(L) Toradora! Manga Discussion

[serenade_beta]

Originally Posted by Falkor

In my humble impression of a work of fiction, I think Taiga is presented/developed much better than Louise, even though they, on the surface, are very alike. It’s hard not to introduce some spoilers from the novel while discussing what makes Taiga more likeable, and yet how she truly is a loli tsundere (in other words, what a loli tsundere should be like), but my intentions are not of doing so. The only thing I can mention, however, is that Taiga has what Louise lacks, and it’s not only the overly cute factor.

Without saying too much...
Taiga will never be better than Louise until Taiga actually starts loving Ryuuji instead of Stupid Glasses. Otherwise, the way she treats Ryuuji would simply be selfishness (and anger management issues).
Though Masochist Ryuuji is fine with her interrupting him whenever he gets into a good mood with Minori or her attacking him (verbally or otherwise).

Well, this might be better discussed in the novel thread...

[Falkor]

Originally Posted by serenade_beta

Without saying too much...
Taiga will never be better than Louise until Taiga actually starts loving Ryuuji instead of Stupid Glasses. Otherwise, the way she treats Ryuuji would simply be selfishness (and anger management issues).
Though Masochist Ryuuji is fine with her interrupting him whenever he gets into a good mood with Minori or her attacking him (verbally or otherwise).

Well, this might be better discussed in the novel thread...

I get the feeling that there’s a spoiler here if somebody were to read between the lines, so to speak… (don’t mind this random comment, though)

But anyway, to be sincere, I don’t really have the arguments to dispute whether one character is better than the other . For one, I haven’t read the Zero no Tsukaima novels (my bias/issues with Louise come only from the anime; and I heard she is somewhat different in the original version). On the other hand, my “feelings” towards Taiga come from reading the so-far translated novel/manga, with seven more volumes or so still in the process. So far, I just prefer Taiga over Louise, because I simply find her more likeable, even though, as you said, she presents some “anger management issues” and selfish behaviors.

Now, what I like about Taiga is certainly her very relationship with Ryuuji. They don’t have romantic feelings for each other, but they have a mutual understanding of what the other is going through (not so much for Taiga, though)—sharing also similar traits, feelings, and ultimately, the realization that they need help from the other. This relationship strongly reminded me of Welcome to NHK and some other novel/manga by the same author, where the “main couple,” so to speak, were “put together” not necessarily because they both harbored some kind of romantic feeling, but because of an underlying link, common interest, chemistry—however seems to fit—between two. In Taiga’s and Ryuuji’s case, they decided to stay “together” for the sole purpose that “it was better this way,” for all interests concerned. In this sense, I don’t see anything wrong having a crush with Kitamura, as it just makes this relationship more peculiar, if not stronger, given that Ryuuji has a crush on Minorin.

On a side note, a new scanlated chapter has been released today at “the usual place” (it may not be the same “usual” for others, though). Regarding the chapter, I was really waiting to see this in the manga from the time I read it in the novel a while ago—it was one of the highlights of the first volume. Anyway, I'm starting to like the illustrations on the chapter covers more and more.

[Ultenth]

FYI, you might want to spoiler some of the points about the future of their relationship that haven't yet been revealed in the manga as of yet. (since this is the manga thread)

[MooMooFarm]

It's rather hard for most of us to compare. Novels for both are obviously hard to access for the general viewers, and manga wise, Toradora is much more emphasized than ZnT. ZnT however has a crapload of material in anime. Louis or Taiga ^__^ both are kind of the same to me, it's just pretty much about execution at this point. Like two same model cars but tuned differently and also driving on different courses. Hard to compare right? You can always say one drove a longer course, or one has a specific problem, but unless you find a easy to compare medium (novel if they have the same amount of length) then it's pointless to say so.

And of course, as a novel reader, you shouldn't spoil the rest of us! So no point to begin with!

[frubam]

Spoiler for chap 8:

WOW O.O! Taiga REALLY opened up to Ryuuji there. That was really good. For her to admit her shortcomings AND Ryuuji's good traits so early in the manga was... just... beautiful. Can't wait to see how Ryuuji is gonna go about continuing to help her.

[excelence]

1 question... anyone know the isbn of the 2nd tankoubon of this series?... or they got the raw from Dengeki Monthly Magazine???

[Waven]

Originally Posted by excelence

1 question... anyone know the isbn of the 2nd tankoubon of this series?... or they got the raw from Dengeki Monthly Magazine???

There's no complete 2nd volume yet afaik, so yes recent v2 scans are taken from the magazine i suppose.

[Vaelis]

Originally Posted by Waven

so yes recent v2 scans are taken from the magazine i suppose.

I confirm this, I'm using magazine scans

[LeaD36]

Judging from 8 chapters

Taiga > Louise -__-

she´s just so much more adorable, how cute she was when she was hungry aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhnnnnn

[Man0warr]

Yacchan is my favorite character, can't wait to hear her in the anime.

