View source for Kuudere

{{Tab|Kuudere / Cool-Dere}}
{{Infobox Archetype
|image = Shirokane Koyuki from Yatara to Sasshi no Ii Ore wa, Dokuzetsu Kuudere Bishoujo no Chiisana Dere mo Minogasazu ni Guigui Iku.gif
|caption = Shirokane Koyuki from "Yatara to Sasshi no Ii Ore wa, Dokuzetsu Kuudere Bishoujo no Chiisana Dere mo Minogasazu ni Guigui Iku"
|dere_type = [[Dere Type#Gap Moe|Gap Moe]]<ref name="vstorage"/>
|japanese_name = {{Explain|クーデレ|Kuudere}}<ref name="kuudere"/><br>{{Explain|クーでれ|Kuudere}}<ref name="deresuku"/>
|romanized_name = Kuudere<br>Kúdere<ref name="kúdere"/><br>Cool-dere<ref name="cooldere"/><br>Coo-dere<ref name="coo-dere"/><br>Qudere<ref name="quderella"/>
|origin = 2005
|personality = Cool, cold, calm, expressionless, unemotional, confident, mature, independent, distant, quiet, stoic, reserved, naive, rigid, blunt, sharp-tongued, harsh, asocial, unenthusiastic, indifferent, lonely, introverted, endearing, lovestruck, lovey-dovey, loving, cute, affectionate, clingy, spoiled, embarrassed, sweet, passionate, happy, cheerful, emotional
}}
{{Quote|She is someone who seeks efficiency in everything she does and, until she met Rentarou, she even dismissed romance as a waste of time. She doesn't show her emotions much on her face, so she appears cool, but she is surprisingly hot and passionate.|About '''Nano Eiai''' from ''Kimi no Koto ga Daidaidaidaidaisuki na 100-nin no Kanojo''}}
'''''"Kuudere"''''' {{Japanese|クーデレ|Kuudere|Cool → Lovestruck}}, also known as '''''"Cool-Dere"''''' in Western media, is a term for a character who appears expressionless and unapproachable at first glance, but becomes cute, loving, and ''[[deredere]]'' around their love interest. Although it might not appear like it at first, they are hiding a deep inner love that will come out after becoming close to their love interest. They have a clear separation of their character. They don't behave particularly notably when in a group, taking up a stiff appearance and a cold "don't get involved with me" aura that creates a wall between themselves and other people. They are also harshly blunt and straightforward with their true feelings, both good and bad, which often leads to them making sharp-tongued statements without considering other's feelings. However, they are also someone who will confess their love honestly, and when alone with their love interest they become so [[amae|spoiled]] that their usual character falls apart. They usually have a unfriendly cool demeanor, but when they are alone with their love interest they become extremely clingy and have a more loving side than most. They will start behaving in cute ways, showing lots of emotions, blushing like crazy, and wanting their love interest to give them lots of affection. They are a character with a very drastic [[gap]]. After spending enough time with their love interest they will even feel comfortable showing this side of themselves in public, becoming a much more cheerful and emotional person overall.

==Etymology==
===Meaning of the Term===
''Kuudere'' (クーデレ) is a combination of "[https://www.nihongomaster.com/japanese/dictionary/word/4005/kuーru-クール kuuru]" (クール), meaning "[https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/cool cool] (calm and unemotional, being unfriendly and not enthusiastic)", and "[[deredere]]" (デレデレ), a mimetic word for "being [https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/love-struck lovestruck]".<ref name="wikipedia">{{Citation|url=https://ja.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/クーデレ|title=Kuudere|publisher=Wikipedia JP|date=2006/09/27|quote=Kuudere (クーデレ) is a coined word made from the abbreviation of "kuuru" and "deredere". This term refers to a type of person who appears cool and unapproachable at first glance, but as they get to know you they take on a loving attitude, or what is known as a "deredere attitude."}}</ref>

They are characters that have a cool personality (kuu) at first glance but start acting cute and affectionate (dere) after you get to know them.<ref name="coo-dere">{{Citation|url=http://zokugo-dict.com/08ku/coo-dere.htm|title=Coo-dere|publisher=Japanese Slang Dictionary|date=2006|quote=Coo-dere is a compound word made up of the words "cool" and "deredere," and refers to a woman (character) who appears cool at first glance, but becomes clingy and deredere when you get to know her.}}</ref><ref name="hatena">{{Citation|url=https://d.hatena.ne.jp/keyword/クーデレ|title=What is Kuudere|publisher=Hatena|date=|quote=A variant of "tsundere" that means "a cool personality, but shows a cute side (dere) once you get to know them". It originated in a thread called "An honest and cool girl" on the "News Flash (VIP)" board of the "2channel" message board.}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|url=https://dic.pixiv.net/a/デレ|title=What is Dere|publisher=Pixiv Encyclopedia|date=2021/09/29|quote=To be in love and let your guard down because of their kindness. They are often depicted as having blushing cheeks, a troubled expression, or eyes looking up or down.}}</ref>

