Got in my Toradora! pre-order.

Cover art of the first DVD compilation released by King Records, featuring main characters Ryūji Takasu and Taiga Aisaka (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A brief post to confirm I got in my deluxe Toradora Blu-Ray/DVD Combo preorder from an online anime retailer who handles NIS America merch.  I've watched Episodes 1-3 of the dub and so far I like it very much.  It seems to be moving a bit faster than the manga series.  The male protagonist Ryūji Takasu is voiced by the same voice actor, Erik Scott Kimerer, who voices the main male protagonist of Accel World and plays Alibaba in Magi. Johnny Yong Bosch voices Kitamura, Ryūji Takasu's best friend and Aisaka Taiga's unrequited love interest.  Christine Marie Cabanos (Madoka of Madoka Magica, and the titular character of Squid Girl) voices supporting character Minorin (Ryuji's main secret love interest) and Cassandra Lee voices Taiga.

I like it so far, and my box set includes a nice art book that is also translated into English, which is an added bonus (I was fully expecting this to be left untranslated and just pretty to look at).

I'm on Volume 6 of the Manga, which is ongoing in English.  I'm looking forward to enjoying the complete series on Blu-Ray.  Please don't spoil it for me, but I've heard the ending for Toradora! is kind of a dissapointment.  So I'm hoping to just enjoy the journey as I go.  There are just some tender scenes in the manga where despite their ostensible love/lust for other characters, it's painfully obvious to the reader that Ryuji and Taiga are meant for each other.  I remember one cell where she's crying from anger and frustration, tears flowing down her face and Ryuji is just holding her gently, from behind and above her.

I accept Cassandra Lee as Taiga, though I am left wondering who else among the BangZoom! regulars were up for this role.  I think Christine Marie Cabanos definitely works better as Minorin; would not have cast her as Taiga.  I accept Erik Kimerer as Ryuji--I guess Bryce Papenbrook can't voice EVERY hero/protagonist for BangZoom! these days ;-)  And I'm fine with JYB voicing a supporting character.  I'm very glad I preordered this.  Now just waiting on my Eva 3.0 Blu-Ray to come out.