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Studio : J.C. STAFF
Length : 25 Episodes
Year : 2008
Genre : Slice of Life - Comedy
Synopsis :
Thanks to the menacing look in his eyes, Ryuuji Takasu has a reputation as a dangerous delinquent in his school... even though he is responsible, generous, and dedicated to house chores. In his same class the petite Taiga Aisaka shares the same reputation, although more justifiably so.
When one day Ryuuji accidentally discovers that Taiga has a crush on his friend Kitamura, he also reveals his crush on her friend Minori Kushieda to Taiga as well, and makes the unwitting promise to help her, the most aggressive girl in the school, in her attempt to build a relationship with Kitamura.
Added : 2008-09-26
Synopsis by : leoxjm
Last update : 2010-07-31
Last update details : Link modified
Score : 9.6
Number of reviews : 10
Link(s) :
Official #1 : StarChild's Toradora! Website (Japanese)
Official #2 : TV Tokyo's Toradora! Website (Japanese)
A-Source #1 : AJTheFourth's DVD Review - Volume 1 Premium Edition
Song(s) :
Opening #1 : Rie Kugimiya, Eri Kitamura, Yui Horie - Pre-Parade
Opening #2 : Yui Horie - Silky Heart Ending
Ending #1 : Yui Horie - Vanilla Salt
Ending #2 : Rie Kugimiya, Eri Kitamura, Yui Horie - Orange
Release(s) :
2009-12-30 -- Episode(s) 4 by qq & AKFDP. BT Link
2009-10-06 -- Episode(s) 3 by gg. BT Link
2009-07-04 -- Episode(s) 23 by AnimeYoshi. BT Link
Found 123 releases. Click here to [ Find them! ]
Hits : 37407
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Posted by : Kimmie-chan
Posted on : 2010-07-04 
I can't really remember why I started watching Toradora! the first time through when it was being aired/subbed. Like shoangore has said, the synopsis on Anime-Source here doesn't make it sound all too appealing. Anyway I just recently finished re-watching it for the third time and it's still that good... the 3rd time though. I guess with 're-watching'‘ I no longer have that doubt about it being a disappointment and really, everything just reminds why I really liked it in the first place.
Storyline-wise Toradora! is pretty simple and easy to follow. They have the beach episode, the drama during the cultural festival, Christmas, New Years, the field trip ... I don't think they had a hot springs episode now that I think about... regardless it's high school romantic comedy at its best. I really liked the narration during the series, you get to hear the character's inner thoughts which just gives us more of a scope on the characters. The dialogue is great; I really enjoyed the analogies Minori and Ami used throughout the series.
The characters make Toradora!. Everyone is their own person, they all have their own strengths and weaknesses and it makes it fun when the characters bounce off one another. Each character has their respective problems and hurdles of their own with that support is given one way or another from other characters and they overcome that and grow. This I think is what makes Toradora! so enjoyable, also the way they have delivered makes it different from your generic high school romcom.
The animation is great. No complaints at all. The quality is high and consistent. The fight scenes (those girls are feisty! I don’t ever want to get in a fight with them) are very fluid. I haven't read the manga so I'm not sure how much difference there is between the character designs, but I do love the little Tiger mascot.
As for the music; I really enjoyed all the openings and endings for Toradora! The 2nd ending Orange is probably my favourite. The opening sequences themselves were really well put together and Toradora! is probably one of the rare anime where I sit through the opening for every episode (at least for the first time through ^^ ).
Toradora! is definitely one of my favourites and I would readily recommend it to anyone who is after a good romantic comedy.
Posted by : shoangore 
Posted on : 2010-03-15  
The synopsis provided by this website do not do justice to this particular anime series, though each of these reviews are admirable in highlighting the strengths of this superb show. For a romantic comedy, this series definitely breaks past the cookie-cutter, shallow relationships and pursues a complex and moving hexagonal relationship with adolescents moving through highschool in Japan. The cast is set great, and though I hold a few reservations, this series has landed itself in a most favorable position in my opinion.
CAST: 5/5
The cast is great- each of the characters vividly stands apart from one another in their personalities, and hold them strong throughout the series. But they are not static- each of them undergoes changes as the storyline progresses, which is great, and they all have their own problems underneath their exteriors, which builds up wonderful depth for the series. You get to know each one personally, and feel for them.
