If you are familiar with otaku culture, you will know there are many “dere types.” It bluntly means character archetypes. If you watch anime, you will notice different kinds of characters. Each one of them is given specific names based on their personality. Famous dere types include tsundere, yandere, dandere and darudere. Today we will be looking into the darudere character archetype in detail.
DARUDERE MEANING
Darudere is a combination of “darui”, means “sluggish”, and “deredere”, means “lovey-dovey”.
We all know that one lazy character who is reluctant to do any work given to them and would prefer to sleep at all times. Yes, they are none other than darudere characters. They refuse to do anything without complaining and are most likely to hide or ignore their feelings towards their love interest. However, they are always there to help you. Even though they would complain and pretend not to worry about you, they are one of the most caring people you’ll come across. Their demeanor may often come off as mean or cold due to their lack of interest in almost everything, which makes them, in a way, similar to “kuudere” characters.
Darudere characters are often found in awkward situations with their love interest, the reason being their lack of expressiveness. They are unlikely to make a move and would rather sit around not fretting about it because that’s too much work, ofcourse! They often tend to be clever or considered competent due to their calm and collective attitude. However, that’s because they are unconcerned about anything else! Although they would show that they are not interested in helping you, they are the first ones who would run after you if you happen to be in trouble.
After reading this, you might think that they are annoying or bothersome. However, darudere are some of the best characters in a series, and I have a whole list to prove my statement!
FAMOUS DARUDERE ANIME CHARACTERS
Here is a list of the top 10 darudere characters you’ll come across; if you are an otaku, you have probably heard of these characters before.
SHIKAMARU NARA FROM NARUTO
Image: MORBIDCADAVER
I’m sure the picture of Shikamaru strikes you at the back of your mind whenever you hear the word lazy. His famous catchphrase “what a drag” can also be considered another definition of the darudere archetype! However, despite his somewhat careless attitude, he is brilliant and rational. His master, or sensei Asuma, even confirmed that his IQ is over 200. He has a strong sense of friendship and is present whenever needed by them.
KENMA KOZUME FROM HAIKYUU!
Another perfect example of a darudere character is Kenma from our loved Nekoma volleyball team. He keeps quiet and hardly speaks unless he is required to do so. However, when it comes to video games, he is surprisingly interested!
He rarely says anything. However, when needed by his friends, he is always there. A prime example of that is how he joined the volleyball team for kuroo, even though he wasn’t quite into the idea of playing volleyball. However, that doesn’t make him any less of a player. Although he lacks stamina, his incredible strategies are more than enough to call him the heart and soul of the team.
KAZUMA SATOU FROM KONOSUBA
In his real world, Kazuma was somewhat like Kenma due to his gaming habit. Isolating himself, he became antisocial and would hardly go out of his room. He did not have any friends in his world. However, his gloomy personality changes once he gets teleported to the other world.
Although his careless personality is often considered blatant and rude, he is responsible at desperate times. He is quick to complain whenever things don’t go his way but is always there for his party or teammates. Despite his somewhat sardonic personality, he is a good leader.
SAIKI KUSUO FROM SAIKI K
We all know the pink-haired psychic, Saiki, from our favourite comedy series, Saiki Kusuo no Psi-nan. Like all other darudere characters, he is very distant and hardly speaks, mostly because he doesn’t need to. As strange as it might seem, Saiki can communicate without speaking! He has certain powers which allow him to transmit his words directly to a person’s brain. However, not everyone is aware of his powers, and he prefers to be alone. Although Saiki always complains when he is driven to help others, his actions say otherwise.
He tries to convince others that the only reason he is even trying to help is because of his own selfish needs. However, he keeps helping his friends at desperate times even when the situation has nothing in it for him. Nothing seems to excite, surprise or interest him, except one thing- coffee jelly! When it comes to sweets, he can be easily swayed, almost like a child.
