Interesting thought, because I hold the exact opposite opinion. I felt that too much comedy [failure] was Toradora’s weakness and it only became a series to watch since they began focusing more on drama. I was this close to dropping it until I saw the end of episode 16, and since then I have been watching religiously.

For School Rumble, their cast made up of various levels of bumbling idiots was perfectly matched with its queer sense of humor and great timing to create a fun and funny show. Toradora’s characters can’t nearly match SR’s comedic genius, but at the extreme opposite end of the storytelling spectrum excel with compelling drama that feels real. Note: not realistic, not gritty, not super-authenitc-ripped-from-the-pages-of-my-high-school-year-book, but feels genuine and from the heart. They’re not completely, robotically logical, but are flawed people that act impulsively and with their emotions. The moments when their passion comes through their shallow, self-deceiving facades makes, IMHO, Toradora worth watching.

TAIGA SAIKOUUUUUUU

lelangirs last blog post…musings: cadential phrases [2]

@kadian: Toradora’s teen drama is way overdone and drawn out, and the cast isn’t interesting enough to make me care about the drama. I was expecting moar slice-of-life revolving around strange situations and less teen angst. SR’s cast felt more real and genuine to me, and when the drama came around it didn’t wear out it’s welcome. In fact I looked forward to SR’s drama moments because it was done well. I appreciate and welcome your comment as my debate skills are rusty.

@lelangir: Urusai x3. Baka baka baka baka baka! Rie Kugimiya’d.

Well then, let me start off by saying I may have come off as overly praising of Toradora in my initial comments. I think it’s an OK show that occasionally overcomes the trappings of its cliche-ridden genre with moments of pure self-expression and frank honesty. Though you feel the drama is over-the-top, I think its portrayal of raw emotions are refreshing in the sometimes stale and safe offerings of similar anime. During its run, I’ve felt the comedy elements of early episodes were particularly lame and irritating, so the recent focus on turmoil and plot was a welcome change.

I don’t exactly see how School Rumble (SR) is much related to Toradora (TD). The strengths of the two lie in opposite arenas, which may be the root of why you dislike TD. You were expecting SR: quirky comedy and easily understood plot mechanics that kept the funnies rolling, which made its shortcomings of recycled jokes and halted plot progression and character development forgivable. I certainly liked SR (up through the beginning of season 2), but TD is a different kind of animal.

TD has nowhere near the level of unique comedic wit of SR, and for a while I was afraid it didn’t know that. But since ep 16 it has changed course and is now making bounds in something SR never really made much headway in: progress. Evolving relationships and characters coming to terms with the changing world and people around them. I can surely understand disappointment in TD not being what you wanted it to be, but 23 episodes in you’re either hugely underselling TD’s strengths or simply discounting them from spite.

I don’t know, I don’t want to put words in you mouth or make assumptions. Maybe TD simply isn’t resonating with you, and we’ll just have to agree to disagree.

Hmm, I’m reluctant to make any sort of interposition after the earlier debate, but here’s my rambling two cents:

I jumped onto the Toradora bandwagon for the humour. It’s the drama that’s keeping me on board. (Well, that and the fact that there’s still humour in spades.)

Granted, the side characters whom I used to like – Minorin above all – started to grate when the series entered its final third. It’s hard to rationally contemplate their motives for keeping their own little secrets when one is aching for them to simply make a clean breast of things. Normally this is what I’d hope for: say their piece, bear the dragon’s wrath and be done with it, leaving the way clear for what was pretty much the obvious conclusion from the get-go. But the production team have managed to handle this tricky stage marvellously well, to the point where I’m prepared to put up with another half-season’s worth of procrastination and veiled thoughts if it means hanging out with the Toradora gang a little while longer.

As for Taiga, who also started the series as “the most annoying character in the show” in my book, she’s about to go out just a few rungs shy of the top of my All-Time Favourite Characters scale. It’s an excellent measure of how well I think the story and characters have developed that the Palmtop Tiger, previously the subject of my most venomous hatred (no exaggerations – I was really ticked off with her before), is now an object of esteem.

I’d like to offer a more concrete defence of my position, but it’s getting late in my timezone and the bed is screaming for my presence. Cheerio.

Diegos last blog post…Four more days . . .

@kadian: I’m aware that Toradora and SR are different animals with a focus on different subject matters. The heart of Toradora’s story is the drama, and I knew it would have drama going into it, but my beef with it stems from how petty the teen squabbling is. The point of a drama is character development, and as Diego stated above, Taiga and even Kitamura have developed while everyone else keeps moving backwards.