ANIMATION/ARTWORK: 5/5
Fantastic work. The characters are crisp and well-drawn, the artwork is beautiful. Cinematics are top notch for a 25 episode series, with no money scrimping along the way. Action scenes are fluid enough, and very shocking. Character designs are great, though you may mistake Amin and Shimue for one another now and then.
STORYLINE: 4/5
This series goes through several major storylines, most probably mirroring that of the manga series. The ending feels a little long, but was well worth it in the end. You sometimes end up fairly frustrated, but that's all part of holding you in.
MUSIC: 4/5
The OP/ED weren't much to hold my interest, though the OST was great, especially the piano that seemed to stick close to the end of each episode later on in the series. Can't complain too much here!
Conclusion: 9/10 for this series. A great blend of comedy and romance, which is great for any need-to-feel-good mood, or just if you want to enjoy a good storyline and get to know some characters.
Posted by : AniMat3d
Posted on : 2009-10-22
Toradora! caught my eye when I was looking through the top anime shows of 2008. Seeing that Toradora had such good reviews and the fact that romantic comedies are my favorite genre in anime, I had high hopes and expectations. Usually if you set your expectations too high you'll be disappointed in the end, but that was the complete opposite for Toradora! It was everything I hoped for and more!
Story 9/10: Although the story seems like your typical high school romance story the truth is... it is!! The thing that sets Toradora! apart from every other show is the way it's executed, almost to perfection. With very funny and dramatic moments, Toradora! will hook you like a fish that will keep you wanting more.
Animation 9/10: I thought the animation was very well done. Backgrounds and character designs were simple but of very high quality.
Characters 11/10: Probably one of the best cast of characters I've ever seen in any anime. Each have their own distinct personalities and beliefs that complement each other. The thing that makes this cast of characters so interesting is the way they act when faced with adversity. Taiga might try to appear tough and independent when faced with heartache but in reality needs a hug. Minorin might try to appear strong willed in order not to worry anyone. Watching how each character reacted in certain situations is waht truly makes this anime one of a kind. Although I thought Minorin was on drugs the first couple of episodes it was interesting to see the strong and mature side of her as the story progressed. Even though Ryuuji appeared as your typical bland nice guy, it was hard to see anyone else complement Taiga's character so well.
Music 10/10: The opening was pretty good but the endings were so catchy I had to listen to the whole thing untill I started the next episode!
Overall 9.75/10: Personally one of my favorite shows and I would highly recommend anybody to give it a try. Don't watch the first couple of episodes and dump it as another cliched high school love story. Once you get to know the characters you'll begin to find yourself caring for each character as they are faced with the emotional rollercoaster that is love.
Posted by : joem20
Posted on : 2009-07-31
For me, this is the best anime of 2008, and the best love story I ever watch in an anime series so far. The story, animation and characters, this is truly the best.
Story
At the first half of the series, it was really funny. They show that even you are the fearless man in the world, you will become stupid when you fall in love. I can’t stop laughing on the scenes when Taiga and Kitamura are alone, or when Kushieda talks to Takasu very frankly. Then, when the story goes further, major developments take place. This is not your typical love story, this is very original and truly one of the best.
Animation
Typically, when it is a love story genre of an anime, the animation is not a major factor. But this one is different. Its animation is way above the level of any love story anime. The characters have superb movements and have realistic facial expressions. It is very consistent form start to finish, everything is perfect.
Characters
One of the best characters ever assembled in an anime. Their thoughts and principles are really different from each other, and they have their own dignity. They may be funny, but they are all serious when it comes to love. You can’t stop falling in love to the three heroines, these are the three types of woman you are wishing for. Kushieda Minori is one of the best characters developed in a love story anime.
Music
This is the first time that I watched all the opening and ending songs from episode 1 to episode 25 of an anime. They are really great, especially “Silky Heart�? which is now one of my all time favorites. The BGMs are also great and appropriate to every scene.
Overall
This is a very great love story that has full of lessons in life. I never laugh as hard as I did in this anime, and I also never cry as hard as I did with this one. Truly remarkable and very memorable anime. A keeper everyone will love not only by this generation but also other generations as well.
