Kuudere - Television Tropes & Idioms

alt title(s): Frozen Flower

Outside...

...Inside

Although she seems to lack emotion, this is largely a pretense.
—The Talosians from the Star Trek pilot say it best

One of the newer neologisms, a kuudere rounds out the dere family in a rather basic way. Allegorically speaking, a kuudere is like snow: it may be cold and harsh at first glance but it is also what keeps autumn's seeds warm and safe until spring.

Similarly, while she may appear unemotional and practical, it is but a frosty mask that protects her tender, delicate feelings deep underneath the facade, waiting for someone to melt the snow and allow them to spring. A subtrope of the tsundere, the kuudere avoids combative and immature demeanor; rather, she employs more subtle tactics:

The Silent Treatment: Sometimes this can be used as a blunt and open form of punishment. "I'm not speaking to you anymore." More commonly it's as simple as the recognition that silence is a conversational weapon. Responding to some foolishness with dead silence, perhaps with a slightly raised eyebrow, can be far more effective a putdown then some harsh insult. Occasionally this will be combined with tactic 2.
Non-Verbal Cues: There are many ways to communicate disgust without words. These range from a haughty look, to sniffing at "boorish" behavior, to sighs about whatever new idiocy she's been called upon to endure. If confronted about it she'll probably reply: "I didn't say anything." (Unless she's giving you the Silent Treatment too- then you're likely to only get a stare.) Note that this can just as often convey approval, especially toward friends that have learned to "read" her.
Cynicism: Casually blunt and dismissive, but rarely straightforward rudeness even when provoked. However, a conversation with her will always leave you with a faint feeling of being mocked. Witty comments that show how intelligent she is and how foolish you are, she loves those. (If a teenager and female she's The Daria. If even younger, she's a Little Miss Snarker.)
Stoicism: She eschews more emotional ways of expression, coming across as emotionless, unfeeling, and overly logical. She might not seek out cutting comments, but she ignores the emotions of her companions, and tends to dismiss them as unimportant.

As these traits can also suggest maturity and tact, she may come off as older. To highlight this, the kuudere may be accompanied by a more energetic, clumsier (or more annoying) Morality Pet wanting to emulate this graceful mature character.

We've been using the female pronoun, but a Kuudere can be male, and a male Kuudere is far more common than he is for other tsundere subtypes. A Kuudere can be used to develop a romantic Will They Or Wont They much like the tsundere. Platonic versions are common though, much more so then for other versions of the tsundere.

Common Variations:

Always In Control: She comes off as "kuu-" because she controls her emotions. She maintains a calm, collected exterior regardless of how she feels. She doesn't conceal her feelings, and will directly and honestly tell you how she feels, but her expressions are subtle, with watery eyes being akin to bawling, and a small smile being akin to a giggle fit. Or all her feelings may be filtered through snark or dry wit. The appeal is her bluntness and directness, in contrast to shy reserve or boisterous rowdiness. If she's the Love Interest either the other partner will be the source of Will They Or Won't They, or they'll skip that and the focus will be on the drama that comes after they admit They Do. Often be The Woman Wearing The Queenly Mask. When she becomes the mask, the "dere" part usually withers and falls off. Occasionally this is a trait of a more exaggerated character, the Emotionless Girl, (or so she claims). Our page picture Raven is an example of this variation.

Once You Get To Know Her: She will show her dere side to those she cares for— but strangers and those she does not trust or like will see the kuu side. In this case, each new acquaintance has to defrost an ice queen persona to get to know her— but it's how EVERYONE gets to know her. Her friends all consider her to be caring and in private moments with them you may just catch her laughing. (Although it will still be considered unusual). It's not that she spares them any of the wit or doesn't act "kuu-" with them sometimes. Her friends just understand it better than those that aren't close. She might have a painful past.

She Has Moods: She alternates between her "kuu-" and "dere" persona depending on her mood. What controls her mood? Some may have clear triggers, and her companions might learn how to manipulate her to their advantage. Others might switch moods at what seems to be random moments- which can be very unnerving or confusing to those around her. Expect a joke about "that time of the month". In really bad cases might start to overlap with Yangire or Yandere. Some might contend that this version isn't "kuu-" (cool) enough to qualify as a Kuudere, and might place them in some other category.

Obviously these variations aren't always used pure, and often are mixed together in different characters. Again using Raven as an example, while she fits the first variation best, she certainly has elements of the other two.

Compare Not So Stoic and Stoic Woobie. Part of the dere family along with Tsundere (angry outside, sweet inside), Yandere (sweet outside, Ax Crazy inside), and Dandere (anti-social outside, sweet inside).