Epilogue: There is something in this world that no one has seen.

It's a strange thing: there are anime that seem to get better the more you watch. That is, at first you watch what is happening with boredom, but by the middle you don’t notice how you turn on episode after episode, despite the fact that it is already deep night and it’s time to go to bed. And when it’s nearing the end, a pressing feeling of pity grows in your chest that soon everything will end, and you’ll have to say goodbye to the heroes forever. I recently experienced something similar from watching the anime Toradora ! (“Toradora!”). This is a story about the fact that everyone has the right to happiness, and that sometimes friendship must be put above love.

brief information

Toradora! - An anime released in 2008-2009 by JCStaff . Consists of 25 episodes and several additional episodes. The anime is based on the light novel; there is also a manga and visual novel of the same name. And let it be indicated everywhere that Toradora! is a romantic comedy, in fact, everything is much more interesting and complex (I’ll tell you more about this a little later). The name of the anime comes from the names of the main characters: Aisaki Taiga and Takasu Ryuuji . The name “Taiga” is similar to the word “tiger” (that is why the girl was nicknamed “pocket tiger”), which in Japanese sounds like “ Tora ” (虎). The second part of the name comes from the name “Ryuji”, because “Ryu” in Japanese is nothing more than the word “Dragon”, which is pronounced “ Dora gon”. So it turns out “ Torah + Dora ”, that is, “Tiger + Dragon”.

Fate is an ironic thing. It would seem that schoolboy Takasu Ryuji is a kind-hearted person: he cooks well, loves his mother, who raised him alone, and studies well. But heredity awarded this wonderful man with the eyes of a real yakuza, from whose one glance everyone around him scatters. nature endowed the fragile short girl Aisaka Taiga It so happens that Ryuji and Taiga study at the same school and are in the same class. And, much more ironically, they are both in love with each other's best friends: the hyperactive Minori Kushieda and the level-headed Kitamura Yusaku. And since it’s easier to deal with love affairs together, our heroes decide to join forces and help each other.

"Toradora!" in different genres

The anime “Toradora!” has already established itself in various genres of the modern pop industry. The characters in this story even appeared in a radio show that was expertly produced in 2008.

A corresponding video adaptation of this anime was also produced, which has been broadcast on Japanese channels since 2008. The novella itself was visualized only on a few storylines and was released in the spring of 2009.

Characters

There are only five main characters. I won’t talk about them in detail, because otherwise there would be spoilers, and I don’t want to spoil your viewing experience. Therefore, I provide only basic information and my impressions of each character. A detailed biography can easily be found on Wikipedia (although there are a huge number of spoilers there).

Ryuuji Takasu is the protagonist of the anime. Lives with his mother and parrot in an old house. A seventeen-year-old student who is studying in high school, and studying well. Inherited from his father, he received the look of a real yakuza, at the sight of which everyone around him runs away in fear. And only a few best friends know that he is actually a very kind person. Cooks well. A fierce advocate of cleanliness, he loves to fight mold. He is in love with his classmate Minori.

A good main character, independent and not at all snotty. It’s nice to empathize with someone like that, especially considering that in most cases he makes the same decisions as any viewer watching what’s happening on the screen. This allows you to associate yourself with Ryuji, which increases your viewing pleasure significantly.

Taiga Aisaka is the main character. “Pocket Tiger” school. Short and very cute in appearance, this girl has an explosive character and opens her hands without hesitation. She lives next door to Ryuji alone, eats whatever she can, and basically lives the way she wants. In a bad relationship with your parents. She is in love with her classmate Kitamura.

It's amazing how controversial Taiga can be. In the first episodes, I developed a dislike for her: what sane person would call a friend who helps you his dog or mongrel? However, over time, Taiga changes and turns into one of the most likable female characters I've seen. She is ambiguous, she is versatile, and therefore interesting. A little girl offended by the whole world, who from the outside may seem strong and independent, actually really needs close people who will take care of her.

Minori Kushieda is a hyperactive girl who Ryuuji has a crush on. She studies in the same class with him. He plays in the sports section and immediately runs to work after school. Taiga's best friend. I'm ready to do anything for my friends.

More than once I have seen in anime a similar type of hyperactive hero with a gentle and sensitive soul, who hides his inner feelings behind his smile. Once again, as with Taiga, Minori reveals her true character over time - the character of a person capable of making all sorts of sacrifices for the sake of her friends. Can't help but command respect.

Yusaku Kitamura is a sensible guy, deputy head of the school student council. Ryuji's best friend. Popular at school, mainly due to his cheerful personality. Responsible and executive.

This is the only character in the five whose character was never fully developed, even despite the fact that the plot has several episodes entirely devoted to Kitamura. Therefore, as a character, he seemed superficial and secondary to me.

