Tsundere – A personal take
This pictorial illustration has often been used to explain 'tsundere'. But personally, I found it severely lacking in conveying the nature of tsundere. In my opinion, the 'tsuntsun' and 'deredere' aspect of tsundere is merely one of the many outward manifestations of a true tsundere heart. I personally prefer the akiba-angel version because it focuses on this key inner condition.
There was no outright tsuntsun/violence in the 2nd illustration but without a doubt, the offering of cake was a tsundere act. So what constitute a tsundere act or makes a tsundere character? For me, it's all about the (often poor) concealment of real intent.
According to wikipedia,
which is exactly what Picture 1 expresses. But if we really think about it, a character they goes from combative to spoony without a proper basis, will merely come across as schizoprenic or plain loopy. Yet we know that tsunderes are a well-loved class of anime characters and surely it's not because she was violent in one scene and bashful in the next? Tsundere lovers know it all too well. Our love for tsunderes stem from seeing them struggle futilely an emotion/side they refuse to admit and exhibit, a softer facet the audience see all too clearly. In their bid to conceal what they perceive to be a weakness/vulnerablity, they either blatantly lie, make lame excuses or turn violent which in the process, heightens their girlish charm. This is what I deemed to be the true essence of tsundere. In fact, I have a theory that the love for tsunderes and voyeurism have common roots. Both take pleasure in observing or even highlighting what one deliberately wants to hide.
Another reason why tsundere is popular is because a well-crafted tsundere guarantees a good coming-of-age tale. Tsundere-ness is deeply associated with self identity and emotional (im)maturity. A girl who behaves in a tsundere manner is one who is grappling with the true inclinations of her heart and the image she wants to project. So it's always a joy to see how a character grows to be true to herself and steadily sheds her facade to redefine herself. This is real character development.
That is also the reason why I love tsundereness in teenage girls but NOT in adult women. As mentioned, tsundere is a growing-up issue rooted in self-worth/identity. As we see teenagers stumble through puberty, we cheer them on and laugh/cry along their journey. However, if you are 35 and still tsundere (ie denying yourself). That's not cute nor endearing, it's sad. My love for tsundere also explains my love for siscon drama. Many siscon dramas have tsundere for imoutos because they cannot openly show affection for their nii-sans due to the taboo of incest. Often they suppress these innermost yearnings and put up a false front of indifference to throw off the scent only to lose this battle of sustained pretense to their longing hearts. Oh tsundere imoutos, how I love thee....
Lastly, to get my point across, here's a small sample of the characters I consider to be classic tsundere....
Asakura Nemu (Da Capo)
Tina Foster (Ai Yori aoshi)
Kannabi no mikoto (AIR)
Lafiel (Crest of the Stars)
Sawatari Makoto (Kanon)
Sawachika Eri (School Rumble)
Suiseiseki (Rozen Maiden)
Shana (Shakugan no Shana)
Kitaouji Satsuki (Ichigo 100%)
Cagalli Yula Athha (Gundam SEED)
Tohsaka Rin (Fate/Stay night)
Louise (Zero no Tsukaima)
Ack, there's just too many to list. I know, I haven't even skimmed the surface. Anyhow, looking forward to more well-crafted tsundere characters in 2007, especially tsundere imoutos.
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February 7th, 2007 - 13:32
>>> tsundere imoutos
If you want this, there is a manga called ‘Imouto’ that came out some time ago. It was fully translated into Korean, but I don’t think English translation exists.
February 7th, 2007 - 13:37
I want to see a well-crafted Deretsun character. Like a shy childhood friend that suddenly realizes the male lead is a loser and starts abusing him. I’m not sure that this would really catch on, though…
February 7th, 2007 - 14:34
@Kabitzin
You’ve just described the basic plot of Tonagura. Or at least the premise. The show then is a standard tsundere tale, with lots of fanservice but largely forgettable.
Bokusatsu Tenshi also comes to mind.
February 7th, 2007 - 16:23
Kehh, under that definition I really am a tsundere then. My only friend who knows what that means has called me that too but… I didn’t really think it was possible. But I’ve been improving with that and shyness a lot last year, so I guess I’m shedding that tsundere facade slowly.
I’d say my closest equivilant would be Mei from Manabi Straight, though I was/am even shyer than her..
