Toradora! – 16
Nice speech, but what are you going to do about the economy!?
Summary:
In an attempt to change Yusaku’s actions, Taiga threatens to become the next student council president. This horrifies much of the student body throughout the following days, as Ryuji, others in Taiga’s class, and even Yuri support her act. Despite all of this, however, Yusaku refuses to return to the election. One night, Ryuji receives a call from a particular student council member. He reveals that Sumire is transferring to a school in America soon, which Ryuji quickly realizes is the source of Yusaku’s actions. Ryuji leaves his house without giving Taiga any specific details, then finding Yusaku by the riverside. With this, Yusaku admits to all of his actions being a result of his frustration. Yusaku had thought could become worthy of Sumire if he obtained the position of student council president, but this had no meaning if she was not going to be around. Yusaku also expresses his realization that Taiga, as well as the rest of his friends, have been acting for his sake. As Taiga catches up to Ryuji, Yusaku leaves with the realization that he needs to change how he is acting. MIssing Yusaku, Taiga asks Ryuji about the previous phone call. However, Ryuji refuses to tell her about it.
The next day at school, Yusaku finally appears to stop Taiga’s campaign. Ryuji learns in the afternoon from Yuri that Yusaku had not actually submitted the paperwork needed for the election though, causing him to meet him in the classroom in a hurry. In response to Ryuji, Yusaku claims that he would still quit after having thought about it. As the two start walking home together, Yusaku brings up the reason he originally joined the student council. After being shot down by Taiga in his freshman year, Sumire had appeared to give him hope in the form of joining the student council. After doing so, Yusaku had certainly accomplished the enjoyable school life that he was hoping for. Sumire actually appears behind the boys a short while later, then scolding Yusaku for his foolish actions. Expressing her wish to see what kind of student council he would run, she gives Yusaku the needed form. With this, Yusaku leaves Ryuji with the need to do something very important.
Yusaku takes the stand as the new student council president the next day, but instead of giving a speech, he confesses his love for Sumire in front of hte entire student body. He asks for a reply, but taking a mic in hand, Sumire only expresses how interesting of a man the school now has as its president. As Sumire leaves shortly after, Yusaku can only despair. Ryuji catches up to Sumire, but despite his constant wonder why she did not reply to Yusaku properly, she only reaffirms her transferring and better hopes for him. Taiga catches Ryuji before he can follow Sumire further, relaying that Yusaku was in tears. Unable to be by his side herself, she hopes that Ryuji would support him. Recalling how many times Yusaku helped her in the past, Taiga realizes that there are not enough thanks she could give to him. Drawing her wooden sword, however, she still plans to do what she can.
Taiga attacks Sumire in her class, and the two exchange several blows. As Taiga gains the upper hand, she simply calls Sumire a coward who cannot express her true feelings. Sumire suggests her wish that she could be as honest as Taiga in response, but seeing what would happen if she answered Yusaku, she could not become such a fool. Sumire is brought to tears, but as news had reaches the other classes about the fight, Yusaku appears to thank her for all she had done for him. As he bows for her, Yusaku shows obvious signs of tears as well. Sumire leaves to America in the following days, and Taiga does not come to school for two weeks. While at home, Taiga decides to write a certain letter. When this reaches Sumire in America, she is delighted to see only the word “baka” written on the back of it in large text.
Preview: Ami in a santa suit.
Impression:
Wow. Just wow. I was planning a big parody post for this week, but I just couldn’t do it after seeing how good this episode actually was. There have been several criticisms for this show in the past for altering source material, but when a scene as ridiculous as the flashback one in this episode can become as dramatic and engaging as it was, I can only praise JCStaff’s work once again. There were so many segments in this episode that should have been laughably awkward, but they all turned out to be great. I mean, how can something so stereotypically lovcom as a student body audience confession become so believable!? Of course, I can’t give all the credit to the animation studio. Toradora was obviously meant to be something more than just a comedy from the beginning. I have to say it again; this has been the lovcom I have been waiting months or even years for.
Things like Yusaku’s finally stating his realization about being wrong gave me so much more of a connection for his character; so much that I could feel his dread in the aftermath of his “speech”. Taiga’s closing her eyes in front of Ryuji, presumably to hide her tears, closer to the end of the episode was a subtly beautiful touch too. There were also several hints of development scattered throughout this episode, but I need to find time to rewatch/properly analyze the episode before drawing any conclusions about them. Minori’s confused shock as well as Ami’s subtle anger were the biggest indicators though, and the preview doesn’t get me any less excited about seeing how the rest of the story is going to turn out from here on.
Notes:
- I like how Ami grabs her hair.
- BAKAAAAA INNNUUUUUU~
- Yasuko had black hair dye last week, but Yusaku’s hair is actually a shade of green!
- Taiga claps her hands really weird.
- ….and what exactly were you doing on top of the roof?
- WHERE DID THAT SWORD COME FROM?
- Some would call it a bad decision, but the fight this week was animated in the style that oh so many Japanese anime fans love.
