“There is Something in this World which No One has ever Seen”
My New Life as an Anime Fan is a new segment from yours truly where I talk about older anime series that I missed out on and I’ve gone back to watch. I never got into anime until very recently, so join me on my journey as I watch some old gems and try to cultivate my newly found anime palate. Don’t worry; I’ll be putting spoiler warnings where needed so all you late-bloomers like me can read without concern.
I cheated a little with this one. I had actually watched Toradora! in college with my roommate several moons ago, and it was one that really stuck with me. Also, as a rom-com slice of life anime, I figured it would be just the palate cleanser I needed after the high-action Cowboy Bebop I watched last month. Toradora! is an emotional, hilarious ride that I believe everyone–even non-anime fans–should experience at least once. Join me as I wax philosophical about just what this series means to me.
Toradora! follows the high school adventures of a group of vibrant friends who gradually learn a lot about friendship, family, love, and purpose over the course of a school year. The characters are the best part of the show, so I’ll take some time to describe them. The two central characters are Ryuji Takasu, a high school junior who is an excellent student but a bit of a social pariah due to his menacing appearance and his heritage as the son of a Yakuza (unbelievably, this is an incredibly minor plot point that rarely comes up). Next, we have Taiga Aisaka, a girl known for her wild behavior and intimidating personality despite her small size. Taiga’s best friend, Minori Kushieda, is an eccentric overachiever who just so happens to be Ryuji’s crush. Next, Ami Kawashima is a young model who attends their school looking for new friends, but her overly-friendly personality may be hiding some less-desirable traits. Finally, we have my favorite character, Yusaku Kitumura, the student body vice president, loyal best friend to Ryuji, and Taiga’s own high school infatuation. The series begins with Ryuji and Taiga agreeing to help each other secure the love of their best friends, and the adventures begin. Other terrific characters include Ryuji’s mother Yasuko, a single-working mom abandoned by her husband; Yuri, the student’s teacher obsessed with overcoming her singleness; and Inko, a differently-abled parrot incapable of saying her own name. I’m actually not making that last one up. One of the things I love about Toradora! is how no character is wasted or underutilized; even the background students develop their own personalities and values to the plot, making it feel like a real school experience. It also offers an interesting look into Japanese culture surrounding family, education, and the personal development of young people in a unique society.
There are two things that Toradora! does better than any other show I’ve ever seen. One of these things is its OST. The thought that kept running through my mind while I watched all 25 episodes was “Man, whatever they paid this composer, it was not enough.” Between four excellent themes and two beautiful interlaying pieces, the music of Toradora! is expertly utilized to establish the tone and spur emotional investment with each touching, heartbreaking, or emotional scene. After watching the series twice now, I cannot help but feel nostalgic every time I hear the first six notes of “Lost all my Pieces.”
The other thing that Toradora! is exceptional at is its treatment of friendship. I saw someone online describe the show as a “deconstructed harem anime,” and after watching the finale I can’t help but disagree with that sentiment entirely. If you watch Toradora! and come away with the idea that it is just a show about romance, then I think you and I watched two completely different shows. Friendship is at the forefront of this series, and the way the writers display all different types and paths of friendship goes beyond any other media I’ve seen. Kitumura is loyal to a fault in his friendship with Ryuji, Minori sacrifices so much for her best friend Taiga that she doesn’t allow herself happiness, and Ami discovers that there is more to finding friends than superficial charm and adoration. What makes Toradora! so poignant is the process of watching these characters grow and develop to find their own way around what friendship, love, and family really mean to them.
It’s not all emotion and passion, however! The show is legitimately hilarious and brought more belly laughs out of me than most comedies I’ve seen. The Japanese style of anime humor can get. . . we’ll say weird. . . at times, but the absurdity and cleverness of the writing in Toradora! make it something that offers plenty of laughs and smiles among the tears and contemplations. I love this show, and I honestly do believe everyone should at least give it a try. The last five episodes alone form one of the best romance arcs I have ever seen or read, and it’s an experience that will stick with you long after it’s over.
Oh yeah, and treat it the last episode like a Marvel movie! There’s something after the credits that could mean the difference between bursting happiness and hollow depression for months after you watch it.
Until next time, friends. I hope you get to see a ghost or two.
