Anime characters have many different tropes and many different “dere” archetypes. A dere archetype is a set of specific characteristics used to define a character. For tsunderes, these characters often come off as cold when around their love interest. However, they get embarrassed when their special one shows appreciation for them and eventually let down their front.
Tsunderes are the most common dere type in anime. Over the years there have been some great ones. This list looks at the best and worst tsunderes from the past decade. Anime that started prior to the winter 2010 season and continued into the decade will not be counted.
10 Worst: Rei Miyamoto – Highschool of the Dead (2010)
Kicking off the list is Rei Miyamoto from Highschool of the Dead. Rei’s love interest is Takashi Komuro, one of the main characters and Rei's childhood friend in the series. Having met at a young age, Rei promised Takashi she would marry him but as they grew older Rei ended up dating Takashi’s friend, Hisashi Igou. After Hisashi’s death her feelings for Takashi immediately come back and she shows them most whenever Takashi is around her rival love interest, Saeko. Highschool of the Dead was adapted by studio Madhouse a decade ago during the summer 2010 season. The anime is 12 episodes and aired for one season.
9 Best: Noelle Silva – Black Clover (2017)
Noelle Silva is a classic example of a tsundere in contemporary anime. Her character is the traditional tsundere done right. Noelle’s love interest is Asta, a commoner from Hage Village. Being from royalty, Noelle’s upbringing should not have let her associate with commoners, but after being disowned by her family, she relates to Asta’s determination to prove himself. Noelle isn’t violent towards Asta and is willing to assist him by whatever means necessary, but won't ever admit that she likes him despite the internal monologues she has in her head. Black Clover was adapted by Studio Pierrot during the Fall 2017 season. The anime is currently still airing.
8 Worst: Mafuyu Kirisu – We Never Learn! (2019)
Mafuyu Kirisu is the student counselor at a high school in We Never Learn! Before Nariyuki Yuiga, Mafuyu was the tutor for Fumino Furuhashi and Rizu Ogata. After not being a compatible tutor Nariyuki takes over the job. When she's impressed by Nariyuki’s ability to tutor, Mafuyu starts to realize that she might be attracted to Nariyuki. Instead of telling him, she acts tsundere by getting flustered whenever she's around him and forcing him to do things for her in attempts to spend time with him. We Never Learn! was adapted by studios Silver and Arvo Animation during the spring 2019 season. The anime is 13 episodes and aired for two seasons.
7 Best: Sena Kashiwazaki – Haganai: I Don’t Have Many Friends (2011)
Like Noelle, Sena Kashiwazaki also comes from a place of high stature, being the daughter of the school’s headteacher. Sena has everything going for her. She's attractive and academically gifted but isn’t liked by her female peers due to her arrogant personality. Sena is in love with Kodaka Hasegawa. If you’re looking for a tsundere who starts off as unlikable but develops into a character you can truly get behind, Sena is your girl. Haganai: I Don’t Have Many Friends was adapted by studio AIC Build during the fall 2011 season. The anime is 12 episodes and aired for two seasons.
6 Worst: Chidori Takashiro – Kiznaiver (2016)
While Chidori Takashiro isn’t a bad character in her own right, she's bad at being a tsundere. Starting off the series, Chidori is cold towards her love interest Katsuhira Agata, known as Kacchon. Like a typical tsundere, she cares about Kacchon deep down. Unlike the classic tsundere, instead of getting flustered when confessed to, she’s the one doing the confessing. To make matters worse it’s the cold, emotionless, Noriko Sonozaki who steals the heart of Kacchon. Kiznaiver was adapted by studio Trigger during the spring 2016 season. The anime is 12 episodes and aired for one season.
5 Best: Kaguya Shinomiya and Miyuki Shirogane – Kaguya-sama: Love is War (2019)
A dual entry on this list, Kaguya Shinomiya and Miyuki Shirogane are both tsundere towards each other. The show’s dynamic revolves around this aspect as they each try to get each other to confess love to each other. The two are both gifted individuals making the show a true battle of wits often compared to the relationship Light and L had from Death Note.
Kaguya-sama: Love is War was adapted by A-1 Pictures studio during the winter 2019 season. The anime is 12 episodes and has been confirmed for a second season during the spring 2020 season.
4 Worst: Kaho Hinata – Blend S (2017)
Smile! Sweet! Tsundere! Kaho Hinata makes this list for reasons similar to Chidori's. As a character, Kaho is great. She’s a 17-year-old gamer who spends all her money at the arcade. However, she’s a fake tsundere. At Café Stile, each waitress plays a different character while serving customers. Kaho’s character is to be a tsundere. Outside of the role she isn’t much of a tsundere but does have romantic tensions with Kouyou Akizuki. Blend S was adapted by A1-Pictures studio during the fall 2017 season. The anime is 12 episodes and aired for one season.
3 Best: Kurisu Makise – Steins;Gate (2011)
Kurisu Makise not only is the tsundere in Steins; Gate, but is also one of the main protagonists in the series. Praised for her intelligence Kurisu skipped a grade in school and became famous for her papers. Kurisu’s love interest is Rintarou Okabe. What makes Kurisu one of the best tsunderes in her relationship with Rintarou is that she doesn’t speak like a typical tsundere.
She doesn’t overuse “baka” (Idiot) and talk in a condescending manner like most tsunderes. Kurisu is level-headed and calm. Steins;Gate was adapted by studio White Fox during the spring 2011 season. The anime is 24 episodes and aired for two seasons, with a plethora of side series and spin-offs.
2 Worst: Sagiri Izumi – Eromanga Sensei (2017)
The last of the worst tsundere on the list, Sagiri Izumi. Eromanga Sensei was the talk of its season, reviving the Imouto (Little Sister) genre for anime. Sagiri is a shut-in that lives with her brother Masamune. She’s gained a reputation for being a skilled erotic illustrator but hides her identity.
Sagiri is known for constantly screaming out classic tsundere words like Baka (Idiot) and Dame (No good) and being extremely jealous when her brother talks to other girls. Eromanga Sensei was adapted by A-1 Pictures studio during the spring 2017 season. The anime is 12 episodes and aired for one season.
1 Best: Chitoge Kirisaki – Nisekoi: False Love (2014)
Rounding out the list is Chitoge Kirisaki from Nisekoi: False Love. Chitoge’s love interest is Raku Ichijou and she has a mix of emotions towards him. She is grateful for his kindness towards her but also attacks him if he gets to close to her…out of love, of course. This is evident in a scene where Raku recovers Chitoge’s coveted bow given to her by her mother.
In a matter of seconds, she goes from hugging and thanking him to screaming at him for the hug she initiated. Nisekoi: False Love was adapted by Shaft studio during the winter 2014 season. The anime is 20 episodes and aired for two seasons.