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Anime Quick Information
| Title: | Fruits Basket #1 |
| UK publisher: | Revelation Films |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Studio: | Studio DEEN |
| Type: | TV Series |
| Director: | Akitaro Daichi |
| Year: | 2001 |
| Running Time: | 2hr 30mins |
| Average Rating: 9.80 |
Paul's review
Paul scored this with 8/10. Disagree?
Fruit's Basket is the tale of Tohru Honda and the many different (and frankly strange!) personalities she meets during this small period of her life.
Since losing her beloved mother (and essentially her only home) to a fatal car crash, Tohru has had a hard time in life. Unable to live with her relativities and seemingly too shy to ask to shack up with one of her buddies, she takes to camping in a forest close to her high school.
One day, when leaving for another hard day's study, she happens across a strange house in the middle of the forest and is attracted to its strange (and apparently 'cute') display of Chinese Zodiac animal figures. As fate would have it, a resident of this house is none other than Yuki Sohma, the most popular boy in her class.
Upon introducing themselves, Yuki and Shigure (Yuki's older relative) quickly work out how Tohru is living rough in the forest and offer her a place in house-- after all, they have a spare room and are acutely aware just how badly the house is in need of a 'women's touch'.
Not everything is as it seems in the Sohma household though. Yuki and Shigure harbour a strange curse which prevents them from touching any female, should they accidentally do this-- they are magically transformed into animals of the Zodiac, Yuki becomes a rat and Shigure becomes a dog. Promising to never to tell this secret to outsiders, Tohru seems content enough just to have roof over her head and to be living with such interesting people.
Just as things begin to settle down, we are introduced to Kyo Sohma; an occasional resident of the Sohma household and sworn arch enemy of Yuki. Kyo's particular fate is one of constant struggle, given he becomes a cat when touched by a women-- the one animal considered to be the outcast of the Zodiac.
Desperately striving to prove his strength to Yuki, he only ends up looking more like a fool and getting even angrier.
Thing is, Tohru's favourite character in the 'Zodiac tale' was always the cat, and she makes a special effort to befriend the anti-social Kyo.
No doubt appreciating that warmth in Tohru but unable to express their own gratitude, Yuki and Kyo only realize the importance of Tohru in their lives when she is more or less forced to leave the Sohma household and live with her (rather nasty) distant relatives.
At this point, I will stop describing the plot in order to avoid spoiling the climax of Volume 1; a powerful combination of scenes full of warmth and emotion, its better that you experience these scenes without knowing what to expect.
Not being a big fan of this particular genre of anime, I wasn't expecting anything special coming into this series. However, I was pleasantly surprised by what turned out to be a well written, funny and dramatic series.
I wasn't sure what to think of the strange 'Zodiac' premise at first, but as the story went on, I found myself enjoying more and more of the scenes where the (usually accidental) transformations take place. Usually (and rightly) used as a comic device, these scenes are often at the centre of some great entertainment.
Shigure, Yuki, Kyo and Tohru make such a great bunch of characters to watch and their interactions are what makes Fruits Basket such a good, enjoyable series. Particularly fun are the heated exchanges between Kyo and Yuki/Shigure. Poor old cat!
The dramatic side of Fruit's Basket is a little cheesy in parts, but this very sentimental feeling manages to be well restrained by some well placed music and an up-tempo set of voice actors. (Japanese track)
The climax of this volume, episode 5, is particularly good drama. After seeing a good few episodes full of comedy and light hearted action, things finally get a little serious and it's a credit to the story telling of the series that you will most likely feel the sadness of the characters as they are painfully yanked apart.
A surprisingly enjoyable treat, Fruit's Basket #1 is an incredibly fun, dramatic series that never takes itself too seriously. Can't wait for Volume #2!
Review Information
| Score: | 8 out of 10 |
| Review By: | Paul |
| Date Published: | Mon, 31 May 2004 |
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1. Comment by ???
Posted on Fri, 11 Feb 2005. ??? rated "Fruits Basket #1": 10 out of 10.
2. Comment by Satin's Daughter
Posted on Tue, 15 Feb 2005. Satin's Daughter rated "Fruits Basket #1": 10 out of 10.
3. Comment by Fruits Basket Fan
Posted on Sat, 19 Feb 2005. Fruits Basket Fan rated "Fruits Basket #1": 8 out of 10.
4. Comment by FB Fan
overall i liked all the series... it made me cry, laugh, angry and glad... it was enjoyable... please come up with another series at least to finish up with all the zodica signs... :P
Posted on Tue, 26 Apr 2005. FB Fan rated "Fruits Basket #1": 8 out of 10.
5. Comment by Lyari
Posted on Sun, 8 May 2005. Lyari rated "Fruits Basket #1": 1 out of 10.
6. Comment by Kat
Posted on Tue, 14 Jun 2005. Kat rated "Fruits Basket #1": 10 out of 10.
7. Comment by flower
Posted on Sat, 16 Jul 2005. flower rated "Fruits Basket #1": 1 out of 10.
