Give Me My Tsundere Back!

The original Tsundere queen

I was lurking on Sankaku when I saw the Megami character ranking of 2008. Fair enough, some of the results were expected, altho Konata beating Kagamin is mightily debatable. But the one that I was surprised was the Tsundere ranking.

Tsundere:
1. Louise (Zero no Tsukaima: Princesse no Rondo)
2. Taiga Aisaka (Toradora!)
3. Shana (Shakugan no Shana II)
4. Kagami Hiiragi (Lucky Star OVA)
5. Yume Asakura (Da Capo II)

Notice anything with that? Yes, the top 3 are all what I would call, the ‘new gen’ Tsundere. Loli, brash, insecure, clumsy, and annoying. And yet THEY ARE IN THE FUCKING TOP 3! I missed the time when tsunderes was healthy, cocksure, reliable, and most certainly not annoying.

The original template of Tsundere, which was personified by the legendary Soryuu Asuka Langley was the one that I liked most. Those were the time when her and the main character would be on the same level playing field. These includes that such as Kaname Chidori (Full Metal Panic!), Tousaka Rin (Fate), Sawachika Eri (SukuRan) or even Isoyama Yomi (Ga-REI Zero), Kozuki Karen (Code Geass) and Sheryl Nome (Macross F), all who are sadly missing from the list. They might be strong, but they have a problem showing their real feelings. And unlike the newer tsunderes, some of them are lovable, and also sociable.

These pentako tsunderes are making me hate them honestly. Yes, Kugiyama Rie might be good for thse kind of characters, but honestly too much of them at the same time are just getting on my nerve. I liked Taiga (ToraDora) from the novel, but the Taiga from the anime is just too much for me to stomach. These ‘new gen’ seems like are too detached from other people, and can’t seem to make any friends. The only trait that they share with the ‘old school’ tsunderes is just that they keep their feelings inside. But only just that.

Honestly, give me back the tsunderes I fell in love with. They are miles better