===Origin===
The concept of ''kuudere'' originates as far back as October 10, 2005, from the archetype known as ''[[sunao kuuru]]'' (素直クール), or ''honest cool''. ''Sunao kuuru'' originated on the Japanese forum 2channel as the opposite of ''[[tsundere]]''.<ref name="hatena"/> The opposite of "tsuntsun" is "honest" and the opposite of "deredere" is "cool", or in other words, it's a girl who is honest and cool. Rather than someone who let their emotions get the better of them and was dishonest with their feelings like a ''tsundere'', a ''sunao kuuru'' is always cool and always honest with what they are feeling.<ref>{{Citation|url=https://dic.pixiv.net/a/素直クール|title=What is Sunao Kuuru|publisher=Pixiv Encyclopedia|date=2011/04/29|quote=Sunao Kuuru is a type of moe attribute that is positioned as the polar opposite of tsundere. If tsundere is an abbreviation of tsuntsunderedere, then the opposite is true: tsuntsun → honest, deredere → cool = honest cool!}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|url=https://dic.nicovideo.jp/t/a/素直クール|title=What is Sunao Kuuru|publisher=Nico Nico Pedia|date=2009/01/14|quote="Sunao Kuuru" is an adjective used to describe a character who expresses their thoughts honestly, but is perceived as cool because of the way they speak and act.}}</ref>

Over time the concept grew and led to the creation of ''kuudere'', for characters who start out acting ''sunao kuuru'' (honest cool) but eventually become ''deredere'' (lovestruck) for a certain person. The difference between the two archetypes is that a ''sunao kuuru'' does not change their attitude because of another person and is always cool with no [[gap moe|gap]] in personality, whereas a ''kuudere'' loses their cool attitude and becomes cute and loving when around a certain person.<ref name="pixiv">{{Citation|url=https://dic.pixiv.net/a/クーデレ|title=What is Kuudere|publisher=Pixiv Encyclopedia|date=2010/07/11|quote=A person who is usually cool, doesn't say much, doesn't show their emotions, and isn't good at expressing their feelings, but when they become close to a particular person they like, they become clingy and deredere, showing a cute side, and their love is stronger than most. Compared to tsundere, they are often cold to people they don't like and are quite strict.}}</ref><ref name="niconico">{{Citation|url=https://dic.nicovideo.jp/t/a/クーデレ|title=What is Kuudere|publisher=Nico Nico Pedia|date=2009/01/17|quote=They act cool and uninterested around people other than the person they like, but become deredere with that one particular person.}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|url=https://kazenotori.hatenablog.com/entry/2021/12/26/132544|title=How did "Kuudere" Stop Being Sunao Kuuru and Become a Normal Dere?|publisher=Hatena|date=2021/12/26}}</ref>

When comparing the Kuchiki siblings from the manga series ''Bleach'', the difference between ''sunao kuuru'' and ''kuudere'' can be easily seen. While at the start of the series both characters appear cold and expressionless, remain calm even in dangerous situations, speak in a monotone voice, don't waste time on meaningless activities, keep their emotions locked away, keep others at a distance, act independent and self-reliant, and scold others in blunt ways ('''kuu'''), when Rukia is around her friends/love interest her personality completely changes and she starts acting cute, blushing, showing lots of emotions, being affectionate, letting others get close to her emotionally, and depending on others when she needs help ('''dere'''). In comparison, even though Byakuya has already been married and cares deeply for his younger sister Rukia, he still remains as stiff and stoic as ever. Even when expressing his affection for Rukia, he does it a calm way and at most will give her a slight smile. This does not mean that Byakuya never shows emotions, he just rarely does and shows them in a calm and cool way meaning he will never start acting cutesy and lovey-dovey. In other words, Byakuya is not a ''kuu'''dere''''' and Rukia is.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ A comparison of Biyakuya Kuchiki (top) and Rukia Kuchiki (bottom) from ''Bleach''
|-
! Archetype !! Before !! {{Heart}} !! After
|-
| '''Sunao Kuuru''' || [[File:Byakuya Kuchiki from Bleach kuu 1.png|250px|Kuu]] || '''→''' || [[File:Byakuya Kuchiki from Bleach kuu 1.png|250px|Kuu]]
|-
| '''Kuudere''' || [[File:Rukia Kuchiki from Bleach kuu 1.png|250px|Kuu]] || '''→''' || [[File:Rukia Kuchiki from Bleach dere 1.png|250px|Dere]]
|}

===Alternate Spelling===
Although ''kuudere'' is almost always written in Japanese with katakana as "クーデレ" it is occasionally written as {{Explain|クーでれ|Kuudere}} with the "dere" written in hiragana.<ref name="deresuku">{{Citation|url=https://www.milk-pai.com/title/dere/3.htm|title=Dere Suku|publisher=Milk Pai|date=2010/08/27|quote=Suzuka: A kuudere female teacher. The protagonist's class teacher and club advisor. She is a very strict person who is more focused on work than romance, a career woman. Naturally, she doesn't get along with the protagonist, but at heart she cares about her students and is one of the few people who is genuinely concerned about the protagonist's future.}}</ref>

===Localization===
The ''kuudere'' archetype has many possible Romanized spellings. They mostly differ in whether to use the direct Japanese spelling "kuuru" or the English spelling "cool", and whether or not to add a hyphen between the "kuu" and "dere" to better show off it's a two-sided personality.

