There are many types of Dere in anime history: Tsundere, Yandere, Deredere, the list goes on. They all have distinct personalities, but the archetype usually involves a love interest. A Tsundere is a character who switches between being irritable and lovestruck, while a Yandere appears to be shy and sweet towards their romantic interest until they reveal their violent, obsessive side.
Deredere anime characters, on the other hand, are usually portrayed as sweet and kind, with a smile that never leaves their lips. Most Deredere are selfless and care about others' well-being before their own. Among the girls across the wide variety of anime genres, here are some of the best examples of the trope.
9 Chika Fujiwara – Love Is War
Chika is the secretary of the Student Council in Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai (Kaguya-sama: Love Is War). She is a bubbly and quirky girl who loves to play games. Mostly when the other members have nothing to do, she often comes up with a game to entertain them.
Chika Fujiwara is always seen with a smile on her face. To tell the truth, her cheerfulness is contagious, as not a single character can remain miserable after interacting with her. Chika is often described as weird and childish, but that doesn’t deter her friends away from her.
8 Nene Yashiro – Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun
Nene is a first-year high school student and Hanko’s assistant in Jibaku Shounen Hanako-kun (Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun). Just like many teenagers out there, this girl is filled with fear of not being loved. She's self-conscious and has plenty of insecurities, such as her radish-colored hair and thick legs. When Nene hears there's a ghost in the girl's bathroom that can fulfill wishes, she goes and summons it in the hope that she'll get herself a boyfriend.
Like any Deredere, Nene Yashiro is kind and sweet, to the point where sometimes others take advantage of her. She puts her friends’ needs before her own, and goes to great measures to help them.
7 Eru Chitanda – Hyouka
Eru is the president of the Classical Literature Club in Hyouka. It’s not a secret that she’s a very curious person. If there is a mystery to be solved, she will drag Houtarou Oreki along with her to satisfy her curiosity. When facing a case, she often forgets about personal space and her actions can almost be called childlike.
Like any female Deredere, Eru Chitanda is very polite, shy, and feminine. It’s considered impossible for her to harbor negative feelings, even if she's hurt by someone else. Her friends are always seen laughing when she’s around, as she’s an easy person to get along with.
6 Sakura Kinomoto – Cardcaptor Sakura
The protagonist in the anime Cardcaptor Sakura, Sakura Kinomoto a sweet and dense girl who's often teased for her clumsiness. Despite that, Sakura is athletic and is a member of her school’s cheerleading squad. Her agility and flexibility help in protecting people around her during battles.
Although she gets upset when thinking of her deceased mother, Sakura tries her best to remain cheerful in order not to worry anyone. She likes to see things in a positive light, which allows her to be refreshing company for others. Furthermore, when one of her friends is dealing with hardships, Sakura doesn’t hesitate to help.
5 Kouko Kaga – Golden Time
Kouko is a freshman law student and Banri Tada’s girlfriend in Golden Time. Because she was raised in an extremely wealthy and strict household, she learns to be polite and kind to strangers. However, Kouko’s true nature shows when she’s with her friends and the person she loves.
When she starts attending college and becomes Banri’s girlfriend, Kouko Kaga is extremely devoted to her friends, and isn’t afraid to express her feelings for Banri. She often gets embarrassed because her emotions are unpredictable in her boyfriend’s presence. It is common for Kouko to openly confess her love and she can be described as clingy, which is a common trait of female Deredere characters.
4 Ochako Uraraka – My Hero Academia
Ochako is a student at U.A High School in Boku No Hero Academia (My Hero Academia). Since her Quirk is Zero Gravity, she chose Uravity as her hero’s name, which is a combination of the word gravity and her name Uraraka. On the battlefield, she always uses her abilities to come up with brilliant strategies that ensure citizens’ safety.
Ochako Uraraka is described as a hilarious, sweet, warmhearted girl that considers everybody her friend. Her kindness knows no bounds, as she can sense when one of her friends is feeling down and tries to cheer them up with her bubbly personality. She may appear as an airhead sometimes, but this only boosts the Deredere factor.
3 Orihime Inoue – Bleach
Orihime is Ichigo Kurosaki’s friend in Bleach. They both went to the same high school, Karakura High School. She’s delightful to everyone around her, so a lot of students admire her and want to get close to her. Not only is she loveable, but Orihime is also a top student. Even so, she is clueless and often gets distracted mid-conversation.
Orihime is highly perceptive when it concerns the people she cares about, especially Ichigo. She always tries to make her friends comfortable and hates seeing anybody sad or in trouble. She will do everything in her power to help, to the point of sacrificing herself.
2 Tohru Honda – Fruits Basket
Tohru goes to the same school as Yuki and Kyo Sohma in Fruits Basket. It was clear from the first episode that she's a selfless, caring, and polite girl. After she becomes an orphan, Tohru doesn't want to be a burden to her relatives. Instead, she chooses to live in a tent and gets a part-time job. When the Sohma household hears this, they immediately allow her to sleep in their house.
After she moves in, not only does Tohru Honda befriend almost everyone, but she also helps break their curse. Her nurturing and wise personality allows Tohru to gain a deep insight into her friends' feelings, which eventually makes it easy for her to help them. It also doesn't hurt that Tohru's optimism is infectious.
1 Emma – The Promised Neverland
Emma is one of the children living in Grace Field House in The Promised Neverland. Although her best friends are the silent Ray and the smart Norman, she gets along with everyone in the house. Emma’s loveable, sweet personality allows the entire house to see her as a big sister figure.
Her kindness is absolutely endless. This can easily be seen when Emma insists on saving everyone from the Grace Field House, even though some children will hold them back in their journey. And if that wasn’t enough, Emma sacrifices all her precious memories to "The One" in exchange for sending her friends, family, and every other human into the human world.