Posted by : kannagisai
Posted on : 2009-06-24
Wow, I am so glad I decided to actually give this series a chance. It piqued my interest while reading the AS Fall Preview article and most early reviews were favorable. Some time had passed and I thought "Come on now, how much room is there for innovation in the high school romantic comedy genre?" Well, now that I've watched the entire series I have the answer. It's twofold:
1. Not much.
2. It doesn't matter in the least.
This show is practically perfect. Seriously, I don't think that this could be any better. It takes place in the all-too-familiar, angsty, overly dramatic setting of a typical high school (anime version, of course) in which we aficionados have become so in tune with over the years -- even if those places don't actually exist in reality. It truly has become cliché to an exponential degree. What sets Torodora! apart from all the other mediocrity is its disciplined focus on a very few, very good, very different (kind of realistic actually) cast of characters. I honestly liked each one of them. There's only five, by the way. Takasu, the main character, is great. He is very deep, not at all awkward in any situation (Finally!!!), and, liked by all the females we follow closely by the end of the series (shocking, huh??). The voice acting is also particularly good with Taiga, Ami, and Minori all recognizable and accomplished voice actresses. There is really little to complain about here and most of the episodes are at least somewhat critical to the overall production.
I could spend much time covering the brilliance in each individual plotline but it seems to have been documented pretty well in some of the other reviews. I will end by just giving another hearty recommendation for a great series in a season where there weren’t very many. You tend to rate an anime on its overall entertainment value (I’d hope anyway) and if you look at Toradora! in that light, separate from all the similar productions, it most certainly delivers. So, there you have it. It rates up there with the best.
Posted by : du5k
Posted on : 2009-06-14
I was catching Toradora! when it aired, but dropped it at episode 4 because
1. It felt cliched.
2. No fansubs want to do it seriously.
3. No fansubs want to do it seriously, probably because it felt cliched.
Well, it started off kind of bland; the character of Taiga, due to her VA being Kugimiya Rie, felt like an exact carbon copy of Louise in Zero no Tsukaima, a show which didn't quite enjoy its popularity after its first season. And unfortunately for Ryuuji, even though he had a very different character to Saito, he became a 'baka-inu' servant to Taiga like Saito was to Louise. And being the stereotypical guy I am, I quickly assumed that Toradora! was a very unoriginal story trying to sell off the relationship like that of Louise-Saito. And voila! Toradora! surprised me by taking a story direction completely different to that of Zero no Tsukaima, and ironically, the fact that Louise/Taiga were practically the same character in very different world makes it even more fun.
And guess what, Toradora! actually got 2nd place in A-S Top 2008 anime survey. It actually beats Clannad: After Story. By like 40%.
Despite the impression the first few episodes gave me, the series becomes an emotional rollercoaster as soon as it got over the introduction phase. The story is very sensitive to the character's emotions and each character have a rather designed background story that, despite not being very realistic, have very real response to that character and effect to their surrounding characters not characterized by a cliched moment where the protagonist says a cool line and gets a glassy-eyed stare as a reaction. Each of the five main characters is very well designed and very strong in their own respective arc.
I'd still prefer a Minorin ending, but we already know how the series will end the moment the title of the show (ok, the novel) is decided. It didn't quite explain how Ryuuji changed his mind in the end, but the plot flows very nicely into a Taiga ending in which every other character has a part to play in. I have one gripe though; which is, although Ami's probably the best in character design, but she was hardly used to her potential.
The animation was pretty good overall, and seemed to have increased its quality halfway through after they realized they're making something good. I liked to songs too. Silky Heart took a while to get used to, but I liked how unique this is.
J.C Staff has been really good at romance genre, and this is probably one of their best. I didn't like it 5 stars worth (Kimikiss is), but it's value-to-watch would definitely be 5 stars
Plot/Concept: Funtastic!
Story Style: Very Good
Audio/Visual: Excellent!
Value: 10
Posted by : AJtheFourth
Posted on : 2009-06-03
Phew! I finally got around to watching this series, and unfortunately it wasn't in time for the Top Series of 2008 Survey, otherwise it would have been my top pick for last year.