Toradora’s drama is less drama and more like teeny bopper drama. It’s trying to be dramatic but the situations aren’t very “real” to me, and the drama sputters and stalls. I make it sound like I hate Toradora when I really don’t. I was just expecting the drama to be more compelling rather than getting Toradora, 90201.

Okay, i agree with publisher of this page about the drama is really quite a weakness in this series and ridiculous out of all of the animes iv seen in my day. But i agree with Diego about Taiga shes is one my all time favorites. Aside all that Drama complex thinking !Crap! to be honest iv seen to many animes do be even slightly care for Drama this Drama that. Toradora! was just ANOTHER copy of the sam storyline put in a different forum by the same animation company J.C Staff -

J.C Staff made Zero no Tuska or whatever (Familiar of Zero)
also they made Shana no Shukina or whatever
and their third anime Toradora

All of these animes have the basic same storyline (Shana’s is slightly more different)
They all involve a Girl ordering a guy around and the Girl has a hidden cute side she rarely shows to anyone but that guy they are just in different form’s

ZnT – Magic
SnS – Spirit’s
Tordadora – Normal life

ZnT is the one with the least amount of drama i think but its long and has a little bit to much pervness in it

I know im not even talking about the topic of this but i am telling you Drama is for suckers if you care about it then you take sitting at your computer (or in front of your TV if you live in japan) WAY to seriously

Everyone can bite me. TORADORA! is the best damn anime ever!

Wow, such hating on the drama/comedy parts of the series. (but only one person hates the comedy aspect? hmm)
I haven’t read all the manga yet (just started)
but I just finished watching the anime and there’s not much I hate about it.

I disagree with people about certain issues.
I’m shocked that people don’t like the characters/”cast” very much. Really, the only character I don’t like very much – (besides Taiga’s real father of course) – was Noto and that’s only because he seemed to be the only/most boring member of the group with a somewhat typical “nerd type” character design. If he had been even half as interesting as the rest of the group and his character design changed a little (like giving him a different eye and hair color but keeping the hairstyle and general look) I’d care more about him. Maybe he “shines” more in the manga, I don’t know. I hope so.

“Note: not realistic, not gritty, not super-authenitc-ripped-from-the-pages-of-my-high-school-year-book, but feels genuine and from the heart. They’re not completely, robotically logical, but are flawed people that act impulsively and with their emotions.” I agree…It felt realistic to me on a certain level although it was obviously not super realistic at the same time….

“Drama is for suckers” oh grow up, just because you don’t like drama is not a good enough reason to belittle other people who do happen to like drama …even though I do like the drama in the show I do not take it too seriously. It’s not like one of those shows that when the drama happens and certain characters are crying, I would start to cry. As much as I love toradora! it hasn’t had that effect on me. I may like/love the characters and maybe even sympathize with them at times but I haven’t cried over anything or anything like that. So, no, not every who watchs and likes drama is “taking sitting at the computer/tv too seriously”

I hope they come with a third season or second series or something because I want to see the gang together again or at least a certain couple getting married in an episode and then the series goes on about their married life….I’m sure throwing some new characters in and presenting new challenges with more growth being shown would be interesting/entertaining as well.

Really, kadian1364 has made the point perfectly already.

Moreover, I would go so far as to speculate that the turn-off for people regarding the drama (and meh-lodrama) in this series has a lot to do with failing to connect emotionally with where those characters are coming from. (Not understanding why Minorin would feel guilty? Are you serious?!) The failure to connect emotionally is a function of the viewer’s own emotional range, is it not?

Another way to put it: if you’ve never been through it, it’s tough to recognize.

ohhh my gosh so true! couldn’t agree with you more! ok i dont know much about this toradora…but i’ve seen a few episodes. dont wanna see more. the only thing i find funny (and sad) is how these teenage kids make big deals out of such trivial things and get all emotional. there are waaaay bigger problems in adulthood. (not that i’m an adult, but i know its true). the characters are just so babyish i cant stand 3 minutes without saying “GROW UP, YA’LL!” drama queens really amuse me and on the other hand piss me off! if there really was that much highschool melodrama in reality, then heck, id shoot myself.
is it a coincidence that the mean girl’s name is ami and so is my name?
hahaha i am NOTHING like her!
btw i dont know how i got that thumbnail pic. its perverted and disturbing but i dont know how to change it…dont judge ya’ll. i’ve got enough embarassments in my life.