Toradora has a story that is somewhat easy to predict at most points and at other times adds a small twist that's just enough to poke at your feels. However they story is somewhat flat for the large portion of the anime. It starts and rises steady for the first few but then it pans out when all the characters are introduced and despite the little wavers it has at points, it still resolves in the same outcomes an episode or two later. It's not until the last quarter of the anime that the story really peaks up again and the line between romance and comedy becomes more apparent
Style of art could not be any more generic. The only things that stand out is the emotion and colour they give the faces when they express large amounts of affection and grief as well as the art used inside western style houses. Tones and gradients are well used to depict the scenery and really adds to the emotion of some moments while other times basic uses means it wouldn't matter the time of day, the character atmosphere would remain the same.
Sound works hand in hand with the art style in some areas and others, excels the scenes mood. While used mostly to add a scene of feel so the viewer has a bit more sense of emotion, other times it gives the scene the much need oomph to take a decent scene, into an interesting development, making you want to know where the anime is going.
Character development leaves you high and dry for the longest part of the anime. It plays through the past as a heavy need to know and only speaks of it, if the situation needs it. This leaves a lot of questions about the characters pasts. Then there's development within themselves which is actually well played out. While the story plays at a flat pace, everything that happens with the characters is reminisced upon when the latter part of the anime comes along and really shows just how far everyone has come with not only each others feelings, but how they truly feel about them selves
This leads to the enjoyment factor. It's a bit of an up and down ride as you find yourself bored at times but either a comedic scene that lasts or a dramatic addition keeps your interest peaked. Towards the end however it builds up on both feels and romance but it fails to juggle them both It end up having to drop one, so it goes full romance at a key point, leaving you expecting heavy feels but it does not deliver.