Animation: The animation is high quality, although inconsistent in spots. The character designs are simple but well-defined. Taiga's character in particular, you can tell the animators spent a lot of time on her and the results are fantastic, is very interesting and amusing to watch, reflecting her personality. Unfortunately, in a few choice scenes, particularly one fight scene between Taiga and the Student Council President, the animation gets sloppy. I'm not sure if it was purposeful, given the scene, but it did annoy me a bit. 8/10
Characters: As the previous reviewer said, Toradora! is a character-driven series. The male lead, Ryuuji, takes a giant step away from his male harem stereotype by being a person that a girl could conceivably want to be with. A neat freak to the point of obsession, Ryuuji wholeheartedly takes care of his mother and next door neighbor Taiga, by doing all of the household chores. He is also shown to be a kind and caring individual to a fault, and much of his character development comes from his interaction with others. Taiga, nicknamed 'The Palmtop Tiger' due to her petite stature and violent nature, goes through the most character development out of any character, and the transition never seems clunky or out-of-place. Out of the supporting cast of Ami, Minorin, and Yuusaku, Ami proves to have the most depth, and therefore is the most interesting. 10/10
Story: Toradora! is a very straightforward romantic comedy. You won't find many original developments in the storyline, but the characters play off of each other so well that it never affects the quality of the series. I also appreciated that the story kept my attention from beginning to end, unlike other romantic comedies that often get bogged down when dealing with similar cliches. Yuyuko Takemiya, the original light novel author, made some very good decisions on how and where the story would progress, as well as where the comedy will drop in. This is translated well by J.C. Staff in the anime. 8/10
Music: This series makes excellent choices for music, although the only opening/ending that stood out for me personally was 'Pre-Parade,' which I loved. Some of the scenes are recycled between different opening and ending themes which may bother some. 8/10
Overall: I personally loved this series, even more than other lauded romantic comedies like Lovely Complex, and School Rumble. If you like either of those aforementioned series, or romantic comedies in general, this one is well worth watching. 9/10
Posted by : Chikage_Shampoo
Posted on : 2009-04-13
Mostly lighthearted, yet somewhat serious at times, Toradora removes itself from the typical slew of harem animes by actually attempting to give each character some depth: the females actually aren't flinging themselves at the not-so-handsome protagonist. Rather, it's the complete opposite, and this gives a touch of reality to the otherwise haremesque series. Finally, another romance-comedy with some believability.
Different people will probably attach themselves to the cast of different girls available for different reasons, although the others may be lacking in palatability. For instance my favorite character was Kawashima Ami, although Kushieda's obvious fakeness for most of the season turned me off. I still liked Taiga and thought her facial expressions were the cutest out of all of them, but her personality did not quite attract me.
Nonetheless I was able to relate to at least a few of the character traits and actions that were shown throughout the series. Kushieda is more complex than she lets off, and even by the end of the series viewers still don't know much about her. Ami (for me at least) stayed likable throughout, while Taiga's character developed. Ryuuji needed a push sometimes, but that's what the other characters were for. Kitamura was devious at times but always acted for what he believed was right (although he may have been the most unbelievable of all because no one can seem to crack his shell). Yasuko was forgettable throughout the beginning of the season but by the end she plays a more important role.
On the other hand this is not the most compelling of series. Yes - the characters were believable, and yes - overall the series was enjoyable. However - sometimes there was a little too much drama over the romance aspect. It was still digestible, but it makes people wonder about just how dramatic many teenagers can become. (Well, thinking about it, I can probably say that they are indeed dramatic, but I don't like how it's so over-the-top sometimes in Toradora. At least it actually is palatable and not something School Days or Fushigi Yuugi-esque.)
There wasn't really anything special about the story - just romance with another twist. Two delinquents who're actually good on the inside although one has a tough physical look and the other has a tough personality. I don't remember much about the music unfortunately. Furthermore the animation was trite and nice - nothing spectacular, but it does the job. I do wish they used more shadows, though.
Overall, an enjoyable anime - definitely as a result of the characters.
Posted by : NatureDragon
Posted on : 2009-04-09
Storyline/ Plot: 10/10 (Truly Outstanding!)
The story started off well and had a refreshing feel. Both the main male and female protagonists have very distinct and unqiue characteristics and facial/body features which adds lots of value in this love/comedy anime. At the beginning, the story seems to be rather focused in bringing Ryuji and Minori; Taiga and Kitamura together. Through the many events that happened, Ryuji and Taiga ended up together and all was able to end with a very pleasant note. The overall story quality was outstanding, showing deep plots involving friendship and the complexity of love.
There are certain segments in the story that makes Toradora! truly amazing. First of all would be the events leading up to the school festival. It was absolutely emotional when Taiga's past was brought up and the character interactions showed us true friendship. Another segment would be the Christmas party and Ski resort school trip. The Christmas party epsiodes manages to show how love can be developed unknowingly. The last marvelous segment would be the ending. The ending was conclusive and leaves behind a strong impression.
Characters: 10/10 (Really Amazing!)
