Sometimes you just find a show that doesn't seem all that great, but ends up being a flawless jewel of an anime. That is how I feel about Fruits Basket; it's a simple, happy anime that is pure awesomeness.
However, why it is so awesome, I cannot tell you.
Maybe it's the great voice acting, or the simple animation, or maybe it's lovable personality of the show's main character.
OR maybe it's a combination of everything in this show that makes it so spectacular (Ya, that probably it). Well, you can decide yourself when you decide to watch it, but for now, let me tell you about one of the most beloved animes of all time, Fruits Basket.
At the beginning of this series, we meet our main character Tohru Honda, who after the death of her mother, is living in a tent in the woods. While walking to school one day, she discovers that the land she has been camping on belongs to "Prince" Yuki Sohma. Yuki and his cousin Shigure invite Tohru to live with them and the trio is later joined by Kyo, Yuki and Shigure's cousin.
Now, I know this doesn't sound super exciting, but in anime, random plot devices are essential, and Fruits Basket's is a doozy.
Tohru discovers that the Sohma family is cursed. When one of 13 members is hugged by someone of the opposite gender, they turn into one of the 12 Zodiac animes, plus the cat.
Though this plot devices is used mostly for humor in the anime, its significance in the manga is much larger. Still, it keeps things interesting and often leads to funny situations for Tohru and the Sohma family.
However, this plot device isn't the main reason people love this show. It's the characters, and mainly Tohru. Tohru is a sweet, young girl, who despite having gone through hardships in her life, is always cheerful. Not cheerful like she is trying to hide her true emotion, but sincerely cheerful. She's also a hard work, friendly, and cares for other people, even complete strangers. Her character is really refreshing, because there's such a sincerity in everything that she does, that you never really get annoyed or embarrassed for her. Really, I could stop this review right now, and tell you to just watch it for Tohru, but there are some other great reasons to watch.
Our other 3 main characters are not on the same level as Tohru, but still fun to watch. First, we have Yuki, who is the "Prince" of his school and has plenty of admirers. Despite his popularity, he's a very kind and friendly guy, except when it comes to Kyo. Kyo is the opposite of Yuki. He's loud, violent and pretends not to like anything or anybody. He and Yuki don't get along very well, and Kyo continually tries to beat Yuki in fistfights. Tohru believes that this is because Yuki's animal is the mouse, while Kyo's is the cat. Finally, there's Shigure, who technically isn't a main character, but I think he's so cool that he deserves a main character spot. Professionally, he's a writer and loves nothing more than tormenting his editor by slacking off. Though he's can be a little creepy at times, I enjoyed his funny, laid back character.
Fruits Basket also has a fantastic cast of supporting characters. First and foremost is the Sohma family, cursed and uncursed. We get to meet most of the cursed family, as they decide to visit Shigure for various reasons. They range in personality, from sweet, childish Momiji to the over dramatic Ritsu. Each member usually gets their own episode where they meet Tohru and she tries to help them with whatever issue or problem they have. They're great characters and their family curse is a great plot point in these episodes, especially since we get to watch people turn into different animals.
The other supporting characters include Tohru's two friends Arisa and Saki, and members of the Prince Yuki Fan Club. These characters actually get their own episodes, or at least a large amount of screen time. They might not be super memorable, but it's cool they get their chance in the spotlight.
Now, lets talk about art. Fruits Basket's animation isn't flashy or greatly detailed, but it totally fits the feel of this show. It has kind of a calming effect, actually. I don't know that it is, but whenever I watch an episode of Fruits Basket, I feel really peaceful.
The music also has great calming effect. Most of the tracks are upbeat, but even the more intense or dramatic pieces are really soothing. The music is also very simple, and really is the epitome of "background music." It's just playing in the background, and not overtaking a scene with huge orchestras. Sure, some of the tracks get repeated at certain times, but again, they're so simple and sweet, you don't really notice.
I didn't mention this before, but the English voice cast is really high on the "Reasons Why Fruits Basket is Awesome!" list. I would put it in the same category as Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and Toradora in terms of awesome voice casts. Everyone's voices matched their characters, even the more absurd members of the Sohma family. Laura Bailey, who did the voice for Tohru (and who funny enough did the voice for Lust in FMA:B) was fantastic. It's Tohru's voice the really sets the tone for this anime, and loved listening to every line Tohru, thanks to Laura's great voice work.
My ideal setting for watching Fruits Basket is on a chilly fall evening where you just want to turn on the TV and relax. If you ever find yourself in such a situation, I suggest that you watch Fruits Basket, because you are guaranteed to have a wonderful evening. Of course, you could watch Fruits Basket whenever you want to, because it is just that amazing!
Final thought: If I were to describe this anime in just one word, it would be innocent. When I watch Fruits Basket, there this innocence that radiates from it. I don't know what it is, but this anime is something very sweet and fun to watch. Please pick it up sometime. I promise you won't be disappointed.
Peace and Love
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