The world of anime features thousands of colorful and unique characters, and fans tend to use convenient labels and categories to help keep track of recurring types and themes. Examples include the "himbo," a lovable doofus type, or a big-sister type such as Tohru Honda in Fruits Basket. There are also the classic -dere character types, which often describe girls in particular.
Staples such as tsundere, kuudere and dandere are common, but experienced anime fans will also spot more specialized types including the himedere, with "hime" being the Japanese term for "princess." These characters may be in love, but they are also smitten by their own power and dignity as a wannabe princess. Fans can quickly spot a himedere character in anime based on a few key traits.
The Himedere Has A Tragic Backstory Of Neglect, Abuse Or Betrayal
Many himedere characters have a dark backstory, and these unfortunate pasts explain why she behaves like an all-powerful princess: to compensate for her tragic history, which usually involves betrayal, abandonment, neglect or even abuse -- any scenario that made them feel unwanted or powerless.
Real and fictional people react in all sorts of ways, and some choose to act like royalty to reverse this grim situation and be the powerful one for a change. Food Wars' Erina Nakiri, for example, saw her mother Mana walk out of the family, leaving Erina herself under her father's oppressive thumb for years. No wonder she turned out to be a himedere -- and a tsundere as well.
Himedere Characters Are Actual Or Wannabe Royalty
The most defining trait of a himedere is her desire to be treated like royalty, regardless of whether she really is. Anime has some humble and kind princess characters, but not a himedere. These girls want to sit on a throne and be admired and respected far and wide, and tend to make everything about themselves. Himedere characters aren't necessarily cruel or harsh, but they will quickly become upset if anyone fails to play along with their princess paradigm -- which may sorely test the patience of everyone around them.
An example is Aoyama Mio from The World God Only Knows who, rather than being royalty, is the daughter of a powerful businessman who recently passed away. Aoyama wanted to live an extravagant lifestyle with her father's remaining money and saw everyone around her as buffoons and commoners, unworthy to breathe the same air as her.
Himedere Characters Are Vulnerable Under Their Facade
Himedere characters are not the most confident. In fact, they tend to have deeply rooted insecurities weighing them down -- usually based on childhood trauma -- which persist to the present day. Thus, a himedere's arrogant princess persona is often (but not always) a total facade bordering on self-deception.
They work hard to keep up that facade, even overdoing it to make sure no one can pick up clues on their hidden weaknesses or doubts. A prime example is Reikado Ayame from NouCome, a total himedere who is secretly insecure about her chest and her use of silicone implants. Likewise, the aforementioned Aoyama Mio knows that her family's wealth is practically gone, but she desperately hides behind her himedere personality and whatever displays of wealth she can manage to keep everyone fooled.
Himedere Characters Put Great Effort Into Their Appearance
A himedere sometimes wears school uniforms while others wear unique outfits, but in general she will work hard to look her best, standing out in any way possible. She might style her hair and use accessories such as clips or ribbons to look good, and given the chance, she will wear fancy and eye-catching outfits that the "commoners" around her could never afford.
Beatrice the librarian in Re:Zero is like that, showing off with her fancy outfit and stylish hair, while Reikado Ayame never fails to look her best with her frilly outfits and perfect hair. Likewise, Food Wars' Erina is sometimes shown in royal getups in her own imagination, looking like a true queen on a throne.
Himedere Characters Want To Be The Boss
Himedere characters have more than just a snooty attitude around others. They also like to be in control and order people around, like a princess in the royal court. Sometimes they actually do have power and authority, such as the daughter of a wealthy business family or a literal princess. Other himedere characters simply use force of will, charisma or even intimidation or leverage on others to control them as pawns.
The himedere would much rather have everyone else do all the hard work than get her own hands dirty, and she might be helpless if her minions turn on her or are unavailable. An example includes Saiko Intelli from My Hero Academia, who was the brains of her squad while fighting Yaoyorozu Momo's team. She had her classmates do all the work for her, with a traditional princess-style haircut to match. At the last second, however, Saiko actually took matters into her own hands and attacked Yaoyorozu in frustration.