KIYOTAKA AYANOKOJI FROM CLASSROOM OF THE ELITE
The drama/ thriller Classroom of the elite provided us with some interesting characters like the male lead, Ayanokoji. He has a rather cold behavior and couldn’t care less about anyone but himself. There is no other side to it. Although he is shown to help his friends throughout the series, he has an ulterior motive behind it. His personality is similar to the kuudere character archetype as well due to his indifferent bearing.
One of the main reasons I chose to include him in this list is because he is slightly different than the other characters listed before. If you have noticed, all the other characters have a cold and lazy exterior but are soft and caring from the inside. However, in Ayanokoji’s case, it’s not the same. It is hard to understand his character since the anime hasn’t been very descriptive about, it but we can assume he is cold from the inside too.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
- Adachi to Shimamura – Shimamura Hougetsu
- Arte – Katarina
- Assassination Classroom – Ryoma Terasaka
- Beyblade Burst Evolution – Free De La Hoya
- Bleach – Coyote Starrk
- My Hero Academia – Shouta Aizawa (Eraserhead)
- Claymore – Europa the lazy
- Darker Than Black – Yin
- Diabolik Lovers – Shu Sakamaki
- Domestic na Kanojo – Rui Tachibana
- Durarara!!! – Shizuo Heiwajima
- Food Wars – Ryo Kurokiba
- Fruits Basket Another – Kinu Sohma
- Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood – Sloth
- Gabriel DropOut – Gabriel
- Gintama – Sakata Gintoki
- Haikyuu!! – Akira Kunimi
- Healin’ Good Pretty Cure – Daruizen
- HenSuki – Keiki Kiryuu
- Hetalia – Greece
- Himouto! Umaru-chan – Umaru Doma
- Hyouka – Houtarou Oreki
- Keroro Gunsou – Kururu
- Kokoro Connect – Fuusenkazura
- Kore wa Zombie Desu ka? – Ayumu Aikawa
- Kuroko no Basket – Atsushi Murasakibara
- Log Horizon – Lenessia / Rayneshia
- Lucky Star – Konata Izumi
- Maoujou de Oyasumi – Aurora Suya Rhys Kaymin
- Mekakucity Actors – Shintaro Kisagari
- Nagasarete Airantou – Michiru
- Nagi no Asukara – Hikari Sakishima
- Nanatsu no Taizai – King
- Naruto -Kakashi Hatake, Shikadai Nara
- Oregairu – Hikigaya Hachiman
- Osomatsu-san – Matsuno Ichimatsu
- Pokémon -Slaking, Snorlax
- Saiki Kusuo no Psi-nan – Kusuo Saiki
- Sakura Trick – Yuu Sonoda
- Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei – Abiru Kobushi
- Servamp – Kuro
- Shaman King – Yoh Asakura
- Slime Taoshite 300-nen, Shiranai Uchi ni Reberu Makkusu ni Nattemashita – Azusa Aizawa
- Strike the Blood – Kojou Akatsuki
- Suzumiya Haruhi no Yūutsu – Haruhi Suzumiya
- Sword Art Online – Kazuto “Kirito” Kiriguya
- Tanaka-kun is Always Listless – Tanaka
- The Legend of the Legendary Heroes – Ryner Lute
- The Monogatari Series – Deishuu Kaiki
- Tokyo Ghoul: re – Saiko Yonebayashi
- Tsurezure Children -Fuyumi Toda, Yoshiharu Sunagawa
- Urasekai Picnic – Kozakura
- Vampire Knight – Senri Shiki
- and maybe you?
CONCLUSION
Like all other archetypes, darudere characters have their flaws too. However, they are usually very caring inside, which makes up for most of their weaknesses. It is interesting to see even under this category, there are varieties. For example, Ayanokoji and Shikamaru. Even though both fall under the darudere archetype, they are very different yet similar. It might sound a bit confusing, but it is, in fact, true! Due to their inexpressive behaviour, they are in a way identical to tsundere characters too. Overall, darudere characters are loved by all and are a delight to watch!