lucious.blanda - 2013-07-23 00:35:33

While the plot was nothing more than the usual romance, I did have hope that i would change it up towards the end but in the end it was me being hopeful. Not to say I didn't like the show it was a funny and cheesy anime that got me laughing for most of the series. The music in the series was good and one being in my top 10 of anime music made the scenes a little more impact-full. It defiantly deserves a watch if you enjoy romance anime.

jboyer - 2013-07-23 00:13:40

Watching this show was an absolute joy. I remember staying up late on a school night to finish an episode of this show. I regret nothing

klocko.gretchen - 2013-07-22 00:54:20

Be warned, this is a completely biased and in no way a professional review. I will be stating everything based on my opinion.

Toradora, your typical Comedy Romance...but is that all it is?. Toradora was one of the first anime i ever watched, excluding Pokemon, Naruto and other common anime that premiered on Cartoon Network, Toonami and Adult swim. As such (i when i watched it) i was fairly new to the anime community and in no way had any right to review it. That was over seven years ago and i can safely say i have a bit more experience. Story: Toradora follows the romantic trials of Ryuuji Takasu and Aisaka Taiga as they each try to help the other get together with their crushes. As such the story's basic conclusion is apparent from the start. However the journey is completely worth the watch. The story is fairly cliche but it has its own uniqueness that i though was very well done, and the ending was even more amazing. Music: The music i found to be very compatible with the show especially the opening and endings all of which i loved. Characters: The weakest part of the entire show i thought would have to be the characters. Although when i first saw the show i thought that they were probably the greatest characters ever, now that i have seen more anime i feel that there really is not that much to them, i mean how many tsundere type characters are there in anime, not to mention mistaken delinquents that are actually super kind... yeah alot. It's just a commonly used typing for characters which i feel takes away from the originality. However i still felt that the show did a great job of getting the viewer to connect with the character as well as giving them development and background. Enjoyment: Overall the show is not perfect, however i can say that the show is still my #1 anime of all time, this is partially due to my love towards romance and The amazing ending and confession in the last few episodes which made me smile so big i thought i would never get the smile off my face. As such i give the show an overall 6.66. The studio that created Toradora is J.C. Staff, other works from them are Shakugan no Shana, Zero no Tsukaima, A Certain Magical Index and most recently The Pet girl of Sakurasou. If you are looking for similar shows recommend Zero no Tsukaima and Maid Sama.

freddie08 - 2013-07-18 00:55:01

cortney07 - 2013-06-23 13:20:42

For a long time I wasn't interested in this anime, because it seemed like another overrated comedy that I probably wouldn't even find funny. However, after trying the first episode I quickly realized this show isn't what it appeared to be.My biggest problem with most romances I have seen is when two characters love each other on the very first episode... for seemingly no reason at all. You get no explanation of why they love each other nor do you see the feelings develop. The romance is basically just thrown in your face and the girl almost looks like she's fawning over some guy she thinks is hot or vice verse with a guy fawning over a hot girl. Toradora, however, does not do this.The series starts off rather light-hearted and enjoyable; in fact, there are even some jokes thrown in that I actually did laugh at. The two main characters - Ryuuji and Aisaka - both have a love interest and Ryuuji is friends with Aisaka's, while Aisaka is friends with his. Because of this, they decide to team up to win the affection of the ones they love. So overall it sounds like your typical romantic comedy, but as the series progresses you actually see the main romance in the series progress and you can actually understand why the two characters fall in love.Later on in the series there was some pointless drama and there were a few other things I didn't like about the series, which prevents me from rating this series a 10. However, this series has a great story, great animation, and a lot of other things which make this story enjoyable, which makes me feel this series a 9/10.

