So, last week, I finally finished Shakugan no Shana. I have now finished the three famous Rie Kugimiya tsundere animes.
For those who don’t know, the three famous Rie Kugimiya tsundere animes refers to three animes that involve a tsundere voiced by Rie Kugimiya. The three animes are Shakugan no Shana, Toradora, and Familiar of Zero.
In my opinion, Toradora hands down is the best of the three. I think the themes and the story arcs that happen in the show is all-around great stuff. This is because Yuyuko Takemiya is a really talented writer and does a tremendous job fleshing out a universe and making it feel three dimensional.
If I had to pick between Shakugan no Shana and Familiar of Zero, I think Familiar of Zero is the better series. While Louise in Familiar of Zero is extremely violent even by tsundere standards, at least she becomes less violent as the show progresses. With Shana from Shakugan no Shana, she has less character progression than both Taiga and Louise. That’s part of the reason why I don’t think Shakugan no Shana is as good as Familiar of Zero or Toradora, as I feel the progression randomly just kinda stops.
I should mention that I love season 1 of Shakugan no Shana. I also really liked season 2 of the show as well. Not as much as season 1, but the show still managed to continue developing the characters. But when season 3 happens, it’s like the character progression stops. Had season 3 of Shakugan no Shana been as good as season 1, I probably would have felt it was better than Familiar of Zero.
Another reason I think Familiar of Zero is better than Shakugan no Shana is the relationship development between the MC and the tsundere. I think Shana is a better character overall than Louise. I like Louise, but the anime adaptation went way overboard with the violence. I know it’s meant for comedy, but there’s a way to be violent without coming across as sadistic. That being said, I think the relationship development between Saito and Louise is better than Shana and Yuji. By season 4, Saito and Louise become boyfriend and girlfriend. And it feels like it’s been built up pretty well. On top of that, by the time season 4 happens, Louise becomes a nicer person and less violent, which is why I don’t hate her as much. But with Shana and Yuji, it’s like they don’t get out of first gear. Shana becomes nicer to Yuji, but that happens midway through season 1. And after that happens, it’s like their relationship doesn’t progress. Hell, they don’t even become boyfriend and girlfriend until the series finale. And by then, Yuji had turned evil.
I feel like Toradora is the perfect amalgamation of both Familiar of Zero and Shakugan no Shana. The tsundere is violent, but not too violent. The tsundere and MC hook up, and while it happens near the end, it doesn’t feel too little too late. Plus, it was built up in a way where it made sense why it would take so long for both of them to fall in love. As a complete, total package, Toradora is by far the best Rie Kugimiya tsundere anime
That being said, I think Rie Kugimiya gives her best performance as Louise.
Honestly, it’s a toss up. Rie Kugimiya’s performances as Taiga, Shana, and Louise are all tremendous. But I think her performance as Louise is outstanding. With Shana, she had moments where she got to showcase the range in her voice, but I felt they were few and far between. With Taiga, she definitely got to express the range in her voice. In fact, I would probably rank her performance in episode 19 as top tier. But I think overall Rie Kugimiya showcases the vast variety in her voice talents most prominently in Familiar of Zero.
The way she’s able to go from angry to vulnerable is just really impressive. It reminds me of Aoi Koga’s performance of Kaguya from Kaguya-sama with the way she is able to juggle so many different personalities. I still think Taiga is a better character than Louise. I think she’s written very realistically and the most three dimensionally. But the way Rie Kugimiya voices Louise is permanently etched into my brain. I cannot hear the name Saito without hearing the way Rie Kugimiya says it as Louise.
Overall, I really enjoy all three series. While I think Toradora is the greatest anime of all time and is better than both Familiar of Zero and Shakugan no Shana, each series is filled with memorable characters, great animation, and some good storylines. They also have their own unique thing going for them. Toradora is a realistic slice of life with a high school setting, Familiar of Zero is a fantasy with elements of ecchi thrown in there, and Shakugan no Shana is an action anime that also has slice of life elements thrown in there.
