Fruits Basket

Wow, I am blown back with this. This Anime has really just made me feel, well I can't describe it, but I tell you what, it has all the qualities of what I look for in a good Anime or a good Movie. And really I'm impressed. After reading the first volume of the Manga series, and keeping that all in mind, I wasn't sure how I would react to this adaptation. But of course I found it spectacular. I tell you I don't think I've seen quite another story like this one. I mean it sounds like the dumbest thing on earth, but when you really start getting into it, it's just wonderful. Glad I didn't judge this book by it's cover.

Story/Adaptation:

Very nicely done. While some of the literal translations seemed a little much, and there we're certain sort of mix ups and cut outs it's really quite good. Because mind you, writing a Manga and a Screenplay are no easy tasks. Especially trying to adapt into an X amount of time for a series. So it was really nicely done. They really bring the characters out, (as is common in Shoujo) and no one really get's needlessly lost in translation. With nicely constructed duologue (Although it is easy when you have a cheat sheet) and nicely paced. Maybe it can be slow, but it doesn't bother me to much. After all this is a Shoujo/Comedy/Drama Anime so it's only natural for it to be on the slow side. And the story in General, of course I'll be treading into the Manga a bit, but it's really nice. I've only read Volume 1 but I've exceeded that with watching disc one of the DVD. I love the drama it creates, Tohru is all alone in the world it seems, but she has so many people that care for her. Two friends that are so fiercely loyal to her, it's amazing. Thoru is such a happy-go-lucky girl, but she's also very selfless. I like when characters aren't warped in vanity, that just drives me nuts when they are so vain. Even the infatuated Prince Yuki Fan Club President, has a soft side to her. Some of the other aspects I loved, strong sense of freindship. Hanna and Uoh, thoes two, just have hearst of gold. They love Tohru like a sister, and you can just tell they want to take care of her and protect her. They seem like the type who would take a baseball bat to a persons head if that person harmed Thoru.

Acting:

VERY NICE! A very superbness dub, and you people say all dubs suck. I got to tell you it's filled me with a bit of confidence for when FUNI dubs Tusbasa. Laura Bailey does absolutely wonderful with Tohru. Although her Japanese counter part is much higher, she really brings the character out well. I don't find any voices to be on the really annoying side. At least the guys sound like guys, and gals sound like Gals. (Even if Yuki is a bit of a she-male)

Original Score: Rather weak. Nice usage, but could be better in my opinion. But not so bad. Some nice movements, but the themes aren't so wonderful. But still at least there are memorable melodies in this series, as opposed to no music at all. That Piano Theme at the end of Episode 25 was, wow amazing.

Animation:

Superbious quality. What more can I say?

Overall: This has really been on my mind quite a bit lately. And it's become one of my Favorites. It's a nice shoujo even for soft guys like me. I strongly recommend it to just about anyone who is looking for a great comedy-drama b/c I enjoyed it. This Anime has just moved me to tears at times, I was bawling in the end it so sweet. It has given me just warm feelings all around So check this out, you might just like it.

Fruits Basket is truly one of the kind. The protagonist, Tohru is a highly lovable heroine and although from time to time her cheerful personality can get a bit annoying, we really see her (and the other characters) grow and evolve throughout the series. At first, it's looking just like an average high-school drama/comedy with a bit of fantasy to spice everything up, but it soon becomes clear that this anime is more, much more. It's light and cheerful, but also dark and terrifying. It can get either heartwarming or heartbreaking. It's a perfet mixture with a well-developed story that will make you care about each and every one of the charachters. The ending is perfect and really wraps everything up, it doesn't leave ou with the feeling that the series is unfinished, like with so many other animes. I highly, highly recommend watching.

This is one of the best storytelling I've seen in any popular entertainment be it movies or television series. What originally look like a Ranma 1/2 clone turns out to be something of a character study where every single character shows painfully real emotions and feelings.

