Greetings, and welcome to Kuudere, Dandere & Emotionless Girl Lovers, or KDEGL for short. As the name indicates, this is a club for people who like emotionless girls. Because there's something adorable about a girl who keeps the same expression no matter what.
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KUUDERE:
Etymology: 素直クール, Honest Cool
Defined as, a potential love interest, from the main character's standpoint, whose attributes and features are "cool", with the possibility of "dere" during character development.
Any female character who is cold in the different ways a character can be portrayed as, distant, and inherently skilled who tends to outperform other girls in the same setting, this in turn adds to their independent and lonely ways, since they don't rely on others to accomplish difficult tasks and tend to come off as hard to approach in a friendly manner, they tend to be very objective and logical being able to see through complex deceptions, can be very clever in their speech though they are not typically very talkative. In the different anime examples, they tend to be stereotyped having more or less the same hair color and mannerisms, which are popularly believed to derive from Ayanami Rei (even though she is described as an emotionless girl in our club), besides her personality and physical appearance, other elements might be associated to the archetype, such as character role and voice acting.
Common traits observed in over 400 characters:
Translation: DrMondaiNashi & tsubasalover
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DANDERE:
Etymology: 黙, Be quiet
Defined as, a potential love interest, from the main character's standpoint, whose attributes and features are "quiet", with the possibility of "dere" during character development.
Any female character who is determined to possess avoidant personality features, only rarely someone other than a minor character who is thoughtful and overly self-aware, because of this they come off as shy and introverted but also delicate and sweet, a DANDERE tends to have monologues, be it internal or actual instances of talking to themselves out of feeling conflicted, a DANDERE is mostly quiet, but can be very emotional* since the actual defining trait is more related to not speaking out loud rather than being calm and collected.
*In KDEGL, DANDERE characters are selectively chosen based on low emotional profiles. So a DANDERE like Kuronuma Sawako will not be listed, while a DANDERE like Kiyoura Setsuna will.
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EMOTIONLESS GIRL (EG):
A female character that does not express emotions when an emotional response is elicited and expected.
A club-exclusive definition, this category of characters are divided into four subtypes with their own characteristic traits.
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Top Picture listing:
Before: Yuki Nagato (Suzumiya Haruhi) and Tabitha (Zero no Tsukaima)
June-July 2009: Patchouli Knowledge (Touhou)
August 2009: Rei Ayanami (Evangelion)
September 2009: Minami Iwasaki (Lucky Star)
October 2009: Ai Enma (Jigoku Shoujo/Hell Girl)
November 2009: Ruri Hoshino (Martian Successor Nadesico)
December 2009: Golden Darkness/Konjiki no yami (To LOVE-ru)
January 2010: Miyako Komagusu (Ghost Hound)
February 2010: Ryofu "Ren" Housen (Koihime Musou)
March 2010: Noël Kannagi (Sora no Woto)
April 2010: Mai Kawasumi (Kanon)
May 2010: Ein (Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom)
June 2010: Kanade "Tenshi" Tachibana (Angel Beats!)
July 2010: Shiki Ryougi (Kara no Kyoukai)
August 2010: Tomoyo Sakagami (Clannad)
September 2010: Saber (Fate/Stay Night)
October 2010: Anju Maaka (Karin)
November 2010: Kotomi Ichinose (Clannad)
December 2010: Ikaros (Sora no Otoshimono)
January 2011: Ruri "Kuroneko" Gokou (Ore no Imouto wa Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai)
February 2011: Victorique de Blois/Bloix (Gosick)
March 2011: Eucliwood Hellscythe (Kore wa Zombie desu ka?)
