Toradora

[Szwagier]

Toradora


Synopsis, screenshots, recommendations ~ Add Recommendations


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Story 7/10

This anime shows, that if you take many unoriginal concepts and mix them together you can get something, that feels new (even though it’s essentially reheated food). Girl helping a guy get close to the one he secretly loves? High school student that looks like delinquent but is actually pretty normal? Over-energetic, completely dense girl, who doesn’t notice boys feelings? Arrogant girl falling in love and suddenly switching from ultra aggressive to ultra shy? All of this concepts are really common, and Toradora just merges them into one, coherent plot, that tries to fool you into believing it’s completely original story The key to it’s success would be almost flawless execution. Animation, music , bunch of top-class seiyus, logical and not rushed dialogue lines and good balance between comedy and drama makes Toradora a very good, light-hearted love-comedy. Another very important factor is that it actually abstains from using ecchi theme, which is pretty refreshing for a high-school, shounen romance. So instead of endless, accidental groping, peeping and stripping we get a normal story ( and considering it’s J.C.Staff we are talking about, it’s easy to imagine how fanservice can ruin a similar show just by watching Zero no Tsukaima )

The story, for a most part, is made in very predictable way, so the viewers won’t have to think too much about complicated stuff, and instead just relax and enjoy the show. We have Taiga - a short girl with short temper, and Ryuuji - a tall guys whose responsible but shy. From a first look it’s perfect tsundere couple. The only problem is both of them are in one-sided love with someone else, and since it just happens the objects of their love are the other ones friends, they decide to help each other. And so the high-school life full of comedy and drama begins, and we are showered with typical problems like „What will I do about chocolate on Valentines Day” or „How should I confess”. On the course of 25 episodes the story slowly progresses while the characters learn more about each other and find some answers to the questions of youth. The pace of a story is it’s strong point – not once I felt that they rushed things or done something too early. They managed to find a good balance between plot progression and side-stories (some comedic, some heart-warming).

Oh and one more thing – the ending is pretty disappointing – at least I feel that way about it. In ep 24 we are given one, really good scene, and after that it’s going downhill (well ep 25 also has one brilliant scene, but to enjoy it you have to forget the stupid circumstances ). I was watching this while grinding teeth and thinking about what kind of evil spirit possessed creators while they were making it. Without spoiling much I can say, that anime reaches its dramatic climax, but reasons for the drama are extremely dull and don’t justify characters actions. This kind of behaviour I could expect from middle schoolers, but high schoolers and adults, involved in this mess should already know, that there are better ways of doing things.

Animation 9/10
This is the series strongest point, - J.C.Staff did and outstanding job here. Average love-comedy would be satisfied with just having good-looking character designs. But Toradora goes further than that – from the perspective changes, body movement up to the facial expressions – everything is top notch. Whether they wanna show anger, sadness, embarrassment or any other emotion, you can see the actual work put into animating that (and can imagine a budget that department got for that :P). They even bothered with keeping the same quality on side-characters, like for example Haruta or Maya Another good point is clever usage of CG from time to time ( for example really pretty glass star).

The scenery obviously wasn’t so important to the designers – while it still is done properly, it doesn’t really catch any attention. I suppose that is due to characters being way more important, but I still wouldn’t mind a few outstanding views incorporated into this anime. Guess you can’t have everything.

Sound 7/10
This part is done properly, but I wouldn’t call it brilliant. The music is there to help establish the proper mood for the scene, but it’s not doing anything more than that – it stays in the background. There aren’t any amazing tracks that I would like to listen outside of the anime. But I guess if I have to choose I prefer this over what for example .hack//sign had to offer ( tracks were really great, but they were overused and dominated the scenes, sometimes even covering dialogues ). The openings and endings are typical j-pop songs – fitting the theme, but not special in any way (well the first opening was catchy I admit it – but it was „I won’t skip past it” and not „I want to get that song now” type of catchy )

The voice acting was done splendidly, though people may argue about that. Well if you like the voice of „The queen of Tsundere” Rie Kugimiya ( mainly known from the role of Louise in „Zero no Tsukaima” and Shana in „Shakugan no Shana” ) than you will enjoy it in „Toradora” as well, since it’s pretty much the same character (well ok., Taiga is less annoying than the previously mentioned two). If it annoyed you before, than you will have to suffer another show with her as seiyu of main character. I like her voice acting, so I had fun times listening to another tsundere girl stuttering :]