8. Comment by Anonymous
Posted on Sat, 16 Jul 2005. Anonymous rated "Fruits Basket #1": 10 out of 10.
9. Comment by Takki
In forums people says it's the best manga ever... when i brought Vol.1~3 i find it kinda boring... *Maybe it's just me...* but when i brought Vol.4~6 it starting to get more intereting =D!! And now i'm downloading the anime!! which i'm on episode 7! (downloading 8~10!) And theres only 26 episodes *Ends at Vol.6 T.T!* ... but i prefer the manga because it gives you a lot more details than the anime does...
one time, when i was reading the manga Vol.1 *when Tohru-chan have to move back and live with her grandfather and her aunties...* tears was bursting out from my eyes... *thinking about it, it was quite sad though...¬¬"*
And right now... i'm listening to the opening theme of Fruits Basket
Posted on Wed, 20 Jul 2005. Takki rated "Fruits Basket #1": 9 out of 10.
10. Comment by Miruza-sensei
Posted on Sun, 7 Aug 2005. Miruza-sensei rated "Fruits Basket #1": 10 out of 10.
11. Comment by UK Fruits Basket Lover
Bye!
Posted on Tue, 18 Oct 2005. UK Fruits Basket Lover rated "Fruits Basket #1": 10 out of 10.
12. Comment by Lady K
Frubu is definately one of the cutest anime's out there. I love it! I have the entire series, and as far in the manga as has been released. Or at least since the last time I was able to get to a book store. (No bookstores within an hour of my college) I definately recommend the manga. It gives a whole new perspective on the series, and you actually learn Akito's role in all of this. Not to mention you meet the two missing Sohma's. Also, for all you Kyo/Tohru lovers, the manga definately leans more towards that pairing, in terms of Tohru's feelings. But that could just be me.
Maybe this is just cause I sympathize with those "evil" characters, but you really come to understand Akito and his reasonings in the manga, and why he is such a jerk. Well that's my two cents and all that jazz. Ja!
Posted on Sun, 20 Nov 2005. Lady K rated "Fruits Basket #1": 10 out of 10.
13. Comment by Fullmetalsgal
Posted on Wed, 14 Dec 2005. Fullmetalsgal rated "Fruits Basket #1": 9 out of 10.
14. Comment by UNKNOWN!
Posted on Tue, 10 Jan 2006. UNKNOWN! rated "Fruits Basket #1": 9 out of 10.
15. Comment by wat??
Posted on Mon, 27 Feb 2006. wat?? rated "Fruits Basket #1": 9 out of 10.
16. Comment by kalayley
Posted on Wed, 1 Mar 2006. kalayley rated "Fruits Basket #1": 9 out of 10.
17. Comment by Tohru_Honda
Posted on Fri, 3 Mar 2006. Tohru_Honda rated "Fruits Basket #1": 8 out of 10.
18. Comment by Momiji-Fan
Posted on Fri, 10 Mar 2006. Momiji-Fan rated "Fruits Basket #1": 10 out of 10.
19. Comment by Mew Mew Power
Posted on Mon, 24 Apr 2006. Mew Mew Power rated "Fruits Basket #1": 10 out of 10.
20. Comment by ilovemomiji
Fruit's Basket is a really cute manga. Yuki and Tohru forever I say! I'm only up to reading volume 3 but I love it to bits! The anime version of it sounds pretty good too. Can't wait to see it!!"
YUKI and Tohru!!! What?!?!?!?!?!? KYO!!!! KYO and Tohru!!! KYO KYO KYO KYO KYO!!!!
Posted on Sat, 29 Apr 2006. ilovemomiji rated "Fruits Basket #1": 1 out of 10.
21. Comment by Kyo + Tohru :D
I really wished that they finished the series because it really should say why kyo didn't like tohru in the begining or why he went into the mountains...wait! I've said too much! Mwahahahahaha!!!!! Yes well, you manga readers will find out soon enough.
Anyways this is my all time favorite series and I hope all you liked it too! Ta!
(9 out of 10 for not finishing it)
Posted on Tue, 30 May 2006. Kyo + Tohru :D rated "Fruits Basket #1": 9 out of 10.
22. Comment by Grievous Daydreamer
Posted on Thu, 29 Jun 2006. Grievous Daydreamer rated "Fruits Basket #1": 9 out of 10.
23. Comment by mie
Posted on Sat, 1 Jul 2006. mie rated "Fruits Basket #1": 1 out of 10.
24. Comment by fruits basket fan
Posted on Sat, 1 Jul 2006. fruits basket fan rated "Fruits Basket #1": 10 out of 10.
25. Comment by gerry
I will be trying to persuade my dad to let me buy the books but he is not keen because he thinks manga is really unsutible and full of sex.I wish there were not so many pervy jokes then i would probably be allowed to buy it.
I like the darker side to the volumes more and for some strange reason i want torthu to cry and become very miserable later on because it would be more realistic.I loved the kyo's true form scene.
Posted on Tue, 29 Jul 2008. gerry rated "Fruits Basket #1": 9 out of 10.
Type the characters you see in the picture above.