Fruits Basket Review
By sangel99
Fruits Basket Review
Natsuki Takaya
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Plot Synopsis
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
Everyday life stories to me seem to have a more interest in people than futuristic series, such as Gundam Seed etc., which I'm sorry to say I found pretty boring. But getting to the real review here, the story begins with a schoolgirl, named Tohru Honda, living a somewhat normal life. Orphaned and alone, she lives in a tent because she was too kind-hearted to say at her friends' homes' during renovations on her grandfather's home, where she was staying after her mother died in a car accident. Unfortunately, well, fortunately should we say, she was discovered by Yuki Souma and Shigure Souma, members of the Souma family, who owned the property she was living on. She ends up living with them, and inevitably, she discovers the secret of the Souma family. The secret is actually a curse, where whenever the person is hugged by the opposite sex, they transform into one of the 12 Zodiac animals, or the "Jyunishi". The whole story in fact revolves around these zodiac animals, including the Year of the Cat. Throughout the story, we meet the Hatori, the "Dragon", Ayame, the "Snake", Yuki, the "Mouse", Kyou, the "Cat", Shigure, the "Dog", Rtisu, the "Monkey", Kisa, the "Tiger", Momiji, the "Rabbit", Kagura, the "Pig", Hatsuharu, the "Cow", and Hiro, the "Ram". The story filters through a year of Tohru's time with the Souma's, although there are only 26 episodes. The last 3 though are the most important. I didn't very much like how it ended, sort of with a dead end. It was a good ending but I'm sure I could think of a much better one. Not to say this series isn't great. Tohru will probably teach you a few lessons of friendship. If you really want to know the exact details of this series, watch the anime or read the manga yourself. You won't be disappointed!
- Rating
- 10 (excellent)
Art
The animation of this series, in the anime(I've been unfortunate to read the manga), is rather good in my opinion, besides the fact that most of the girls look the same and most of the boys resemble eachother in some way. But what do you expect from anime? Somebody always looks like someone else. It does rather have alot of childish parts, I've got to say(extra large eyes, chibi forms, silly purple lines under the eyes), but it can sure give you a good example of their emotion, and a good laugh. You can always tell when a person is angry or sad etc, unlike some other characters in other series that I can think of. Overall it is rather good animation, but I'm sure it could be better in some ways, which I am unable to notify at this point!
- Rating
- 8 (good)
Sound
Well, I've only seen subbed episodes, that of over 3 different fansubbers. Therefore, the audio has all been different in some way, mostly the volume. I can hear everything, even though I can not speak Japanese, I doubt there are any mis-pronounced words at any point, not that that would matter to much people. The overall quality of the sound(raindrops, footsteps) is really good, as in when a person is far away the sound of footsteps sounds far away, or if they are coming closer the footsteps get louder.
- Rating
- 9 (very good)
Presentation
The overall presentation of this series is of high quality, in my opinion. I have been able to watch the same episode several times, and still not tired of it, like most series unfortunately provide. Although this is my opinion of the series, I'm sure alot of people agree with me on that part. There is quite a bit of humor in this eries, mostly in jealousy terms, but it still keeps me laughing. The animation also helps out with the humor in that part, which I stated in the former review on the art of the series, which you can or already have read. The originality is also a good part of this series, seeing that the characters aren't raging metal fighters like alot of the anime series are nowadays. Although the series is fiction-based story, it gives it a nice little twist to the story, like the series Inuyasha does, luckily without the neverending plot. The idea of the 12(well, 13) zodiac animals involved in the series gives it another tad of originality. Especially at the fact that when they are hugged they turned into animals. I highly recommend to any romantics out there to give this lovely series a try!
- Rating
- 10 (excellent)
Final Verdict
9.50 (excellent)
Reviewed by sangel99, 3y 2wk ago
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If it is dubbed, then you wouldnt hear japanese words lol...
try
reading some other reviews to get an idea on what to write for those parts 
For sound part, I think it is best if you review the song (opening and ending) as well as the background sound
Anyway, I think this is a good review, but you can improve on art and sound, and more details on presentation
keep up the good job ^^
Oops did I put dubbed I meant subbed XO
lol..i like your comments in the presentation^-^"....good review by the way...Right now Fruits Basket is one of my favourite anime/mangas. And your review is great!!...Exactly what i thought about the anime/manga^-~ yes..F.B. is very humourous...
especially when there's animation added *giggles*...well...very nicely done review and thnx(again) for the comment in my guest book!!
ta ta for now!!....
i watch that series too, you make a good review.
just the ending not really good. and this anime story from a girl side.