Characters 6/10
This part is really uneven. Taiga is brilliant. She is probably the best tsundere J.C.Staff created so far (since she isn’t bitch like Louise nor is she inexperienced like Shana). She is believable character, even with her emotion swings, has nice background story and is totally likeable. Her insults towards Ryuji sounds more like friendly teasing, and often creators show her kind side – even though she is easily embarrassed, she gets things done when needed. Seeing how her character grows is the most enjoyable part of watching Toradora. That said, she is really cliché “Rie Kugimiya style” girl. She has typical worries (size of breasts, embarrassment in talking about feelings, inferiority complex due to failures in many areas) typical attitude (for example how she calls Ryuuji a dog) typical looks ( long haired loli, banzai :P) and typical reactions (stuttering, violence or tears).

Ryuuji is already one level beyond Taiga. It takes him quite a few episodes to become an interesting character I could care about. At first he is presented as a “normal boy with delinquent looks”, and we are shown a few scenes in which people on the streets are scared of him. Yet it takes just a few eps, to completely erase that feature – once his classmates no longer fear him, the entire world stops fearing him as well and he stops brooding over the issue. They recall it once or twice over the course of the show, but it already feels artificial. Once his main characteristics is gone we are left with a few quirks (like his unnatural addiction to cleaning everything he can clean) and his resentment towards his father (which was so insignificant, that I thought it was there just to provide some background for a plot development about Taigas parents). It takes few eps for his over-protectiveness of Taiga to surface and that, combined with his shyness, turns out to be his main feature. So yeah, he isn’t character you will dislike, but he seems to be a little undeveloped for a leading male role.

The other 3 heroes of this love polygon are, frankly speaking, boring. Sure, J.C.Staff hidden enough small hints, to make some of their behaviour believable, but they still seem very poorly made. Ami, after her 2 episodes of introduction, provides mainly comic relief in duet with Taiga. Creators try to fool us, that she acts mature and notices more, which makes her keeps her feelings suppressed. But the effect is that she just brings some useless comments that are supposed to sound deep, and apart from that does pretty much nothing. Kitamura is supposedly Ryuuji best friend, and supposedly he rejects Taiga at the beginning of the show. That doesn’t stop him from taking advantage of her feelings anytime he needs it, and the so called “mans friendship” surfaces only for a moment in the middle of the show, and even then sounds fishy. He seems like a character, whose main purpose is to be Taigas object of affection, so the scriptwriters didn’t bother much developing him. And lastly Minorin – she acts as if she had ADHD (who knows, maybe she does?) which instead of being cute is extremely annoying. So the creators tried to make her a little better, by adding “workaholic” and “horror love” quirks, and then justify her actions by hidden, deep emotions, but in my opinion they did awful job on that. Still, in comparison to one-pattern, boring characters, that some love polygons have to offer, Toradora cast looks really good.

Lastly the side characters are people that can be identified by their one, and only quirk. Like “that girl that loves Kitamura”. Or “that guy who is utterly stupid, but funny”. Well I didn’t expect anything more from the background roles, since they are only supporting cast for the main actors. They work fine the way they are.

Overall 8/10
Even though Toradora has it’s faults and isn’t really original I can still recommend watching it to anyone who likes love polygons. With it’s awesome animation and lack of fanservice it is a level above most of the standard shounen romances. And some scenes are “must see” pieces of win (this is probably first time I’ve seen serious brawl between woman in a love-comedy, that doesn’t incorporate any fantasy theme in it). Generally speaking, unless you are looking for a really dramatic and deep story about the purpose of human existence, you should enjoy this show.

[VivisQueen]

Oooohhh, I liked this review. It's made me want to watch Toradora more than any other hype I've been getting (even from close real-life friends!). Your descriptions, especially in the character section are really insightful, and your review seems fairly balanced to me i.e. you can appreciate flaws as well as strengths and have your rating reflect that.

Thanks for the interesting read. Sounds like a 'shounen romance' I might actually be able to stomach. On my wtw list it goes! ^_^

[ThePatches]

Wow. Much better than I could have accomplished because my enjoyment of this show makes it hard for me to think clearly about it.

