The world of anime is known for its many tropes and conventions, and some tropes act as the framework for how a character thinks or behaves. You've got your magical girls, self-insert male leads in harem shows, the loudmouth, the genius kid, and more. But what about tsundere characters?
This Japanese term describes someone who is aloof, standoffish, or harsh at first, but they slowly show you their warm, caring, and friendly side over time. They've got a hard outer shell hiding their warm and fuzzy interior, and it's tough to say which are the best since everyone's got their own favorites. But many anime fans may agree that the following ten tsundere characters rank near the top. Let's meet them!
10 InuYasha (InuYasha)
Hmmmm. Is he the main character, or is Kagome the lead? It's tough to say, but one thing's for sure: this half-dog-demon boy is no ordinary friend. He's a bitter loner at first, having lost his lover Kikyo, but slowly, he extends the hand of friendship to the girl beyond the well, Kagome.
Both of them unite to hunt down the Shikon Jewel's shards, and make new friends along the way. The entire time, InuYasha himself is stubborn, a bit bratty, and has a short temper, but he is quick to fight and defend his friends. He even goes through the well himself to find Kagome and take care of her! Like an actual dog, he soon pines for his best friend if she's gone too long. So precious!
9 Hirotaka Nifuji (Wotakoi)
Now for someone more down to earth. The romantic comedy franchise Wotakoi is based on the hardship of being a total anime/game nerd in a workplace where such things are scorned, so four particular closet nerds unite to form a geek squad of sorts.
Among them is Mr. Hirotaka Nifuji, an introvert with extraordinary gaming skills. What's remarkable is that it would be easy for him to just stay wrapped up in his own comfy little life, but he gladly became Narumi Momose's best friend and boyfriend, and they find love with their common bond of geek life. Hirotaka loyal and patient, too, even if he's still a bit aloof with his friends at times.
8 Chitoge Kirisaki (Nisekoi)
Many of the most popular tsundere characters are beautiful young women, such as Chitoge Kirisaki. She is half-Japanese and moved to Japan for schooling, and what's more, she's the daughter of an infamous crime family! Chitoge is paired up at once with a boy named Raku Ichijo, who is a yakuza boss's son.
The two of them really butt heads, and more girls are added to the mix to form a harem. But through it all, the surface-only relationship becomes something genuine, and Chitoge can't help but love her false boyfriend after all. Even if she won't readily admit it!
7 Uryu Ishida (Bleach)
We meet Uryu Ishida early on, and as a Quincy (spirit archer), he's a natural rival and enemy of the substitute Soul Reaper Ichigo Kurosaki. But these boys make peace, and they are dependable partners during their rescue of Rukia and later, Orihime.
Uryu is calm and dignified, and he gets pretty annoyed by everyone's antics. He often scolds them, like a big brother. Still, he is loyal and will give his very life to protect Orihime (he seems to have a crush on her). He's also motivated as Ichigo's friendly rival, and when Ulquiorra struck down Ichigo, Uryu leaped into action at once.
6 Saitama (One-Punch Man)
At first, the parody action series One-Punch Man may seem like an odd place for a tsundere character, since this isn't a high school rom-com at all. But ultimately, Saitama, the caped baldy, really does check off the right boxes to be a tsundere himself.
He's lonely and vaguely bitter, being bored of his strength. He's also pretty reluctant to take on Genos as an apprentice, and he really rubs the other pro heroes the wrong way. Saitama is still a hero, though, and he fights hard to save the day (usually, one punch or slap seals the deal). He has also given his friends and allies some heartfelt words of encouragement before, sometimes even with a heroic smile.
5 Taiga Aisaka (Toradora!)
Meet the "palm-top tiger"! Taiga is petite by any standards, but boy is she tough, and everyone knows not to mess with her. One day, she crosses paths with Ryuji Takasu, a boy who looks scary but is actually harmless and nurturing. Taiga and Ryuji each have a crush on the other's best friend, so they act as reciprocal matchmakers.
But you guessed it: these two oddballs end up becoming an item themselves, and it's a slow process at first. Taiga is pretty self-absorbed and short-tempered, and she's embarrassed to let Ryuji see how messy her house is. Eventually, though, we get to the point where they're willing to run off together!
4 Kyo Sohma (Fruits Basket)
Fruits Basket looms large over the Shojo world, being one of the must-read titles along with Sailor Moon and Cardcaptor Sakura. In this story, we meet the incredibly wholesome and kind Tohru Honda, an orphan with a heart of gold. She meets the cursed Sohma family, where 12 major family members are cursed with Chinese zodiac animal spirits.
But there is an unofficial 13th: the cat spirit, and it's embodied in Kyo Sohma. Until now, Kyo has been a bitter loner, envious of Yuki and ordinary people alike. But when Tohru enters the picture, he can't help but be drawn to her, and he becomes highly protective. He'll even stand up to the merciless family head, Akito, to shield Tohru from any abuse or mistreatment. Impressive!
3 Levi Ackerman (Attack On Titan)
He's one of a kind, isn't he? A high-ranking officer amoung the Scouts, Levi is a no-nonsense soldier who always has the mission on his mind. He is a fantastically skilled warrior, and also a total neat freak.
Soon, he accepts the Titan-soldier Eren Jeager into the Scouts, though he's pretty rough about it. He still prioritizes Eren's safety, though, and will take great risks to protect him. Levi is also fanatically loyal to Erwin Smith, but in the end, he made a choice and allowed Armin's life to be saved at the expense of Erwin's.
2 Isla (Plastic Memories)
And now, for a truly tragic figure... the Giftia (android) Isla! In the world of Plastic Memories, Giftias are highly realistic companion robots who serve as computers and friends to anyone who needs them, but the only live so long. Soon, they must be collected and taken away to be shut down before their programming gets frazzled.
Isla's job is to help retire other Giftias, but her time is running tragically short. During this time, her new co-worker Tsukasa takes a liking to her, and he's desperate to keep her alive and functional. It's a futile effort, but it's wonderful to see Tsukasa give Isla a deep and real friendship right up until her last moments. In fact, she "dies" in his arms atop a Ferris wheel. At first, Isla wanted no friendship of any kind... but later, it was all she ever wanted.
1 Erina Nakiri (Food Wars!)
This tsundere demonstrates some excellent personal growth in more than one way. She is near the top of the culinary world, being the grand-daughter of Totsuki Academy's esteemed dean, and her cooking skills and sense of taste are peerless. She's cold, though, and this is partly because of how her oppressive father treated her.
When Erina meets the cheery and optimistic Soma Yukihira, that icy exterior melts bit by bit. Erina can't stand Soma at first, but time and again, she has his back as he takes on the most talented chefs in Japan. Near the series' end, she is his trusted teammate in a team Shokugeki (cooking duel), and she even borrows Soma's goofy trademark visuals when she serves her food! The happy girl we knew in her past is back at last!