Toradora!
So.... this was amazing. Finished up 13-25 in terms of episodes so I can write the review now.
To put it bluntly, I still have tears on my face. Taiga... and Ryuuji... just incredible.
The story about high school kids in love with one another. It's more than just a love triangle and the feelings given and received throughout is nothing short of incredible.
Putting the story aside for a bit, I can begin with everything else. The OP and ED's used are amazing and really capture Toradora!. The art style is neat and the proportions for many scenes are extended outward and give this huge length appeal to it. Simple gestures such as hands reaching outwards feels different in Toradora! than in other anime. The way the characters were drawn is great and the eyes, man the eyes in Toradora! is so wildly different! The colors aren't pastel and brightly colored, but more subdued and "real". On-top of that, I love how Ryuuji was made to look like, it really was great seeing such a different look for a gentle and kind MC.
The characters are all brilliant, even if Ami was a bit too cryptic with what she tried to say. Taiga is, quite honestly, fantastic; selfish, but rather amazing none-the-less. Kushieda Minori, I'm glad I was able to experience her hidden emotions better; like Ami, she too, was very cryptic using other subjects to inject her feelings in. Ryuuji, for having to go through what he did, I feel like he handled the situations in a good manner, even if they did get incredibly complex and loopy. I can't forget Aisaka either, a mother to Ryuuji, but her development during the last episodes was really needed, although the situation placed upon her was hard to handle, she's pretty great.
I wish Ami would have been more upfront with her feelings, I feel so sad for her, she really was the odd one out.
I didn't know what I was going to watch when I was recommended this anime, I expected it to be something truly depressing and sad, but it's not that at all. For the most part, it's up-beat, happy and wildly funny. Though there were many scenes, especially towards the end, when my eyes would fill with water or I would have tears fall down my face.
The last episode..... So being naïve and gullible, I honestly expected Taiga to stay with Ryuuji and get married. I believe they make an amazing couple. The scenes before things went down made it really seem like she wanted to stay and be with Ryuuji. When we see Ryuuji read the note, I was so sad, it hurt to watch and the damn waterworks, my goodness. It's sad to think about it as I write this down! . I believe, that even though the ending is left in a slightly open fashion, Taiga and Ryuuji do get together. I can't help but feel like that's what the characters themselves would do. Taiga, as brave and ridiculous as she can be, I don't believe she is a shining star all alone, heck no, she's not alone and Ryuuji will always be there for her. The way they do the fake marriage and the kissing that transpires, so incredible.
In the end, Toradora! is fantastic, I truly think this. I think the cast of characters we follow are incredible and the story between them is well done. The art style used is easy to watch, even with scenes that include weird proportions. The music is on point and the comedy is really funny, when there is comedy to be had. I won't forget about this one at all, because Taiga and Ryuuji, they really are fantastic.... just so damn fantastic.
