(L) Toradora! Novel Discussion

[Onizuka-GTO]

Hello! This is about the novel series called Toradora! It has been discussed in this thread here as it is planned to be animated and aired pretty soon:
http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=64609




But the original novel it is adapted from has not been explored nor licensed yet!

So here is a short synopsis:

Toradora! (とらドラ！, Toradora!?) is a Japanese light novel series by Yuyuko Takemiya, with illustrations by Yasu. The first novel was released on March 10, 2006, and as of April 10, 2008, seven volumes have been published by ASCII Media Works under their Dengeki Bunko label. A spin-off light novel series was also created aptly titled Toradora Spin-off!; the first novel in the spin-off series was released on May 10, 2007. A manga adaptation by Zekkyō started serialization in the shōnen manga magazine Dengeki Comic Gao! on July 27, 2007, formally published by MediaWorks. The manga ended serialization in Dengeki Comic Gao! on January 27, 2008, but continued serialization in ASCII Media Works' manga magazine Dengeki Daioh on March 21, 2008. An anime adaptation was announced on a retail promotional ad for Dengeki Bunko light novels.[1] The title Toradora! is derived from the names of the two main characters Taiga Aisaka and Ryūji Takasu. Taiga's name can be transliterated into the English equivalent tiger, and tiger in Japanese is tora (虎, tora?). The first part of Ryūji's name, ryū (竜, ryū?), means dragon in Japanese, and a transliteration of dragon into Japanese is doragon (ドラゴン, doragon?).

At Baka-Tsuki we are planning to start a translation, Kinny has gracefully helped to translate for us! rejoice!

You can read it here:

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

Please voice your comments here at the Baka-Tsuki forum, here:

http://www.baka-tsuki.net/forums/vie...hp?f=44&t=1995

Oh and if anyone has the novel we would like some nice scans of the illustration if you can, since Kinny's only good at translations.



it's looking fun to read. so why don't you give it a go?

[serenade_beta]

Hoh~~, Kinny is really planning to translate it.
Mah, ganbatte.

I wanted to get the novels, but I won't be able to for at least five months. Bought a certain other series in place of this...

Though I couldn't scan it even if I got them... -_-

[Onizuka-GTO]

Originally Posted by serenade_beta

Hoh~~, Kinny is really planning to translate it.
Mah, ganbatte.

I wanted to get the novels, but I won't be able to for at least five months. Bought a certain other series in place of this...

Though I couldn't scan it even if I got them... -_-

if you get the novel, will you help out on the novel beta?

...or do you have far too many already?

[serenade_beta]

For the thread:

Spoiler for novel covers (of the ones released so far...):

Spoiler for Spin-off cover:

Originally Posted by Onizuka-GTO

if you get the novel, will you help out on the novel beta?

...or do you have far too many already?

Mm, I would say it depends on circumstances. Like how interesting the novels are, and the difficulty of translating it.

Too many what? Novels?


From what you said in the anime thread, this will be the thread to discuss the novels (to be honest, not many here read light novels in JP language though...), so I think you might as well change the thread title to "Toradora! Novel Discussion".

[Onizuka-GTO]

Originally Posted by serenade_beta

For the thread:

Spoiler for novel covers (of the ones released so far...):

Spoiler for Spin-off cover:

Mm, I would say it depends on circumstances. Like how interesting the novels are, and the difficulty of translating it.

Too many what? Novels?


From what you said in the anime thread, this will be the thread to discuss the novels (to be honest, not many here read light novels in JP language though...), so I think you might as well change the thread title to "Toradora! Novel Discussion".

yes. novels. i see you helping out for Ookami and then i see you helping out a little somewhere else.

it's like your all over the place

:3

ah as for title change....hmm....you have a point.

i'll do that....if i can.

[Matt122005]

This looks awesome. GO BAKA-TSUKI AND ALL THAT IS LIGHT NOVELS! lol

-Matt

[serenade_beta]

Hi, Onizuka~

Here are some novel scans for you~
First time using imageshack... Hope I did everything right.

Cover/etc:
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/6156/tora000amp8.jpg
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/6813/tora000bgr8.jpg
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/313/tora001mw2.jpg

Color Illustrations:
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/8231/tora002jl4.jpg
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/5385/tora003pb9.jpg
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/4064/tora004lk9.jpg
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/7379/tora005ia3.jpg
http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/8809/tora006tt2.jpg
http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/8587/tora007xe5.jpg
http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/5029/tora008dz0.jpg

Insert Illustrations:
http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/245/tora029hb0.png
http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/773/tora039bh8.png
http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/9436/tora067zd2.png
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/3739/tora103bo0.png
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/8381/tora125he4.png
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/7939/tora155rc4.png
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/9704/tora179ju6.png
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/5385/tora210it2.png
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/7804/tora227ik4.png
http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/479/tora239qz7.png

Wai~, wai~, watashi, sugoi~


*yawn*
Bed, bed...