April 2011: Homura Akemi (Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magika)
May 2011: Fate Testarossa (Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha) - Pic thanks to omnimon3000, props to him! *bows*
June 2011: Shiori Shiomiya (The World God Only Knows)
July 2011: Tooru (A-Channel)
August 2011: Lain Iwakura (Serial Experiments Lain)
September 2011: Len (Tsukihime)
October 2011: Shouko Kirishima (Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu)
November 2011: Chihaya Kisaragi (The Idolm@ster)
December 2011: Sen Yarizui (Ben-To)
January 2012: Wilhelmina Carmel (Shakugan no Shana)
February 2012: Misaki Mei (Another)
March 2012: Vanilla H (Galaxy Angel)
April 2012: Eucliwood Hellscythe (Kore wa Zombie Desu ka?)
May 2012: Karuta Roromiya (Inu x Boku SS)
June 2012: Alice Carroll (Aria)
July 2012: Cthuko (Haiyore! Nyaruko-san)
August 2012: Yuki Nagato (Suzumiya Haruhi)
September 2012: Reki (Hidan no Aria)
October 2012: MISAKA 10032 (To Aru Majutsu no Index)
November 2012: Mashiro Shiina (Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo)
December 2012: Toki Onjouji (Saki Achiga-hen)
January 2013: Mio Nishizono (Little Busters!)
February 2013: Rinko Tamaki (Natsu-iro Kiseki)
March 2013: Anastasia Nasuhara (OniAi)
April 2013: Shizuku Mizutani (Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun)
May 2013: Tsukiko Tsutsukakushi (Hentai Ouji to Warawanai Neko)
June 2013: Origami Tobigachi (Date-A-Live)
July 2013: Nozomu Kiriya (Mayoi Neko Overrun!)
August 2013: Megumi Chihaya (Servant x Service)
September 2013: Kyouko Kirigiri (Danganronpa)
October 2013: Kanade "Tenshi" Tachibana (Angel Beats!)
November 2013: Lisa Eostre (Walkure Romanze)
December 2013: Furano Yukihira (NouCome)
January 2014: Renge Miyauchi (Non Non Biyori)
February 2014: Tamaki Kawazoe (Bamboo Blade)
March 2014: Ringo Kinoshita (Nourin)
April 2014: Astarte (Strike the Blood)
May 2014: Chino Kafuu (Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu ka?)
June 2014: Shiro (No Game No Life)
July 2014: Yuzuru Yamai (Date A Live)
August 2014: Ruri Miyamoto (Nisekoi)
September 2014: Rurumo Maji Mojiruka (Majimoji Rurumo)
October 2014: Terminus Est (Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance)
November 2014: Yumiko Sakaki (Grisaia no Kajitsu)
December 2014: Arin Kannazuki (Trinity Seven)
January 2015: Kanade "Tenshi" Tachibana (Angel Beats!)
February 2015: Julie Sigtuna (Absolute Duo)
March 2015: Yin (Darker than Black)
April 2015: Yuki Nonaka (Shinmai Maou no Testament)
May 2015: Koneko Toujou (High School DxD)
June 2015: Ais Wallenstein (Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darou ka)
July 2015: Yuki Nagato (Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu)
August 2015: Shizuno Urushibara (Seiken Tsukai no World Break)
September 2015: Fremy Speeddraw (Rokka no Yuusha)
October 2015: Renge Miyauchi (Non Non Biyori)
November 2015: Izuna Hatsuse (No Game No Life)
December 2015: Hitagi Senjougahara (Monogatari Series)
January 2016: Yue Ayase (Negima!)
February 2016: Akame (Akame ga Kill!)
