Honda Tohru is may be the unluckiest high school girl ever. Not only she had to face her mother's death alone, she now have to live alone and better still, has no place to live. Desperate, she tried to live in a small tent on a portion of seemingly un-owned land. However, bad luck was still on her side, as a landslide actually buried her new home and all her belongings. The Souma family, who was actually the owner of that piece of land discovered her and after listening to her story they kindly took her in and gave her a temporary place to stay in their house. Tohru, in turn, was expected to help the three Souma boys with their household chores such as cleaning, washing the laundry, and cooking. Tohru considered herself to be lucky to actually be allowed to stay in the same house as the 'prince' of her highschool.

It was all looking good til the time that one (un)fortunate incident revealed their true selves to the clueless and ever so dim-witted Tohru. Though shocked and surprised, Tohru decided to keep their secrets with her to her death. However, will the Souma family approved of an outsider knowing their deepest darkest secret? And how will this secret change Tohru's life? Was her meeting with the Soumas a fortunate encounter, or maybe it was the exact opposite?


Synopsis by: Tareren

Story & Characters

I better make this review as my memories of this Anime is still somewhat fresh :P

Terms Dictionary :

12 Zodiacs - For those not familiar with the legend,the Zodiacs are animals which have been picked by the Heavenly Court to participate in a race.The Rat managed to trick the Cat and participate in the race.After the race,each animal would represent a year in the Chinese Calendar and it is also used for fortune telling in some sense.Well,in this Anime,12 people,or rather,13 people are cursed to be Zodiacs.

The Sohmas - The family bloodline is cursed to contain the Zodiac's spirits.Everytime they come into contact of the opposite gender,they literally turn into the animal forms.Those who knew about the secret of the Zodiacs is to live in the inner part of the large mansion while the others live on the outer parts.Each Zodiac Sohma members have a...emotional trouble of their own,usually because of the curse itself.

Characters Overview : (I'm too lazy to type out all the characters :P )

Tohru Honda - A girl who became an orphan not too long ago as her mother passed away.Because of this she lives in a tent in the forest to avoid taxes and rent fees (Probably.) and she does part time jobs to support her education fees.She is also helpful,kind and polite but also slightly air headed.After she began to live with Yuki,she unknowingly started to repair the hearts of those who have been cursed by the Zodiac.

Yuki Sohma - One of the 12 Zodiacs of the Sohma Family,the Rat.His described as a charming and charismatic male whose also an idol student at school.For some reason,he refuses all the girls who confessed to him.Tohru is also one of the many admirers (Though she's not the crazy type,just the casual type.) and is surprised when she had a chance to talk to him one day.Later,Yuki invited Tohru to come live in his house which is in that particular forest as well since she is homeless.Howver,she also later found out about the Curse of the Sohma family.

Kyo Sohma - He isn't in the Zodiac list since his a Cat but the effects of his curse are similar.He and Yuki are loggerheads and never get along well.He and Yuki later seems to find a common interest in Tohru.Kyo is also cynical but deep inside his kind and warm hearted.His cold attitude is mainly because of his curse and is often shunned aside by the others as there is another cursed form of himself.

Shigure Sohma - A light hearted and friendly figure.His also the Dog of the Zodiac.Despite his somewhat laid-back attitude,he can be quite understanding.Shigure is also a novel writer but he often pretends that he didn't finish it.This often cause despair and panic in the one who collects his work,which he seems to enjoy.

Kagura Sohma - Kagura is one of the few who accepted Kyo's curse willingly and Kagura is also the Boar Zodiac.She is a somewhat good-looking girl (I have to type this...your impression of her might be dispaired when you find out she is a Boar,right?) who is also extremely aggressive with great strength to boot.She is only aggressive towards Kyo,who she insist that she is engaged to (I think she's Kyo's cousin.) and despite Kyo's protest,Kagura badgers him when she comes to visit.

Momiji Sohma - The Rabbit Zodiac.He appears and acts like a small boy but his in fact as old as most of the characters in the Anime. (Much to Tohru's distress.She allowed him to sleep with her since she thought that he was a kid.But nothing bad happened,so no harm's done,eh?) Momiji is also aware of Hatori's condition and pities him despite his own condition.His Mother cannot remember him as she cannot accpet the fact that he is a "monster" so the Sohma family wiped out her memories.

Hatori Sohma - The doctor of the household and the Horse Zodiac.(But he turns into a Seahorse...not typically a horse...but I guess it works?) Hatori have one of his eyes covered due to the fact that one of his eyes is injured and Hatori is also a cold and realistic figure.But this is because of his tragic past.His also a good friend of Shigure.

Hatsuharu Sohma - He have a somewhat irradical personality.More or less a split personality due to his curse of the Ox.His usually a decent guy who knows the severity of his actions and what not but when he goes into his "Black" form,his typically a raging bull.Despite the fact that he claims that he dislike Yuki due to the Rat and Bull's role in the Zodiac Race,he actually cares alot for Yuki.