I like Fruits Basket a lot!! I've only read some chapters (uptil ch 58 a think) and i'm eager to keep on reading ^^ I think the story is very good and i just loooove Momiji xDD soo cuteee i like most characters ^^ and if i have the chance, i will watch the anime too
I like the way you said about fruits baskte. Just that I don't really like Tohru. And I know my pals. China Town, My group
Fruits Basket is an awesome anime. I only saw up to episode 6 (i think) on the anime, but I read a lot of the manga. In the manga, it goes into detailed and is much more deep. The storyline is quite original ^^ About the artwork, you can sorta tell the difference. They eith er have differnt colour hair, or ones taller, etc. Compare to Gundam SEED Destiny drawings, Fruits Basket is easier to tell the difference
I quite agree with most of your points. I'd have given the art a bit higher, although it isn't too great compared to some other anime.
I'm quite unsatisfied with the ending though...one of the anime that I wish there was a sequel............definitely should be a sequel......>_<
Well, it's supposed to be one of those slice of life anime ... So yeah, it's mostly about characters and their feelings. The manga was much better, anime left out so much, but I must admit it was very funny, except for some eps of characters I couldn't really care for, like the fangirls, lol. Nice review, I agree with you on most parts.
OK, Um... "I highly recommend to any romantics out there to give this lovely series a try!", you say...as you give it a B-... Hate to meddle, but if you want people to give it a try, give it a higher grade! If I was referring to your review to decide if I wanted to watch Fruits Basket, I would'nt watch it. I'd rather spend my cash on a show that at LEAST recieved a B+.
I fixed a spelling error and where it says "dubbed" where it should have said "subbed" ^-^
Fruits Basket is one of my current craze and i do hafta say i wished that the anime had come out much later so that it could haf included the development of the characters and spawn an even longer anime... the anime itself was interesting but it lacked detail (esp the darker side) of the characters and rather chose to concentrate on the fluffier aspects of the story... the OP and ED are still one of my faves and it really fitted the mood of the show and i tot that the ED hinted on the angst that was not revealed in the anime...
i would highly recommend the manga (a 9.5 score) which is much much more detailed... the anime (a 7.5 - 8 score) would be an added bonus to watch...
Go Fruits Basket xD
Its one of my favorite animes x))
I love this anime. Tohru is the sweetest person ever. Yuki sohma, he si the cuttest boy ever.
merged: 12-23-2005 ~ 07:47am
All the sohma's are very bautiful people.
Fruits Basket is thee beestest ^^.lol. i luv readin the manga annnd Momiji is soo cute xD
I am recently reading the manga! And it's so much better! O_O It goes into alot more details....and it only goes up to 8 in the manga (the anime) when the manga goes like...to 18. Only 12 are translated so far and Natsuki is still writing more books, I think! ^-^ I won't post any good details here.....for the people....who don't want it spoiled....but for those who do!
*Warning....spoilers ahead*
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.(...) is a girl....Shigure loves her.....Yuki kisses Tohru....but I think Tohru will choose Kyo....because...I dunno...I haven't read all of volume 18 yet!
the first time i saw this anime i was curious about the girl being with three guys in one house, but they are soooooo cute together.
i like yuki for tohru cos hes soooooo cute and very handsome......
totally i like and love fruits basket!
Fruit Basket Rocks...
i like yuki, when he's a rat.. its real cute
and kyo is also one good character
....awesome...
fruit basket is very awsome....its all in all funny and deeply emotional...
I cant
wait to read the magna now...
eveyone played a vere great part to one another
tohru was just awsome help to everyone ...
I lov Fruit Basket....
Manga = better
Anime = A little choppy.
Manga = 10
Anime = 7
yeah, I kindof agree now that I've read the manga
I read some of the books and it was pretty good! I also have the movie so it's pretty cool! It doesn't really matter to me because as long I know what's the story about it's okay with me.
the movie? Do you mean the DVD? :S