Dandere is a hotly debated term within the world of anime. That’s because it can encompass a lot of variations. There are also some sub-terms to describe specific changes to the more “normal” meaning. In general, a dandere character in an anime can be shy, closed off, antisocial, or emotionless. The term is a portmanteau of "danmari," meaning "silence," and "deredere," meaning "lovey-dovey."
This may be their choice, or they may be socially awkward. Maybe they have a lot of feelings to share but are too afraid to express them due to trauma. There are male characters in anime that could be labeled as dandere, but this term mostly falls onto female characters, as nime embraces female dandere characters more readily. To better understand this archetype, let’s look at some of the coolest examples out there from classics to more modern titles.
10 Rei — Neon Genesis Evangelion
Rei is a classic dandere character in a classic mecha anime. Like every character in this anime, her backstory is pretty wild. The only reason why she is so quiet and awkward around people is that she was programmed that way.
That’s right. Rei is a clone designed to bring about the end of humanity. The Rei in the anime isn’t even the first clone. How many there were and whom she was cloned from will remain a mystery for this entry — it's best to just watch Neon Genesis Evangelion firsthand.
9 Seras — Hellsing
Seras was an ordinary London cop until her team gets completely wiped out in Hellsing. She suffers a fatal blow hersel. The only reason she lives is through the vampire, Alucard, who turns her into a vampire.
After her transformation, Seras is both grateful and sickened by the idea of being a vampire. She doesn’t want to drink blood and isn’t even into killing at first. However, she slowly blossoms as the series goes on. This is true for both anime adaptations of the manga.
8 Nezuko — Demon Slayer
There are a couple of female characters in Demon Slayer that would fit the dandere profile. Nezuko, as one of the main characters, fits the bill best. She suffers the curse of being turned into a demon. Thankfully, her brother Tanjiro’s love snaps her out of her bloodthirst for the most part.
Nezuko is an adorable character that literally says nothing throughout the anime. However, she's not afraid to get her hands dirty if she needs to.
7 Hinata — Naruto
Hinata might be the ultimate dandere character. She is madly in love with Naruto, but is too afraid to say anything. She also doesn’t believe in her own abilities, furthering her shyness.
The reason why Hinata is so shy in the anime is because her clan, the Hyuga, has beaten her down. Neji is the favored child to succeed although not everything is roses for him either. Eventually, Hinata finds the courage to fight physically and mentally for her love of Naruto.
6 Historia — Attack On Titan
Historia begins as Krista in Attack on Titan. She is part of ancient lineage but this life is unbeknownst to her through most of the series. Historia is like the heart of the group for a while. She can’t really fight. She doesn’t believe in herself. She’s not mopey, but she certainly doesn’t stand up for herself all the time.
This all changes when she finds out about her past. She becomes cool and collected; a dandere in another way. Annie is another great female dandere character from this series, but Historia is the ultimate example from this show.
5 Futaba — Persona 5: The Animation
Though Persona 5 is a game example, it was adapted into an anime featuring all the beloved characters. Futaba is a classic, closed-off dandere. She was traumatized as a child and now she doesn’t trust anyone. She barely even trusts her guardian.
Part of the fun in the game and anime is seeing how Futaba slowly adapts to real life once the Phantom Thieves rescue her heart. She’s a completely different person in battle, which can be typical of dandere characters.
4 Dorothy — The Big O
Dorothy is an android whose awkwardness can’t be helped, since she was cut from a different cloth. Part of the fun in the series is seeing how Roger slowly adapts to Dorothy’s life and vice versa. He’s not into women and is less into androids.
One of the sweeter episodes involves the two of them struggling to admit they want to exchange gifts with each other. This is during the anime’s equivalent to a Christmas event, and is heartwarming for viewers to watch.
3 C.C. — Code Geass
C.C. is awakened by the main character, Lelouch, at the beginning of Code Geass. She grants him the power of controlling people through his eye. His hypnosis only works on someone once, so he has to plan his moves well ahead of time like a game of chess.
C.C. is like Dorothy in that she comes from a different place. She may look human, but she doesn’t exactly know how to be one. She’s also not exactly in Lelouch’s corner 24/7. It always seems like she is planning something behind that blank face of hers.
2 Eureka — Eureka Seven
Like Rei, the titular character of Eureka Seven is an ace pilot when it counts. However, her social skills leave something to be desired. She likes the idea of being a mother to three orphan children, but doesn’t know how to always be one.
Eureka barely knows how to act like a girl or knows how to deal with love. That’s because she was bred for war at an early age before escaping. There’s always more to it than that, but again, it's best to watch the show to learn the full story.
1 Morgiana — Magi: The Labyrinth Of Magic
Morgiana was raised to be a slave. She’s a servant and a warrior for her masters. She is also disposable. At first, she does what she is told. Like other slaves at this time in history, it's not like she had a choice.
Eventually, Alibaba and Aladdin show Morgiana the magic of being free. She’s able to express herself freely through dance, and the first time she does it is adorable. Still, even after being enlightened and freed, Morgiana still keeps her feelings close to the chest.