The show started out with the main character, Tohru Honda, stumbled onto the Sohma's family house after she had set up her tent in the surrounding forest area that is owned by the Sohma. Tohru later on is offered by Shigure, the owner of the house to stay with him as well as two other Sohma members, Yuki and Kyo in exchange of doing household chores.

After only one day, however, Tohru finds out that the Sohma is not your usual family. They hide a secret that no person outside the family has ever found out until Tohru accidentally uncovers it.

I see Funimation has gotten the English rights to this anime so I will let you know what the series is about. I saw seven episodes of this show subtitled at the Ryerson anime club.

Schoolgirl Toru Honda has been living with her grandfather since her mother passed away. Grandpa is getting the house renovated so they have to move out for a while. Grandpa goes to live with his son's family but Toru ends up living by herself in a tent. As it turns out she is squatting on the land of the Soma clan. One of the family recognizes her from school and invites her to live with their all-male household for a bit until her grandfather's home is rebuilt. Toru soon gets a big surprise because the Soma's have a secret curse like Ranma 1/2.

I like the opening and closing songs written Ritsuko Okazaki. She sings in a soft, whispery style that suits the melancholy mood of the show.

I understand the manga and anime are doing very well in Japan so check out the English version when it appears.

In short, "Fruits Basket" is the best series I have seen in a long time. It's hilarious, heartfelt, and deep all at the same time. Although the medium is anime(Japanese animation) which I usually tend to think of as quite unrealistic, this is an astoundingly believable story. The writing is some of the best I have ever seen. Let me elaborate for you.

First of all, some background on the series is needed if you've never seen it. The series is based around a girl named Tohru. Tohru's mother died one year before the series began and when we come in on the story(the first episode) her grandfather, whom she'd been living with, is renovating the house. He goes to stay with other family, but asks Tohru to stay with a friend so she won't miss school. Well, not wanting to impose upon her friends, Tohru pitches a tent in the forest. The land she's camping on happens to belong to the family of a classmate named Yuki Sohma. Three cousins, one being Yuki, invite her to live with them. There, Tohru soon learns the dark secret of the Sohma's. They are all cursed to turn into animals of the Chinese Zodiac when embraced by the opposite sex of non-family members.

I have searched for a long time for something like this. This series not only helps me better understand who I am, but who I want to be. The characters are just so very well constructed that I can't help but love every one of them. There is something in every character, a characteristic, like unexplained anger, solemnity and mystery, or silliness that is just too eerily familiar. They remind me of myself. This is something that cannot be explained in words, but only through experience. This series has given me one more step forward towards understanding my life. There is a deep underlying theme to this series, and that is if you just be yourself, you will be fine.

As for the whole "cursed to turn into animals" thing, it may not be exactly "believable" as I stated in my summary, but it is an ingenious device that allows the writers to develop a schlew(that's the technical term) of analogies that make you(or me anyway) slap your forehead and go "Oh my god! That's what I've been trying to figure out about myself forever!" Well, not literally, but you get the point.

Aside from the deep end of it, lets move onto heartfelt. A relationship develops gradually between each character. You don't really even notice just how much you care about this relationship until they threaten to tear it apart once or twice. Out of respect for people who haven't seen it, I'll leave it at that. But I think it is a stroke of genius on the writers part. It makes you realize just how much you care about what's going on, and it keeps you eagerly anticipating the next episode.

And, oh yes, for anyone who doesn't get into all of that mushy stuff, and deep philosophical crap, this is also a comedy. This series has made me laugh harder than shows that are meant to make you laugh. And the best part is, the writers know when to be serious, and when to be funny so that they don't ruin something that could've been great. They made darn well sure that this would be great and nothing short of it.

To sum this up, I laughed, I cried, and then I thought about it. And then I laughed some more. And I recommend "Fruits Basket" to anyone. And I wish happiness and enlightenment to anyone who is fortunate enough to set eyes upon this beauty.