The term is most commonly romanized directly as "kuudere" using the traditional Japanese method of romanized spelling. It can also be written as "kūdere", "kúdere", or "kudere" using the method since the long "u" sound can be romanized as "uu", "ū", or "ú", and is sometimes ignored altogether and written as a single "u".<ref name="kúdere">{{Citation|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/やたらと察しのいい俺は、毒舌クーデレ美少女の小さなデレも見逃さずにぐいぐいいく-1-ガンガンコミックス-UP-ふか田さめたろう/dp/4757576706|title=Yatara to Sasshi no Ii Ore wa, Dokuzetsu Kuudere Bishoujo no Chiisana Dere mo Minogasazu ni Guigui Iku|publisher=Square Enix|date=2022/01/07}}</ref><ref name="ku-dere">{{Citation|url=https://himatsubushi-shindan-test.com/ku-dere/|title=Ku-dere Diagnosis: Maybe being too popular is because you're a ku-dere?|publisher=Himatsubushi Shindan-Test|date=2024/05/19}}</ref>

It is also sometimes alternatively romanized as "coo-dere", using the English spelling of the word "cool" instead of the Japanese spelling "kuuru".<ref name="coo-dere"/><ref>{{Citation|url=https://bangin.wordpress.com/2007/10/01/クーデレcoo-dere/|title=Coo-dere|publisher=WordPress|date=2007/10/01|quote=What if she is so cool rather than cold? And what if such an emotionless girl fawns upon you when she bursts into tears? Yes, she would be a type of coo-dere.}}</ref> In the subtitled version of [https://luckystar.fandom.com/wiki/Desires episode 10] of the 2007 anime series ''Lucky☆Star'' {{Japanese|らき☆すた|Raki☆Suta}} by FUNimation, the term received an official localized English name for the first time as "cool-dere".<ref name="cooldere">{{Citation|url=https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/the-dere-types/images/4/4e/Lucky%E2%98%86Star_-_Episode_10.png|title=Lucky☆Star - Episode 10|publisher=FUNimation|date=2007/06/10|quote=Perhaps "cool-dere"}}</ref> It is also sometimes unofficially romanized as "coodere" without a hyphen.<ref name="coodere>{{Citation|url=https://vndb.org/i220|title=Trait: Kuudere|publisher=Visual Novel Database|date=2011/03/31|quote=A kuudere starts cold, distant, uninterested and doesn't pay any attention to potential love interests, but eventually turns lovestruck.}}</ref>

Another more uncommon spelling is "qudere", though there is only one known series that used this romanization.<ref name="quderella"/>

===Usage===
*In 2006, the dictionary site ''Japanese Slang Dictionary'' stated: "It refers to a woman (character) who appears cool at first glance, but becomes ''[[amae]]'' and ''[[deredere]]'' when you get to know her."<ref name="coo-dere"/>
*In 2016, the entertainment news site ''AppBank'' stated: "She usually has a cute cool demeanor, but when they are alone she becomes extremely clingy."<ref name="deretype"/>

'''Note:''' Like most [[dere type]]s, ''kuudere'' was originally defined as a female character with these traits but has since also been used for male characters on occasion, though rare.<ref name="coo-dere"/>

===Misuse===
In the Western anime community, there is a huge misconception that "kuudere" refers to "any character who shows no emotions and never changes" and that "showing any emotions means you can't be a ''kuudere''". However, this is 'not' true, and ''kuudere'' has 'never' been an archetype for emotionless characters. Sometime around 2017 it was spread that "coodere" was a term for a character who starts cool and then later becomes lovestruck (the correct definition), while "kuudere" is a term for a character who is devoid of showing emotion and never changes no matter what (an incorrect definition).<ref>{{Citation|url=https://www.wattpad.com/388568005-all-the-deres-and-their-meaning-coodere|title=All the Deres and Their Meaning - Coodere|publisher=Wattpad|date=2017|quote=Well, it's similar to kuudere but still different in terms. Coodere girls are girls who are just cool and laid back but then will burst into tears at any moment. It may seem like they don't care but they actually do. This character starts uninterested but turns lovestruck later. A coodere starts cold, distant, uninterested, and doesn't pay any attention to potential love interests, but eventually turns lovestruck.}}</ref> The commonly held belief is:<ref>{{Citation|url=https://www.quora.com/What%E2%80%99s-the-difference-between-Coodere-and-Kuudere-in-Anime|title=What's the difference between Coodere and Kuudere in Anime?|publisher=Quora|date=2017}}</ref>

*'''Coodere (Western)''' - A character who initially comes across as cold, indifferent, or even hostile, but gradually warms up and develops feelings for the protagonist over time. They act ''kuudere'' at first, but turn completely lovestruck later on.
*'''Kuudere (Western)''' - A character who maintains a calm, collected, and emotionless demeanor even when expressing affection. They are not outwardly expressive, but their feelings can be inferred from subtle changes in behavior or body language. ''Kuudere'' characters are usually highly intelligent and rational, prioritizing logic over emotion. The key distinction is that ''coodere'' characters gradually open up and show their softer side, while ''kuudere'' characters remain stoic and unemotional even when exhibiting care for others.

