Fruits Basket (2019)
Fruits basket (2019) is a Japanese animated series serving as an adaptation of the critically acclaimed and bestselling manga series written by Natsuki Takaya. Produced by TMS Entertainment, the oldest and most famous anime studio in Japan, and directed by the much vaunted Yoshihide Ibata of Attack on Titan (2013), Fruits Basket premiered in April 2019 with its first season. The third and final season is set to premiere in April 2021.
What is the story all about?
The story follows Honda Tohru, a nearly homeless teenager, who is taken in by the Soma family. She learns that the twelve family members are possessed by the animal spirits of the Chinese zodiac and cursed for transforming into animal forms when they are weak or hugged by the opposite sex. But this is not the only burden that the Somas shoulder as each and everyone of them carry some kind of heartache that is no different from what normal people experience; being shunned by one’s parents, loss of loved ones, not having a place to call home makes the zodiac curse the least of their worries.
Honda Tohru is always cheerfull; someone who literally radiates warmth and positivity. She smiles wholeheartedly, rushes for helping others and seems contended with the way her life is. But that is only the surface view, for her past is a tale of tragedies: losing both of her parents at an age when she needed their support the most and being ill-treated by the relatives who were supposed to take care of her. She bears all this in her heart yet faces despair with optimism. No matter how demanding her day to day struggles are, she persists with a smile. Her determination is unwavering and she forces her way forward to achieve an endearing life; a life where her sufferings are replaced with joyous moments. Having a caring and selfless personality, she desires the same for all the Somas.
What I think about the show:
Fruits Basket does an excellent job at portraying its complex themes and speaking to the viewer on a personal level. It is an impressively layered show; even when it focuses on the development of a particular character, it never loses sight of its core themes, something most ‘slice of life’ anime fail to accomplish. It teaches important life lessons not by lecturing but through unforced character developments and interactions. It preaches tolerance and emphasizes on the need to understand the perspective of others and it does so by using unconventional means.
The synopsis may give the impression that this series is a depressing tear-jerker but the show finds its essence elsewhere. It shrouds the dark themes with its overall light and relaxing nature. The encounters between the characters are hilarious and the top-notch comedy never disappoints. The positive energy of the voice actors also shines through.
The animation is just what you would expect from a major studio: amazingly fluent with almost no usage of still-frames. The art style is captivating and attention to the details is consistent throughout the show.
The OST in the series is composed by the most celebrated man in anime music industry, Masaru Yokoyama. They fit the scenery amazingly well and add to the emotional appeal of the show. The OST along with the opening and ending themes perfectly capture the essence of the series and are arguably the best in anime music history due to their uniquely soothing and heart warming melody.
In a nutshell, Fruits Basket is not only important for its entertainment value but it is much more than that. It is a journey with the show’s characters; a journey of emotional development which teaches a person to cope with the harships of life and understand the value of bonds between people around them. Cannot wait for the final season.