In the vibrant world of the Reddit community, anime fans have been immersed in a passionate debate about two female character archetypes: the Tsundere and the Yandere. These terms, originating from anime and manga culture, describe different personalities and behaviors that have captivated fans of the genre for decades.
On the one hand, the Tsundere are known for their initially cold, distant or even hostile attitude towards the main character, but over time they show a kinder and more loving side. These types of characters are often characterized by their pride and their difficulty expressing their feelings directly, which makes them intriguing and attractive figures for many fans.
On the other hand, Yandere represent a much darker and more disturbing type of character. At first glance, they may seem sweet, tender and loving, but behind that facade lies an unhealthy and dangerous obsession with the object of their affection. Yandere are capable of resorting to extreme violence and even murder in order to protect or keep close the person they love, making them equal parts fascinating and terrifying figures.
The Reddit thread in question attracted a multitude of users eager to share their opinions and arguments about which of these two archetypes they prefer. Some argued in favor of the Tsundere, highlighting their emotional evolution and the satisfaction felt in witnessing their gradual transformation toward tenderness and genuine affection. Others, on the contrary, defended the Yandere, pointing out the fascination aroused by their psychological complexity and their ability to generate suspense and drama in stories:
- «I’m very specific about my yandere/tsundere preferences. I like tsunderes because I like challenges, but if I’m honest, I think I like kuuderes that lean towards tsun. They feel more earned, as if their affection is not easy to express, so it manifests itself in ridicule and slights. I don’t like tsunderes who verbally abuse others».
- «I like yandere better because their behavior is unpredictable and difficult to anticipate. Some tsunderes are good, but they can be written in a superficial way if they are not given a compelling reason for their behavior (for example: that the protagonist hurt them in the past).».
- «Ugh I literally love both types but I think the embarrassed tsundere are a drug like no other and they win by a hair».
- «I love tsundere, but not so much the verbally abusive types that anime seem to be full of. Despite what people say that tsundere are modeled after Asuka from Neon Genesis Evangelion, they don’t have to be derogatory. I like tsundere who get defensive with their evil, not the ones who treat you like shit».
- «Tsundere, but only the kind that’s really insecure and “needs to push everyone away”, but she warms up in the end. For me, yandere have been a success or a failure, but above all a failure. I don’t like extreme possessiveness».
- «Of the tsundere characters in the media I consume, they are never among my favorites, but I don’t dislike them either. About yandere though, I really enjoy unhinged characters. Something about the moe gap of a blood-soaked girl saying “sorry, I’m late, the line was too long, I just wanted to get this for you” and bringing something silly, like her favorite flower or her favorite comfort food, whatever implies that I had to do some violence on the tail… I love this kind of stuff, really».
- «Tsunderes; I will always like the one who is tough on the outside but soft on the inside and the one who is stupid with everyone but shows her soft side to the protagonist. They just make the stories funnier and I find them entertaining. Plus when they blush, it feels so gratifying.».
- «If I had to choose between the two, I would choose tsundere. Yanderes tend to make me uncomfortable most of the time. I like a little possessiveness, and I’m not going to pretend I don’t… but not to the extreme that they like to take it.».
- «One of my favorite yanderes is also a tsundere who can barely contain her contempt for everyone, is stingy with people she cares about, and wants to kill the person she is “lovingly” obsessed with so LOL. But in general I prefer tsunderes because I have never felt offended by their insults, belittling, etc. For me it’s funnier than anything else. And those who are not punctilious or talk behind their backs tend to bore me more.».
- «I’ve never found the yandere archetype attractive. I find them more suited to psychological horror stories than anything remotely romantic. There’s a line between gallant overprotection and violent overpossession that I don’t want to cross. Tsunderes, at the very least, don’t activate my flight or fight mode.».
- «However, I have personally noticed that many times some characters are considered one thing or another when they are not, or are not well written, so for example you end up with abusive assholes who are marked as tsundere, and psychopaths who are dry considered yandere. Both are surprisingly difficult to write and do well, and it doesn’t help that fans themselves sometimes confuse them and group them together like this».
- «I don’t like tsunderes. I know it’s just an anime, but it reminds me of my ex, who used to belittle me, call me ugly, and emotionally abuse me. I usually don’t run his routes at all in games unless I have to. I don’t mind yanderes though because they’re usually not mean to the protagonist.».
- «In the past, I would have said that I didn’t understand the appeal of tsundere girls, because the examples I grew up with were physically violent or very volatile, two things that scare me due to childhood trauma. Nowadays, however, I love tsunderes! However, yandere characters have always been my favorites. There is something so tempting about a woman so in love with me that she would be willing to stalk me, hurt anyone who dared to hurt me, become extremely possessive for fear of losing me, and would even kill for me.».
Fountain: reddit