Oh, and I might supply more scans in the future, but even if I do, unlike these, they will probably be of (giga)-low quality.
I won't tear my book up, and there's no way I'd let my precious books touch the dirty scanner, so at the most, photos from a digital camera. (<--Never tried this, so I don't even know the quality, but just a guess.)
If you are fine with such low-quality pics, I might take them when I can.

[Onizuka-GTO]

Thanks Beta-kun!

Kinny-kun will be very pleased.

[NeoSam]

I added the first chapter of Toradora! to Manganews release list:
http://www.manganews.net/index.php

http://www.manganews.net/seriesinfo.php?id=7442

Hopefully this will get more readership to this light novel series.

[Onizuka-GTO]

thanks neosam, i forgot all about manga news, probably because i got an account at manga-updates so i can send in releases on that.

Haven't a clue with manga news.

[NeoSam]

No problem

You can always PM in this forum about any new chapters that got translated (of any light novel series), and I'll add it to manganews release list

[Vaelis]

Originally Posted by serenade_beta

Oh, and I might supply more scans in the future, but even if I do, unlike these, they will probably be of (giga)-low quality.
I won't tear my book up, and there's no way I'd let my precious books touch the dirty scanner, so at the most, photos from a digital camera. (<--Never tried this, so I don't even know the quality, but just a guess.)
If you are fine with such low-quality pics, I might take them when I can.

It's okay, I've uploaded the pictures for the 6 volumes (in good quality) at Baka-Tsuki

[Irenicus]

You guys are awesome. Hurry up and translate the rest!

Yes, I've discovered the world of light novels as recently as yesterday. It's strange, maybe it's because of my frequent web-surfing and reading other fiction on the net, but I'm surprisingly comfortable reading them light novels on screen :/

Chapter 2 was hilarious. The girl is worse than Louise, I can't believe she actually tried to kill him. Can't wait to see that animated.

[Onizuka-GTO]

Originally Posted by Irenicus

You guys are awesome. Hurry up and translate the rest!

Yes, I've discovered the world of light novels as recently as yesterday. It's strange, maybe it's because of my frequent web-surfing and reading other fiction on the net, but I'm surprisingly comfortable reading them light novels on screen :/

Chapter 2 was hilarious. The girl is worse than Louise, I can't believe she actually tried to kill him. Can't wait to see that animated.

I know how you feel, i've seen people who won't blink an eye to read 150+ pages of a topic yet then turn round to me and say "read a Japanese- translated BOOK on a computer screen?! no way! too boring! i only read magazines and watch japanese anime!"

how ironic...

[DeotoxSlayer]

Originally Posted by Onizuka-GTO

I know how you feel, i've seen people who won't blink an eye to read 150+ pages of a topic yet then turn round to me and say "read a Japanese- translated BOOK on a computer screen?! no way! too boring! i only read magazines and watch japanese anime!"

how ironic...

And I'm one of those people...though I get tempted esily, and end up reading the novels anyway.

[Irenicus]

Originally Posted by Onizuka-GTO

I know how you feel, i've seen people who won't blink an eye to read 150+ pages of a topic yet then turn round to me and say "read a Japanese- translated BOOK on a computer screen?! no way! too boring! i only read magazines and watch japanese anime!"

Hehe. Have you meet some people in real life who say "I don't read" (that alone is pretty disturbing ) and when you ask whether they have a Facebook or MySpace account, or if they use the online messenger programs, proudly proclaim that they spend many hours a day on them?

I was often inclined to point out that the amount of text being processed through their brains are a lot more than they think, but oh well. If Western Civilization collapses, I know who to blame.

Back to topic: I've been wondering, but in the translated text you guys use a lot of the word "fellow." I personally think that it'd sound more natural in English with similar words like "person" or more gender-specific equivalents like "that girl." Is it okay to edit that part without registering? It bothered me a bit to be honest.

[Matt122005]

Yea, it is disturbing.

Light novels rock.

-Matt

[Kinny Riddle]

Originally Posted by Irenicus

Back to topic: I've been wondering, but in the translated text you guys use a lot of the word "fellow." I personally think that it'd sound more natural in English with similar words like "person" or more gender-specific equivalents like "that girl." Is it okay to edit that part without registering? It bothered me a bit to be honest.

Some paragraphs were not that explicit in the gender of the person being mentioned, sometimes deliberately so. If I used "that girl" it would give away who she was too soon. I guess you can use "person", but "fellow" is my preference.

As for the comparison to Louise, I personally disliked Louise due to her tendency to be over-abusive. I can say with confidence that Taiga is certainly more likable than Louise, personality wise, she's actually closer to Haruhi than Louise.

[Onizuka-GTO]

Originally Posted by Kinny Riddle

Some paragraphs were not that explicit in the gender of the person being mentioned, sometimes deliberately so. If I used "that girl" it would give away who she was too soon. I guess you can use "person", but "fellow" is my preference.

As for the comparison to Louise, I personally disliked Louise due to her tendency to be over-abusive. I can say with confidence that Taiga is certainly more likable than Louise, personality wise, she's actually closer to Haruhi than Louise.

that's good to hear, i'm also tired and sick of this over acceptance of domestic abuse against men, it gives the wrong impression on female viewers/readers.

