The world of Japanese anime is home to characters of all different kinds, and the fandom has a lexicon to match. Characters who fit the “dumb but lovable” type are known as himbos, while aloof but compassionate characters fit the kuudere archetype. Then there’s the tsundere archetype, arguably the most popular and well-known -dere type of all.
A tsundere anime character is prickly and hot-tempered, but they will eventually show their caring and sweet side when the time is right, opening up to their love interest at last. Tsunderes come in all shapes and sizes, but anime fans love tsundere girls the best, and anyone who wants to meet a new tsundere waifu is encouraged to try these five anime series, all of which star a female tsundere.
Food Wars! Showcases The Talented Nakiri Erina
Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma is a popular culinary shonen anime where competitive cooking at the elite Totsuki academy takes the place of actual fighting. The hero is Yukihira Soma, the creative and optimism son of a diner owner who cooks not for glory but for the sake of love, and that’s what sets him apart. He makes many friends and rivals during his time at Totsuki, and early on, the hotheaded, wannabe princess Nakiri Erina enters his life as well.
Erina has a real temper and acts standoffish, but deep down, she cares greatly for her friends and her cousin Alice, and she later gains the strength to stand up for what’s right and become a role model for all. Over time, Soma really rubbed off on her, and Erina eventually showed her playful and goofy side, just like Soma. She and her troubled family finally got the happily-ever-after they all deserved.
Toradora! Features Aisaka Tiga, The Palm-Top Tiger
Toradora! is a massively popular high school rom-com series, although it also features more than a little drama to keep the series grounded. The light novels, anime and manga of Toradora! all feature the formidable Aisaka Taiga, a tiny but tough tsundere who is known for clobbering her enemies with a wooden sword or even her bare fists at school.
At first, Taiga agrees to help her classmate Ryuuji get together with his long-time crush Minori, but a love triangle forms when Taiga realizes that she has feelings for Ryuuji as well, and expressing those warm feelings will be the biggest challenge of Taiga’s life .
Nisekoi Is All About Raku & Chitoge’s Seemingly False Love
Nicekoi is an oft-overlooked anime series that should appeal to any fan of Toradora!, and it’s also a safe bet for any anime fan who’s eager to meet another classic tsundere girl. This high school rom-com anime series stars the gentle and kind Ichijo Raku, whose yakuza family pressures him into a relationship with the daughter of a rival crime family, Kirisaki Chitoge.
To Raku’s dismay, Chitoge is nothing like the sweet and innocent Onodera Kosaki, his current crush. Instead, Chitoge is tough and sharp-tongued, and she has a short fuse and a habit of slugging Raku in the face when he annoys her. All the same, both crime families are betting heavily on this would-be Romeo & Juliet romance, so Chitoge and Raku keep up appearances while secretly exploring their true emotions. There’s also the mystery of Raku’s locket and which girl has the real key. Only with that locket will Raku find his true love, tsundere or not.
The Quintessential Quintuplets Is A Wholesome Harem
The Quintessential Quintuplets is proof that the concept of a wholesome harem anime is not an oxymoron after all. The series stars Uesugi Futaro, a smart and responsible boy who’s tasked with tutoring the five Nakano sisters, all of whom are struggling in school, and Futaro’s family will be compensated handsomely for it. Futaro has his hands full with the rambunctious and often uncooperative sisters, who all have the same face but very different personalities.
Futaro met the slightly standoffish Nakano Itsuki first, before also meeting the deredere Yotsuba, the timid dandere Miku, the big-sisterly Ichika and most of all, the fierce tsundere Nino, who at first thought Futaro was the worst thing to ever happen to her family. However, she warmed up to him over time and soon found the courage to profess her love to him — just in time for Ichika to overhear it.
Mahou Sensei Negima! Features Kagurazaka Asuna
Manga author Ken Akamatsu, known for penning the Love Hina series, also drew a lengthy but excellent fantasy manga series titled Mahou Sensei Negima!, spanning 38 volumes in total. This manga series also received two different anime adaptations, and while the anime falls short of the manga, it’s enough for new fans to get to know the main cast and decide whether they want to resume the story in the original manga.
Negima! is the tale of the young Welsh wizard boy Negi Springfield, who must teach at the all-girls Mahora academy in Japan so he can learn how to use his magic to help people. Among his students, Negi soon becomes closest to the aggressive tsundere Kagurazaka Asuna, an athletic girl who thought Negi was a horrible brat at first. However, she soon became Negi’s most vital ally of all, including during an extensive isekai adventure later in the manga. She became like a big sister to him.
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