hence the name lovestruck, translate their personality type best as love dovey.
The best portrait for these characters are either Chiyo Sakura from Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun or Nagisa from Free! Iwatobi Swim Club. They are hyper, carefree, and very smiley. These figures would be suitable as a friend who cheers you up no matter what. They’re contagious!
Kuudere
Despite being quite similar to Tsunderes, these Kuuderes differ in many characteristics. Thus, unlike Tsunderes that juggle between hot and cold, as in their Tsun and their Dere, Kuuderes rarely, very rarely show their caring side to other people.
As a matter of fact, Kuudere characters portray the cold, blunt, cynical, and non-caring persona concerning anyone, even they were their loved ones. However, that is merely the exterior, as they can be quite caring and nice themselves, precisely on the inside. Compared to Tsundere and Yandere, Kuudere can take up either gender. The best example for this personality type is Mei Misaki from Another.
Kamidere
Kamidere, as the addition kami states, is related to god. This term describes those anime characters with a god complex. Unlike Yandere and Tsundere, Kamidere are quite rare in the anime industry, as they are either hard to spot or portray characteristics of others. The god complex takes over them and their act most of the time, making them believe they have the right to become one if powerful enough.
A Kamidere tend take up multiple personality types, merely because you can spot it at one point due to their wording. One of the best examples for this personality type is the infamous Kira from Death Note. In addition to him, there is also Lelouch.
Himedere
This term, HImdere, though recently made up, takes quite a population of the anime industry. Imagine princess Fiona from Shrek or any other princess at that, and combine it with dere.
This personality did not exist as a word before, yet, now, due to multiple anime revolving around them, it exists.
It is said that Himedere take up either a Tsundere personality type, or Kuudere one. In fact, Himdere do not share every possible characteristic for that matter, but they add up their own.
That being the too princess-like persona in both categories.
Dandere
Dandere are also everyone’s personal favorites, as most people would love to be as calm, collected, and cool as they are.
It is quite an abbreviation, as the real term contains two words ‘Danmari Deredere.’ Danmari translates to someone calm and silent. Precisely put, to be calm and to shut one’s up all the time, as the Japanese refer to it.
Meanwhile, Deredere, as said before, refers to a sweet attitude. Let’s take the well-known example of Mikasa Ackerman.
She does not speak most of the time, yet, once she gets some alone time with Eren, she turns into a sweet, caring lady.
Coodere
Suzumiya Haruhi portrays a strange, Tsundere character, ey? Sometimes she is as cold as a blizzard, and sometimes she becomes rather nice and sweet.
Yet, instead of being cold, replace that with a better word, cool.
These characters tend to be quite emotionless, but bursts out crying the next minute?
Perhaps it’s best to put a name to that personality type, A Coodere.
These characters usually go for females as roles, mostly play in Bishoujo anime.
Undere
This type might be a bit unfamiliar to you, but, perhaps, you’ve noticed it often in some anime. The best way to describe these characters thoroughly is by dissecting the word Undere.
In fact, Un referts to the casual form of yes, yeah, yep, so in Japanese, So Dayone, which means Yeah, right.
These characters agree to every single thing you say in order to get intimate, as much as they can, too. They might have a crush on you from the beginning.
The best example to portray this personality type is Hikari Hinomoto!
Mayadere
This type portrays an extreme type of a tsundere, to the point of sending vibes of danger and fright. To illustrate this type rather well, imagine a heroine that started out as a villain, a very cold villain.
Then, this antagonist switched places rather quickly after multiple attempts to kill the protagonist. After that, helplessly falling for the protagonist and joining him. Mayadere would still make jokes about killing the protagonist.
