Shana (Shakugan no Shana)
Probably one of my favorite tsunderes. While initially cold and feisty towards Yuji she develops feelings for him and shows how much she cares about him. Shana makes one of the biggest changes in any character I've seen going from cold, cruel, and angry to being warm, kind, and caring.
Madoka Ayukawa (Kimagure Orange Road)
A classic 1980's tsundere her design was inspired by actress Phoebe Cates and Japanese singer Akina Nakamori. She is a smart and talented high achiever with a mature figure but also has a reputation as a young delinquent. Upon meeting Kyosuke she reveals a kind and selfless personality and progresses her relationship with Kyosuke.
Like I've said before, Sword Art Online is an anime that's either well liked or well hated and the characters are no different. She's a bit of a tsundere at first but changes pretty quickly. After knowing Kirito better she becomes kind and helpful and loves and cares for Kirito deeply.
Annabelle "Angel" Ahrimo (My Story)
Okay, there's no such thing as a perfect human being but Angel is pretty damn close to one. Anyway Angel is beautiful and has a lovable, friendly, kind-hearted, caring personality hence why people call her Angel. However, she is not afraid to stand up for herself and others, or for what she believes in. She is very talented and already exhibits the qualities of a Nadeshiko ("perfect wife") at 16. She befriends Takeshi out of sympathy and as she grows closer she loves and cares for him more. Takeshi comes to terms that he's happier with Angel. Angel strives to make others happy (especially Takeshi) as it making others happy makes her happy. She also does not like having to harm or kill and even feels sympathy for her own enemies.
One of the most well-known tsundere, Taiga Aisaka earns the nickname "Palm-Top Tiger" for her small stature yet fierce hot-tempered personality. However, she shows to be a kind and loyal person. While she initally had a crush on Yusaku Kitamura she develops feelings for Ryuji Takasu.
Stella Vermillion (Chivalry of a Failed Knight/Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry)
Yet another tsunderes and one of my favorite, though she's a neo-tsundere who changes a bit faster. While fiesty and hot-tempered at first she becomes kind and caring. While not thrilled about sharing a room with Ikki Kurogane at first she grows closer to him and the two develop feelings for each other. She pushes Ikki to become stronger and fulfill his desire and wish.
Probably my favorite mermaid of all time Luchia goes to land to search for a boy named Kaito Domoto who she saved seven years ago. Luchia has a very upbeat, optimistic personality with a loving a caring heart and usually has a bright smile on her face. Luchia does have a slight jealous side and ends with in some predicaments but never gives up hope. Luchia falls in love with Katio and must get him to realize she is the mermaid who saved him.
Rikka Takanashi (Love Chunibyo & Other Delusions/Chunibyo demo Koi ga Shitai)
Rikka Takanashi is a case of chuunibyo ("eighth-grade syndrome") where she's constantly living out her fantasies and has strange behaviors claiming to possess the "Tyrant's Eye" allowing her to reveal destines. Yuuta is not thrilled about having her as a classmate fearing she will reveal his past with chuunibyo but develops feelings for her as they spend time together. Yuuta learns that Rikka began her fantasies after her father died and Rikka refused to accept it. She comes to terms with his death with Yuuta's help and grow closer and stronger together.
A very wealthy and beautiful woman who goes to law school to be with her childhood friend Mitsuo Yanagisawa. However, she befriends Banri Tada and falls in love with him. Koko seems ditsy and happy but devotes herself to Banri and wants to become a good girlfriend. Overall, Koko is a person with good nature, with a nice kind heart, and beautiful looks.
Nagisa Furukawa (Clannad)
Nagisa is shy yet very kind, sweet, bubbly, cheerful, and selfless. She devotes herself to Tomoya Okazaki when they marry. While she suffers from healthy problems she goes through with the pregnancy for her and Tomoya to have a daughter Ushio. Nagisa has both the qualities of a wife and mother.
Belldandy is a very beautiful and kind-hearted goddess. She is always willing to help someone in need, especially Keiichi Morisato. Belldandy chooses to stay with Keiichi and granting his wish for her to stay with him. As she and Keiichi spend more time together they fall in love and she devotes herself to make him happy.
Teresa Wagner/Teresa de Larsenburg (Tada Kun wo Koi ga/Tada Never Falls in Love)
The Princess of Larsenburg and heir to the Queen's throne she comes to Japan and meets Mitsuyoshi Tada. An beautiful, energetic, airheaded girl she falls in love with Tada despite being engaged to Charles de Loire to take the throne. Teresa is feels torn between the one she truly loves and her responsibility to her country.
A beautiful 22-year-old landlady of Maison Ikkoku, Kyoko Otanashi is a classic example of a Nadeshiko ("perfect wife"). Trying to figure out her life after her husband's death, she's usually sweet, polite, and caring but does become jealous when it involves Yusaku Godai. While it is hard for her to forget about her late husband, Kyoko develops feelings for a younger Godai and learns to overcome her grief and love again.