I would take small issue with your lower characterization score. While you nailed Taiga and Ryuuji, I thought you sold Ami a little short. Her basically parallel journey into true maturity helped further the plot of the series. I found her weak hint dropping and baiting of Minori to be quite realistic and genuine. Yeah, she was dumb, bratty, and vain. So are most high school students.

But other than that, yeah. Spot on.

[SoTaPoP]

If this isn't one the best animes available around right now then I don't know what is.

Truly the only Anime I would consider watching more then once in a years time :)

I found most of the characters believable and entertaining. The only problem I would have is the ending. I won't spoil it for those who haven't seen it. It's a touching ending... but it leaves somethings to be desired.

[Habhome]

Originally Posted by SoTaPoP

I found most of the characters believable and entertaining. The only problem I would have is the ending. I won't spoil it for those who haven't seen it. It's a touching ending... but it leaves somethings to be desired.

I liked the ending, at least the beginning of it,

For example the fact that there's actually kissing involved. Usually it's just hugs xD Though I don't like how she leaves in the end. But hey, he finds her in the locker at least ^^

[ThePatches]

OK. I lied. Here's my take on the whole thing:

Story 8.5/10
Sometimes, honesty is the best policy. Toradora! takes what seems to be a typical anime conceit--two mismatched friends trying to help each other win love in high school--and plays it straight. The final product combines ensemble comedy, drama, and romance with pretty visuals, creating a touching and believable shounen romance.

Toradora! tells the story of Ryuuji and Taiga's friendship. The domestic, level-headed Ryuuji has fallen for the vivacious and optimistic Kushieda Minori, childhood friend to Aisaka Taiga. The tsundere Taiga, meanwhile, crushes on Ryuuji's upbeat buddy, Yuusaku. When Taiga and Ryuuji discover their coinciding interests, they form a friendship around gaining the affections of each other's friend. In the beginning, the series uses this alliance between Ryuuji and Taiga to establish a lively dynamic between five friends--Taiga, Ryuuji, Yuusaku, Minori, and Ami--that achieves a perfect equilibrium of comedy, animosity, and friendship. Just as in real life, however, the accumulation of events small and large changes the characters, and comedy gives way to drama.

Toradora! executes its drama with the same integrity and directness that it put into the comedy moments in the earlier part of the season, but occasionally falls short of the mark. Unfortunately, the writing and direction managed to somehow bungle what should have been Taiga's pivotal moment in the Xmas episode, and the execution of her final decision in the story left something to be desired. But that aside, every major emotional moment save the one mentioned above touched me in a way I hadn't expected, including one of the best kiss scenes I've ever seen in any visual media ever.

Animation 8.75/10
J.C. Staff dropped the ball a little on consistency as some scenes appear rough around the edges. But the occasional quality blips won't stick in anyone's mind, since Toradora! also delivers some moments of genuine beauty. The character designs on the whole are simple but attractive, and each the animation of each character helps to communicate his or her personality. Ryuuji's slumped posture, Minori's exuberance, and Ami's haughty cool can be read equally well from their body language as from their dialogue. Far and away, the most visual sugar gets sprinkled on Aisaka Taiga; whether she be sleeping, toweling her hair, or using a doughnut as a halo, she looks fantastic.

Sound 9/10
The extremely personal character drama demands a competent voice cast and Toradora!'s proves more than equal to the challenge. Each of the multifaceted leads requires exceptional attention to detail and sensitivity to character development, but three performances stand out in my mind. Aisaka Taiga is arguably the most complex tsundere lead attempted by Kugimiya Rie and the "Queen of Tsundere" expertly brings her character to life. Kugimiya navigates both the comedic set pieces of the series' first half and the later dramatic portions with equal skill. Horie Yui delivers the layered and effervescent Minori with perfect timing and energy, deftly transitioning from genki girl into neurotic semi-breakdown and back again. Lastly, Ryuuji's mother, Yasuko, gets an expert reading by Ohara Sayaka who ably shows both the childish and motherly sides of her character when called for by the script.

Of the pitch-perfect score, the first OP, "Pre-Parade" deserves special mention. Rie Kugimiya performs I consider to be a spot-on tsundere J-Pop tune. The pattersong in the bridge gets stuck in my head for days despite my inability to sing along with it.