March 2016 : Hitoha Marui (Mitsudomoe)
April 2016: Miyuki Kujou (Ore ga Ojousama Gakkou ni "Shomin Sample" Toshite Gets♥Sareta Ken)
May 2016: Lelei la Lalena (GATE: Jieitai Kanochi nite Kaku Tatakaeri)
June 2016: Ayase Kishimoyo (ChäoS;HEAd)
July 2016: Rem (Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu)
August 2016: Ren Ekoda (Anne Happy)
September 2016: Lapis Lazuli (Taimadou Gakuen 35 Shiken Shoutai)
October 2016: Kyouko Kirigiri (Danganronpa)
November 2016: Kayo Hinazuki (Boku dake ga Inai Machi)
December 2016: Rise Matsumoto (Yuruyuri)
January 2017: Koneko Toujou (High School DxD)
February 2017: Hokuto Itsumo (Shakunetsu no Takkyuu Musume)
March 2017: Kagari (Rewrite)
April 2017: Ayana Sakanagi (Mahou Shoujo Ikusei Keikaku)
May 2017: Leele (Choujuushin Gravion)
June 2017: Hibiki (Kantai Collection)
July 2017: Rem (Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu)
August 2017: Shirabe Tsukuyomi (Senki Zessho Symphogear)
September 2017: Yin (Darker Than Black)
October 2017: Ai Enma (Jigoku Shoujo/Hell Girl)
November 2017: Terminus Est (Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance)
December 2017: Meteora Österreich (Re:Creators)
January 2018: Beatrix Monroe (Negima!)
February 2018: Misora Haruki (Sagrada Reset)
March 2018: Hikage (Senran Kagura)
April 2018: Schwi Dola (No Game no Life: Zero)
May 2018: Zakuro Fujiwara (Tokyo Mew Mew)
June 2018-August 2018: The Blank of 3 Months
September 2018: Ruru Amour (Hugtto PreCure!)
October 2018: Choco (Last Period)
November 2018: Yotsugi Ononoki (Monogatari)
December 2018: Moeka Kiryuu (Steins;Gate)
January 2019: Ram (Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu)
February 2019: Len (Tsukihime/Carnival Phantasm)
March 2019: Echo (Pandora Hearts)
April-May 2019: Reki (Hidan no Aria)
June-July 2019: Pleinair (Disgaea)
August 2019: Koito Minase (Musaigen no Phantom World)
September 2019-April 2022: KOS-MOS (Xenosaga)
May 2022: (Current) Komi Shouko (Komi-san wa Komyushou)
Club Picture Monthly Feature: Place your vote on the comment section
Voting starts on the 20th of each month, except February that starts on the 19th, because it's a short month, duh. Any girl who has been picture of the month can be voted again after a year, but only once.
Also to whoever backed up the dandere thread on the wayback machine, like, I don't know who you are but you are awesome, thank you so much, the images would be lost forever if it weren't because of your help, sincerely, thank you
On the subject of Rei, the character is amazing in the sense that given the complexity of the show, you'd find it almost impossible for this not to be a complex character, the fact Rei remains an EG throughout all of her iterations is astounding in and by itself.
The more nuanced and difficult roles are always hard for EGs for that reason, their performance will break in one way or another, but Rei? she never breaks, even when you have Rei II smiling, that didn't harm the coherence of her character, how is that even possible? that's the trademark of a master at work, take something completely difficult and seemingly impossible to achieve and make it work, and that is what Rei is.
I would say it already gets a lot of attention, albeit, it has lost momentum on mainstream media, but I mean, this is to be expected, it's nothing unnatural or negative, tsunderes had their year, now they still exist, but no more loli tsundere seasonal bs.
So in my opinion, the archetype is pretty well off as it is, with EVA now gone for good, we can put the original to rest and move on, there are many creative ways to employ cool girls in anime, be it drama, or just antagonistic roles, they always shine.
If anything, them not occupying every single harem spot may be for the better in the long run ... Bocchi is a walking portrait of an avoidant personality disorder, which by our definitions is a dandere, so hey; these characters can still make it big, but just different roles ... and don't get me wrong, if it were up to me, I'd place a cool girl in every harem that there is ... because I'm a crazy rabid fan, but what benefits a character is always diversification, not always being "heroine C" in your anime, she may be the villain, or even a motherly figure, a mentor .. there are so many possibilities ... even when they don't make good protagonists (the female ones at least) .. because things like Mushishi or Kino no Tabi are just kinda meh these days.
