The world of anime is home to a dazzling variety of characters, and by now, anime fans have devised many charming and descriptive names to categorize many of their favorite characters in anime titles of all sorts. A good starting point is the -dere family of archetypes, such as the hot-headed tsundere type and the shy, bashful dandere type.
Then there's the kuudere type, which describes an anime character who is detached, aloof and calm on the outside but caring and kind on the inside, and when the time is right, these patient characters will open up and show their cuddly side to their respective love interests. Kuudere characters can be a lot of fun, and fans of this character type should try these anime shows, each of which features a kuudere boy they are bound to like.
Wotakoi Features The Cool Gamer Nifuji Hirotaka
Wotakoi is an office rom-com series that's like a breath of fresh air for romance anime fans who have seen enough high school anime to last a lifetime. The main characters are all 20-something office workers who nurse a secret passion for the otaku life, from collecting anime figurines to playing mobile games and even the wonderful world of cosplay.
Among these otaku friends, no one is a bigger geek than the aloof kuudere Hirotaka Nifuji, an elite gamer and mild anime fan who plays it cool at the office while dedicating his entire soul to gaming in the privacy of his home. Hirotaka may be quiet and detached on the outside, but around his girlfriend Narumi, he will show his caring side, and he might even crack a warm smile for her. He's also much more friendly and expressive in text messages, as Narumi has noted herself.
My Hero Academia's Todoroki Shoto Is Icy But Also Warm
Todoroki Shoto is the product of a Quirk marriage, and his half-ice, half-fire Quirk is symbolic of his chilly exterior and his burning passion to become the top pro hero. Shoto's cool, aloof exterior is the product of his upbringing, where his tyrannical father Endeavor pressured him to succeed at all costs, including friendships and love, and Shoto isn't too quick to connect to his peers as a result.
Fortunately, this powerful kuudere boy is slowly learning the value of friendship, and he has since embraced his classmates as cherished companions and not just obstacles to overcome. He even managed a small smile at the forest training camp, and he's willing to give his father a second chance to atone for what he's done. Shoto also gets along well with his sister Fuyumi and gets along reasonably well with Izuku, who is a friendly rival to him.
In Fruits Basket, Sohma Yuki Slowly But Surely Opened Up
The popular "prince" of high school Sohma Yuki is beloved for his good looks and his cool personality, but there's more to him than that. He was raised in a deeply dysfunctional household, where his selfish parents used his prestige as the Rat to gain favor with Akito and place a great burden on Yuki. As a result, Yuki suffers from imposter syndrome and longs for real friendship, though his anxiety and distant attitude make him difficult to befriend.
However, after he met Honda Tohru, Yuki opened up at last and welcomed her into his life. He also extended a helping hand to his troubled classmate Machi, and they slowly but surely fell in love to get their own happily ever after. Now the supposedly perfect Yuki is truly happy.
Science Fell In Love So I Tried To Prove It Stars Yukimura Shinya
Science Fell in Love So I Tried to Prove It is another office rom-com series like Wotakoi, and it's set to return for another season in the Spring 2022 anime line-up. This charming show features the aloof but kind young scientist Yukimura Shinya, who is very much the apple of Himuro Ayame's eye, and the two of them are determined to run some tests and determine if their mutual affection is genuine or not.
Both of them are clueless about true love, but they'll give it their best shot in the name of science, and Ayame has a lot of fun trying to prove once and for all that she is indeed a maiden in love. It's not easy for her to draw out Shinya's romantic side, but she's determined, and she'll earn a spot in this kuudere's heart no matter what it takes. Shinya won't admit it, but he is a total romantic at heart, and he wants more than anything to prove to himself and others that Ayame makes him happier than anything else in the world.
