What Is a Hinedere - And Who Are the Best-Known Examples in Anime? (2024)

The Japanese term "himedere" is used to label characters who are unapologetically callous and indifferent. Most anime hinedere wield incredible power beneath their cold and quiet exterior, making them silent yet deadly within their respected series.

However, their arrogance can ultimately lead to their downfall when they underestimate those around them. Here's what defines the cynical yet popular hinedere archetype and some of the most famous ones that can be found in anime.

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Hinedere hold a cynical view of the world, believing that everyone is wrong and morally corrupt. This negative perception can turn hinedere into villains if they choose to oppose the rest of the world. These characters develop a god complex and hold a firm belief that their way is the righteous one despite popular opposition. Given their powerful abilities and negative attitude, hinedere are notoriously arrogant and are only humbled after meeting their match. This is evident in two of the most popular hinedere in anime, Sasuke Uchiha and Neji Hyuga in Naruto. Despite their twisted life perspective and questionable actions, their motives come directly from the heart and their desire to make the world a better place.

While they possess the "dere" quality that makes them loving and protective toward the ones they cherish, hinedere are more prone to lash out at their loved ones than anyone else. Their unyielding sense of detachment will often hurt those closest to them by making them feel isolated and unwanted. In Hunter x Hunter, Killua and Illumi Zoldyck are two powerful hinedere brothers who are always at odds and hurting one another in competition. This isn't always intentional since hinedere struggle to show positive emotions outwardly. However, their inflated egos and sense of pride make it hard for them to conceal their negative emotions like anger and frustration. This makes hinedere much more emotional than kuudere, but these emotions often manifest negatively.

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Despite their moral ambiguity, hinedere are intriguing and popular characters among anime fans. Since they have a caring nature hidden at their core, most hinedere experience epic redemption arcs no matter how much they've fallen. In Dragon Ball Z, both Piccolo and Vegeta are classified as hinedere who serve as main antagonists when first appearing in the franchise. However, their compelling complexity and moral grayness as hinedere allow them to find a path to redemption that captives fans.

Some hinedere grow cynical and overpowered over time due to immortality or war, like Zeref from Fairy Tail and C.C. from Code Geass. After seeing violence and destruction countless times, it's easy for hinedere to believe that humans are incurably cruel and corrupt. Some anime viewers sympathize with this hinedere sentiment after seeing injustice in the real world, adding to this archetype's popularity. In Classroom of the Elite, Kiyotaka Ayanokoji is popular among his classmates despite being devoid of all emotions. While he is incredibly emotionless, Kiyotaka ironically reads and manipulates the emotions of everyone around him for his personal gain.

Hinedere make for complex character designs and unpredictable storylines due to their twisted nature that is anchored by a caring heart that simply wants to see the world aligning more closely to their morals and ideals. They can hurt those around them in their quest for justice, but they typically find redemption through their loved ones that show them right from wrong. While some viewers dislike the arrogant and detached traits of a hinedere, this archetype attracts many fans who recognize their redeemable "dere" qualities.