It is not known why this split between "coodere" and "kuudere" happened, but both terms are nothing more than alternative ways to romanize "クーデレ" and both refer to the same archetype of a character who seems "cool" (kuuru) at first glance but then changes and becomes "lovestruck" (''deredere'') once you get to know them. This incorrect meaning can even be seen prevalently by looking at the differences between the English and Japanese Wikipedia articles for the term "kuudere". While the Japanese Wikipedia article correctly states the meaning described in this article, the English Wikipedia article incorrectly states the definition is "a character who appears to not have emotions", with no relation to being ''dere'' mentioned at all.<ref name="wikipedia"/><ref>{{Citation|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuudere|title=Kuudere|publisher=Wikipedia EN|date=2023/02/03|quote=Kuudere (クーデレ) is a Japanese term for a character who appears to not have emotions. In contrast to tsundere and yandere characters, whose archetypes revolve around the change in their behavior, kuudere characters keep the same core traits throughout a narrative.}}</ref> However, it makes no sense to include the suffix "-dere" in a character trope if the character exhibits no traits of it and it seems as though "coodere" was an attempt to bring back the correct meaning of ''kuudere'' to the Western community.

When looking at these definitions the "coodere (Western)" definition accurately describes ''kuudere'' while the "kuudere (Western)" definition better describes the predecessor archetype ''[[sunao kuuru]]'', which is a Japanese term for a character who is always honest with their feelings and always cool in their attitude, never changing even after falling in love and expressing affection in a cool manner. Though even then it's not quite the same because a ''sunao kuuru'' character is straightforward and honest with their feelings of love and the appeal comes from the gap in perception, from a character who seems like they don't show emotions but is surprisingly forward at saying their emotions, even if they don't always show it on their face.

==History==
===Official Media===
[[File:Yui from Tonari no Kuuderella o Amayakashitara, Uchi no Aikagi o Watasu Koto ni Natta 1.jpg|thumb|250px|Yui Villiers from ''Tonari no Kuuderella o Amayakashitara, Uchi no Aikagi o Watasu Koto ni Natta'']]
The archetype of ''kuudere'' is very popular in manga and anime and has been used in several series. The first currently known usage in official media comes from [https://luckystar.fandom.com/wiki/Desires episode 10] of the 2007 anime series ''Lucky☆Star'' {{Japanese|らき☆すた|Raki☆Suta}} during the "Lucky Channel" segment at the end of the episode when the character Minoru Shiraishi briefly mentions "kuudere" while discussing the concept of ''[[tsundere]]''.<ref>{{Citation|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JoyuY1i9ys|title=Lucky Channel Ep 10 - Tsundere|publisher=Lucky☆Star|date=2007/06/10}}</ref>

The most prominent example of the term being used officially is the 2020 romance manga series ''Yatara to Sasshi no Ii Ore wa, Dokuzetsu Kuudere Bishoujo no Chiisana Dere mo Minogasazu ni Guigui Iku'' {{Japanese|やたらと察しのいい俺は、毒舌クーデレ美少女の小さなデレも見逃さずにぐいぐいいく|Yatara to Sasshi no Ii Ore wa, Dokuzetsu Kuudere Bishoujo no Chiisana Dere mo Minogasazu ni Guigui Iku|Being Extremely Perceptive, I Didn't Miss Even the Slightest Hint of Dere From the Beautiful Sharp-Tongued Kuudere Girl and Pushed Forward.}} and the character Shirokane Koyuki. Koyuki was known around the school as the "Venomous Snow White" due to her sharp tongue, snow-white hair, and cool demeanor. This was until Naoya Sasahara saved her one day resulting in both of them falling in love with the other at first sight. Naoya soon learns that underneath her cool demeanor, Koyuki is nothing more than a weak girl armed with bravado and lies, and the two begin to communicate little by little to confirm that they like each other.<ref name="kuudere">{{Citation|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/B089PR1NVH/mizunotori-22/|title=Yatara to Sasshi no Ii Ore wa, Dokuzetsu Kuudere Bishoujo no Chiisana Dere mo Minogasazu ni Guigui Iku|publisher=SB Creative|date=2020/07/13|quote=Shirogane Koyuki is a beautiful girl with a sharp tongue and is known as the "Venomous Snow White." When Sasahara Naoya saves her from a man trying to hit on her, he learns that she is nothing more than a weak girl, armed with stubbornness and lies. Koyuki falls in love at first sight with Naoya, who saves her dashingly, and Naoya falls in love at first sight with Koyuki's endearing attitude.}}</ref>

Another prominent example is the character of Yui from the 2020 romance manga series ''Tonari no Kuuderella o Amayakashitara, Uchi no Aikagi o Watasu Koto ni Natta'' {{Japanese|隣のクーデレラを甘やかしたら、ウチの合鍵を渡すことになった|Tonari no Kuuderella o Amayakashitara, Uchi no Aikagi o Watasu Koto ni Natta|I spoiled "quderella" next door and I'm going to give her a key to my house.}}. Yui is a transfer student from England who was given the nickname "Kuuderella" by her classmates because of her cold and expressionless persona. She has a stiff appearance and is harshly blunt and to the point showing her disinterest in her other classmates' attempts to get close to her. That is for everyone except her next-door neighbor Katagiri Natsuomi. One day Katagiri overhears a girl singing and realizes it is his classmate Yui. After telling her she has a beautiful singing voice and learning that she is very naive despite living by herself, he decides to help her. Contrary to her icy personality at school, when she's alone with Katagiri she is very emotional and expressive. She gets happy when he calls her cute, she blushes uncontrollably when she sees him without a shirt on, she becomes cheerful when he praises her, and she honestly expresses her thanks to him for helping her change. After spending a little time with Katagiri, Yui starts to make a change in her behavior at school which causes the rest of her classmates to wonder if something good happened to her. Rather than ignoring Katagiri, she tells him "good morning" and blushes while she smiles at him, and rather than pushing everyone else away completely she accepts her female classmates' offers to eat lunch together, though she is still cold to the other boys. Little by little she starts to become more comfortable showing her emotions while in public as she grows closer to and falls more in love with Katagiri.<ref name="quderella">{{Citation|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/B08P4YJMS6/mizunotori-22/|title=Tonari no Kuuderella o Amayakashitara, Uchi no Aikagi o Wtasu Koto ni Natta|publisher=KADOKAWA|date=2020/12/10|quote=A beautiful girl with black hair and blue eyes moves into the room next to Katagiri Natsuomi, a high school student who is in his second year living alone. The girl, Yui, seems to be a real aristocrat, and her nickname "Quderella" was given to her due to her cold reactions at school. Yui doesn't rely on others, but when Natsuomi finds out that she is actually quite naive, he decides to help her.}}</ref>