lola41 - 2013-05-30 20:09:37

In my opinion, I thought this was an amazing series. Even though it may have a cookie cutter aspect to it, they really did a great job with it. Story: The story kept me focused on the series as it progressed. With every cliffhanger I found myself pulling my hair and giving a ferocious battle-cry for more. As stated earlier, they did an amazing job with the cookie-cutter aspect of the love triangle (or rectangle for this matter..kind of) as they were able to make it appear fresh and new with each obstacle the main characters dealt with.Characters: My first impression of Ryūji was that he was going to be the double image of Seiji Sawamura from Midori no Hibi; due to his frightful appearance. But thankfully I was proven wrong and saw that he was quite the opposite in most cases, and that his actions and his very character were believable. I was entertained by Taiga's antics throughout the first season, but during the second half we were shown her true image, the one that's usually hidden behind her tough demeanor. The same goes for Kushieda as well. I originally thought she would just have a minor role in the whole series, like an action character used to give that extra nudge for something to happen. Over time we learned about her feelings and how committed and loyal she was to uphold the values of friendship.Music: Overall I thought the music fit pretty well. I loved the openings and endings for both seasons as they provided an upbeat or anxious feeling depending on what season you're on.Enjoyment/Overall: I loved it. I loved the story, the characters, and the fact that they gave the ending justice (in my opinion, because it most cases, romantic comedies have terrible endings). I'm a person who wants to see the two characters show their feelings for one another and share a kiss, and I'm glad to say that I wasn't let down otherwise I'd be throwing tables instead of writing this review. If you're into romance, comedy, and a good dash of drama then I would definitely recommend you to check this out. Hell, I'm a guy and I still felt like I was going to melt into putty during the last few episodes. You know an anime is good when you can make a man hold onto a pillow in anticipation. Good job!Final Score: 10/10

kautzer.annabell - 2013-05-22 03:34:45

Toradora! ...where do I start? I just finished this anime and I'm still smiling. The story is just absolutely wonderful. The anime was so wonderful that I had to write a review for it right away while everything was fresh in my head. If you love anime that has great, unique characters, love-polygons, and comedy that will make even the saddest bunch laugh then you'll definitely love Toradora! At first, the title really didn't interest me. That's the first thing we all see from an anime and that is its TITLE! The next thing we see is the cover art. I saw the title and I thought "toradora!" ? doesn't really sound interesting. I read the genres and saw the cover art and I told myself that it didn't look half-bad. Boy... I was wrong about the anime, I started watching it and didn't stop till the next day. I skipped my dinner and sleep for this anime and i'll break it down for you guys right now.~STORYJust let me start off by saying the story is unique and extremely cute. I would even say it rivals that of Clannad but in the end, Clannad still squeezed through by a bit but I'll leave that for another review. Toradora! will seem like the typical love story at first where a boy loves a girl and another girl loves the boy's best friend, so the two team up to help each other out. Yeah... it's pretty typical, but the creators did such a good job at leading the viewers to think this for a good 15 episodes until you suddenly start to see the change in the story... a change that was pretty unsuspecting to the viewer. The climax of the anime was not anti-climactic whatsoever, the creators did a wonderful job at keeping the viewers on the edge of the seat wanting more. The ending made my heart ache at first but then a sudden twist that relays a message from the beginning of the anime got my heart to skip a beat and just made me fall in love with the anime. The ending to Toradora! is one of the cutest endings ever; it would have been the cutest ending if had not been for Clannad to take first place there. Toradora! is the second anime to have ever made me laugh and cry and jump out of my seat in excitement. I gave the story a score of 9 because even though it was one of the sweetest stories I have ever heard, I still felt that Clannad is still ahead.~TRUE SCORE: 9.5/10~ARTThe artwork was eye catching. The artwork definitely did it's job. When the scene called for a serene atmosphere, you got it. When it called for an eerie atmosphere, you got it. When it called for a cute and sweet scene, you definitely got it. The artwork covered all range of the spectrum even during moments where it called for extreme dramatization. The title of Toradora! didn't really catch me at first, it was the artwork that reeled me in and convinced me to watch it. I gave the art an 8 because it was definitely great, but there were some scenes when I thought that they could have done better. (i.e. the bird was a bit to... comedic)~TRUE SCORE: 8.5/10~SOUNDThe sounds of the anime were your typical anime sounds, some sounds I've even heard from other anime. There's really not much to say about it. I'll talk about the seiyuus in the characters.~TRUE SCORE: 7/10~CHARACTERThe characters were amazing. The development of each character definitely excelled among other anime. You learned about each of the main characters and majority of the supporting characters. The anime included a comedic relief in multiple forms but did not overdo the comedian. The two main characters would be Ryuuji and Taiga. The way they really made these characters are just... I really have no words to describe how much I loved those two. Despite Clannad receiving a higher score, the characters of Toradora! and Clannad are perfectly even here. They didn't leave out any characters nor did they cut short on any characters. They definitely gave it some thoughts on their characters. They gave Taiga a personality you would call a tsundere but the way they tackled it felt like they didn't rush it nor push the personality on her. The way she changed was subtle and excellently executed. The seiyuus they chose for the characters really did match how I would imagine the characters to sound like. Especially that of Aisaka Taiga. The reason why I loved the seiyuus they chose is because not only does the music, the art style, and location sets the mood of the anime but it's really the voice actors and actresses that seals the mood and they couldn't have chosen anybody better for each character.~TRUE SCORE: 10/10~ENJOYMENTI was kept on the edge of my seat at all times. Even though I skipped my sleep and dinner, I neither felt tired nor hungry. I did not even yawn! The story was just too captivating and the comedy came at the right moments to really keep you glued to the screen.~TRUE SCORE: 10/10~OVERALLOverall, I would definitely recommend this to anybody that loves a good love story. If you've watched Clannad and loved that then I would definitely recommend Toradora! Toradora! is just one of those "must see" anime, in my opinion. It includes drama, romance, comedy, and even a bit of action in a few episodes. I gave it a 9 because yes, I enjoyed it and this anime made it to the top of my list but my number 1 spot still belongs to Clannad, just by a little.~TRUE SCORE: 9.5/10

