I happened to watch ToraDora! about one year ago and still nothing even comes close to how much I love this anime - simply spoken it's my absolutely favourite. It's hard to explain why I love it this much, but I'll try.
Story:
In theory, it's not that new - one guy likes a girl who happens to be the best friend of a girl who happens to like the best friend of the guy who likes the girl - sorry, no way to say it less confusing. Ryuuji and Taiga, the folks who like the best friend of each other, form a pack as how to get closer to their crush. Not without complications thogh.
Whilst the story isn't the newest tale around, it's the way it's told that makes it so good. I've read the Manga and the Light Novel available at Baka-Tsuki.org and watched the Anime and I still was captured every ime anew.
Art:
Well, it's cute and well done - clear lines, fitting colors, nice backgrounds.... It's all there. I know, the way I describe it sounds meh, but it's really good. I just happen to suck at describing or rating art properly.
Sound:
The Seiyuus do a great job. You really get the feeling they don't voice but rather they are their respective character, especially Kugumiya Rie who voices Taiga (so good in fact that Taiga is rated as one of the five Tsundere-wonders). The Seiyuus really get the emotions of the characters through your speakers. I also really do like the openings, I've had a week-long earworm from Pre-Parade, the frist opening after I watched the show the first time.
Characters:
The strong point of the show. I couldn't really don't like any of the characters, even if I tried to. Stereotypically spoken, the characters would be: Taiga as violent Tsundere, Ryuuji as nice guy, Ami as haughty b*tch, Yusaku as popular guy and Minori as Genki-Girl. But it isn't that way. Each of them, maybe safe for Yusaku, had some troubles in their past. I can't write them down here because I don't wanna spoil those of you who read this, but I never had that much sympathy and understanding for any characters in any anime.
Enjoyment:
I enjoyed every moment of it. Everything. from Taiga comedically abusing Ryuuji to the show's confessions to the climax to the afterglow. Everything. I never ever had such an urge to continue a show. ToraDora has twenty-four episodes, yet it feels way to short. If it had fifty episodes, I still would enjoy it without even letting the thought "boring" cross my mind. This has never happened before. Not while watching Horror, Action) or Ecchi-Harem. And propably it wont ever happen again.
Overall:
Needless to say albeit not clear from this first review of mine, I rated this show ten outta ten. I've seen my fair share of RomComs and Dramas until now, but no other show from these genres quite as touched me or made me laugh as hard as this one. It's the mix between Drama, Romance and Comedy that makes it so awesome. Imho it's better than Clannad Afterstory and Angel Beats put TOGETHER. Not saying these aren't great shows (though AS is stll overrated), but ToraDora bests them both.
Thanks for reading my review.