Kagome Higurashi (Inuyasha)
The reincarnation of the powerful priestess Kikyo, Kagome finds herself in the feudal era. While she can be sweet and kind-hearted she is bold and does gets jealous when it comes to Inuyasha. While not thrilled about working with Inuyasha at first, her empathetic and caring nature bring them closer and they form feelings for one another.
Another love interest from my story and yet another tsundere too! Nina and Taro are childhood friends. While she is spunky, competitive and argues with Taro a lot at first she becomes more loving warm-hearted and caring as she matures. Nina and Taro develop strong feelings for each other, despite the obstacles they face. Also, Taro has suffered the loss of his father while Nina has suffered the loss of both parents and both realize how much they need each other and no longer sad, lonely, or depressed, and are happy and stronger by each other's side.
Keiko Yukimura (Yu Yu Hakusho)
A childhood friend of Yusuke Urameshi, Keiko is calm, sweet, and intelligent. While she does have a short temper at times when Yusuke annoys her she is shown to be very thoughtful, understanding, and caring of Yusuke. She shows a strong sense of love and loyalty towards Yusuke waiting for him to return from his training. Despite their different personalities, Keiko and Yusuke form feelings towards each other and despite challenges, rekindle their love.
Because I had to narrow it down to 16 love interests to fit the bracket here's the honorable mentions who did not make the cut. Because I'm into romance anime there is a long list of love honorable love interests.
Akane Mizuno (Tsuki ga Kirei)
A carefree, optimistic and intelligent girl. She dates Kotarou Azumi and forms a strong relationship with him.
Asuka Sugo (Future GPX Cyber Formula)
The communication staff on the race team and Hayato Kazami's older childhood friend. She and Hayato develop a relationship throughout the series.
A tall, beautiful, strong high school girl. She falls in love with a younger Mamoru Yoshimura and the two become a couple after defeating their first enemy. While usually serious and stern she can't help but blush and smile around Mamoru.
While Benio initially comes off cold, antisocial, and easily annoyed, she's passionate and secretly admires Rokuro Enmadou's tenacity. While neither are not thrilled about working with each other, they form feelings for each other and fall in love as they spend more time with each other.
A new student who in Maron Kusakabe's class he is secretly Kaitou Sinbad unbeknownst to Maron, who has the ability to seal demons much like Maron's alter ego Jeanne. While he seems like a playboy at first which Maron despises, he and Maron fall in love and he helps Maron out of tough situations gaining her trust.
A 14-year-old detective boy following in the steps of his father as well as a classmate of Meimi Haneoka, he sets his sights on capturing Saint Tail. Unbeknownst at first Saint Tail is really Meimi's alter ego. At first he fails to see Meimi's feelings for him and the two argue at first. Asuka thinks of Meimi when he sees Saint Tail, and viceversa, and is torn between which of the two he's falling in love with.
Mitsuki Koyama's childhood friend and first love despite being 6 years older. His parents died so he lived in an orphanage. Eichi strives to become an astronomer and moves to America before Mitsuki could confess her feelings for him. Mitsuki wants to become a singer he can hear her no matter how far away.
Haruka is Yuuto's classmate and idolized due to her beauty, wealth, and intelligence and is regarded as the school's most unattainable girl. She has a gentle but somewhat airheaded and clumsy personality. She is secretly an otaku who loves anime and manga which Yuuto finds out. Yuuto promises to keep it a secret and they become close and fall in love.
This is an underrated anime and an Honami is an underrated love interest. A childhood friend of Naoki Kuzumi and has cared for him since he lost his memory and parents in an accident. Naoki and Honami truly deserve each other more than the other characters.
A 3rd year student who's secretly an alien she is kind, polite, and friendly. Ichika and a younger Kaito confess to each other and begin dating. They promise to continue loving each other.
The primary instructor of the Kamiya Kasshinryuu fighting style, Kaoru is strong-willed, compassionate, feisty, athletic, and a great fighter. Kenshin Himura and Kaoru grow from friends
to lovers and value each other greatly.
A sarcastic, young, handsome man who works at the same Kindergarten as Kobato as well as her neighbor. He seems cold and teases Kobato at first but warms up to her due to her beauty, kind-heart, and friendly optimistic personality. He cares for Kobato and Kobato cares for him as well.
A Vesper android who becomes a maid and works for Suguru Misato. She has a bright, friendly personality who becomes devoted and protective of Suguru with feelings similar to a doting mother and shy girlfriend.
The main romantic love interest of Usagi Tsukino/Sailor Moon. He disguises himself as Tuxedo Mask to hunt for the Silver Crystal and help the Sailor Scouts. Mamoru and Usagi develop feelings for each other and begin dating.
Masaharu is a quiet boy who rarely talks. He accidentally drinks a potion which turns him into a stuffed lamb at night. He must work with his partner, "his chosen girl" Sumomo Akihime, to change back but Sumomo must not know his true identity. Masaharu and Sumomo fall in love as they spend time together.