[Beo]

might have been posted already but any case, here is a translation of the first two vol.

http://www.baka-tsuki.net/project/in...le=Toradora%21

[frubam]

WHAT!? They ACTUALLY ended a chapter with some closure??? IMPOSSIBLE!

Spoiler for chap 11:

WOW O.O! I commend Taiga for being upfront and confessing to Kitamura, but I was taken aback that he had confessed to her before too. It was pretty cool how he handled that situation; he didn't act stupid or dense like he didn't know wtf was going on, as his appearance would suggest but with rationality and empathy(well, IMO he actually looks "cool", but I'm just refering to the fact he wears glasses >.>), . I almost feel as if he knew she liked Ryuuji too, perhaps different from the 'like' when refering to Kitamura, so I think he had the right idea when he told her to 'just be friends'.

As for Ryuuji's and Taiga's relationship, it seems like its going back to the way it was in chap 3. It's good to know that both of them understand each other, so despite Taiga badmouthing Ryuuji, or the rare vice-versa, I know what she really thinks about him. Honestly, I hope her feelings don't get any stronger than they are now. Right now, it already feels like they have an "unnoticed love" for each other. The fact that they aren't trying to love each other but still do things together and help each other[much like best friends] is one of the things that stands this manga out for me from the rest(that and the wonderful chemistry between the two).

Seeing Kitamura's reaction brings me hope that Minori will be a good char too. Right now, she just seems like your typical bubblehead-type char, so I'm actually glad she hasn't gotten any focus. Ryuuji's too good for her >.>

[Irenicus]

Now that's interesting.

Spoiler for ch 11:

Let me first say that I've read this part in the novel before, and while the confession impressed me, the reset button annoyed me a bit.

I was expecting the manga to do the same, BUT...!

TAIGA ACTUALLY BLUSHED*! That part wasn't described in the novel (it might be implied, I didn't read the original Japanese), so to me the event was a big reset, and it kind of rubbed me the wrong way a little on how Taiga's recovery meant she went back to being verbally abusive right away. But the manga showed it a little more and made clear that yes, she's not being abusive just because, rather that she's an honest-to-God tsundere who can't act nice to our docile dragon in the face "for some reason."

Awesome.

*after Ryuuji's "I'm a dragon" speech, I mean.

Now all that is left is to speculate how Ami-chan will look when she shows up. Here's hoping she's hotter than she was in the novel illustrations!

P.S. frubam, I'd agree. Kitamura seems to be a lot sharper than Ryuuji's and Taiga's impression of him. If anything it's both of them that are the clueless ones.

[Waven]

Originally Posted by Irenicus

Now that's interesting.

Spoiler for ch 11:

Let me first say that I've read this part in the novel before, and while the confession impressed me, the reset button annoyed me a bit.

I was expecting the manga to do the same, BUT...!

TAIGA ACTUALLY BLUSHED*! That part wasn't described in the novel (it might be implied, I didn't read the original Japanese), so to me the event was a big reset, and it kind of rubbed me the wrong way a little on how Taiga's recovery meant she went back to being verbally abusive right away. But the manga showed it a little more and made clear that yes, she's not being abusive just because, rather that she's an honest-to-God tsundere who can't act nice to our docile dragon in the face "for some reason."

Awesome.

*after Ryuuji's "I'm a dragon" speech, I mean.

Now all that is left is to speculate how Ami-chan will look when she shows up. Here's hoping she's hotter than she was in the novel illustrations!

P.S. frubam, I'd agree. Kitamura seems to be a lot sharper than Ryuuji's and Taiga's impression of him. If anything it's both of them that are the clueless ones.

Spoiler for ch11:

I agree, the last panels of the last page of this chapter were just priceless. Especially her smiling kawaii face on the very last panel even though it's pretty far in the background

about Kitamura: I like the idea that he understood what Taiga really wanted to tell him but 'dumped' her in a gentle way to support Ryuuji's and Taiga's relationship.

[HayashiTakara]

I'm kinda curious... just from looking at Taiga... in the anime, is her voice actor gonna be the same as Shana from Shakugan no Shana?

[serenade_beta]

Originally Posted by HayashiTakara

I'm kinda curious... just from looking at Taiga... in the anime, is her voice actor gonna be the same as Shana from Shakugan no Shana?

Check the anime thread. Yes, Kugimiya Rie, as people would expected...

[HayashiTakara]

Originally Posted by serenade_beta

Check the anime thread. Yes, Kugimiya Rie, as people would expected...

Theres an anime thread?!

I guess, everyone was expecting it huh? XD

[Ultenth]

Hahah, and Kugimiya adds another one huh. Looks like she has cornered the market on loli tsundere's, if this fad keeps growing she's probably going to end up overworked, lol!

[excelence]

Originally Posted by Waven

There's no complete 2nd volume yet afaik, so yes recent v2 scans are taken from the magazine i suppose.

Originally Posted by Vaelis

I confirm this, I'm using magazine scans

thx... i thought it's been released

[technomo12]

i kinda wonder how can you bent a pole??? like that by just kicking hehehe