Manga Monday (2) Popular Character Archetypes
Manga Monday is a new feature to the blog which will be replacing (or at least existing alongside) Book to Movie Monday. Although I don't talk about them much on the blog, I am actually a huge, huge fan of Anime, Manga's, Graphic Novels and Comics. This feature will sort of be a catch all for all of the above. Some weeks I might just showcase a title, others I might talk about an artist or even (least here's hoping) feature an interview or two. We'll just sort of roll with the punches together. Sound good?
As you watch, read or play Japanese games and anime you'll probably start to notice that the same types of character archetypes pop up time and time again. The most commonly used archetypes among these are known as the “deres”: tsundere, kuudere, dandere, and yandere.
The term “dere” comes from the Japanese word “deredere” (デレデレ) which roughly translated means to be lovey dovey or lovestruck. By combining this word with other words, we get these new terms to describe love interests in anime, manga and games.
So let's start with the most popular one of all the Tsundere.
Pictured: Kagami from Lucky Star |
Tsundere ツンデレ - The “tsun” in tsundere comes from the Japanese word “tsuntsun” (ツンツン) which means to be aloof or high and mighty. Thus they are oftentimes embarrassed or confused by their romantic feelings and they tend to become even more belligerent and egotistical than normal when in proximity to the objects of their affections. The constant inner struggle for a tsundere between pride and love is the key to how these characters act.
Popular Tsundere Characters include-
Lulu (Final Fantasy X)
Asuka Langley Soryu (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
Hazuki (Moon Phase)
Chidori Kaname (Full Metal Panic)
Next up is Dandere.
Pictured: Tohru Honda from Fruits Basket |
Dandere ダンデレ - The “dan” in dandere comes from the Japanese word “danmari” (黙り) meaning silence. Thus a dandere is a quiet and often antisocial character. Dandere often avoid talking because of their shyness. However, in a group they feel comfortable socializing with, then their shyness factor will very likely decrease if another unfamiliar person is introduced at that time.
Popular Dandere Characters include-
Yakumo Tsukamoto (School Rumble)
Hyuuga Hinata (Naruto)
Mathilda Alster (Beyblade)
Angel (Angel Beats)
Korone (Demon King Daimao)
Pictured: Futami Eriko from Kimi Kiss |
Kuudere クーデレ - The “kuu” in kuudere comes from the Japanese pronunciation of the English word “cool” (クール). Often cold and harsh on the outside, Kuudere are usually swirling with feelings on the inside. Kuuderes often speak in a calm monotone and seem unaffected by the world around them. They never seem to be overly happy, excited, or surprised—just as they never appear sad, annoyed, or angry.
Popular Kuudere Characters include-
Rei Ayanami (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
Eucliwood Hellscyth (Is This a Zombie?)
Riza Hawkeye (Full Metal Alchemist)
Raven (Teen Titans)
Last up is Yandere
Pictured: Shion Sonozaki from Higurashi no Naku Koro ni |
Yandereヤンデレ - The “yan” comes from “yanderu” (病んでる) which means to be sick—in this case, in the head. Yandere characters are mentally unstable, they often resort to using extreme violence and/or brutality as an outlet for their emotions and show or have no or very little intelligence. Yanderes will kill anyone and everyone who stands in the way of them having their “true loves" thus they are usually portrayed as villains in the story.
Popular Yandere Characters include-
Kotonoha Katsura and Sekai Saionji (School Days)
Belarus (Axis Powers Hetalia)
Yuno Gasai (Future Diary)
Rolo Lamperouge (Code Geass)
Want to learn what type of Dere personality you are? Take this fun quiz (link here) to find out!
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Well I guess that's about it for this week.
Let me know in the comments below what you'd like me to cover in the next couple of weeks and also what you're reading or watching currently (if anything). I could use some recommendations!
I don't get to review it that much either but I'm also a fan of manga and anime. It's not something that's widely known by people around me unless they catch me reading it or browsing a store. It's always interesting seeing an anime and then watching the latest blockbuster hit (like Pacific Rim) and thinking to yourself that you've seen this before... in an anime. And it was so much better than this movie.
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