Toradora!
2006-03-01

Introduction

Toradora! (Japanese: とらドラ!) is a Japanese light novel series written by Yuyuko Takemiya and illustrated by Yasu. ASCII Media Works released ten volumes between March 2006 and March 2009 under their Dengeki Bunko imprint. Three volumes of a spin-off light novel series titled Toradora Spin-off! were later published. The main series follows Ryūji Takasu and Taiga Aisaka, two social outcasts who gradually fall in love while trying to help each other get with their crushes. The title Toradora! is derived from the names of the two main characters.

A manga adaptation by Zekkyō was serialized in MediaWorks' shōnen manga magazine Dengeki Comic Gao! from September 2007 to March 2008. The manga continued serialization in ASCII Media Works' shōnen manga magazine Dengeki Daioh in the May 2008 issue.

A 25-episode anime adaptation produced by J.C.Staff aired in Japan on TV Tokyo between October 2008 and March 2009. NIS America released the anime in North America in two half-season DVD collections in July and August 2010, with an English dub released in July 2014. An original video animation (OVA) episode was released on December 21, 2011.

Story

Ryuji Takasu is frustrated at his appearance as he enters his second year of high school. Despite his gentle personality, his glaring eyes give him the appearance of a delinquent. He is happy to be classmates with his best friend Yusaku Kitamura, as well as the girl he has a crush on, Minori Kushieda. However, he unexpectedly runs into Taiga Aisaka, an infamously short-tempered girl, who is Minori's best friend. Taiga takes an instant dislike to Ryuji. She also happens to live in an apartment next to Ryuji's house. When Ryuji discovers that Taiga has a crush on Yusaku, and Taiga finds out about Ryuji's affection towards Minori, they decide to help set each other up with their crushes.

Over the course of the series, Ryuji and Taiga try to set up romantic situations to help each other get to know their friends, but many of the situations backfire. Their classmates observe that they are spending a lot of time with each other, leading to rumors that they might be a couple. Although Ryuji and Taiga try to dispel the rumors, they find that they do enjoy each other's company, with Taiga visiting Ryuji's house to share meals, and Ryuji checking up on Taiga and cleaning her messy house. Later, they meet Yusaku's childhood friend Ami Kawashima, a popular teen model who transfers into their school. She appears to be friendly and is a self-proclaimed ditz, but beneath her facade is a more mean and spoiled side, and she quickly finds herself at odds with Taiga. In spite of this, Taiga tries to put up with her antics as Yusaku wants them to all get along, and Ami begins to grow feelings for Ryuji. The series follows the lives of these friends and how love blossoms among them.

Units & Uniforms

Character List