Akitaro Daichi's 2001 anime adaptation of Natsuki Takaya's shojo manga series focuses on high-school student Tohru Honda, an orphan who is invited by her ultra-popular classmate, “Prince” Yuki Sohma, to come live with him and his cousin Shigure as their housekeeper. They are quickly joined by another family member, Kyo, Yuki's incorrigible rival. Tohru soon learns that the Sohmas suffer under a curse: family members are possessed by animals of the Chinese zodiac, which they morph into under physical stress—the latter naturally including being embraced by someone of the opposite sex. Kind-hearted Tohru tries to help Yuki, Kyo, and Shigure—and other family visitors—to accept themselves, just as she has accepted them. The plot allows for the juxtaposition of fantasy, action, romance, and comedy, and the animation style is generally very pleasing. While individual episodes are engaging, the series does lack a strong overall narrative arc, and the momentum sometimes flags. Fruits Basket is nonetheless a pleasant series that should especially appeal to its target audience of teen girls. Presenting all 26 episodes in a dual-language Blu-ray edition, rated TV-PG, extras include an episode video commentary by the English voice cast, a behind-the-scenes featurette, interviews, audition excerpts, bloopers, and stills galleries. Recommended. (F. Swietek)
Fruits Basket: The Complete Series
(2001) 4 discs. 650 min. Blu-ray: $69.98. Funimation (avail. from most distributors). Volume 32, Issue 6
Fruits Basket: The Complete Series
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