Originally Posted by Irenicus

Back to topic: I've been wondering, but in the translated text you guys use a lot of the word "fellow." I personally think that it'd sound more natural in English with similar words like "person" or more gender-specific equivalents like "that girl." Is it okay to edit that part without registering? It bothered me a bit to be honest.

As an anonymous contributor you are free to correct spelling, grammar and substitute words for a "better" version.

however edits to large section of the context meaning of words and sentences will draw the attention of staff and might result in them being reverted, as we are generally more suspicious of those who don't want to be credited for all that effort. obviously

The best advice is to discuss these changes in detail on the Toradora! topic on the Baka-Tsuki forum so that you have your base covered if the translator has anything to say about it.

oh...and register

[serenade_beta]

Originally Posted by Matt122005

Light novels rock.

Light novels+ability to read Japanese=rocks even more
Though it is kind of lonely because not many people "here" actually can read Japanese, so there are lots of novel threads with low number of posts... *sniff*


Finished reading volume 1...

Spoiler for thoughts so far...:

Ah-ah... Disappointment. Nanka saa... I guess I expected more from the person who wrote Watashi-tachi no Tamura-kun...
WnT's drama and characters were more interesting.
If there is one thing Toradora wins at though, it's the fact that the illustrator's artwork has improved slightly.

Overall, like I thought before reading this, it turned out to be decent. A light read with a good amounts of funny moments. But, it turned out predictable in the drama department.
Characters are pretty likable, but there are times when they are more on the irritating side.

If I rated vol. 1, it'd be 8/10.

Found it nice that the manga is following the novel pretty close.
The novel's advantage is more detail and thoughts.
The manga's advantage is pictures with everything (which is a great thing).

---

Story thoughts:

Typical love-comedy. I will state it here, but I will be absolutely surprised if Taiga doesn't end up with Ryuji at the end and it becomes Taiga x Kitamura and Minori x Ryuji. If that somehow happens, I will have a lot of respect for this novel. One thing that helps is that I don't have any favorite couplings yet. Ryuji and Taiga had good interaction with each other, but I only saw them as "friends" and don't think they suit each other as "lovers".
The comedy was pretty good. From Taiga trying to kill Ryuji at night, to the whole plan in P.E. about throwing the ball to knock out Kitamura's partner, to Ryuji's and Taiga's reactions to the people they love.
Plot-wise, it was solid in a normal way throughout the book. The only part I didn't really like was at the latter half of chapter 5, where Taiga and Ryuji start attacking inanimate objects because they are depressed and angry at being misunderstood by people. Of course, this was a pretty important scene because the two open up to each other a bit more.
The ending was pretty irritating. Giga-dense Kitamura misunderstands (AGAIN...), leaving Taiga depressed. Ryuji makes up with Taiga, he says he'll become a "dragon" to stay at her (a "tiger") side (thus, "Toradora"), because he can't just leave her alone because she's so clumsy, Taiga cries a bit, and the volume ends with Taiga shouting and being "tsun" at Ryuji, as they run off to buy food and plan another way to get Kitamura.
Who didn't expect that?
The only thing that took me by surprise was when Kitamura revealed that he had confessed to Taiga in the past...

---

Character thoughts:

Taiga - The girl with the funny name. This is the second time I've encountered such a name though, so it wasn't as amusing. I've seen people compare her to Louise, but I don't see it. The only part I find similar is the "dog" part.
+Very cute when she isn't on her violent side. Her reaction to Kitamura when he went "thanks" after receiving the ball from her was absolutely adorable.
+Her clumsiness results in the strangest things at times, like when she hid from Ryuji only to roll out.
-She's criminally dangerous. Please don't commit murder or do anything that normally would result in going to a detention center in real life.
~(neutral)-I blame the story, not her, but her "tsun" at the end wasn't amusing at all.
~The fact she lives by herself and has lived a rather inconvenient life of eating store-bought food is, at the root, her fault for saying she's going to leave the house to her parents, despite not being able to cook for herself or anything...

8.5/10

Ryuji - The kind guy with scary eyes. The scary eye thing in this story is pretty funny, but I started to skip over the text when the "scariness" of the eyes were repeatedly described.
+A diligent guy who is great at housework
+Overall, a kind guy. He's also really funny when it came to Minori.
+He can stand up to Taiga (a bit)

9/10

Kitamura - Dense-o.
+Nice guy.
-Dense, extremely so.

7/10

Minori - Denso-o 2.
+Bubbly and energetic
+She kind of talks in a strange way
+I can understand why Ryuji fell for her, a bit.
-Dense... The root of problems at the end, perhaps.

8.5/10

Yasuko - To be honest, I don't really like her personality. Probably the only character in Toradora so far that I don't like and can't find good points.
-Her existence; hasn't been interesting or funny

5/10

Well, that's it for volume 1. I'll have to obtain the other volumes first before I can read them, so no more Toradora for me for at least another month.
Have to see if I can pull some strings and get the remaining novels without waiting 1/3 of a year...