dayana00 - 2013-04-24 22:34:10

Toradora,
What can I say? If you are looking for a romance anime that will keep your current life issues away then this anime is perfect for you. Toradora brings us the traditional tsundere character with a unique personalty  Straight from the get go you know how the anime will end but the way the anime was created makes you eager to see how it happens. There are a lot of twists in feelings for every character in the show. They did an amazing job with developing each character to its potential. I mean every character especially the side characters. You grow attached to each one and when the anime ends you feel some what satisfied but also wanting more. Taiga (the main female) has a strong tsundere feel which is enough to make some viewers stop after 2 or 3 episodes. Honestly, Bare with her personality because after 6 or 7 episodes you will become attached to how the story plays out. Overall, I believe this anime is amazing. The music, animation and voice acting fit each and every character and the current situation perfectly. At the end of the anime, I felt as if i just spent the entire year with them. Finally, you should give this anime a shot, you will definitely be hooked on it after several episodes. You may also get a couple tears to fall towards the end. :)

ybeer - 2013-03-20 03:04:52

This entire review is my personal opinion, not fact. You may have a different opinion, and that's okay! I tried to keep it spoiler free.

"Toradora!" is a story about a boy in school who is feared by everyone because of his looks. One day, after school, he accidentally takes another student's bag instead of his own. He finds out she lives next to him, and the rest of the story shows their developing relationship.

I will start with what I liked about "Toradora!"

I like the concept. It shows that love and friendship can come from the least expected places.

I also feel that "Toradora!" is incredibly sweet and heartwarming overall. In fact, it is possibly the sweetest romance anime I have seen.

I did not like the characters and their interactions, however. The characters in the show are constantly arguing and yelling over what seem like tiny problems. They very rarely have calm discussions. I personally find that the arguments in this show are incredibly stupid in both nature and proceedings.

The characters are also mean to each other at various points in the story. The main female protagonist, Taiga, often does not trust the main male protagonist, Ryuuji, and does not always treat him like a friend, even though Ryuuji helps Taiga more than the other way around.

The characters are also not honest with each other. Pretty much every main character in this show lies to another character at some point or another, if not multiple times. They end up causing huge problems that lead into arguments, despite the fact that they could have been honest and avoided everything.

Personally, I'm glad I watched "Toradora!" for the experience, but I do not like it.

All in all, "Toradora!" is incredibly sweet and worth the watch if you want to watch a romance that will make you feel good at the end. Many of the arguments between characters and plot points feel very "forced" and over the top, however.

elmer.morar - 2013-03-14 23:33:52

I thought Toradora would be your normal school romance anime which follows two people trying to achieve love of their life. But low and behold it came out to be surprisingly good, and has quickly become one of my favorite anime series. 

