Gandere

"Gandere" is a term for a tsundere character who hides their feelings of love towards their love interest by shooting guns at them when they get embarrassed, but overtime grows to become loving and deredere as they learn to be honest with their feelings. They go into "fight-or-flight" mode when flustered and will impulsively shoot at their love interest when they feel embarrassed about their romantic feelings because they don't know how to react despite not really wanting to hurt their love interest. However, even though they have a tendency to shoot at their love interest it doesn't mean they don't love them. In fact, it's the complete opposite and they're madly in love with them. They are simply someone who cannot control their feelings so they shoot at their love interest out of impulse without meaning to. Once they feel more comfortable being honest they will feel less flustered and will gain control over their aggressive impulses. They will openly show their love and affection and will start to show a much more cute and doting side towards their love interest.
== Etymology ==
=== Meaning of the Term ===
Gandere (ガンデレ) is a combination of "gan" (ガン), meaning "gun", and "tsundere" (ツンデレ), meaning "a character who can't be honest with their feelings of love towards their love interest so they act distant, standoffish, and stuck-up to conceal them".
=== Origin ===
The term was created on Japanese social media as a tsundere variation that snaps at their love interest with a gun based on the character Misato Tachibana from the 2006 gag comedy manga series Nichijou . Misato was an extreme tsundere (or more specifically a tsungire) who would violently shoot guns at her love interest Koujirou Sasahara in an attempt to hide her crush on him in an over-the-top comedic way.
The first use of "gandere" in an official media was in the 2011 doujin manga series Gandere Nukashi Oru .
=== Localization ===
This type is sometimes unofficially and incorrectly romanized as "gundere" in the Western community instead of "gandere", however, this actually refers to a completely unrelated dere type which gandere should not be confused for. Gundere is a term for a tsundere character who turns into a drill sergeant because they can't be honest with their feelings.
"Gandere" comes from a katakanization of the English word "gun", which is spelled in Japanese as "gan" (ガン), while "gundere" comes from the native Japanese word "gun" (軍, pronounced like "goon"), meaning "army". However, gandere is sometimes also romanized as "gundere" in the Western community to more closely match the English spelling of "gun" leading to confusion.
=== Other Meanings ===
There is also another "gandere" type that has shown up on Japanese social media as an unofficial dere, however, it is significantly less popular. This other "gandere" is a combination of "Gandamu" (ガンダム), meaning "Gundam", and "deredere" (デレデレ), a mimetic word for "being lovestruck", and is used to describe a character who is in love with Gundams. This other "gandere" type was created due to the character Graham Aker from the Mobile Suit Gundam 00 anime series because of his obsession with giant robot mecha suits known as Gundams. In particular, his self-admittance that he was deeply in-love with a Gundam suit named Gundam Exia.
Other than sharing the same spelling, these two dere types are completely unrelated.
== Personality ==
Gandere have a personality similar to regular tsundere characters, except they use guns instead of their words or fists. They will also have regular tsundere-like reactions without using their guns as well.
=== Gan Period ===
Gandere are characters who lash out at their love interest by shooting guns at them when they get embarrassed to hide their shyness and feelings of love. They go into "fight-or-flight mode" when flustered despite not really wanting to hurt their love interest.
When they get embarrassed or think their love interest might start realizing they're in love with them, they will pull out a gun and start shooting at them. They will also often shout things like "baka!" (dummy!) at them while blushing to hide their feelings, however, this is always done in an extremely over-the-top comedic way so the love interest is fine by the next scene.
Gandere will almost always carry some type of gun with them so they can pull it out any time they become embarrassed or annoyed around their love interest. The type of gun that is used will differ depending on the character. Some might use only one type of gun while others may use a wide variety of different guns, as is the case with Misato Tachibana who comedically pulled out guns ranging from a handgun, a rifle, and a minigun, to an oversized rocket launcher and a cannon from seemingly nowhere. Others may simply use harmless ones such as airsoft guns like Umiko from NEW GAME!.
=== Dere Period ===
Despite their seemingly aggressive and hateful behavior, they actually do really and truly love their love interest. They only become violent because of a knee-jerk reaction to hide their emotions. After some time as they get more used to being affectionate with their love interest, they will feel less flustered and will gain control over their aggressive impulses.
== Differences From Other Archetypes ==
Gandere is similar to bokodere and biridere, but with more extreme reactions and using guns instead of their fists or electricity.
== Similar Japanese Archetypes ==
* Biridere: A term for a tsundere character who hides their feelings of love towards their love interest by violently shocking them with electricity, but overtime grows to become loving and affectionate as they learn to be honest with their feelings.
* Gundere: A term for a tsundere commanding officer character who is unable to express their feelings of affection to their love interest subordinate so they turn into a drill sergeant and berate them for not being good enough.
* Tsundere: A term for a character who can't be honest with their feelings of love towards their love interest so they act distant, standoffish, and stuck-up to conceal them. Gandere is a variation of this type.
* Tsungire: A term for a character who is quick to get angry and pushes others away when they try to be affectionate with them. Gandere could be considered a gun-themed variation of this type.
== List of Characters ==
See Gandere/Japanese Characters to see characters from Japanese media.
See Gandere/Non-Japanese Characters to see characters from non-Japanese media.
== Gallery ==
Gandere Gallery.png|link=Gandere/Gallery
Aria H Kanzaki from Aria the Scarlet Ammo.jpg|Aria H. Kanzaki from Hidan no Aria
Umiko from New Game 5.gif|Umiko from NEW GAME!
Misato Tachibana from Nichijou 3.png|Misato Tachibana from Nichijou
Isuzu Sento from Amagi Brilliant Park 4.jpg|Isuzu Sento from Amagi Brilliant Park
Sargatanas Guardian Gun.jpg|Sargatanas from Beelzebub-jou no Okinimesu mama.
Anna Kozuki from Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL.jpg|Anna Kozuki from YU-GI-OH! ZEXAL
== References ==
Category:Violent
Category:Shy
Category:Distant