Ranked #515

Toradora! (Manga)

The problem with describing, reviewing, or recommending Toradora to people is the fact that it really deviates very little from the romantic comedy mold. Trying to go into depth about it's plot or the character development or plot direction won't raise any eyebrows by any means, so let's get something out of the way right off the bat: you've probably seen this story a million times by now--"boy likes girl, girl likes boy, denial and wacky antics ensues". However, what sets it apart is the quirkiness of it's execution--Taiga herself not being a perfect fit to the "tsundere" archetype and Ryuuji himself being a generally likeable, interesting, non-spineless male lead for a change, which is a breath of fresh air as opposed to the trite method of presenting the male lead as a completely unlikable idiot without any sense of what he's doing.

The strong suits of the manga become apparent very quickly, the first and foremost being the art. Characters are drawn extremely crisply and clearly, and the backgrounds and motion are presented very fluidly. I really cannot praise it enough--it's very well done, and I wonder just how J.C Staff will somehow be able to pull off translating it into anime form without it losing something very special. There are some minor issues with word bubble positioning, but all in all the artist presents a very masterful use of his pen. And from here we can jump over to the second strongest draw -- this being the characters themselves.

Taiga herself will instantly win over most readers with her psychotic, energetic charm, even going so far as to break into the male lead's house at night in order to deliver her own warped brand of justice due to a misunderstanding, and this is only an early example. Speaking informally, using profanity and harshness, showing extreme procrastination and laziness, and generally presenting a rather cynical and sarcastic view on life towards Ryuuji which I find parallels her personality personally, she's honestly and simply adorable -- and not to mention absolutely hilarious.

Anyhow, if you have a soft spot for romantic comedy and are looking for the next breakthrough comedy romance manga of the past few years, you really can't go wrong with Toradora. It might not innovate the genre, but it certainly comes close to perfecting it. It's light, casual, and easy to follow at whatever pace you want, and if you have any heart at all you'll probably find yourself laughing at Taiga and Ryuuji's antics, at least every once in a while. read more

Toradora! is a romance comedy slice of life series that centers among the interesting and funny cooperation between two high school students (Ryuuji Takasu and Taiga Aisaka) who hope for a chance to be in a love relationship with the other's best friend. Readers that expect good and funny moments may enjoy the quality results that are presented in this series.

Before their cooperation was agreed upon, it involves in a hilarious scenario where Ryuuji notices a love letter (written from Taiga Aisaka to his best friend Yusuke Kitamura) accidentally put in his bag. When it was found out that both have crushes on the other's best friend, they agree to cooperate in order to win the object of their affections. Unfortunely for Ryuuji, he must also agree on becoming Taiga's personal servant as well. From all the time they spend together helping one another, the story brings many great results from its humor and serious moments as Ryuuji and Taiga gradually build on their interesting relationship.

As for characters, Ryuuji and Taiga certainly bring their parts to the story that often make the readers get their laughs and learn about the situations they have to deal within their social lives. As the male lead in a romance comedy series, Ryuuji brings a nice refreshing change in his character due to him not being afraid in taking chances upon his decision making. For Taiga, she brings along her tsundere side and moe expressions that often make her a likable character in this series. When it comes to working together, Ryuuji and Taiga provide many funny moments from the antics they attempt in the story. Other characters also provide funny moments in the story, such as the high school students spreading rumors about the relationship between Ryuuji and Taiga.

The artwork also brings out many good results in the manga. One of the better moments in enjoying the artwork is the funny illustrations that come from the characters, especially from the embarrassing moments that happen in the story. Although most of the illustrations brought out effective expressions of the characters, some of them may be a bit messy in their drawing results. The character designs and backgrounds are also drawn well and provide good imaging in their panels.

Overall, Toradora! is a very good series that brings out great results from its story, artwork, and characters. With its anime series currently airing, the expectations should be high for readers that have enjoy the Toradora! series so far.

(This review may be edited if necessary.)






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