Ayame Sohma - The older brother of Yuki (And also Yuki's least favourite relative,if you don't count Akito.) Ayame is eccentric and over confident and his ideas are seriously weird.(Tends to be the comedy relief of the Anime.) Because of his behaviour,the relationship between Ayame and Yuki drifted slowly away but the two still cares for each other.Tohru later somehow managed to repair their relationship to a certain extent.Oh yeah,Ayame is also a good friend of Shigure and Hatori (Hatori is the only one who can control Ayame's eccentric personality.) and in the past,they are well known in school for their...good looks...was it?

Kisa Sohma - A young kawaii girl whose the Tiger of the Zodiac.She is also emotionally withdrawn due to the constant bullying she suffers at school.Because of this,she is weakened to the state that she cannot sustain her human form and became a Tiger and ran off.Tohru and the rest managed to find her and heal her "wounds".Kisa's situation is made worse because Hiro is ignoring her lately but things were later cleared up.When she was still withdrawn,she was unable to speak.

Hiro Sohma - A young kid with a sharp tongue.His particularly verbally aggressive towards Tohru.He was once good friends with Kisa but he suddenly found it embarassing to be around her (Falling in love,in other words.) and started ignoring her despite her plight.He and Kisa later made up after Kisa recovered from her psychological illness.(I think he confessed.)

Ritsu Sohma - A monkey Zodiac.His also charismatic but also emotionally wimpy.He apologises for practically everything,even his existence XD Either way,he and his family was bullied by the other Sohmas and Ritsu was mentally affected by this so he began a liking to wear girl's clothes as he said he felt safe while wearing it. (It made the situation worse...but he DOES look like a girl.I was pretty surprised why the Monkey Zodiac was a girl when his mother said she had a son and all...But things cleared up in the end XD )

Isuzu Rin Sohma (MANGA ONLY.) - Due to her absence in the Anime,Hatori became the Horse but by right,Hatori should be the Dragon while Isuzu is the horse.Oh yeah,ever heard the term stubborn as a mule?This term works fine for her :P

Kazuma Sohma - His the master of Kyo,Kagura and Yuki of their martial art skills.When he was young,he treated his grandfather cruelly as he adopted the belief the the Cat are contagious and dirty but as he grew up,he started to realise his wrongs.To repent,he adopted Kyo,the current Cat of the family despite the other Sohma's mutterings and disbelief and he started to be Kyo's father in a certain sense.

Akito Sohma - In the Anime,his presumed role is probably the Dragon as no one have that role yet but in the Manga,he plays the role of the Jade Emperor of the Heavenly Court (I think.) Due to his role,his cursed to bear the weight of the curses of the 12 Zodiacs to sustain the other Zodiac's lives against his will.Living up with this fact,he was immensely cruel,especially towards Yuki.

Overall :
A heart warming story that tells us the tale of each and every Cursed Sohma member and how Tohru relieved them of their emotional pain and doubts.This is defnitely a must watch.

Rating: 9

Art

Artwork Review :
Decent Artwork...I guess I can't say anything more than that can I.

Significant Designs :

Zodiac Animal Forms - Kawaii~ Well,some of them are anyway.When the Sohma turn into their animal forms,some of the animals are actually quite adorable looking....I guess :P

Hatori Sohma - A man with his fringe covering half of his face wearing a doctor's coat = cool,no?

Kyo's 2nd Cursed Form - Well,I can't say much as I will reveal spoilers but I guess you can say this form is rather...menancing.He still retain his thoughts but his physically enchanced and deformed...

Rating: 7

Sound

Music Review :
I'm not really into the music to be honest.But if your interested...

Openings :
-For Fruits Basket

Endings :
-Chisa na Inori
-Serenade

Rating: 7

Presentation

Overall :
An excellent show that shows us the emotional struggle of each and every Sohma member and those around them and how their hearts got cured.Though the tale of each character is somewhat fast and compressed in the Anime,it's still worth a look,no?

Trivia :
-The plot of the Manga and Anime is generally the same but the Manga version have alot more content.I recommend the Manga version.
-This Anime / Manga is well received in some countries...more of a reason to convince you to watch it.
-There is a collectible Card Game for it I believe.
-There are plushies of it...I wonder where can I buy one.
-There are Artbooks published for it.
-There are Drama CDs published for it.
-The name Fruits Basket,according to the story itself,is a game of which the children name their friends after certain fruits and that person have to get up from their seats and find another seat.Tohru was insisted by her unfeeling classmates as Onigiri but she didn't mind it until she grew up. (Onigiri is not a fruit but a rice ball.Which means her classmates are hinting that she doesn't belong here.)

Rating: 9

Final Verdict

8.33 (good)

Reviewed by z827, 4wk 2d ago

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