Story: 9/10

The story revolves around Ryuuji and Tiaga, two ordinary students that end up working together in order to help one another end up with the ones they love. It stays pretty true to the "love story" formula. What makes this anime really good is the excellent pacing it takes with the story. In many "school life" anime we always end up watching filler style episodes, only to have the end of the series be the only thing good about it. Not so for Toradora however! It manages to keep the anticipation between the potential couples high, all along weaving together a pretty good in depth story that really shows the heart of the characters. A lot of times we have scenes that show the characters trying to get the words out to express their feelings, and others offer more side story scenarios-- which usually end up going in conjunction with a certain character’s inner turmoil and struggle. Each episode flows nicely into the next, and you get some pretty clever comedy along the way. Now that is not to say that Toradora's story is without fault; not every episode is particularity interesting as others, towards the end the story tends to drag on a bit and feel somewhat rushed, and the characters start to get in a sort of "pity party" mood with their situations, which can get to be a bit of a downer at times. Still though, haven’t all of us been there at one point in our lives, where we really want to say what is in our hearts, but end up holding back for risk of getting hurt? Or even worse, hurting another? Overall the story is filled with enough drama and guess work to keep the audience into it! Though it should be said that hardcore romance fans may be able to predict some of the twists and turns the plot takes. It does come close to becoming a bit of a harem anime, but just never quite reaches that category. The anticipation of "who will end up with who?" --is the stories strongest feature, and the ending doesn't disappoint!!

Art: 7/10
The art really isn’t anything too special. You get a nice mixture of bright colorful characters and environments. The characters are sharp and well animated with their facial expressions, but the backgrounds can look a bit washed out at times. And some of the action scenarios can be a bit on the stiff side. Again, the character’s faces are what stood out for me the most with the art, you really feel like you can read them at times.

Sound: 8/10
Like the visuals, I wouldn’t go on par to say that the music can be anything more than "appropriate." You do get some pretty nifty opening and closing songs, and they change mid way through the series. The BG music was nothing--if not forgettable. Even while writing this I can’t really think of a piece that stood out for me. What does make the soundtrack so good however, are the character voices! All of them were matched perfectly to a "T, " and I could not find a single voice actor to be out of place with their role. I especially enjoyed Taiga’s voice. She has this tough girl tone and attitude, yet you can tell that deep down inside she really does care about those around her. Something that the viewer will indeed discover while making their way through the anime.

Characters: 9/10
Definitely the heart of Toradora! While going through this anime I really felt that I started a "virtual" style bond with them. I actually cared about the problems they had, and wanted them to end up happy in the end. Towards the beginning, viewers may find a character or two that they either dislike or even despise. But trust me when I say this: "stick with it!" They end up evolving and have many twits to their persona! Taiga is really the one who stole the show for me, she has so many layers to her personality that it can be hard to figure out just what is going through her head at times. A character named Minorin can be drop dead funny when she wants to be, and Ryuuji is a great guy that is always there for his friends. The best compliment I can say about the cast? They act very human (ie: realistic), maybe a bit exaggerated at times, but mix the two together very well! Which can be hard to do in an anime. My only real knock against the characters was, since there are multiple romance skits going on, at times it felt like some of them were a bit too discreet with confessing to one another; which in turn can make the story slow paced at times. I almost felt like I wanted to jump inside my computer screen and yell: "Oh just say it already!!!" That aside, there really isn't much to complain about, great cast! 

Enjoyment: 10/10
Despite some of the glitches in the storyline, I still never the less found myself totally drawn into the world of Toradora! It had more than enough to offer to keep me wanting more! The mixture of comedy, romance, suspense and tender moments--really drew me in!

Overall: 9/10
Toradora makes us contemplate what is more important in life; love or friendship? This anime really turned out to be a great surprise for me. Sure its got some flaws and all. But this series has it where it really counts; character chemistry and development! If you are a fan of romance anime, complimented with a great cast of characters and funny anecdotes. Then I highly recommend giving Toradora a try! It may not do anything new with its romance formula, but it does indeed do it right!