February 7th, 2007 - 16:39
>>if you are 35 and still tsundere (ie denying yourself). That
February 7th, 2007 - 17:57
IMHO Lafiel is on the list by mistake, at least starting with Banner forward. She is one of the most mature and stable characters around. You may be fooled by the way she has to switch between being a captain of a Navy ship and her domestic person, but it’s not in any way the pains of growing up. She does it all consciously. Also, when she is formal, she’s stern but not tsun-tsun. Read more military fiction, you’ll get acquainted with the trope of ideal commander quite soon.
There’s a classic Russian poem from 1820s, by Lermontov, which has:
????????? ??? ?????? ??? ??????,
????? ????, ???? ????????.
meaning, approximately
Our Colonel was born a strong man,
To the tsar a servant, to soldiers a father.
Well, of course, there’s an interesting dynamic of Jinto being thrown into the unit, and how it affects the unit cohesion, etc. It does not change Lafiel’s character, only gives us (viewers) a special access to her, is all.
Now if you want to discuss Beneji Spoor, that’s a strong case for a tsun-tsun type if there ever was one. If only she buttered her chief of staff sometimes, nothing more perfect could be desired to explain the essense of tsundere. Of course, I only mean only the short-term one, not the long-term.
February 7th, 2007 - 17:57
@Kabitzin
You come up with some the best ideas sometimes. ^^;
Cheers.
February 7th, 2007 - 18:01
I’m with the above – tsundere is “not being honest with your feelings” and can still be endearing in someone of 35. Trust me – eyewitness account (they don’t call me ojisan for nuttin’). Though for sure the pathetic version exists too.
Can guys be tsundere? Is, for instance, Kyo of Fruits Basket tsundere? I think so. You?
February 7th, 2007 - 19:32
Here’s an interesting proposition: Spock as tsundere … … the character is full of denial for most of his life
(though the women swooned at him)
February 7th, 2007 - 21:23
…although I agree with you’re assessment of the tsun in tsundere to be a state of immature self-denial of the girl’s true feelings and needs, the dere is hardly a good example of mature emotional growth either…
…therefore this theory fails…it fails at life…
February 7th, 2007 - 21:35
LOL MOAR LIEK TSUN-DAY-RAY
Also, needs more White Len =3
And Kanna is yandere :V
February 7th, 2007 - 22:21
“That is also the reason why I love tsundereness in teenage girls but NOT in adult women”
You had a typo here. You really mean “That is also the reason why I love teenage girls but adult women.”
But good article. It explains Tsundere a lot better.
February 7th, 2007 - 22:22
wontaek: Ah, a manga right up my alley
Could I have the mangaka’s name? Makes searching much easier 
Kabitzin: Heh, I thought about deretsun too but am getting it confused with yandere. Maybe DrmChsr0 can shed more light. I still like what Tess said about deretsun over at JP’s
Tess: That’s not only how I define tsundere but it describles the tsundere I like… can… can I be your penpal?! *blush* XD
muhootsaver :Oops! It’s as if you read my mind! haha but really it’s just that I expect greater maturity of older women. I haven’t met any but I thought a 35 yr old tsundere may come across as juvenile. Maybe I need to get out and meet more people
Pete Zaitcev: Ah you caught me there.
My memory of CotS is extremely hazy and I really need to rewatch the series to ascertain Lafiel’s tsundere qualifications. This reminds me of Tokiko san of Busou Renkin, a level-headed and matured shoujo whose occasional outburst could be misconstrued as tsundereness 
ojisan: hehe, I’m really keen to meet endearing ‘older’ tsunderes. I keep thinking they’ll just come across as cranky but I guess I’m being bigoted here
And yes I believe in male tsunderes. One recent example of note is Houraiji Kyoichi of Tokyo Majin Gakuen. He obviously has the hots for Aoi but masks it by being antagonistic and saying blatantly untrue things about himself to give the impression he’s a delinquent philanderer. 
vexx: LOL! Maybe I’ll try being a male tsundere for a day as see if my half swoons XD
Zzz…: Ah I don’t think dere by itself is a mature trait either. I’m just saying tsundere (together) is a process of growing up. Real maturity is knowing who you really are and being comfortable with that. The dere part in tsundere is often caused by embarassment of being found out of something you don’t want others to know about. Not exactly the ease/confidence we see in matured folks.
