-Story- -9/10-
The show starts off relatively slowly but it does a good job of introducing the characters and the setting of the show, and sets the stage quite well for what follows. The plot can be predictable at times(particularly the first third or so of the show), but there are also plenty of unexpected twists and turns that keep things from ever getting stale. I would say the best aspect of the plot is the pacing. The show knows when to ramp up the intensity and when to dial things back and just let the characters interact with one another in casual settings. This dynamic means that there is plenty of time to watch the characters' personalities develop and to take in the setting and narrative of the show, but there are also quite a few stressful/nailbiting moments, especially around the last third of the show. Overall the narrative will keep you hooked throughout and even though you might expect some of the twists and turns, everything that happens makes sense and is satisfying.
-Art- -9/10-
While Toradora!'s art doesn't stand out as being particularly different or unique versus other anime, but it is incredible well done throughout the show. The backgrounds and objects characters interact with are well detailed and pleasing to look at, and the aesthetics revolving around important plot moments are striking and well put together. Even more than these elements though, the design and animation of the characters shines far above most other anime. Every main character(and many of the secondary ones) looks unique and is immediately distinguishable from all the other characters. One of the two stars of the show, Taiga, particularly seems to have had a lot of work put into her design. Further contributing to how unique each character is, they are all animated differently and their facial expressions in particular do a wonderful job of conveying the emotion of important scenes. Overall the show's art and animation is clean, vibrant, and striking in all the right places, even if it is similar to a lot of other anime.
-Sound- -8/10-
Keeping in mind that I watched the dubbed version and understand very little Japanese, the voice acting seems to me to be very well done, and the emotions of the characters come clearly through the language barrier. The music is also very well done, and sets up different scenes of the show nicely. Overall the sound doesn't stick out in any particular way simply because it does its job exactly as you would want it to.
-Characters- -10/10-
Now we have come to what truly makes Toradora! such a special and unforgettable show. The characters are fleshed out and realized in a way that is unlike anything I have ever seen in anime, or any visual media for that matter. From the very beginning of the show it is clear as day that there are very few flat characters in this show. Every main and many of the secondary characters grow and change throughout its 25 episode run, and their development never once failed to impress me. The way the characters interact with each other, mainly the dialogue and pacing of conversations, is remarkable. The characters are all flawed, they all make mistakes, and unlike to many animes, they all learn from them and grow in a logical way. I was drawn into the show by some genuinely funny humor and a nice art style, but I stuck around for the best characters I have ever seen in an anime.
-Enjoyment- -10/10-
Toradora! is a genuinely fun and funny show and even without the flawless characterization and great artwork that goes a long way. The physical humor is pretty standard anime fare but it is presented in a way that never makes it feel dumb or cliche. I blew through all 25 episodes of the show and felt more than a little devastated that there wasn't more of it for me to see.
-Overall- -10/10-
The last two episodes of Toradora! will most likely go down as the most I have ever cried while watching any sort of TV show. The culmination of the romance between Ryuuji and Taiga is not unexpected, but is presented in an absolutely beautiful way. Even if you don't have an interest in the genre(I certainly didn't before watching this show) Toradora! stands out as an absolutely amazing anime that any fan of the medium should be able to enjoy. Drop what you are doing and go watch this show.