- Gaijin alert! Wait, they’re in America….
- As this arc is over, I guarantee that the new OP and ED will show up next week.
EDIT: Omni points out the obvious about Minori. I am shallow.
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Yasuko in normal clothes is hot. Taiga and Ami fighting? Hotter.
another nice episode,
so neither Toradora nor Index get any op/ed this week?
wonder, if there will be..
Truth be told, novel 6 was translated before this ep came out. Seeing as I read it before I watched the ep, I already knew what to expect. Truth be told, novel 6 was truthfully an angst fest to say the least. However, there were a lot of important character defining moments. These 2 eps dedicated to the arc for me just sort of failed to give all the characterization I had hoped and expected for, but it didn’t completely in that dpt. and it definitely succeeded in making it entertaining.
For me this arc was one of the weaker ones, just because they were dealing with a char I don’t care much for. The redeeming point of this arc was the character development. I’m not sure if Taiga’s moved on from Kitamura, but from the looks of it, she’s finally gotten over her infatuation phase.
Honestly, I think that they could have done the exposition for the Kitamura confession scene a little better. Things like including Taiga’s reaction (instead of her back…)immediately after realizing he was confessing to Sumire. Sure, it wouldn’t have been as subtle, but it would have been a hell lot more comprehensible as to what Taiga was supposed to be feeling at that moment. Truth be told, if I had not read the novel, I wouldn’t have fully understood why Taiga said, “It can’t be me. I can’t be the one next to him” or something like that. It only made sense to me after hearing her monologue as to why she couldn’t be the one there for him.
Also, fight scene. They can fool some people, but if they seriously want us to think that was the best they could do, they should just redo the ep 1 fight between Taiga and Ryuuji. Since that was several thousand times better animated, choreographed, and paced. I have a serious problem with the way the handled that fight just because it was sloppy, and all over the place. Honestly, they could have done better. I expect them to be redoing it for the dvd like aroduc said.
Also, Ami and Minori scene. That was beautiful. Just beautiful. Honestly, I don’t think they could have handled that aside from sticking to the original material, but hey, it got the point across.
Overall, a weaker episode for me, but definitely with some poignant and outstanding moments. I just hope that it can continue moving on at the pace it has. I also hope that the animation budget hasn’t run out if this ep’s fight scene is any indication…
Taiga should have just twittered it and saved the postage.
At least their clothes didn’t somehow get all torn off and stuff during the fight << *looks in Sekireis direction* though it would be enjoyable to see…mostly Taiga.
Sorry – that’s Sumire. Yeah… the character designs are kinda pooched.
LOL
Next week’s a Christmas episode, huh? Isn’t that a little too late? XD
but but but this isn’t fighting anime! And the other scenes were well animated!!! :’(
It’s never to late for Ami in a santa suit.
that was corny =.=” that was probably the most outplace girl fight scene, yea right…. girl using their fists to own each other…
It happens…
It’s never too late for AMI X-X-X-MAS!
Haha, well from reading Rawr’s comment about 6th novel, I see the perspective that this arc was going for, and I thought it was done really well, but sort of focused a whole lot on Kitamura, and subtly develops the main love circle… Kitamura seems out of the system now.
I think the big thing was the assumptions of Ami and Minori, which were virtually shattered by Taiga’s rage over Sumire. It’s kind of like event bubbling, where Ami has probably the best grip on the situation, but new details trigger those with less knowledge, but ultimately the information gets more complex higher up… Ami’s pov is crucial, since she already knows Takasu is crushing Minori.
… anyway, mother F took like 6 hours to download this thing on slownet.jpg
Best fight scene ever! I was expecting some kind of cop-out scene where the two of them were growling at each other with swords crossed and Kitamura gave a sentimental speech to talk them out of it, but they really went at each other! For some reason, the animation for the fight reminded me of FLCL, not quite sure why. This episode has brought Toradora from one of my top 20 anime to one of my top 5.
Some things that haven’t been mentioned yet- Taiga not coming to school for 2 weeks is because she’s suspended, which somehow amuses me. And Taiga offers to strip for Ryuuji in the next episode preview, but he tells her to keep her clothes on so she doesn’t catch a cold. Such a gentleman! XD
how the heck did Taiga hide that wooden sword in her jacket? It’s like four feet long and Taiga is less than five feet tall.
and next week maybe Ami will give herself to Ryuji as a Xmas present?
@David
The fighting style is reminiscent of the Gainax’s animation for fight scenes. Gainax of course animated such type of fight scenes in FLCL, Gurren Lagann, and the currently airing Shikabane Hime. The style is very energetic with lots of motion lines but subsequently less detailed or crisp. A good contrast would be the fight scenes in Kara no Kyoukai. Granted it is a movie and probably has a larger budget to work with but you can clearly see each movement. You could almost say the style is cheap but one thing you can say is that it definitely has energy. When Taiga got thrown and hit her back on the desks I definitely winced a little.
Best fight scene ever!
YES WE CAN!
That reminds me the YES WE CAN in Index episode(15)