So as another year comes to a close, I usually try to give a short statistical revision with the new entries we had for our club, but this time I decided to try something different, since the club is much less active, I wanted to take some time to give anyone interested a short briefing on the current "character mapping" for cool girls; or so to say, the characters that I've personally tracked and observed, because there weren't that many, but those worth mentioning I'll just leave them in here.
This year we saw the return of a number of characters, such as Lou from Shadow's House, and the notorious Komi Shouko, from Komi San Komyu-shou, examples of the EG and dandere archetypes, respectively, a character from 2016 was also added to the database, "Maha Asuna" from Luck and Logic series, as an example of the cool girl with EG Type B traits.
Character highlights for 2022 (from games and anime)
阿波連 玲奈 "Aharen-san"
Schoolgirl portraying the emotionless A Type almost by the book, pretty much the main representative for 2022 debuting EGs coming with her own show, voiced by none other than Minase Minori, a name that rings a bell to many, and not necessarily for the best reasons, with her being the voice for Chino Kafuu from Gochiusa, and also Jun Naruse from that one movie, but also the voice actress who had to do Rem's voice. This time is here to demonstrate once for all that she, can too, portray an emotionless character and make it work, because we know she has it in her to achieve it right?
Although her history with these characters would suggest she is more one to go for the "nice girl" a.k.a DEREDERE types, her performance starts strong, with a character like Aharen Reina, who is defined as "Unfathomable" (whatever that means) and if the title wasn't a good enough giveaway, we would infer her personality would be the EG type based on her dim colour composition, and her "sleepy eyes", both typical signs that we are dealing with one of such characters, especially in a modern kids' show in which we are presented with all these vibrant, vivid, multicolored slice of life landscapes that stimulate the visual cortex of young minds, anything resembling this character stands out like a black cat in a hospital.
Her characterization goes as expected, she is just living her best life, and developing a newly formed bond with her male classmate which may or may not be romantic in nature, lots of strange interactions ensue with the emotional subtext being lost in translation for obvious reasons, and she of course fulfills her A role, by learning and assimilating through the daily events and mundane occurrences that she encounters along her new friend, as she abandons her "blank slate" form and gains the wonderful gift of DERE.
水無瀬 ミユキ "Miyuki"
A notable case appearing in Digimon Survive, an example of the elusive "Emotionless BC State" described only briefly in our definitions, due to the scarce amount of examples for characters presenting in this format, so this is most certainly a great find.
In the game, Miyuki is voiced by Konomi Kohara; who is no stranger to cool performances, being Sheffield's VA in Azur Lane's anime, you might notice that she has a number of performances under her name here in MAL, and some of them being obscure and short-lived side characters that do not leave much of an impression, but her dim, pale voice given to Sheffield makes a perfect, almost monotonal, clean female voice, which is ideal for both emotionless and cool girls alike.
The character of Miyuki is found in a desolate section of the digital world, with a frail, ghostly persona that can barely communicate, with most of the lines being delivered by her "brother" on her behalf, she exhibits echophrasing, which is an occasional finding in Type A emotionless characters, those cases being themselves reinforcing the message they hear from their superiors at the end of their sentences. The horrible truth behind her current state becomes a central part of the plot later on, and also a key to solve the mystery behind the predicament the main characters face, but it does involve psychic manipulation of the self and other traumatic events that cause her to gradually abandon herself and eventually "de-personalize"; needless to say, she is also subject to "mind control" at different times during this ordeal.
Whether you're a fan of mind break or not, this is a valuable source of data, all of the prototypical emotionless B flags can be observed in her characterization.
I'm personally looking forward to "Sousou no Frieren" given the chances of this character being one of the D type, even tho we already know she cries at a certain point in the story, it's always a matter of how the adaptation handles the source material.
Same can be said about Kanao from Kimetsu no Yaiba, who is still pending for her final evaluation in the upcoming and closing arcs to the series.
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