Ichigo Momiya's classmate and love interest and a top student who is very skilled at kendo. Like I've said in my Valentines Day posts (1 & 2) last year that I don't understand why TMM fans ship Ichigo with Kisshu (Quiche) or Ryou. I think Ichigo and Masaya are much better together as they share mutual feelings.
A secretive and unusual girl in Akira Tsubaki's class. Urabe displays her feelings towards Tsubaki by a their "bond in drool" with him in which Tsubaki feels Urabe's feelings. While quiet about her private life, she is very sincere to Tsubaki. While this may seem like a weird anime, you just have to get over the weird factors and it's actually really good. It gave me the same type of warm, fuzzy feelings that a romance anime should give you.
Momoko was born to a human father and angel mother and is given the power to transform into Wedding Peach, a love angel tasked with fighting devils. Momoko is bright and cheerful but has a bit of a temper and is clumsy as well. Momoko initially likes Kazuya Yanagiba but falls in love with Yosuke Fuuma. While she and Yosuke have a rocky start at first they fall in love. While Momoko is a descendant of the Angels, Yosuke is a descendant of the Devils, giving us a star-crossed lovers relationship. However, Momoko and Yosuke fight against the odds to stay together.
Junichi's adopted sister in nursing school, she is actually in love with Junichi. While very sweet and polite, she can get very jealous when Junichi flirts with another girl. Junichi and Nemu have strong feelings for each other and care deeply, despite Junichi's other love interests in this harem anime. While I usually don't like incest relationships, I will make exceptions to this one as Nemu and Junichi are not blood-related and Japan's marriage laws are much less strict than America's.
Riko is Haruhiko Amami's younger sister by name, though they are the same age and same class. She joins Haruhiko's family due to family circumstances but left when Haruhiko's father was unable to care for her and comes back several years later. Haruhiko was her first love and returns to continue to love him. If you watch the anime it makes sense why Riko and Haruhiko end up together.
Little is known about Rose other than that she is young dragon. While she initially doesn't know how to speak, she quickly learns and picks up a few words. She is named Rose by Ryuji Kisaragi because of the scales on her left hand that look like a rose. Rose is intrusive towards others except Ryuji who she clings to. Rose deeply loves Ryuji but wonders if Ryuji feels the same.
Roux is Firiel Dee's younger childhood friend as well as her father's student and assistant. He protects Firiel throughout the series and has feelings for her. His past is troubled and shrouded in darkness. Firiel initially sees Roux as a little brother, but they fall in love and develop a relationship.
A descendant of the residents of Laputa, Sheeta is left with a magical stone. She is pursued by pirates and saved by the floating powers of the stone and a boy named Pazu. Sheeta and Pazu seem to develop feelings for each other as they work together to find the Castle in the Sky, Laputa and evade the pirates and government.
Shouta is Sawako Kuronuma's popular, outgoing, and friendly classmate as well as her friend. Shouta is very popular among girls but is interested in Sawako and likes her, not knowing that she feels the same for him.
In CCS Syaoran is a distant relative of Clow Reed and member of the Li clan sorcerers from Hong Kong, he first appears as a rival of Sakura intending to collect the Clow Cards. While cold, emotionless, and critical at first, Syaoran warms up to Sakura's sweetness, soft-feelings and kind heart and shows his sweet soft side and falls in love with Sakura. While initially confused about her feelings, Sakura realizes she truly loves Syaoran in return. In TRC, Syaoran is a kind and strong, and works hard to restore Sakura's memories. Syaoran and Sakura fall in love throughout their journey.
Takuto is a shinigami, or Death God, partnered with another shinigami, Meroko Yui. Takuto transforms Mitsuki Koyama into a 16-year-old to help her fulfill her dreams of being a singer. Takuto remembers his past life as a singer in the band Mitsuki's father was in. While he initially has a somewhat tsundere personality he and Mitsuki fall in love and deeply care about each other.
Ui is a airheaded but lively, upbeat second-year high school student. Ui is adored for her energetic, carefree, fun, outgoing personality. She and Kazuma Hoshino "accidentally" kiss when they first meet. Ui and Kazuma develop feelings for each other.
And yet another tsundere, Victorique is a 15-year-old student at Saint Marguerite Academy and has the appearance of a doll being very small in size. She is very intelligent and lives her life as an enigma. While initially cold and easily annoyed, she warms up to Kazuya Kujo and cares deeply about him. Victorique and Kujo develop feelings for each other.
A childhood friend of the Edward and Alponse Elric, Winry is emotional, strong-willed, empathetic, and hardworking. She is dedicated to aid those around her. While their stubborn personalities keep them at odds, Winry and Edward to have a strong bond with each other. Edward is protective of Winry and they fall in love.
It's the start of the Love Interests Tournament! If you have someone you think should be an honorable mention. please comment! Check back to see the results. I will likely do another tournament involving tsunderes and get to posting My Story as well.