Characters 9.5/10
While none of these characters achieves a "perfect 10", the core group does come darn close to the mark. All five main characters develop in stellar fashion by making foolish mistakes for real reasons and then trying hard to deal with the consequences. Taiga, while a textbook tsundere, doesn't show Shana's simple-mindedness or Nagi's penchant for delusion. Instead, Toradora! features a female lead with a difficult (not troubled) past who wants desperately to love and be loved. Ryuuji isn't the typical doormat-tsundere-sidekick either. He struggles with an overprotective, indulgent (and self-indulgent) mother and wants only to bring happiness to those he cares about, regardless of the cost to his own well-being. Minori, far from the typical genki girl she appears to be, covers a boatload of neurosis with willpower and attitude.

While the Minori-Ryuuji-Taiga triangle forms the heart of Toradora!'s central plot, the two remaining group members, Yuusaku and Ami, complete the picture. Kitamura goes through his own personal ordeal midway through the series, showing a surprising amount of balls and undergoing an almost hysterically typical rebellion before regaining his footing and becoming simply some of the best comic relief in any series I've ever seen (and is as a result the only male anime character I prefer to see shirtless). Finally, Ami who all but withdraws from the group in the second half of the series, grows into the adult she never expected to become, demanding honesty from her friends and closure for herself in one of the most rewarding micro-scenes I've witnessed.

Overall 9/10
The people I've seen talk about Toradora! tend to get fixated on either half of the show, which is a horrible mistake. Taken as a whole, Toradora!'s honesty and humor paints a picture of high school romance and heartbreak that rings true. The loving, detailed visuals, laid back atmosphere and modest scope make the series a perfect introduction to the romance genre and a standout anime in its own right. No matter how angry this anime made me at one moment, the next scene or episode had me singing its praises. In short, Toradora! is a lot like it's subject matter: In turns hilarious, rambling, confused, charming, and foolish, but ultimately a worthwhile and heartwarming experience.

[KiraRin]

Originally Posted by ThePatches

Story 8.5/10
Every fan has a show that touches him or her in an unexpected and deep way. <-- was there a decision on the him/her/them thing? Just seems to stick on in my head now :p Toradora! presented like one thing, held me captive, and took me to a place I never knew I wanted to end up. <--- sentence seems a little clumsy, maybe "Toradora! presented itself as one thing - successfully holding me captive and taking me to a place I never knew I wanted to end up". I started watching Toradora! with no prior knowledge about J.C. Staff, Rie Kugimiya or the light novels on which it is based, and I was, needless to say, blindsided by its production values, story, and energy. If I could describe the show in one word, I'd choose "honest". This series sets out to tell a story about two people falling in love in high school without resorting to the kind of over the top melodrama and mildly ecchi themes present in a lot of high school anime. Toradora! is not a slice of life comedy. Toradora! is not a harem show. Toradora! is romance of genuine dimension full of teenagers making teenage choices and teenage mistakes.

Toradora!<--- italicise tells the story of Takasu Ryuuji and Aisaka Taiga's friendship, formed to help the two gain the affections of each other's childhood friends. <--- doesn't make sense to me, probably cause I've not seen the show. Who are the friends? In the beginning, the series uses this mutual-aid friendship of Ryuuji and Taiga to establish a lively dynamic between five friends (Aisaka Taiga, Takasu Ryuuji, Kitamura Yuusaku, Kusheida Minori, and Kawashima Ami) that achieves a perfect equilibrium of comedy, animosity, and friendship, before the growth of the main characters forces everything to change. The script works tirelessly to litter the early episodes with the seeds of interpersonal conflict and emotional hardship that bloom in the second half. Sure, the trip to the beach is full of comedy gold, but at least three major moments occur between the main characters. Yes, the school festival contains truckloads of fan-service, antics, and marquee plot events, but it also manages to develop Ami and Kitamura despite focusing primarily on Taiga. When Toradora! <-- italicise turns serious, it's not a deviation from a functioning formula, it's the correct expression of its characters' development.