Ami Kawashima is a model who appears in fashion magazines. Goes to the same school as the main characters. Sweet in public, but rough and straightforward at heart, she reveals her true nature when no one is looking. Likes to manipulate people. In fact, very lonely.

When I first started watching, the first episodes did not give me much optimism: it was an ordinary romantic comedy, of which hundreds were released. But after Kawashima appeared, everything became much more optimistic: the intrigue that I had been missing so much appeared. A well-written and versatile character.

To be honest, at first I didn’t like the characters at all. They seemed empty and completely unthought out. But over time, their characters are filled in brick by brick, and they take their final form. And then you begin to understand that you shouldn’t judge characters by their first impression. I liked four of the five main characters, which is a great result.

List of anime episodes

Toradora! SOS

Toradora! SOS Long live the gluttons

(Japanese: とらドラ！SOS 食いしん坊万々歳
Toradora! Esuo:esu. Kuishinbo: banbanzai
) - a series of mini-episodes released as a bonus to the DVD edition from February 25 to August 26, 2009. Each episode is dedicated to a specific dish. All episodes feature only the main characters (with the exception of the third, which features Yuri). Ryuji and Minori act as culinary experts, Taiga and Ami as tasters, and Yusaku as a judge. The episodes end with a scene with Inko the parrot.

Plot

In Toradora! There are both quality series, as well as passable and unnecessary ones. For example, I liked the episodes about the school festival or Christmas, while the episodes about a trip to a country mansion seemed overused. Too often such motifs are found in anime about everyday life. Tired of it. However, the further the plot develops, the fewer passable episodes become, and this is pleasing.

By the way, the ending is beyond praise. It couldn't have been better. It simultaneously answers all the questions posed, but at the same time gives food for thought. In general, thanks to the ending, the anime leaves only positive memories with hints of nostalgia.

Musical accompaniment

• Opening compositions:

1. " Pre-Parade
   " (プレパレード
   Pureparedo
   ) (1-16) (performed by Rie Kugimiya, Eri Kitamura and Yui Horie)
2. " Silky Heart
   " (episodes 17-24) (performed by Yui Horie)

• Closing compositions:

1. " Vanilla Salt
   " (Japanese: バニラソルト
   Banira Soruto
   ) (episodes 1-16) (Yui Horie)
2. " Orange
   " (Japanese: オレンジ
   Orenji
   ) (episodes 17-18, 20-25) (Rie Kugimiya, Eri Kitamura and Yui Horie)
3. " Holy Night
   " (Japanese: ホーリーナイト
   Ho:ri: Naito
   ) (Episode 19) (Rie Kugimiya and Eri Kitamura)

Panache

It seems simple, but there is something catchy about it. It would seem that the backgrounds are drawn terribly, the character designs are minimalistic. But you can’t take your eyes off! As soon as you get used to drawing, you stop noticing any of its shortcomings. A romantic comedy doesn't require much more than that. The main thing is that Toradora! has its own style, thanks to which it cannot be confused with any other anime. And I must admit that some of the close-ups are wonderfully drawn.

Links

• [www.starchild.co.jp/special/toradora/ Official page of the anime “Toradora!”] (Japanese).
• [b.bngi-channel.jp/toradora/ Game “Toradora!”] (Japanese) on the Namco Bandai Games website.
• [asciimw.jp/mediamix/toradora/ “Toradora!”] (Japanese) on the ASCII Media Works website.
• [www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=10050 Anime “Toradora!”] (English) in the encyclopedia of the Anime News Network
• AniDB database
• [www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=10049 Manga “Toradora!”] (English) in the encyclopedia of the Anime News Network

Music

Not much music was written for the anime (a little over an hour). However, there is no shortage of background tunes while watching. Moreover, some of the background compositions are simply excellent! This piano motif, played at moments of greatest drama, attracts attention from the very first notes with its melody. I will also note the cool openings and the hypnotizing first ending. You can always watch how the heroines walk forward, cheerfully throwing out their legs.

A moment of reasoning

Any anime about everyday life consists of three main components: humor, romance, drama . However, the concentration of components can vary greatly, and sometimes one or two of them may be missing. Sometimes all three components may be missing, but in such cases it will no longer be an anime, but a trash film like “The Disappearance of Yuki Nagato .

1). Humor . Humor plays a very important role: it allows you to make the characters closer to the viewer. Thanks to humor, anime characters and the viewer develop common, close-to-heart memories. In addition, watching absolutely serious anime is psychologically exhausting. Given that most people watch anime for recreation and relaxation, a complete lack of humor is unacceptable, especially in the case of anime about everyday life.

