This review is written after my 2nd viewing of this season. Episode 24 is one of my all-time favorites and I am talking about all the series and anime I have watched in my life. Episodes 5, 13, 18, and 23 also have a spot in my heart.
Fruits basket is not a RomCom. It does have some romance, but if you are looking purely for a romance anime, you might be disappointed. Just technically speaking, it doesn't have a love triangle either. There are dramatic and there are comedic elements in the story and I found them well balanced.
The biggest issue I want to address is Tohru, the main character. The first time I watched the anime it took me 20-30 episodes to understand her character and for me to stop thinking of her as annoying. She is way too optimistic and happy and she got on my nerves. As it turns out she is way more complex and I am way too pessimistic. There isn't one perfect character (ok maybe Kisa, but honestly who doesn't love that little bug?), but slowly there is growth and it's a great journey.
The first season is basically the foundation of the story. We are introduced to all the key characters and there is a lot of foreshadowing about what is going to happen in the later seasons. The pace is good, not too fast, and not too slow. Fruits basket is a story that's going to be told in 63 episodes (still hoping for more) so don't expect a lot of things to be resolved by the end of the first season. The Japanese VAs are doing a phenomenal job
I truly hate the 2nd occur OP. It's the only one I skip every time which is weird because both EDs are AWESOME! It's been two years since I first heard them and they are still on my playlist. With the exception of the 2nd OP, every other music choice was well made. Nothing beats Eden though (2nd season's 2nd ED).
I honestly don't think that this anime is for everyone. A lot of characters suffer from mental and/or physical abuse mainly because of the curse and some think it's over the top. I don't.
If you loved the 2001 version you might not like this one because while they originate from the same material, the 2001 was more comedic whereas this one is heavier. It is very faithful to the manga though. Some scenes are missing, but it's one of the most faithful adaptations.