Toradora! - Character Discussion - Kawashima Ami

[Shiroth]

In a way i hope they go with Ami developing feelings for Ryuuji. Not just because it's something i wouldn't mind seeing, though it's also something different from the source material --- another reason to treat this anime as a different telling of the story.

[Bennyswan]

I LOVEEE this character.

[msuwildog80]

I agree as well. I am very biase and pro Ryuji, so it would be great if Ami shows genuine interest in him.

Perhaps in the novel setting, the author can establish Ami's character and importance without her falling in love with Ryuji. I assume the author can explain Ami's nature and express her motivation in wanting to help Ryuji just as a friend. Perhaps with an inner monologue or such. But in the anime setting, Ami has to be a catalyst for events to occur, and probably will be a much less subtle character.

[frubam]

Since she puts on that mask in front of Kitamura, I guess they aren't that close of being friends, but then again, she didn't for Taiga and she didn't even care about her at first. It makes me wonder at the end of episode 6's events, does she consider Taiga as a friend?

[Vexx]

I suspect she at least sees that Taiga has some fierce inner drive that she'd like to be able to call up herself. It doesn't mean she isn't curious about Ryuuji and between simply being used to getting what she wants, the desire to poke back at Taiga, figuring if Taiga is dependent on him in some way, the "Ryuuji talisman" might be of help to her...
well isn't life just complicated and friendship can be a complicated weave of interdependency, respect, envy, team ethics, common interests, and any number of other factors.

[stormy001_M1A2]

Ami in anime is different from novel version of Ami. I think the anime is doing a very different take on Ami.

Anyone here thinks the same?

[Tiran86]

Different how? I thought she was pretty much identical to the novel version.

[stormy001_M1A2]

Next episode will be determining factor. Just my SWAG that Ami characterization in anime is different.

SWAG = Scientific Wild Ass Guess

[Darknemo2000]

I agree with stormy001_M1A2 on this one..The changes, though subtle, seemed to be crucial, but we will see if they really were intended to turn into something long-term with the next episode...

[Tiran86]

What changes to her character though? It must be really subtle because I didn't notice any.

[Darknemo2000]

Spoiler for Changes:

Basically Ami not putting what she does with Ryuuji into the joke area. In the novels in the misunderstanding scene, Ami pulls away and says she was just joking, in anime however, she does not pull away nor say she is joking before taiga steps in. In novels AmixRyuuji never really happening because Ami is more like a big sister, playing prnks/jokes on Ryuuji and Taiga and giving Ryuuji advices when he needs. Since the misunderstanding scene was changed one can hope that Ami will have genuine feelings for Ryuuiji in anime.

[Vexx]

Hmmmm,

Spoiler for speculation on how anime will portray Ami-Ryuuji situation at start of ep 7:

I wonder if they're going to have Taiga run off and Ami respond with "o crap I was about to say "gotcha joke" and now she's got it wrong" - and that's how they friend-bond Ami and Ryuuji. Pure speculation though...

[kro]

After watching the crap that J.C. Staff spat out with ZnT, I didn't have high hopes for Toradora.

Fortunately, I was wrong. I really like how they handled these past two episodes. They transformed Ami from a manipulative tramp to a person worthy of affection without making it seem out of place. The music and short narration by Ryuji on Ami's change really made that stalker-beating scene epic. Anything less and Ami would definitely be seen as the typical awkward yandere character.

Also, those last few lines Ami said at the end were beautiful. I literally fell in love with her at that moment. They were delivered so convincingly that I'd be very disappointed if she played it off as a joke in episode 7. Even if she did, I wouldn't really believe her. People don't do things like ask someone if you love them if there wasn't at least a bit of truth behind it.

Spoiler for This face is love:

Finally, I always liked shows that started the opening bars of the ED during a cliffhanger like FMA and honey & clover. These are the kinds of things you get from anime that you can't get from reading novels and manga. I really think Toradora will turn out to be the best anime this season if the direction team can keep up this level of quality.

[houkoholic]

You guys are speculating too much due to the non 1-to-1 dialogue adaptation and actually missing the information being put on the screen.

Spoiler:

There was a MASSIVE in-ya-face-close-up shot of Ami smirking evily when looking at Taiga leaving the apartment, thus using a very standard anime-way of "Just as planned!" cue to indirectly (and visually) implying that she was still sort of "playing around". Just because she didn't verbally say it to Ryuji about the "whoops, only kidding", it doesn't mean that she wasn't fooling around with him. Remember people, this is an anime, visual representation is also important, whereas novels has to use more words to create images, when you analysis, take the visual cues into consideration.

Besides, Ami's semi-feelings towards Ryuji was kick-started in volume 4, this is still volume 3 material so there's a long way off to start calling all these "modifications".

[typhonsentra]

Originally Posted by Darknemo2000

Spoiler for Changes:

Basically Ami not putting what she does with Ryuuji into the joke area. In the novels in the misunderstanding scene, Ami pulls away and says she was just joking, in anime however, she does not pull away nor say she is joking before taiga steps in. In novels AmixRyuuji never really happening because Ami is more like a big sister, playing prnks/jokes on Ryuuji and Taiga and giving Ryuuji advices when he needs. Since the misunderstanding scene was changed one can hope that Ami will have genuine feelings for Ryuuiji in anime.

Spoiler:

I disagree Nemo, in the novels it wasn't a prank.

“…Would you, fall for me?”

The world fell silent.

Ryuuji’s leg inadvertently hit the dining table, and amidst the silence, the empty cup rolled onto the tatami mat.

The distance between their two faces, all that separated them was five centimeters.

Leaving it as a joke at the last moment, Ami’s lips finally upturned into a smile.

“---No~t, I was joking. Did I make your heart race?”

The impression I got was that she was waiting for him to make a move. Time passed and he didn't therefore she said that to save face.

[Darknemo2000]

I think it was just a joke from her part there.

[stormy001_M1A2]

Ah well, I should stop speculating on Ami. She is confusing, just like real life girls.

[alu546]

I dunno, the entire scene does give the impression of not knowing if shes serious or not.

Spoiler:

Also, the large evil smile she gave after Taiga left only means that she is glad she struck a nerve with Taiga. However, being that she didn't know Taiga would see them doing that leaves a lot of questions of her feelings in the anime rendition, and I feel that the makers realized this and perhaps saw it as more of an opportunity.

But who knows, like the poster above me said, shes as complicated as any real life girl.

Ami has turned into my favorite character in this series though.

[typhonsentra]

Originally Posted by Darknemo2000

I think it was just a joke from her part there.

I tend to take it that it's more like she's kidding on the square. In other words, she plays it off as a joke but she usually means what she says.

Spoiler:

Like with how she invited Ryuuji to her vacation home in front of Taiga to tease her but she really did want to have him over.

[BetoJR]

As a lot of you have said already, Ami's turning out to be my favorite character in the series, after Ryūji. I sure hope they do end up together, myself.