Fruits Basket 1st Season

Tooru Honda has always been fascinated by the story of the Chinese zodiac that her beloved mother told her as a child. However, a sudden family tragedy changes her life, and subsequent circumstances leave her all alone. Tooru is now forced to live in a tent, but little does she know that her temporary home resides on the private property of the esteemed Souma family. Stumbling upon their home one day, she encounters Shigure, an older Souma cousin, and Yuki, the "prince" of her school. Tooru explains that she lives nearby, but the Soumas eventually discover her well-kept secret of being homeless when they see her walking back to her tent one night.

Things start to look up for Tooru as they kindly offer to take her in after hearing about her situation. But soon after, she is caught up in a fight between Yuki and his hot-tempered cousin, Kyou. While trying to stop them, she learns that the Souma family has a well-kept secret of their own: whenever they are hugged by a member of the opposite sex, they transform into the animals of the Chinese zodiac.

With this new revelation, Tooru will find that living with the Soumas is an unexpected adventure filled with laughter and romance.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Souma, Kyou Main

Uchida, Yuuma Japanese

Honda, Tooru Main

Iwami, Manaka Japanese

Souma, Yuki Main

Shimazaki, Nobunaga Japanese

Souma, Hatsuharu Supporting

Furukawa, Makoto Japanese

Souma, Momiji Supporting

Han, Megumi Japanese

Souma, Shigure Supporting

Nakamura, Yuuichi Japanese

Souma, Ayame Supporting

Sakurai, Takahiro Japanese

Souma, Hatori Supporting

Okitsu, Kazuyuki Japanese

Hanajima, Saki Supporting

Satou, Satomi Japanese

Souma, Isuzu Supporting

Toyosaki, Aki Japanese

Cook, Justin Producer

Takemura, Ippei Producer

Ishihara, Shirou Producer

Shimada, Akira Producer, Planning

Reviews

May 10, 2024

LuxuriousHeart

Recommended

Fruits Basket is a name that makes sense, but it's sort of deceptive. The point of the name is that the show is about putting things, aside from fruits, in the fruits basket. Things that wouldn't normally fit in, things would be kept out, etc. This anime hammers in the point about bullying, ostracization, and abuse, and it treats them as serious topics. Of course, some of it did get over the top with the cruelty, but I'd say that most of it was accurate. Most forms of bullying are usually teasing, isolating people, making them feel worthless, etc. ... It doesn't skimp on the perspective of the victims, with them feeling like nothing they do will make a difference. The victims usually just stay to themselves and get a low self esteem. Then you have the teachers pretty much doing nothing, or even going as far as blaming the victim. "Well, can you make an effort to make friends?" And unfortunately, that aspect is true. Even down to not wanting to tell others because you don't want to burden them, and/or you're embarrassed about the entire thing. Several arcs are like this, which is where this show really shines. Not only that, but also the struggle to find your purpose in life or what you're good at. The frustration with your failures, and feeling guilty when you make mistakes that affect others.

With all of those heavy topics, they balance it with the light hearted moments of the cast. The themes of friendship and families are strong in this anime. The wholesome moments really balance out the depressing moments, and the cast truly does have good chemistry with each other.

Though I will say some criticisms. The weird double sided nature of how Tohru, the MC, is treated. She's treated as a mother and a baby, all at once. She cooks for people, gives emotional support for people, and does the majority of the chores around her house. Yet she's also treated as a naive baby that people have to be overly protective of. It's actually weird, and is lowkey sexist. With all shade intended, I can understand why Shonen fans consider Fruits Basket to be "one of the good Shoujo". The MC is overly positive to the point where she never gets angry at people who are mean to her, she can cook, she is cute, she is sweet, aspires to marriage, naive about sex (VIRGIN WAIFU!?), and she gets infantilized while being a pseudo mother figure that's also seen as girlfriend material. More and more, Sigmund Freud's studies are proven to be somewhat correct...

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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Feb 13, 2024

_Shara_

Mixed Feelings

Note: All my reviews are written after I've completed watching the entire season, never before.

"Fruits Basket" Season 1 rejuvenates the beloved story with modern animation and deeper character exploration, yet leaves something to be desired in pacing and romantic development. The season excels in showcasing the emotional depth of the Soma family and Tohru Honda, weaving intricate backstories that highlight themes of acceptance and resilience. Each episode adds layers to the complex tapestry of relationships and personal growth, making it a compelling watch.

However, the series' focus on side characters, while enriching the narrative fabric, often sidelines the development of Tohru and her future relationship. Fans ... longing for a romantic progression akin to "Kamisama Hajimemashite" may find the slow burn between the main characters a tad frustrating. Despite these moments of yearning for more, the episodes dedicated to characters like Hanajima offer delightful insights into friendship dynamics, standing out as memorable highlights.

Unfortunately, the music didn’t leave a lasting impression on me, blending into the background without significantly enhancing the emotional resonance of key scenes. This lack of memorable musical accompaniment (including the opening and ending themes) represents a missed opportunity in a series so rich in emotional depth.

Character development shines, particularly in episodes revealing Kyo and Yuki's vulnerabilities. Yet, the anticipation for significant romantic scenes frequently finds itself overshadowed by the series' broader focus. The introduction of the Zodiac members adds a mystical layer to the story, though at times, it feels like a double-edged sword, diluting the central narrative thread.

IN CONCLUSION:

Season 1 of "Fruits Basket" 2019 lays a solid foundation for emotional and narrative depth, with its strength lying in character development and thematic richness. However, the longing for more pronounced romantic elements and a tighter focus on the main characters' relationship leaves viewers like myself with mixed feelings. The season sets the stage for potential, promising a continuation that could hopefully address these desires. The blend of heartache and humor, alongside the promise of growth, keeps the series endearing and watchable, but with reserved expectations for the romantic storyline to unfold in future seasons.

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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Dec 15, 2021

cherry-senpai

Not Recommended

This rating and review cover the entire seasons (1, 2, and the final one).

(Note: I base my review on my overall enjoyment).

I enjoyed watching the original Fruits Basket and was very hyped when the new version came out. Of course, I have never read the manga because I didn't want to spoil the ending. Needless to say, the excitement and anticipation all but dwindled after I've finished watching the first season.

I remembered I couldn't stop laughing in the older version of Fruits Basket and was expecting the same with this new one. But of course, episode after episode, there was only me sitting watching silently, ... and sometimes, getting rather frustrated and annoyed. Why? Because every so often, I'm being told by one character or another that the female lead is so nice and wonderful, and now and again, the two male leads would bicker and fight for no apparent reasons. It was entertaining at first, but that got old fast.

In my humble opinion, season 1 was okay, season 2 was boring and slow, and the final season was just horrible. To sum up, all three seasons of some 60+ episodes could have been made into a one-season of 25 episodes and that would have told the complete story. Of course, I don't like the ending and after finishing, the story leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Now I have to go find something else to watch to wash it off. Maybe I'll watch Kakuriyo no Yadomeshi (Kakuriyo: Bed and Breakfast for Spirits) again because it has a far more interesting plot and characters, especially the female lead Aoi, who shows strength through actions instead of every other character in the story keep reminding the viewer of this.

Reviewer’s Rating: 2

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