Fruits Basket: Box Set

 

 

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Fruits Basket is one of the best anime series to come along in a long time, and it helps that it goes over well with both girls and guys.

Combining comedy, drama, a little romance, and a slight darker edge, Fruits Basket becomes an instant favourite for all those that watch it. The characters are endearing and the story deals mainly with interacting with others and overcoming hardships in order to move forward in life.

If you haven't watched Fruits Basket yet, this is a must-see! You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll feel as if you really got something out of watching it, and the DVD release was magnificiently done....what more can you ask for in an anime?

Imagine if you moved in with a new family and friends... and found out they turn into animals when you hug them.

That's what Tohru Honda has to deal with in "Fruits Basket," the adaptation of Natsuki Takaya's hit manga. And the manga adaptation is a delightful one -- while the ending gets changed, it's still charming, quirky, slapsticky and sprinkled with darker moments.

Tohru is living in the woods, with only her late mother's photo for company. Exploring one day, she wanders down to a large house, and bumps into the owners: flirtatious Shigure Sohma, and his gorgeous cousin Yuki -- the school's mysterious "Prince." After Tohru becomes ill and her tent is destroyed, Yuki and Shigure take her into their home as their new housekeeper... especially since the place is a pigsty.

But Yuki and Shigure are keeping some strange secrets. When Kyo Sohma bursts in to fight Yuki, Tohru tries to stop him -- and the three turn into a dog, cat, and rat. Turns out the Sohma family is cursed with the spirits of the Chinese zodiac, and become those animals whenever they're hugged by a member of the opposite sex. Surprisingly, the mysterious family head Akito allows Tohru to stay with Yuki and Shigure, as long as the volatile Kyo also stays.

And soon Tohru becomes even more wrapped up in the Sohma family, and befriends many members of the zodiac. She, Yuki and Kyo must deal with crazed fanclubs, flamboyant brothers, school festivals, New Year's loneliness, Valentine's day woes, trips to the hot springs, visits to Tohru's mother's grave, and Yuki's band of loyal stalkers.

But Tohru also learns more about the curse -- the traumatic pasts that Momiji, Yuki and Kyo keep hidden, the little "tiger" girl who is bullied into silence, and Hatori's tragic romance. And finally Tohru discovers the horrific secret that Kyo is hiding, and the true role of the angry, violent Akito...

It takes a little while for "Fruits Basket" to get going, but after a few episodes it finds its footing and charges ahead like Kagura. Just don't expect it to really have an ending -- it doesn't end so much as stop, on a particularly moving story about Kyo and Tohru.

There's lots of romantic tension, slapstick fight scenes (usually involving Kyo and somebody else), quirky comedy (Ayame's kooky cosplay shop), and amusingly tongue-in-cheek dialogue ("Sometimes it feels like the whole world is conspiring to destroy my house!").

But while the anime is somewhat more lighthearted than the manga, there's also a melancholy side to the story, centering on a curse that is ruining its victims' lives. In the midst of the comedy, we get glimpses of Tohru's tragic past, the families torn apart by the curse, and the Sohmas' isolation from the rest of the world.

Tohru herself is the most lovable character of the bunch -- she has a lot of sorrow over her mother's death and the unkindness of some of her relatives, but she compensates with optimism and friendliness. She borders on Pollyannishness occasionally, but is balanced out somewhat by her oddball friends.

And the Sohmas rule as far as quirkiness is concerned -- there's the quiet "Prince" Yuki, the volatile loner Kyo, and the charmingly kooky Shigure. The rest of the family is even more eccentric -- the flamboyant, charming Ayame, Yuki's prodigal brother who is trying ineptly to mend fences. Not to mention the volcanic Haru, the tragic Hatori, and half-German, deceptively cheerful Momiji.

"Fruits Basket" is by turns hilarious and bittersweet, with plenty of wacky antics, sad backstories and quirky characters. Delightful from beginning to end.

When I first watched this anime I wasent expecting much accept ive been wanting to try this anime for a while now. But I was really surprised when I began to watch it and I became addicted. It has the perfect amount of humour, mystery and romance. This is a great series to laugh and cry with and if you don't pick this one up you really are missing on a true masterpeice.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Great Help
It got here just when it said it would. I had a few problems with it but the supplier was very friendly and helpful and it all got sorted out. Thank you. :)

Published 14 months ago by Annie

5.0 out of 5 stars No regrets
I was thrilled when I found out amazon sold Fruits Basket, I had already watched the series online but its not the same as adding this wonderful box set to your collection of... Read more

Published 16 months ago by MissAnime

5.0 out of 5 stars Do your self a Favour..... BUY THIS!!!!!!!
When I first watched this anime I wasent really sure on what I would think of it but after watching the first episode I became Hooked!! Read more

Published on July 23 2005 by Jeremy Dyer

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