DrmChsr0:I’m still confused how yandere works and its difference with deretsun.
tj han: LOL! I be kneeling on durians sooner than you can say uguu if I admit to that XD
Thanks.
It’s kind of my personal interpretation of tsundere so you may not want to quote me your publications 
February 8th, 2007 - 00:37
Actually, I am under the impression that Yandere and Deretsun are two vastly different archetypes. AFAIK, Yandere is closer in definition of Psycho-moe than Deretsun.
Yandere-girls generally have psycho-moe, but not all psycho-moe girls are Yandere.
This is because Yandere-girls need to have a complete polar opposite in personality( for maximum impact). Meaning, their dere-side needs to be really dere-dere. So that when they break( aka lose their marbles), the shock value is amplified.
Here’s a .GIF of classic Yandere girls,
“BE NICE TO ME!”
Deretsun-girls on the other hand, have not gone off the deep end. They continue to maintain their sanity even when they become tsun-tsun. No boxcutters for these girls. ^^;
Cheers.
February 8th, 2007 - 05:57
The mangaka’s name is Yamahana Noriyuki
February 8th, 2007 - 05:59
More information: Its full title is Imouto – Akane, published in 2000 by Shueisha
February 8th, 2007 - 08:50
That’s a good explanation of that phrase. I’ve often heard a particular character is tsundere (like Suzumiya Haruhi) but I’ve never really known why.
Oh and you always tie it back to your siscon thing… tsk tsk…
February 8th, 2007 - 10:27
Skane: Thanks for the thoughts.
I’m starting to think “Yandere is the SEED mode of deretsun” XD
wontaek: Thanks for the info! May go check it out at the manga store.
greyscalefuzz: Thanks bro.
As for the siscon thingy, I thought this absolves me of incest-type siscon-ness by showing I like tsunderes whom many outstanding imoutos just happen to be XD
February 9th, 2007 - 05:51
Aah. You remembered that post. Oo; I was thinking of going into that again, but it’s really hard to differentiate between tsundere and deretsun once I start thinking about it too much.
And I’m not flattered at you remembering that. Really. Or you asking me to be your penpal. Honestly.
Too bad tsundere and deretsun is like, impossible over the internet. It either seems forced as an act, or… that the person is just a complete bitch. ~
My idea of the only possible net tsundere…
Tsundere: SHUT UP, I DON’T WANT TO TALK TO YOU
Guy: Alright, if you don’t want to talk I’ll just go
Tsundere: what… why?
Guy: you seemed like you don’t want me to stay
Tsundere: I didn’t really mean it that way…
Guy: oO;
February 9th, 2007 - 06:50
Hehe, I remember that post because I think it’s true for most RL girls.
Most girls I know are all nice and kind of dere until I know them and the whacking starts XD
>And I
February 9th, 2007 - 12:39
Stripey’s theorem of tsundere
dependent variable = tsundere moe
intervening variables = tsun and dere behaviour
independent variable = emotional instability due to coming of age
(contextual assumption: cute girl)
February 9th, 2007 - 14:33
I find yandere to be the most interesting actually… though deretsun definately is most possible, as you said. My closest friend gets quite a bit of physical pain, I really feel sorry for him sometimes. It’s completely not my fault. People who don’t know me very well are always shocked when they see me with good friends.
And to Skane… What’s so impossible about a deretsun with a boxcutter? I carry one around but it’s not because I’m psycho. :O
February 19th, 2007 - 15:53
@Pete Zaitcev
I think that Lafiel is a tsundere, although probably more of a tsundere-light when compared to over the top examples such as Louise. Sure she’s stern sometimes because she’s Jinto’s commanding officer but there is also another dynamic. Jinto is also her first real friend as he met her without any preconceived notions about her because she was a princess. Remember Jinto is the only one who calls her by her first name instead of her military rank of royal title. She also treats him differently from the rest of the crew, alway calling him “stupid” or an “idiot” although not in Louise’s “Baka inu!” tone of voice. Even if she is an emotionaly mature princess and space captain, she’s still coming to terms with her first friendship and love in the manner stripey describes.
My definition of a tsundere would be based more on observable actions than hidden motivations of feelings. As an example Shana has trouble understanding and articulating her feelings to Yuji and ends up lashing out violently and is a tsundere. At the same time Tokiko is generaly bad-ass and doesn’t take BS from anyone but Kazuki slowly grows her and I think she is a tsundere as well.