Another example is the character of Nanase Suzuho from the 2021 romance manga series ''Bishoujo to Buraritabi'' {{Japanese|美少女とぶらり旅|Bishoujo to Buraritabi|Traveling with a Beautiful Girl}}. Her classmate Takahashi Sho decides to go on a trip and when he arrives at the station platform, he notices her looking sad and invites her to go on the trip with him. At first, Nanase is suspicious, but she takes off her usual iron mask and begins to enjoy herself, relaxing in a foot bath and savoring the local cuisine.<ref>{{Citation|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/B09MYRRRBL/mizunotori-22/|title=Bishoujo to Buraritabi|publisher=KADOKAWA|date=2021/12/18|quote=Takahashi Sho, a high school student living in Tokyo, is fed up with his cramped daily life and decides to go on a trip. When he arrives at the station platform, he sees his classmate Nanase Suzuho. Seeing her look sad, Sho invites her to "go on a trip with me!" At first, Nanase is suspicious, but she takes off her usual iron mask and begins to enjoy herself, relaxing in a foot bath and savoring the local cuisine. A 120% liberating travel romantic comedy with a troubled and beautiful kuudere girl!}}</ref>

==Characteristics==
===Moe Factor===
[[File:Noel Izumi from Studio Apartment, Good Lighting, Angel Included.gif|thumb|250px|A depiction of Noel Izumi showing the difference in her demeanor when talking with random classmates versus her love interest, from ''Studio Apartment, Good Lighting, Angel Included'']]
The ''[[moe]]'' appeal of ''kuudere'' lies in the cuteness that comes as a result of the large [[gap moe|gap]] between their usual "cool" personality and when they become "dere". The idea of a character who appears cold and expressionless at first glance but is actually cute and loving gives off strong amounts of adoration towards that character. This is especially true for ''kuudere''  characters who simply have a hard time expressing their emotions. The moment when they finally realize their true feelings of affection can bring strong amounts of satisfaction to the audience like they watched them grow as a person and feel happy for them for finally making it to that point.<ref name="vstorage">{{Citation|url=https://v-storage.jp/bv_news/213485/|title=Heroine Charm Survey: Kuudere & Tsundere Heroine|publisher=V-Storage|date=2023/09/13|quote=The biggest charm of both kuudere and tsundere is the gap moe! The charm that kuudere and tsundere have in common is the cuteness that comes from the gap between their usual personality and when they become dere! Kuudere Sophie is usually expressionless and doesn't say much, but when it comes to Blade, she stares intently at him and smiles, showing her cool dere. It's devastatingly powerful.}}</ref>

===Design===
''Kuudere'' characters are most often depicted as having white or silver hair, possibly as a reference to their "cold as snow" personality. They will typically wear lots of blue or purple since these colors tend to evoke vibes of calmness. Blue is also fairly common as a hair color as well.

==Personality==
''Kuudere'' characters appear cold and expressionless at first glance (kuu) but become cute and loving around their love interest ([[deredere]]). The idea of a character that starts "colder than most" but is actually "more loving and affectionate than most" creates a very intense [[gap]] in their personality. They usually have a cute cool demeanor, but when they are alone with their love interest they become extremely clingy.<ref name="deretype">{{Citation|url=https://www.appbank.net/2016/07/06/iphone-application/1224370.php|title=What is a Girl's "◯◯dere"?|publisher=AppBank|date=2016/07/06|quote=She usually has a cute cool demeanor, but when they are alone she becomes extremely clingy. The point of a kuudere is that she "has a clear separation of her character". Kuudere don't behave particularly specially when in a group. However, when alone with you, they will come over and say "XX-kun♪" or hold your hand silently, becoming so spoiled that their usual character falls apart. This is a girl with a very drastic gap. The reason they become "dere" when alone with you may be a form of self-defense, not wanting others to see them like that.}}</ref>

===Kuu Period===
[[File:Fiona Frost from Spy x Family.png|thumb|225px|Fiona Frost's demeanor towards people she doesn't like from ''SPY×FAMILY'']]
{{Quote|It's the complete opposite from the lovely smile she showed me earlier. She has a wicked expression that would deter anyone from getting close...|'''Katagiri Natsuomi''' noticing the change in '''Yui Villiers''' when they're at school, from ''Tonari no Kuuderella o Amayakashitara, Uchi no Aikagi o Watasu Koto ni Natta''}}
At first, a ''kuudere'' character will always be seen keeping a "cool" attitude, remaining very calm, confident, expressionless, unenthusiastic, unfriendly, and showing great control over their feelings. They always keep their emotions in check and have a rigid stance, appearing stiff and unyielding at all times.<ref name="pixiv"/>