2). Romance. An important component that people love to abuse. Romance used in the wrong way can turn even the best anime into something childish and second-rate. However, when used skillfully, it can double or even triple the effect of the drama.

3). Drama. Drama gives anime depth and meaning. However, it does not necessarily involve the death of characters. Sometimes shattered dreams and unfulfilled hopes can produce a stronger reaction in the viewer than a straightforward outcome. Drama has the greatest effect on the inner world, and it is the dramatic moments that remain most deeply in the memory. Therefore, it is important to use such a powerful but capricious tool correctly.

As you can see, all three components play an important role. At different concentrations, the output results in anime with different psychological overtones, for example:

1). Humor + romance. The most weightless class, worthy specimens of which are extremely rare. As a rule, such anime lack depth and meaning, but they are best suited for relaxation. After all, you don’t always want to watch the emotional torments of characters. An example of a successful anime of this class: “Nozaki - author of shoujo manga .

2). Humor + drama. A very powerful combo, but difficult to use. Humor makes anime characters closer to the viewer, making the drama more effective, because you want to sympathize with the characters you like more. An example of a successful anime of this class: “Abandoned Rabbit” .

3). Romance + drama. Usually this kind of anime is heavy to watch and it is difficult to get the maximum effect from the dramatic part. An example of a successful anime of this class: “Synthetic Memories” .

4). Humor + romance + drama. It's not often that all three components are at a high enough level, but when this happens, an anime instantly moves into the category of promising. It takes real talent to prioritize correctly and make sure that one component enhances the effect of another. And it is precisely in this regard that Toradora amazed me! – I haven’t seen such a skillfully balanced balance for a long time. An example of a successful anime of this class: “Toradora!” .

Ami

Ami Kawashima is a girl Yusaka has known since childhood. Halfway through her second year of high school, she transferred to his class. Ami is very pretty, it’s not for nothing that she works as a model. He looks much more mature than all his classmates. Having moved to a new school, she interrupts her modeling career, but still regularly visits the gym, maintains excellent physical shape, and takes care of herself.

She is always sweet and kind to those around her, but this is only externally. In fact, she is very proud, arrogant, and does not shy away from strong words and expressions. At the first meeting with Taiga, she shows her true colors, but she quickly puts her in her place by slapping her in the face. Since then, the girls secretly hate each other.

Only over time their relationship changes for the better, which surprises many viewers of the anime “Toradora!” The main characters regularly communicate with her, each showing their true nature. Ami falls in love with Ryuji, asks him to give her a second chance, and promises to improve. At the same time, she has a brilliant understanding of people. She was the very first to guess what kind of relationship had developed between her friends, what each of them was trying to achieve.

Some interesting quotes

“There is something in this world that no one has ever seen. Something very kind and gentle. And if you ever catch your eye, you will immediately want it. Therefore, the world hid it so that it could not be obtained so easily. But someone will find him someday anyway. And it should go only to those who are able to find it. That's how it all happened..."

“Bleeding from the nose is like sweat from the heart.”

“Tears are the bleeding of the soul.”

“The pursuit of happiness is tantamount to a game of survival.”

“What does ordinary mean? What is right and what is wrong – who decides?”

Ratings

Characters – 9.0. Four of the five main characters are truly unusual and interesting. Taiga is simply gorgeous. Ami is good too.

Plot – 7.5. Despite the weak start, the anime picks up speed towards the middle and is unstoppable.

Drawing – 8.0. Simple, but stylish and neat.

Music – 8.0. Lots of simple and easy songs. However, the main value is not they, but those melodies that play at the most serious and significant moments. Plus decent openings. Unfortunately, I didn’t find the full soundtrack, so I’m only attaching the second opening.

Humor – 8.0. I can’t say that I’m delighted with the jokes, but a couple of funny moments can be found in each episode. It's enough. By the way, can someone explain to me what this unfortunate parrot symbolizes?

Romance – 10.0. The plot is presented in such a way that it is not entirely clear how it will end. Thanks to this, romantic lines become unobvious and intriguing.

Drama – 9.0. This is the icing on a big cake of romance and humor. The further it goes, the more serious and dramatic the anime becomes, and the more interesting it was for me to watch it.

Minori

Minori Kushieda is a classmate of the main characters in this anime. She is a very active girl, constantly plays sports, and is on the school softball team.

She leads an active life after school, working in several places at once. At the same time, she does not forget to monitor her figure. He has amazing insight, being able to accurately identify good and bad people.

Minori is an extremely active girl, she simply cannot sit in one place for a long time. By the middle of the series, she changes a lot. She feels guilty towards Ryuji and Taiga and becomes very withdrawn. In the end, he even gives them the money he earned after school so that they can run away from their parents and build their own happy lives.