Tropes are plot devices that make a drama/series go forward. It is essentially a point around which the plot revolves. One of the most popular tropes in Japanese animes is Tsundere. Meaning literally “hot and cold” the term is the characteristic of those characters who are initially rude and cold, but go through personality development and warm up to others. While these characters aren’t tied to any specific genre, they are primarily seen in romance anime. As mentioned, Tsundere characters undergo tremendous personality development, which many fans appreciate. Take a look at the top 10 best tsundere romance anime.
1. ReLIFE
ReLIFE is a 2016 supernatural slice-of-life anime series. Part-time convenience store worker Arata Kaizaki is living a lie; he doesn’t have a real job and has lied about his professional life for years. Help comes in the form of a mysterious man named Ryo Yoake, who want Arata to enroll in a scientific program meant to make its subject younger and send them back in time. When Arata arrives in his high-school self’s body, he meets a sporty student named Rena Kariu. Rena is moody and initially cold and judging towards Arata because of her past. However, during the series, she grows out of her “hot and cold” persona and forms a strong relationship with Arata.
2. Don't Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro
You can get some idea about the series by reading the title itself. Don't Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro features a somewhat of a bully romance (not extreme, just some light teasing, we promise!) romance between the two leads. In the series, timid and introverted high schooler Naoto Hachiouji is constantly teased by his junior, Hayase Nayamoto. Naoto is quiet and prefers to spend time alone, often sketching mangas. Hayase persistently annoys him by calling him Senpai and lewd and commenting on his personality. While their initial interactions are less than pleasurable for Naoato, he soon finds himself becoming assertive and coming out of his comfort space due to Hayase. Released in 2021, Don't Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro is one of the recent (and dare we say, the best) anime in the Tsundere genre.
3. Toradora!
Toradora! is a standout drama in this genre in terms of story, animations, characters, etc. Mild-mannered Ryuji Takasa is trying his best to look good (despite his eyes giving him the appearance of an intimidating errant) as he starts his second year at high school. He has a crush on his classmate Minori Kushieda, but there is a problem. Minori’s best friend is Taiga Asaka, with whom Ryuji had a less-than-pleasant encounter. The petite girl has a snappy and feisty personality and takes an instant dislike to Ryuji. As Ryuji and Taiga make a deal to help win each other crushes, they develop a romantic connection. Taiga is the prime example of a “small girl with an attitude,” her initial interactions with Ryuji are amusing to watch.
4. Maid Sama!
Forming romantic relationships is a problem when you don’t like boys and men. Seika High was once an all-boys school famous for its rowdy students. After transforming into a co-ed one, the school’s female-student ratio remained low. Misaki Ayuzawa became the first female president of Seika High to create a safe space for her fellow female classmates. As she isn’t fond of the school’s boys’ population, she has garnered a reputation as a “tyrant.” Misaki’s father left her mom and sister with a huge debt, and the boys at her school are disrespectful and vulgar, so she doesn’t have particular respect towards them. Also, Misaki works at a maid café to make ends meet, a secret that his classmate Usui finds out. The two soon become a couple.
5. Fate/Stay Night
Fate/Stay Night truly gives major Hunger Games-esque vibes. While this is a fantasy, the romance is present as a subplot. The plot revolves around the two protagonists competing in the fifth installment of a deadly tournament called Holy Grail War to win the favor of the eponymous Holy Grail. Noble-born Tohsaka Rin comes from a long legacy of powerful mages and covets the grand prize of the tournament. Orphan Emiya Shirou involuntary joined the competition. Both are thrown into a situation in which the only way out is to kill the other person. The tsundere in this anime threatens to kill the guy she likes, so now you have some information about the subplot in the series!
6. Nisekoi
Enemies to lovers mixed and fake dating with feuding families. Even the tropes in Nisekoi are enough of an incentive for a casual fan to give this series a chance. To prevent a full-blown gang war, Raku, the sole heir of a yakuza family, is forced to keep up the façade of a fake relationship with Chitoje, the daughter of a rival gang war. The two couldn’t be more different from each other. Raku struggles to keep up with the fake relationship, and Chitoje finds him a pushover. Even though her sunny side emerges later in the series, our tsundere is bad-tempered and sometimes even violent. Nisekoi is a romance and slice-of-life anime featuring a feisty heroine with a soft side.
7. Love, Chunibyo, And Other Delusions
This 12-episode anime was adapted from a Japanese light novel penned by Toraka and produced by Kyoto Animation. As the titles suggest, this anime touches on delusions, one form of which in Japanese is termed “chunibyo.” One victim of this is Rikka Takanashi, who formed the Far-East Magical Napping Society, which contains an array of current and former chunibyos. She becomes romantically involved with Yūta Togashi, another chunibyo who helps her with many things ranging from managing the club to tutoring. The presence of tsundere in this anime is subtle but is a fun addition.
8. Your Lie In April
Your Lie in April is a romantic comedy anime with an emotional touch about a pianist who loses his mojo. The tsundere in this anime is the best friend of the protagonist. Tsubaki Sawabe harbors a crush on her classmate Kōsei Arima, which isn’t reciprocated. While Arima is musically inclined and kind-hearted, Sawabe is tomboyish and a basketball champ. They have been friends since childhood, yet Sawabe doesn’t know how to approach someone romantically whose interests differ from hers. Tsubaki is one of the most memorable tsundere characters in anime owing to her tender character.
9. Kaguya Sama: Love Is War
Confession of love is a game among the leads in Kaguya Sama: Love in War. At Shuchiin Academy, Student Council President Miyuki Shirogane and Vice President Kaguya Shinomiya are a perfect match. The couple are both fond of each other but won’t confess their love owing to pride. Miyuki and Kaguya think the first person to confess will “lose” the “game.” A game of wits and schemes ensues between them as both parties try to get the other to admit their feelings. This drama is a memorable addition to this genre because of the leads’ dynamic.
10. Monthly Girls’ Nozaki Kun
Monthly Girls’ Nozaki Kun is a parody romantic comedy featuring an ensemble of delightful and unforgettable characters. The plot revolves around Chiyo Sakura, who unexpectedly turns into the assistant to Umetarou Nozaki, a famous shojo writer and her classmate. For his novel, Nozaki regularly draws inspiration from his classmates. One of whom is Mikoto Mikoshiba, a flirtatious and overly confident student. While Mikoto’s outward personality is that of a careless flirt, he is secretly timid. One of the tsundere characters from Nozaki’s novel is inspired by Mikoto.