They are characters who are often very strict and are focused more on their school work or career than romance. They are also typically very mature characters.<ref name="deresuku"/><ref name="succubusnote">{{Citation|url=https://kakuyomu.jp/works/1177354054885271253/episodes/1177354054885271937|title=Succubus☆Note! Volume 4: Oara Cave ~ The Night Before Infiltration|publisher=Kakuyomu|date=2018/02/26|quote=The deciding factor is that kuudere personality. When a cool beauty scolds me, I get goosebumps and it becomes addictive.}}</ref>

They are characters who are not in the mood to deal with others and as such they don't rely on others even if they are struggling with something.<ref name="quderella"/> They don't talk much and take a cold uninterested and unapproachable attitude towards other people, most often speaking in a calm monotonous voice. However, they are also not shy about saying what is on their mind and are sometimes even a little 'too' honest, speaking their opinions without much regard for other people's feelings. This comes out in the form of them making brutally blunt ice-cold comments when they don't like someone or want to be left alone, which is why they are often described as "[https://jpdictionary.com/?word=毒舌&id=1455580 sharp-tongued]".<ref name="kuudere"/>

[[File:Yui from Tonari no Kuuderella o Amayakashitara, Uchi no Aikagi o Watasu Koto ni Natta 13.png|thumb|250px|Yui Villiers' "don't get involved with me" aura from ''Tonari no Kuuderella o Amayakashitara, Uchi no Aikagi o Watasu Koto ni Natta'']]
They are characters who purposefully create this cold "don't get involved with me" persona as a wall to keep others from getting close to them.<ref name="quderella"/> Generally, this cold demeanor causes most other people to avoid being around them so they will typically be seen by themselves and not have many friends if any at all. This is a fairly big reason they tend to develop feelings for their love interest: they will be one of the only people trying to spend time with them and talking with them.<ref name="pixiv"/>
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===Dere-kake Period===
[[File:Yui from Tonari no Kuuderella o Amayakashitara, Uchi no Aikagi o Watasu Koto ni Natta 29.png|thumb|250px|Yui Villiers blushing after being called cute by Katagiri from ''Tonari no Kuuderella o Amayakashitara, Uchi no Aikagi o Watasu Koto ni Natta'']]
{{Quote|'''Yui:''' "I came to Japan because I wanted to change, but if I hadn't met Katagiri-san I don't think I would've had the opportunity to change."<br>'''Katagiri:''' "You're overreacting. I don't think that's the case."<br>'''Yui:''' "No. I '''do''' think that's the reason." *big loving smile*|'''Yui Villiers''' confessing to '''Katagiri Natsuomi''' that he's the reason for her change in mood, from ''Tonari no Kuuderella o Amayakashitara, Uchi no Aikagi o Watasu Koto ni Natta''}}
As they start to become closer to their love interest, they will start to change. Before they have become entirely lovestruck, they will often be seen blushing at their love interest while trying to keep their cool composure. Even if their mind tells them they want to stay calm, their body tends to react to their feelings on its own and they come to the surface anyway. They may start questioning their feelings and their love interest will be constantly on their mind. They may also do things like smiling at their love interest when no one is looking or coming up and silently holding their love interest's hand when they are alone.<ref name="deretype"/> Often things they could previously do without so much as flinching, such as getting close to their love interest's face, will suddenly cause them to become very embarrassed and start blushing uncontrollably. When they are first falling for their love interest they may even be able to keep themselves composed in public, but when they get home they start frantically blushing and going on about how they love them to themself.<ref name="kuudere"/>

[[File:Nano Eiai from The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You 4.jpg|thumb|250px|Eiai Nano blushing while thinking about how much she loves Rentarou Aijou from ''Kimi no koto ga Daidaidaidaidaisuki na 100-nin no Kanojo'']]
Many times they are not good at expressing their emotions and may become embarrassed by the thought of falling in love with someone, sometimes even directing their sharp tongue toward their love interest.<ref>{{Citation|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/gp/product/B08KT5Q559|title=Yatara to Sasshi no Ii Ore wa, Dokuzetsu Kuudere Bishoujo no Chiisana Dere mo Minogasazu ni Guigui Iku (Volume 2)|publisher=Amazon|date=2020/11/11|quote=After confirming their feelings for each other, Naoya confesses his feelings to Koyuki but she puts her answer on hold until she can express her true feelings. As Koyuki continues to interact with Naoya, she gradually softens her ways of interacting with people other than Naoya.}}</ref>

Even though they act like they're independent and don't need other people's help, most often the truth is that they are armed with nothing more than stubbornness and lies and are, in truth, very naive about the world. They might struggle to do things alone because they don't want to rely on others, which is something they will be thankful to their love interest for teaching them how to do. Over time they will learn to allow themselves to depend on another person for support and to rely on their love interest to help deal with their insecurities and emotional needs.<ref name="kuudere"/><ref name="quderella"/>