For all it's initially puzzling plot points, I found myself angrier at the characters as people than as characters. By the end of the show, I was pissed at Ami for not acting selfish enough (until she does, causing my anger to cool), I was pissed at Taiga for her final decision (until she showed she intended to have her cake and eat it, too), and I was pissed at Ryuuji (until he listened to the people around him and started to think with his head). <--- a very long sentence. Maybe expand the brackets and find a neater way to say it. When I am as invested enough to demand actions from characters, it's usually a sign that the story has got me right where it wants me. However, not all is roses. The writing and direction managed to bungle what should have been Taiga's pivotal moment in the Xmas episode and it fell a little flat for me, and I was also more than miffed at the execution of her final decision in the story. But that aside, every major emotional moment save the one mentioned above touched me in a way I hadn't expected, including one of the best kiss scenes I've ever seen in any visual media ever.

Animation 8.75/10
J.C. Staff dropped the ball a little on consistency as some scenes are a little rough around the edges. But the occasional quality blips don't stick in anyone's mind, since Toradora! <-- italicise also delivers some moments of genuine beauty. The character designs on the whole are simple, but attractive and each the animation of each character really helps to communicate his or her personality. Ryuuji's slumped posture, Minori's exuberance, and Ami's haughty cool can be read equally well from their body language as well as their dialogue. Far and away, the most visual sugar gets sprinkled on Aisaka Taiga; she is a joy to look at in nearly every frame whether angry, shocked, smiling, or in tears.

Sound 9/10
The extremely personal character drama demands a competent voice cast and Toradora!'s proves more than equal to the challenge. Each of the multifaceted leads requires exceptional attention to detail and sensitivity to character development, but three performances stand out in my mind. Aisaka Taiga is arguably the most complex tsundere lead attempted by Rie Kugimiya and the Queen <-- the Queen? Am I showing my noobness? expertly brings Taiga to life. Kugimiya navigates both the comedic set pieces of the series' first half and the later dramatic portions with equal skill. Horie Yui delivers the layered and effervescent Minori with perfect timing and energy, deftly transitioning from genki girl into neurotic semi-breakdown and back again. Lastly, Ryuuji's mother, Yasuko, gets an expert reading by Ohara Sayaka who ably shows both the childish and motherly sides of her character when called for by the scene.

Of the pitch-perfect score, the first OP, "Pre-Parade" deserves special mention. Rie Kugimiya performs I consider to be a spot-on tsundere J-Pop tune. The pattersong in the bridge gets stuck in my head for days despite my inability to sign (sing? or you into ASL now ;P) along with it.

Characters 9.5/10
While none of these characters achieves a "perfect 10" (currently, I reserve that honor for Horo the Wise), the core group does come darn close to the mark. All five main characters develop in stellar fashion by making foolish mistakes for honest reasons and then trying hard to deal with the consequences. Taiga, while tsundere, doesn't show Shana's simple-mindedness or Nagi's penchant for delusion. Instead, we are shown a character with a difficult (not troubled) past who wants desperately to love and be loved. Ryuuji isn't the typical doormat-tsundere-sidekick either. He struggles with an overprotective, self-indulgent mother and wants only to bring happiness to those he cares about, regardless of the cost to his own well-being. Minori, far from the typical genki girl she appears to be, covers a boatload of neurosis with willpower and attitude.

While the Minori-Ryuuji-Taiga triangle forms the heart of Toradora!'s central plot, the two remaining group members, Kitamura and Kawashima, complete the picture. Kitamura Yuusaku goes through his own personal ordeal midway through the series, showing a surprising amount of balls and undergoing an almost hysterically typical rebellion before becoming simply some of the best comic relief in any series I've ever seen. But, when the plot requires action from him, Kitamura demonstrates that his experiences have actually resulted in deep character growth, and he acts like a stand-up guy, not some slapstick stand-in. Finally, Kawashima Ami develops basically alone in the second half of the series into the adult she never expected to become, demanding honesty from her friends and closure for herself in one of the most rewarding micro-scenes I've witnessed.

Overall 9/10
The people I've seen talk about Toradora! tend to get fixated on either half of the show, which is a horrible mistake. Taken as a whole, Toradora!'s honesty and humor to paints a picture of high school romance and heartbreak that rings true. The loving, detailed visuals, laid back atmosphere and modest scope make the series a perfect introduction to the romance genre and a standout anime in its own right. No matter how angry this anime made me, at one moment, the next scene or episode had me singing its praises. <-- some funny comma action in that sentence :P In short, Toradora! is a lot like it's subject, high school romance: In turns hilarious, rambling, confused, charming, and foolish, but ultimately a worthwhile and heartwarming experience.

Love it! Might have to actually watch it now :p

H.

