Toradora!
Posted by Persocom on Mar 27, 2009 in Anime, Anime Review | 10 comments
I can officially say I think I have finished one of the best anime from last fall season! Toradora! is without a doubt in that category! Check below the cut for more (spoiler free).
Toradora is about 2 main characters, Aisaka Taiga, and Takasu Ryuji. Taiga, of course meaning Tiger, and Ryuji meaning dragon. The anime is basically about the fate of these 2 main characters and their lives. They are both in love with different people and yet afraid to confess those true feelings to those people, and thus forming a special bond between each other as they try to help each other gather the strength to confess to those people.
Taiga is voiced by very popular seiyuu, Rie Kugimiya, who mainly from what I have seen does tsundere characters, she is definitely the queen of Tsundere, in my opinion. Taiga is definitely the best character in this tsundere category I have seen yet. Her attitude is that of a character who kicks ass, with a gentle heart underneath it all.
With this anime, it made me think that I would know what was about to happen next, and then the story would suddenly take unexpected twists and turns. There were times when this anime made me laugh, made me cry, and then made me laugh even more. I thought the anime was going to be a comedy when it started out, but it ended up taking a turn on a more dramatic/romantic side. The ending of this season of Toradora was pretty much exactly what I wanted for this anime, and made me really want to see what the manga is like. The other main characters in Toradora are Kushieda Minori, Takasu Yasuko, Koigakubo Yuri, Kawashima Ami, and a few others which you can find on ANN.
Taiga lives alone and coincidentally next door to Ryuji, who lives with his mom and his pet parakeet Inko-chan. They both have reputations as rebels in their school, though Ryuji is mistaken as one because of his father’s reputation. I think that Taiga is my most favorite of the many characters because of her badass attitude and yet soft heart underneath. At first she comes across as a cruel person, and a typical Rie Kugimiya role, but what really amazed me was how much her character developed over time. A lot of the characters showed quite a good amount of character development and that’s one of the things that kept me watching as well.
I was very VERY happy with this particular season of anime, and Toradora made my top anime watches! I’m going to miss watching it every week, I really hope they make a second season eventually.
One extra thing that I can add to this, Inko-chan is hilarious! Inko-chan, Ryuji’s pet parakeet, definitely added some extra funniness to the anime!
So, as my very first official review for this new blog site, I can tell you, if you haven’t seen TORADORA! YOU MUST WATCH!
I think I will add the first opening and ending songs here for your viewing pleasure! The ending song by Yui Horie I decided instead of posting the actual full PV for it instead of the short version from the anime because it’s one of my favorite songs.
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Well, I enjoyed Toradora quite a bit. Definitely one to pick up when it comes out on DVD, though I don’t think I ever want to hear a dubbed version because I <3 Rie too much to see her voice replaced by someone with half as much talent. Doubt we’ll ever see a second season but I would welcome it.
hahah, i ended up finishing off the last two episodes today because i saw persocom’s tweet earlier ^^;
i thought it was interesting how they showed the nastier sides of relationships… specifically the physical conflicts that erupted. overall the show didn’t move me as much as a visual novel usually does… but i guess it’s unfair to compare against classics like kanon ^^;
i’m really interested to see if the novels took things in a different direction but i haven’t even started the first 1 (out of 10 orz)
they really need to make some omake episodes!
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I’ve heard a lot of good things about Toradora, but I haven’t watched it as I’ve been occupied by Gundam 00 and Clannad AS. Would one think that this would be more enjoyable than Clannad?
Nevertheless, I will get it and watch it either this Easter or in the summer.
Q’s last blog post..ALTER Fate T Harlaown up for Pre-order
Welcome to the Toradora Fanclub Legion
Best romance comedy ever!
konadora’s last blog post..K-ON preview!
ToraDora was definately one of Animes i enjoyed the most in quite some time.What suprised me is that even support Characters like Minorin and Ami had a bigger depth than expected.I expected them to be the typical Comedic Relief /Antagonist Support Cast but ive been quite wrong.
I didnt really like this ending aswell as the Couple but to be honest I knew where this was heading.Excellent show while the last 2 episodes left a somewhat bitter aftertaste for me.
I usually dont care about Seiyuus but inmho Rie Kugimiya best role is still Kagura of Gintama
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Persocom~ Yes, definitely want to get this one on DVD, this was definitely one of my most favorites this season.:D
Meronpan~Yes, I agree, omake episodes would be quite nice.:) And I may have to check out the visual novels also, I am a big Taiga fan so I kinda want to see more and the different directions different versions such as visual novels go.
Q~ Yes, I do have to agree that Clannad AS is also very good and we are working on buying the Clannad collection on DVD, have the first one so far. Now that I have seen all of Toradora very much want to get this one on DVD also. You have definitely got to watch Toradora, I think you would like it.:)And Gundam, I haven’t gotten into quite as much.
konadora~ I am in total agreement there with you! Must get this one on DVD!:)
Blowfish~ Yes, the ending made me totally hope they make a second season that shows more about Taiga and Ryuji’s romantic side to each other, show them married, and maybe with a child, I think that would be fun for a second season.:) I also like the fact that the supporting characters had a bigger role in Toradora than most anime usually do.
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@Blowfish:
I feel the same way as Riiana Doon, the way the ended up, a second season might have been good. Or at least another side story, like how Clannad did. Feels like it ended too abruptly.
konadora’s last blog post..Nendroid Zange-chan
Indeed, Toradora’s arguably the best show of this season. I love Rie’s VA performance on Taiga. It made her so damn adorable, especially when she’s all shy around Kitamura. Yep, a good series.
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I started this series but I stopped and waited for it to get ahead of me. Now it’s complete and I need to really REALLY catch up!
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… i really really love toradora.. promise… all characters is so funny…:):):)haahahhahahaha!!!!