From spending time alone with their love interest and becoming more comfortable showing their emotions they will begin to ease up their cold persona in public. Their classmates might notice a sudden change in their behavior and wonder what happened to put them in a better mood. They may take little steps to start showing their expressive side in public, such as smiling at their love interest in class or trying to get closer to a few other students to make friends, even if they're still cold to the rest of the class.<ref name="kuudere"/><ref name="quderella"/>

===Dere Period===
[[File:Yui from Tonari no Kuuderella o Amayakashitara, Uchi no Aikagi o Watasu Koto ni Natta 59.png|thumb|250px|Yui Villiers getting excited to spend time with Katagiri from ''Tonari no Kuuderella o Amayakashitara, Uchi no Aikagi o Watasu Koto ni Natta'']]
{{Quote|Rentarou Aijou... I have fallen for you. I would like you to go out with me. It would seem that I have much to gain from being in love with you. I would like to spend much more "significant" time with you...|'''Nano Eiai''' honestly and straightforwardly confessing her love for Rentarou Aijou from ''Kimi no Koto ga Daidaidaidaidaisuki na 100-nin no Kanojo''}}
While it might not appear like it, ''kuudere'' characters are people whose inner affection is hotter than others. They are hiding a deep inner love that will come out after becoming close to their love interest, at which point they will begin to show them their cute side. When they have finally come to terms with their feelings, they are someone who will honestly and straightforwardly confess that they have fallen in love. They will become transcendentally spoiled ([[amae]]) and want their love interest to give them lots of affection when they are alone together, becoming very clingy and acting very cute and passionate towards them.<ref name="deretype"/>

[[File:Shirokane Koyuki from Yatara to Sasshi no Ii Ore wa, Dokuzetsu Kuudere Bishoujo no Chiisana Dere mo Minogasazu ni Guigui Iku 6.jpg|thumb|200px|Shirokane Koyuki being very expressive even in public from ''Yatara to Sasshi no Ii Ore wa, Dokuzetsu Kuudere Bishoujo'']]
They are usually people who don't want others to see them in this state, which may be a form of a defense mechanism. It's for this reason they will only show this cute side of themselves when they are alone with their love interest. Their usual persona will fall apart and they will want to become intimate and be spoiled with affection by their love interest when nobody is looking.<ref name="deretype"/> They will feel more comfortable just being themselves and relaxing in the presence of their love interest, letting down their cold walls. They will become cheerful and expressive, and honestly confess to their love interest that they feel happy that they finally have someone they can depend on for emotional and physical support. They are usually very thankful to their love interest for showing them that there is more to life and helping them change to see that even someone like them can have fun and become loved. Things that they previously thought were pointless, like as romance and going on dates, suddenly means more to them than anything.<ref name="quderella"/><ref name="niconico"/>

After spending enough time with their love interest and growing as a person they will start to feel comfortable behaving this way even out in public and doing things like going on dates or being cute with their love interest even when other people are looking. They will become cheerful and get along with the rest of their classmates, showing a drastic and permanent change from their initial persona.<ref>{{Citation|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/gp/product/B09ZTL76WT|title=Yatara to Sasshi no Ii Ore wa, Dokuzetsu Kuudere Bishoujo no Chiisana Dere mo Minogasazu ni Guigui Iku (Volume 6)|publisher=Amazon|date=2022/06/13|quote=A full season has passed since Koyuki and Naoya first met, and the spring of their third year has arrived. Now officially engaged, the two are treated as the school's official lovers and spend busy but fun days cheering on their classmates' love affairs and being interviewed by the newspaper club, making their nickname "Venomous Snow White" seem nostalgic. As the two slowly grow closer, their lives continue, heading towards a future that is guaranteed to have a happy ending.}}</ref>

==Differences From Other Archetypes==
The archetype that most closely resembles ''kuudere'' is ''[[dandere]]'', due to both types appearing as quiet and expressionless on the surface, however, the main difference mostly comes down to their 'reason' for acting that way. ''Kuudere'' characters are quiet and expressionless by choice because they are very cool and confident and intentionally keep their emotions in check, whereas ''dandere'' characters are quiet and expressionless because they are simply not good at showing their emotions. ''Kuudere'' characters are also very uninterested and uncaring of others at first and choose to keep others at a distance, while ''dandere'' characters typically want to talk with others but they just can't because they are not good at communicating. When spoken to, a ''kuudere'' character is likely to make some blunt sharp-tongued comment and hurt the other person's feelings because of their overly honest nature, while a ''dandere'' character would either just not respond at all and remain in complete silence or very quietly and softly reply. A ''kuudere'' is not afraid to tell others when they want to be left alone, while a ''dandere'' does not have the confidence to do so nor do they want to be cold to others. Another key difference is that even if both types are expressionless, a ''kuudere'' character will have a cold and unapproachable aura around them to keep others away, while a ''dandere'' character will have almost no presence and just blend into the crowd. Simply put, ''kuudere'' is a deliberate and forced attitude to keep a wall between themself and others, while ''dandere'' is just genuinely how the character is. So with all of this on mind, ''dandere'' could be described as a "silent and friendly" version of ''kuudere''. It is also worth noting that neither archetype are for "emotionless characters", which can be considered its own separate unrelated archetype.<ref>{{Citation|url=https://youtu.be/H8MIvq84Ic0?si=kcMMnx2QStaGaDvM|title=Kuudere vs Dandere: What's The Difference?|publisher=The Anime Man|date=2015/12/03}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|url=https://www.cbr.com/kuudere-dandere-anime-character-key-differences/|title=The Real Difference Between a Kuudere and Dandere Character in Anime|publisher=CBR|date=2022/09/16|quote=A kuudere is confident in who they are and what they can do. Kuuderes have minimal internal conflicts and are rarely plagued by serious doubt, self-esteem issues or indecision. This means they have impressive focus as a lover -- unlike insecure danderes and vulnerable tsunderes -- and can take the initiative and express their love when they are good and ready. This makes a kuudere very in control of their love life. Inversely, a dandere's worst enemy is themselves. Such a character is defined not just by their outward shyness, but also an internal battle where they struggle with low self-esteem, insecurities and indecision.}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|url=https://honeysanime.com/what-is-dandere-silently-stares-at-you-in-public-and-might-say-hey-when-everyone-is-gone/|title=The Difference Between a Kuudere and a Dandere|publisher=Honey's Anime|date=2015/07/06|quote=A kuudere is cool and closed off for the sake of being cool. They are just closed off and have walls all around them. They are cool and/or cold for the sake of being cold. A dandere is someone who actually is committed to the role and is actually shy. A.K.A. this is not a forced role as is with the kuudere. A dandere most likely has a very awkward time expressing themselves.}}</ref>