[ThePatches]

Thanks for the comments Kira! It was hard to write because my defense of Toradora! includes some spoilerrific comments that I couldn't include in the review.

As an example for those who have seen the show:

The computer scene actually has some pretty atrocious animation I noticed on my re-watching... And then, you can SEE Taiga realize she must make a choice dawn on her just before the tears start to flow. Just as I was busy being pissed at the visuals, J.C. Staff threw in a single moment that made me forgive the rest of the scene.

And Plot-Related:

When the gang go to the ramen shop and see Minori, it's refreshing to see her acting like her old self, and you could think, "Whatever, she didn't develop at all after the ski trip." and right then we get a shot of the unguarded Minori for about two seconds before she resumes her act. I love it, it prefaces BOTH of her confrontations later in the episode perfectly.

Oh, and: My jaw is really sore...

[therik]

I know you didn't ask for a full on Veev approach to this (incidentally I'm thinking I might start calling it a "Vivisection". Wonder if that'll catch on...) but I found a handful of things to pick up on, and I think this is the easiest way to deliver them.

Originally Posted by ThePatches

Story 8.5/10
Sometimes, honesty is the best policy. Toradora! takes what seems to be a typical anime conceit--two mismatched friends trying to help each other win love in high school--and plays it straight. The final product combines ensemble comedy, drama and romance with pretty visuals, creating a touching and believable shounen romance.

Toradora! tells the story of Takasu Ryuuji and Aisaka Taiga's friendship. The domestic, level-headed Ryuuji has fallen for the vivacious and optimistic Kushieda Minori, childhood friend to Aisaka Taiga. The tsundere Taiga, meanwhile, crushes on Ryuuji's upbeat buddy, Kitamura Yuusaku. When the two discover their coinciding interests, they form a friendship around gaining the affections of each other's friend. <--- I didn't QUITE get this first time round. I had to re-read this and the sentence before to pick up the message. It might be clearer if you replace "the two" with "Ryuuji and Taiga". Also, I'd probably replace "friendship" as you use "friend" a few words later. Possibly "pact" or "alliance" might fit. In the beginning, the series uses this mutual-aid friendship of Ryuuji and Taiga to establish a lively dynamic between five friends--Aisaka Taiga, Takasu Ryuuji, Kitamura Yuusaku, Kusheida Minori, and Kawashima Ami--that achieves a perfect equilibrium of comedy, animosity, and friendship <--- It might just be me personally, but I found the list of names reading too long, especially having not seen the anime. Myabe just using the given name for each character might help. Just as in real life, however, the accumulation of events small and large changes the characters, and comedy gives way to drama.

While not all is roses, Toradora! executes its drama with the same integrity and directness that it put into the comedy moments in the earlier part of the season. Unfortunately, the writing and direction managed to somehow bungle what should have been Taiga's pivotal moment in the Xmas episode, and the execution of her final decision in the story left something to be desired. But that aside, every major emotional moment save the one mentioned above <--- "that aside" and "save the one mentioned above" both say the same thing. You could replace "that aside" with "nevertheless" and keep the flow of your argument. touched me in a way I hadn't expected, including one of the best kiss scenes I've ever seen in any visual media ever.<--- repetition of "ever". Presumably you're going for a comic over-the-top superlative, but I'm not sure how well it works. Perhaps "one of the best kiss scenes I've ever had the pleasure to witness in any visual medium" might be better. Ah, yes, "medium" for "media" as well. The latter is plural.

Animation 8.75/10
J.C. Staff dropped the ball a little on consistency as some scenes appear rough around the edges. But the occasional quality blips don't stick in anyone's mind <--- "don't stick in anyone's mind" doesn't quite work for me. "won't stick in anyone's mind" sounds better as it's more of a prediction or a promise, rather than an affirmation which you can't really back up., since Toradora! also delivers some moments of genuine beauty. The character designs on the whole are simple but attractive, and each the animation of each character helps to communicate his or her personality. Ryuuji's slumped posture, Minori's exuberance, and Ami's haughty cool can be read equally well from their body language as from their dialogue. Far and away, the most visual sugar gets sprinkled on Aisaka Taiga; whether she be sleeping, toweling her hair, or using a doughnut as a halo, she looks fantastic.

