“Dere” refers to an archetype given to different characters in anime. Each type of Dere have different character traits that define their actions and personality. This list will look at the 10 types of Dere and give an example of each character.
There are more than 10 types of Dere, with some being more common than others. The Dere archetypes on this list are the most common ones you’ll see across anime. Be sure to check out the character's respected series if their archetype fits your preference.
10 Tsundere
Starting off the list is the Tsundere. The Tsundere is the most common type of Dere you’ll find in anime. Tsun comes from Tsuntsun which means aloof. Tsundere have harsh personalities acting in a way where they show hatred to their love interest. They get embarrassed when they are complimented or shown appreciation but make their love interest feel as if they can’t stand them. On some occasions, the Tsundere even acts with violent tendencies, but is not necessarily harmful. An example of a Tsundere character is Taiga Aisaka from Toradora! She shows hate to Ryuuji Takasu because she is unable to communicate her feelings to him at first.
9 Yandere
The Yandere character is very deceiving at first. Yanderes are obsessed with their love interest and will make ends meet to get with them no matter what. Yan comes from Yanderu meaning mentally ill. On the outside a Yandere is kind and sweet, blending in with others very well. However, if you get in their way or show interest in their love interest be prepared to pay with your life.
They also have a pattern of having pink hair. An example of a Yandere character is Satou Matsuzaka from Happy Sugar Life. Satou wants to go home from work to see Shio Koube but is constantly interrupted by friends and other characters looking for Shio. Satou does whatever is necessary to get her happy sugar life.
8 Deredere
The Deredere character is the friendliest of the Deres. A Deredere is kind to everyone and makes sure their love interest knows it. Dere means lovestruck and is shortened to Dere to be combined to make the other Dere archetypes. When paired as Deredere it means loveydovey. An example of a Deredere is Rinko Yamato from Ore Monogatari. Rinko is madly in love with Takeo Gouda and sees him as her one and only.
7 Dandere
The Dandere character is the strong silent type. The “Dan” in Dandere means silence. Quiet and shy, the Dandere is closed off to the world. Like the Kuudere, the Dandere isn’t always cold to everyone but just prefers to be quiet. When with their love interest the Dandere can break out of their shell and become quite talkative. An example of a Dandere is Nagisa Furukawa from Clannad. Nagisa is very timid and her shyness strays her away from following her goals of reviving the theatre club. When Tomoya Okazaki works with her to help revive the club she becomes more extroverted around him.
6 Himedere(F)/Oujidere(M)
The Himedere and the Oujidere are the male and female Dere types that want to be treated like Princess and Princes. The characters that fall into these categories don’t have to be royalty but just want their love interest to treat them as such. An example of a Himedere is Noelle Silva from Black Clover. Noelle is from a royal bloodline but demands that everyone treats her as royalty despite being a member of the low-ranking Black Bulls. Noelle also acts Tsundere to Asta. An example of an Oujidere is Ciel Phantomhive from Black Butler. Ciel is arrogant and relies on his servants to do everything.
5 Bakadere
The Bakadere is a character that is clumsy and often doesn’t make smart decisions. The word Baka, as you probably already know means stupid. Bakadere characters are often overlapped with other dere types. The Bakadere is most commonly seen in slice of life school anime. This means that there are lots of Bakadere to choose from if you’re looking for a series with them. An example of the Bakadere is Red Blood Cell from Cells at Work. Red Blood Cell is constantly getting lost on her oxygen delivery route and seems to always encounter some type of illness, being saved by White Blood Cell.
4 Kamidere
The Kamidere is a character with a god complex. Kami is the Japanese word for god. The Kamidere isn’t restricted to a specific gender and often just craves power more than a love interest. Kamidere are very arrogant and believe that they are the greatest creation in the world. A Kamidere personality isn’t always true. Sometimes its an act put on by the character. When their love interest shows interest in the Kamidere the act is broken. An example of a Kamidere is Light Yagami from Death Note. Light wants to become a god of a new world after receiving a Death Note from the Shinigami world. Taking the name Kira, which has links to god, Light feels he needs to cleanse the world and he’s the only one who can.
3 Kuudere
The Kuudere is quiet like the Dandere but is cold and cynical. Kuu comes from the Japanese pronunciation of the English world “cool”. The Kuudere rarely shows a caring side even to their love interest. They don’t really care what happens to everyone else including their love interest on the outside, but care on the inside.
An example of a Kuudere is Homura Akemi from Madoka Magica. Homura is cold to Madoka throughout the series because she knows the fate of the world. However, her cold personality breaks towards the end of the series when Madoka realizes the truth.
2 Sadodere
The Sadodere is a character that loves to manipulate in sadistic ways. Sado comes from Sadomasochism and describes the personality of a cruel character. The Sadodere gets pleasure from putting their love interest in a tough situation that either causes them pain or humiliation. This type of pain can either be physical or emotional. Sadoderes lack empathy for others but only take interest in those they value. An example of a Sadodere is Kurumi Tokisaki from Date A Live. Kurumi is often manipulating Shidou Itsuka throughout the series but feels as if she is the only one that gets to hurt him. Kurumi saves Shidou in different situations but its only so she can hurt him later.
1 Shundere
The Shundere suffers from depression and is sad throughout the series. Shun comes from a Japanese sound “shun” which is used to represent sadness. Shunderes don’t always need to have a reason to be sad, as most just have a depressing aura around them. An example of a Shundere is Tomoko Kuroki from WataMote: No Matter How I Look at It, It’s You Guys’ Fault I’m Unpopular! Tomoko is an introvert that has storm clouds following her. Things don’t work out the way she wants them too which causes Tomoko to feel even more sad. The fact is, she doesn’t realize that its usually the consequences of her actions leading to the same patterns over and over.