In a recent discussion on the comments forum, anime fans expressed their bewilderment at the growing amount of criticism and disdain directed at Taiga Aisaka, protagonist of the popular anime series “Toradora!“. The discussion focuses on analyzing the reasons for this aversion to a character who, at the time, was widely acclaimed and loved by the otaku community.

“Toradora!”, an anime series based on the light novels by Yuyuko Takemiya, has been a mainstay in the romantic comedy genre since its release in 2008. The plot follows the story of Ryuuji Takasu, a high school student with an intimidating appearance but a kind heart, who meets Taiga Aisaka, a classmate known for her fiery temper and diminutive stature. As the two begin to interact, a complex story of love and friendship unfolds, full of touching and funny moments.

Taiga Aisaka, nicknamed the “Compact Tiger” for her diminutive size and fierce personality, is one of anime’s most iconic protagonists. With her messy blonde hair, intense brown eyes, and defiant attitude, Taiga has won over many fans for her determination, loyalty, and moments of vulnerability. However, in recent times, some viewers have expressed discontent with the character, arguing that her aggressive behavior and over-the-top reactions make her less likable compared to other similarly-personalized girls who came after her.

Despite the criticism, “Toradora!” remains one of the most beloved and cited series in the romantic comedy genre. The chemistry between the main characters, the gripping narrative, and the memorable soundtrack have contributed to its longevity and its status as a modern anime classic.

• «I think the only people who hate Taiga Aisaka are those who haven't finished watching the anime yet and only judge her based on her tsundere and abusive attitude in the first few episodes.».
• «I agree with you, to say these things about Taiga and her relationship with Ryuuji, these people are just superficial or blind. Taiga is a wonderful character in my opinion, she has many merits and flaws and I love seeing her mature throughout the series. And whoever says that the relationship between Taiga and Ryuuji is “bad” is not understanding the series at all.».
• «Tsundere are not sluts, they are just misunderstood.».
• «They probably hate her because she's a tsundere and they thought she would act like that all the time because you know she gets angry, and she's very abusive towards Ryuuji, so they thought she would be like that all the time and left the series based on their judgement.».
• «All my friends watched Toradora! and they love Taiga, I don't understand the general hate».
• «Hatred towards Taiga is a common sentiment reflected in the anime community, or at least they are very vocal, and their arguments usually boil down to: “I hate her because Ryuuji gave her 10 times more patience than she deserved because of the way she treated him. The way he acted pissed me off for a long time. “He needs another season of apologizing to Ryuuji before I can like him.”».
• «Many people like it, but those who don't say so clearly. And judging by the number of likes their posts receive, they are not a minority.».
• «As for Taiga, first we have to talk about tsunderes. Basically, you either love them or hate them, and they are a very difficult character type to discuss, since people tend to get defensive. I love Taiga, because I agree that she is not a tsundere because “she doesn’t care, baka”. She is a tsundere because of the circumstances of her life, after her own family hurt her, it is normal to have higher defenses like her. And most people who hate her only see that protective shell, and do not see the sweet girl inside. Well, at least that is my opinion.».
• «I think she uses her tough exterior as a means of making it difficult for people to get close to her. She has been cheated on twice, which is why, in my opinion, she is so tough and aggressive. While she is not a tsundere in the sense that she uses her aggressiveness to hide her feelings of love, she uses her hostile and blunt attitude as a means of protecting the more cowardly, scared, and indecisive Taiga inside her. Like a bully, she compensates for her weakness by hiding it.».
• «He always hits and abuses his classmate for no reason… Need I say more?».
• «I agree with you that Taiga might be the kind of person you would meet in real life and who would frustrate you, but I still don't like how over the top she is and how she wins over Ryuuji in the end. I just don't see how Ryuuji could see Taiga as the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with.».
• «I think you're right that the anime doesn't give much of a clue as to why exactly he falls for her. Still, the relationship felt believable to me because it was the only genuine relationship between the two that wasn't built on a facade. No one in the series is honest with anyone except Taiga with Ryuuji and Ryuuji with Taiga. Over the course of the series, they see the best and worst in each other, surprise each other a little, and inevitably come to connect intimately through each other's openness over time.».
• «Ryuuji likes to clean. Taiga's life is a disaster. Is that enough for a relationship? Well, at first I think so, but I agree that it's ridiculous how far these companions will go to be together. It's hard for a lot of people to accept (myself included), but since Ryuuji isn't a generic protagonist (for the most part), that means his motivations won't always match those of the audience.».
• «Taiga Before Christmas was really awful. He knocked out the protagonist on their first date, showed a very explosive temper and aggressive nature throughout the beginning of the series, tried to “kill” the protagonist with no signs of holding back with his (wooden) sword. And after all he does taking care of her, cleaning her house, making her food, helping her in her love life, she still calls him a useless dog every time.».
• «She's a violent bitch. What more do we need? Having a reason why you're a violent bitch doesn't exempt you from being a violent bitch. It means you have a starting point to learn and become someone who isn't a violent bitch.».

Source: reddit