 | Starring: Yui Horie, Aya Hisakawa, Tomokazu Seki, Ryôtarô Okiayu, Yuka Imai Director: Akitarô Daichi Nagisa Miyazaki Format: Animated Colour Dubbed DVD-Video PAL Released: 07 Jun 2004 RRP: Average Rating:  |
We start off with the introduction of two new Sohmas, Momiji, the hyperactive little Rabbit, & Hatori; the stern, stoical Dragon of the Zodiac. Tohru remains living with Shigure & the boys, with her usual air of optimism. But such is the style of a show so close to 'soap-opera', the nicety isn't going to last....
Episode 8 has to be one of the most touching, but dramatic episodes in the whole series. You won't laugh, but it might just upset hopeless romantics ;). Up until this point, the show seems to have been working off the back of its charm & sentimentality. Yet there is something genuinely disquieting about the revelations made by Hatori, whose history through monologue & flashbacks take up much of episode. As he states to Tohru: "Life among [the Sohmas] is not as pleasant you may have come to believe.", so 'Fruits Basket' begins its detour away from comedy & romance. As Tohru leaves the 'ghost-town' of the Sohma estate, the episode ends with a similar sense of unease.
I much preferred the first four episodes on this disk. Episode nine reverts back to the 'cuteness', with Tohru facing New Year alone, & being saved by her 'two princes' once again (that said, the first scenes of Shigure's tormented editor are laugh-out-loud funny). Episode ten introduces yet another Sohma, the strangely likeable, but rather odd Hatsuharu. The 'Ox' of the Zodiac has a split personality, which is both funny & rather disturbing. "Somehow this has turned into a fighting anime", Tohru remarks helplessly.
Episodes 11 & 12 revolve around 'Valentine's Day', or rather, one day where the girls give presents to boys, & one day where the reverse happens. Yuki & Kyo both get too much chocolate then they can handle; Yuki's locker is full of gifts from his admirers, whereas Kyo simply can't stand to eat the huge chocolate heart Kagura has given him. In episode 12, Momiji invites Tohru to the hot-springs owned by the Sohmas, & with Kyo & Yuki in tow, be prepared for even more romantic cuteness and...questionable humour.
Overalll this is a fine continuation of the anime series. It gets five stars because it does "exactly as it says on the tin". It has comedy, romance & - from this disk on - certainly some drama.
However, I shalll supply this positive review with the same conditions as I did on my review of the first disk:
If you want any substance or philosophical message beyond "it would be a good idea to be nice to people for a change", then you should look elsewhere. On the other hand, if you're looking for a nice, fairly harmless series, then stick with this one & you won't be disappointed.
The message of the series as a whole can perhaps be summed up by a quotation from episode 8:
"Here's a question for you! When it melts, what does snow become?"
"...The answer is water, of course."
"No...it becomes Spring!"
In episode seven we had Yuki in a dress! Tohru's class decided to do an Onigiri (riceballl) stand for the festival that's coming soon, & some older students ask Yuki to wear a dress. We meet two more members of the Sohma family - Hatori & Momoji, who is a hyper boy who turns into the rabbit of the Zodiac
In episode 8 Tohru is told to come to the Sohma house by Hatori, so she does so, though is worried she will have her memories erased. Tohru finds out why Hatori does this...and it's not what she thinks. We also find out Hatori's Zodian form...
Episode 9 - The Sohma family always celebrate New Year at their big house, & there are no outsiders alllowed, so Tohru can't go. But she lets them go, even though Yuki & Kyo are reluctant to go in the first place, at the prospect of seeing Kagura & Akito. very cute ^^
Episode 10 - Yuki is ill, just before the school Marathon. Kyo wants to beat Yuki at this, but Tohru is reluctant to let Yuki go because of his illness. While running the marathon, Tohru sees another member of the Sohma family, though at the time she doesn't know it is one of them. An interesting & amusing-at-points episode.
Episode 11 - Valentines day. Tohru spends alll her money on everyone's chocolates, & Kagura gets Kyo a huge chocolate heart. Another cute episode with it's own bit of humour & sadness.
Episode 12 - Momoji invites everyone to the Sohma family hotsprings. Kyo & Yuki don't seem to want to go at first, but soon they give in & go. It's white day, & Yuki's got a present. Another extremely cute episode.
All in alll a very enjoyable DVD alll fruits basket fans will enjoy!
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