While ''kuudere'' was created to be the complete opposite of ''tsundere'', it can also be confused with it because of how both types of characters act cold towards other. The biggest difference is simply the reason for why they act this way. Aside from the obvious difference of ''tsundere'' characters being very emotional and lacking a cool expression, the reason why a ''tsundere'' acts cold towards their love interest is because they want to hide their feelings for them. In comparison to this, the reason a ''kuudere'' acts cold to others is the complete opposite. Rather than acting cold because they're 'dis'honest, it's because they're 'too' honest. A ''kuudere'' character wants to be left alone and they will not hesitate to make blunt statements to get their true feelings across. While a ''tsundere'' character will act embarrassed and desperately try to make excuses to hide the fact that they secretly want to be close with them.

This also extends to the sub-type ''[[tsundora]]'', which can be seen as a mix of ''kuudere'' and ''tsundere''. Similarly to  a regular ''tsundere'' a ''tsundora'' character is in denial of their own feelings and will act defiant towards their love interest, but rather than acting flustered and stuck-up they say it in a cold and emotionally dry bitter way like a ''kuudere'' character. The biggest difference is that a ''tsundora'' character only does this to hide their feelings, while ''kuudere'' characters are just brutally honest to a fault. ''Tsundora'' characters also don't necessarily have a stiff appearance like a ''kuudere'' either. ''Tsundora'' characters also typically only act this way towards their love interest, while a ''kuudere'' acts this way to everyone aside from their love interest after they become close to them.

==Similar Japanese Archetypes==
*'''''[[Dandere]]''''': A term for a character who is silent and expressionless most of the time, but will suddenly become cute, talkative, and ''deredere'' when they are alone with their love interest.
*'''''[[Rindere]]''''': A term for a mature and dignified female character who normally has a cool reserved exterior, but becomes cute, loving, and ''deredere'' after getting closer to their love interest.
*'''''[[Tsundora]]''''': A term for a ''tsundere'' character who acts so dry and emotionless when being distant that they make it seem like they are serious, showing a complete rejection of their own feelings.
*'''''[[Western:Kidere]]''''': A term for a ''kuudere'' character who possess ice powers. This is an unofficial Western variation of ''kuudere''.

==List of Characters==
<big>See [[Kuudere/Japanese Characters]] to see characters from Japanese media.</big>
<br><big>See [[Kuudere/Non-Japanese Characters]] to see characters from non-Japanese media.</big>

==Gallery==
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" orientation="landscape" navigation="true" widths=200 hideaddbutton="true" bordersize="medium" bordercolor="#c85aff">
Kuudere Gallery.png|link=Kuudere/Gallery
</gallery>

{|width="100%" style="border:5px solid #c85aff; border-radius: 1em; background: #e3a5ff;"
|<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true" bordersize="medium" bordercolor="#c85aff" captiontextcolor="#c85aff">
Nano Eiai from The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You.jpg|Nano Eiai from ''Kimi no Koto ga Daidaidaidaidaisuki na 100-nin no Kanojo''
Shirayuki Himeji from Liar Liar 2.jpg|Shirayuki Himeji from ''Liar, Liar''
Shirokane Koyuki from Yatara to Sasshi no Ii Ore wa, Dokuzetsu Kuudere Bishoujo no Chiisana Dere mo Minogasazu ni Guigui Iku 5.jpg|Shirokane Koyuki from ''Yatara to Sasshi no Ii Ore wa, Dokuzetsu Kuudere Bishoujo''
Origami Tobiichi from Date a Live kuu 1.png|Origami Tobiichi from ''Date a Live''
Anastasia Nasuhara from OniAi kuu 3.jpg|Anastasia Nasuhara from ''Onii-chan Dakedo Ai Sae Areba Kankeinai yo ne!''
Shizuka Mikazuki from Zom 100.gif|Shizuka Mikazuki from ''Zom 100''
</gallery>
|}

==References==
{{References}}
{{Japanese Archetypes}}
{{Dere Types}}
[[Category:Distant]]