There are three very important characters in Toradora! besides Taiga and Ryuji. They are their best pals, Minori, Kitamura and Ami. Each of the five characters were given enough time for proper character development and manages to show us their unqiue personalities. Here's a brief introduction to these five characters:
Taiga, aka Palm top tiger, is voiced by Kugimiya Rie, and is the Tsundere character. She is stubborn and fierce at times but has a very sweet side at times. Her petite body and long wavely hair makes her look like a cute doll. She is also extremely shy when it comes to love. She seems rather unorganized and does not really seems to be able to take care of herself. She has a complex family background.
Ryuji, has a intimidating delinquent look due to his slit eyes, is voiced by Majima Junji. He is actually a very kind person who has a gentle personality. He is totally obsesed with cleaning (especially when he sees mold). It is surprising that he manages to click well with Taiga and seems to act like Taiga's father/elder brother at times.
Minori, aka Minorin, voiced by Horie Yui, is a hyper-active baseball girl. She tend to hide her true feelings by showing that she is very tough and hyper-active. She is always very concerned for Taiga and is Taiga's best friend. She is also the Baseball club's president.
Kitamura, aka God of Broken Hearts (after episode 16), is voiced by Nojima Hirofumi, is a smart and eccentric guy. He is Ryuji's good friend. He seems to like Taiga when they were in year 1. He is considerate and extremely funny. His santa claus outfit is really funny.
Ami, aka baka Chi (stands for stupid chiwawa) nickname given by Taiga, is voiced by Kitamura Eri, is a haughty model. She puts up a different personality at first (one which is kind and bubbly) so that she could gain friendship. She starts showing her true self after listening to Ryuji. Despite her arrogant, egotistic way of speech, and mature personality, she is actually very caring towards her friends and wishes to be treated as her age (instead of being deemed as an adult). She is Kitamura's childhood friend.
With all their unqiueness added together, it brings out true comedy, friendship and love.
Animation/ Graphics: 10/10 (Decently Ornamentalize!)
Character designs were very unqiue and complete with a great array of facial expressions and emotins. The good use of bright colours and dark colours at appropriate scenes were great. The scenaries were simple but well drawn with the right amount of details.
Songs/ Music: 10/10 (Remarkably Astounding!)
I truly love all the songs present in Toradora!. This would include both the opening themes and Ending themes and most importantly, the christmas insert song [ "Holy Night (ホーリーナイト)" by Taiga Aisaka & Ami Kawashima (CV: Rie Kugimiya & Eri Kitamura) (ep 19)].
Overall: 10+/10
This is one of those rare anime that is truly above the rest. With a great storyline consisting of bits of comedy and tons of emotions, this is one anime not to be missed. The great voice cast of Rie Kugimiya, Yui Horie and Eri Kitamura is a great plus point for this anime. Toradora! has certainly rised the bar for comedy/love genre animes and will forever be one of my top favourite animes.
Toradora!, the perfect anime, is truly a MUST watch for all anime fans!
Posted by : Vortex_Magus
Posted on : 2009-04-04
A very entertaining, somewhat silly schoolyard drama, Toradora exceeded every single expectation I had for it. At first glance, it revolves around the life of a "typical male anime protagonist" who is a bit effeminate and forms a relationship with several characters. If you have any experience with anime, it will likely remind you of many other shows, such as Lovely Complex or School Rumble.
However, as you go deeper into Toradora, you begin to find a depth and interest in a story you initially thought was quite cliche and shallow. Every single one of the characters is complex and well-thought out, and the intricate story manages to intertwine humor and a touch of craziness with a serious drama centered around relationships and the search for happiness.
Story: 10 - Almost too perfect. Beautifully written and very interesting, it touches upon almost every cliche in the book in the school life genre, but manages to avoid becoming just another clone. The story advances at a strong pace and offers a satisfactory conclusion, and doesn't get derailed to hell and back (cough*schoolrumble*cough).
Music: 9 - Very addictive opening and endings, and very well suited too. I don't consider the music to be the most amazing songs I've ever heard, but each song fit the series very well, and added a lot of meaning.
Animation: Good - I don't rate this with numbers because I think it's pretty meaningless anyway. It doesn't detract from the story at all, and that is all that really matters to me. I only notice the animation style if it's really bad, and this was not bad at all.
Toradora is a breath of fresh air in an overdone genre full of mindless cloning. There is really nothing in particular which REALLY stands out about Toradora (well... maybe the retarded parrot), but taken all together it is a truly excellent piece of work, and definitely worth your time.
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