Japanese anime fans love to sort their characters into categories to see what all those diverse anime characters have in common. The many -dere types describe how a character shows their affection for others and the prefix makes all the difference. Tsunderes are hot-tempered and defensive, while kuuderes are cool, aloof, and confident.
Kuudere anime characters aren't scene-stealers like tsunderes or vicious yanderes, but they still have subtle appeal with their calm, polite behavior and their slightly mysterious exterior. These cool-headed lovers aren't too flashy or loud on the outside, but they always have a warm heart and they will do anything for the people they care about. Kuudere boys, in particular, are some of the most stable and reliable lovers any anime character can ask for.
10 Shinya Yukimura Is Certain He Can Quantify True Love
Science Fell In Love, So I Tried To Prove It
Science Fell in Love, So I Tried to Prove It stars a handful of grad students majoring in hard sciences, including the cool-headed, stunningly handsome Shinya Yukimura. As a boy, he once met the dandere Ayame Himuro and inspired her to be more confident in her love of science, like him.
Now they're grad students who just might be in love, and they will use any hypothesis, formula, and test to study their possible romantic feelings and reach a conclusion. Unlike the playful Ayame, though, Shinya is an aloof fellow who tries hard to hide his rapid heartbeat when he's around Ayame.
9 Neji Hyuga Redeemed Himself Into A Kuudere Shinobi
Naruto
In the Naruto anime, most fans focus on the kuudere Itachi Uchiha and his role as an anti-villain who secretly loved his village and his little brother Sasuke. However, there's also the talented Neji Hyuga, once a bitter determinist who bullied his dandere cousin Hinata with his cruel words.
Then, Naruto Uzumaki taught him a lesson, and Neji reconsidered everything. As of Naruto Shippuden, Neji was reborn as a polite, helpful kuudere who finally respects and supports Hinata as a valued family member and fellow Konoha 11 member. He even gave his life for her and Naruto's sake.
8 Yuki Sohma Quietly Showed Machi Kuragi His Love
Fruits Basket
The shojo anime Fruits Basket features most of the -dere types, from the deredere Tohru Honda to the tsundere Kyo Sohma and the yandere-ish Akito Sohma. Then there's the silver-haired Yuki Sohma, a polite, friendly kuudere who embodies the Chinese zodiac's rat.
Yuki is popular with his female classmates, who even formed a fan club in his honor to protect him. Instead of basking in glory, though, Yuuki pursued the troubled Machi Kuragi and empathized with her. They soon formed a meaningful friendship, then a deeply rooted romance that made them both very happy.
7 Chad Is Ichigo's Honorable, Reliable Friend
Bleach
Bleach is home to many tsundere characters, such as protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki, Rukia, Uryu, and even Riruka Dokugamine, but it's balanced with cool-headed, polite characters like Yasutora Sado/Chad. Chad is a gentle giant, a strong boy who refuses to abuse his strength for any reason.
Chad learned a vital lesson about bullying and strength from his grandfather in Mexico, and now Chad wisely shields others from bullying while refusing to hit back. Bleach fans respect Chad for being a mature, friendly, and confident fighter who will always stand by Ichigo's side.
6 Senku Ishigami Is A Science-Loving Kuudere
Dr. Stone
Senku Ishigami the teen scientist never shows a romantic interest in anyone in Dr. Stone, but he still embodies the kuudere archetype's core traits in other ways. Senku's -dere side is rooted in his power of friendship and his general optimism, meaning he loves friends and science's possibilities.
Senku likes to tease people and maintain some emotional distance from them, such as his temporary wife, Ruri the village priestess. Overall, Senku likes to put ideas and science first, but he's doing it for the benefit of humanity, starting with his respected friends and allies, kuudere-style.
5 Giyu Tomioka Hides Warm Feelings Behind That Scowl
Demon Slayer
Giyu Tomioka is the Water Hashira, and he was also the first Hashira to ever appear in the Demon Slayer anime. He may feel like a tsundere at times, such as when he's fussing at Tanjiro, but he is best described as a kuudere overall.
Giyu is an aloof, unexpressive swordsman who tries to act like he's too cool for everyone, but he doesn't mean it. Giyu definitely admires and appreciates his fellow Hashira, and he has an outwardly goofy but well-meaning friendship with Shinobu Kocho, the insect Hashira.
4 Akira Hayama Wishes To Repay Jun's Kindness
Food Wars!: Shokugeki No Soma
Food Wars! features most of the -dere types, such as the himedere Erina Nakiri, the tsundere Takumi Aldini, and the dandere Megumi Tadokoro. Meanwhile, the spice-loving Akira Hayama is a kuudere, a calm, polite boy who has long since mastered fragrances for his cooking style.
Akira may have a snide attitude at times, but overall, he is a cool-headed, confident Totsuki student who expresses his love through cooking rather than words. He owes Jun a lot for training him, so he quietly repays her by pushing his scent-based cooking style to the limit in any culinary duel.
3 Demon King Claude Plays It Cool With Aileen
I'm The Villainess, So I'm Taming The Final Boss
The seinen isekai anime I'm the Villainess takes place in an otome game world where love, relationships, and royalty mean everything. The protagonist was reborn as Aileen d'Autriche the villainess, and it's her goal to seduce demon king Claude to ensure her own survival.
Demon king Claude the kuudere warmly welcomed Aileen to his court once he got over the initial shock. He's not terribly expressive, but he might also suddenly kiss Aileen now and then, and he will fight fiercely to protect her. He also calmly mentions that he wants to make more friends for once, like Shoko Komi.
2 Shoto Todoroki Learned To Love His Classmates
My Hero Academia
My Hero Academia's Shoto Todoroki was almost like a tsundere at first, being a bitter, standoffish boy who made everything about himself and his own problems. He had serious emotional baggage concerning his Quirk and his father Endeavor, but all that began to change after the UA sports festival.
Shoto learned some humility and embraced the power of friendship, making him an aloof kuudere who secretly appreciated and respected his classmates. He might even make a happy grin with his friends during their downtime, and he's now mending ties with Endeavor as well.
1 Hirotaka Nifuji Loves Games & Alone Time
Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku
Hirotaka Nifuki is Wotakoi's co-star alongside his childhood friend turned co-worker and girlfriend Narumi Momose, who's a total extrovert and deredere. Hirotaka isn't too chatty or expressive in person, but this quiet, polite fellow is warm and friendly via text messages and video game chat, at least.
As a true kuudere, Hirotaka is a confident introvert who favors a stable, routine-oriented life with just a few select comforts. He loves video games most of all, but he's also deeply fond of his girlfriend, Narumi, even if he's not the type to spontaneously shower her with kisses and bouquets.