Sound 9/10
The extremely personal character drama demands a competent voice cast and Toradora!'s proves more than equal to the challenge. Each of the multifaceted leads requires exceptional attention to detail and sensitivity to character development, but three performances stand out in my mind. Aisaka Taiga is arguably the most complex tsundere lead attempted by Rie Kugimiya <--- On a point of consistency, you should probably call her Kugimiya Rie as that's how you've listed the other seiyuu and the anime's characters. and the "Queen of Tsundere" expertly brings her character to life. Kugimiya navigates both the comedic set pieces of the series' first half and the later dramatic portions with equal skill. Horie Yui delivers the layered and effervescent Minori with perfect timing and energy, deftly transitioning from genki girl into neurotic semi-breakdown and back again. Lastly, Ryuuji's mother, Yasuko, gets an expert reading by Ohara Sayaka who ably shows both the childish and motherly sides of her character when called for by the script.

Of the pitch-perfect score, the first OP, "Pre-Parade" deserves special mention. Rie Kugimiya performs what I consider to be a spot-on tsundere J-Pop tune. The pattersong in the bridge gets stuck in my head for days despite my inability to sing along with it. <---You could at least try... =/

Characters 9.5/10
While none of these characters achieves a "perfect 10", the core group does come darn close to the mark. All five main characters develop in stellar fashion by making foolish mistakes for real reasons and then trying hard to deal with the consequences. Taiga, while a textbook tsundere, doesn't show Shana's simple-mindedness or Nagi's penchant for delusion. Instead, Toradora! features a female lead with a difficult (not troubled) past who wants desperately to love and be loved. Ryuuji isn't the typical doormat-tsundere-sidekick either. He struggles with an overprotective, indulgent (and self-indulgent) mother and wants only to bring happiness to those he cares about, regardless of the cost to his own well-being. Minori, far from the typical genki girl she appears to be, covers a boatload of neurosis with willpower and attitude.

While the Minori-Ryuuji-Taiga triangle forms the heart of Toradora!'s central plot, the two remaining group members, Kitamura and Kawashima <--- naming consistency again. Most of the time when you've gone down to one name, you've used the given name. Here you've gone for the family name. Stick with one, use it throughout., complete the picture. Kitamura goes through his own personal ordeal midway through the series, showing a surprising amount of balls and undergoing an almost hysterically typical rebellion before regaining his footing and becoming simply some of the best comic relief in any series I've ever seen (and is as a result the only male anime character I prefer to see shirtless). Finally, Ami develops basically alone <--- this word sequence is a little hard to fathom. I figure you're saying that she primarily develops in solitude, but there has to be a smoother way than that... Maybe "away from the main cast, Ami develops into...". Don't know if that's twisting your words a little though in the second half of the series into the adult she never expected to become, demanding honesty from her friends and closure for herself in one of the most rewarding micro-scenes I've witnessed.

Overall 9/10
The people I've seen talk about Toradora! tend to get fixated on either half of the show, which is a horrible mistake. Taken as a whole, Toradora!'s honesty and humor paints a picture of high school romance and heartbreak that rings true. The loving, detailed visuals, laid back atmosphere and modest scope make the series a perfect introduction to the romance genre and a standout anime in its own right. No matter how angry this anime made me at one moment, the next scene or episode had me singing its praises. In short, Toradora! is a lot like it's subject matter: In turns hilarious, rambling, confused, charming, and foolish, but ultimately a worthwhile and heartwarming experience.

Incidentally, the name of the anime finally makes sense to me. I feel smart.

[ThePatches]

Thanks for the Vivisection (I will help this catch on, dammit, it's too funny).

I'll address the names issue. I get confused because of the Japanese predilection for calling people different things based on familiarity. The rest of the comments definitely help. I have a lot of confusing (and mostly positive) feelings about this show. It really touched me in a way I hadn't expected (and didn't want it to? I can show you on the dolly precisely where...). Consequently, some of my sentences try to communicate to much as a reflection of my enthusiasm.

On the "media" comment. I mean media if I include comics and paintings, right? Also, as a ontological point (that's right, bitches, ontology!) are anime and live-film considered the same medium? The Academy isn't particularly sure.

Finally, I have tried to sing along with "Pre-Parade" LOTS. I am closer to getting "Motekke! Sailor Fuku!" than I am to getting the bridge on "Pre-Parade".