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Fruits Basket

"The animation in Fruits Basket is exquisite.”

By Lita Cho

For those who are aren’t familiar with anime (Japanese animation), you may think they’re just cartoons made for little kids. Okay, so let me level with you. There are all kinds of anime and they all target different audiences. There are some that are specifically made for kids, but much of it is actually for an older audience.

Cowboy Bebop is a good example. That show deals with complex plots, guns, violence, and drugs. Definitely not for kids. Revolutionary Girl Utena is another show that is not suitable for kids. More complex plots, lots of symbolism and major manipulation is involved in this show. And I don’t mean the kiddy kind of manipulation; I mean manipulation like the kind that was featured in the movie Cruel Intentions. But that’s what makes the shows interesting.

In addition to complex plots, anime have a unique technique that makes the shows even more interesting. I have never seen this before in any other cartoon. When an anime has a very serious scene, it is drawn very realistically to illustrate the sense of drama and seriousness. But when a comedy scene follows in the same episode, the characters are exaggerated and their emotions are overly dramatized. This technique is used in Fruits Basket, a show made for teenage girls. It is a 26 episode series (which is not that long), based on the comic book by Takaya Natsuki.

In the beginning of the series you see Honda Tohru living alone in a tent in the forest near her school because she has lost her mother in a car accident. Never a quitter, she strives to honor her mother's memory and work hard to do the best she can with her life. One day, she happens across a house in the woods near her tent. The residents, Sohma Yuki and his older cousin Shigure, aren't total strangers. Yuki is the hottest guy in Tohru’s school. Yuki and Shigure totally object to Tohru living in a tent so they offer her a place to stay at their home. In the next episode Kyo, an orange haired boy with a bad temper, comes back from his four month training in the jungle. It is somehow decided that Kyo will live with Yuki, Shigure and Tohru. It is then that Tohru learns of the Sohma’s family secret involving the Chinese Zodiac.

At first, I thought Fruits Basket would be a light kiddy show, but halfway through I was so into it that I forgot what life was outside of my house. The plot is very light at first, but gets deeper and more serious. The challenges the character goes through are very unique. The emotional pain from the past still lingers on in some of the characters, but through friendship and caring, they somehow get through it and find happiness. There are also self-esteem issues like hiding the ugly side of yourself from the people you care about.

The series contains a mix of drama and comedy with a touch of romance. I was laughing uncontrollably in parts of the series, and in other parts, tears started falling down my cheek. The messages in the show are very positive, and it gave me a new perspective of life, sad memories and self-image.

The animation in Fruits Basket is exquisite. The emotions are drawn very well and each of the character’s design was art in itself. They have different styles of clothes. Kyo’s raver pants look very cool and Momiji’s French-style clothing are very cute. Each character has their quirks and uniqueness. They have complex personalities and as the show goes on, you learn more and more about their personalities.

The only thing I disliked about the series was the ending. The ending was very abrupt and I hate those kinds of endings. But it also leaves you wondering if there will be another season. The comic is still going on in Japan, so after watching Fruits Basket, I really wanted to read the comic book.

Overall, I would recommend this show to anyone who wants a good laugh and is looking for new insights in life. However, if you are not into uplifting shows and think they’re kind of corny, there are plenty of different types of anime out there. If you’re into action, I recommend Rurouni Kenshin and Dragon Ball Z. If you are into political drama, Gundam Wing is the way to go. If you enjoy historical fiction, Grave of the Fireflies is a perfect anime based on WWII. There are sci-fi, romance, comedy, drama and so on.

Anime can be for anyone. There are so many kinds of anime out there that can suit your interests. So don’t think anime is just for kids.

— Lita Cho is a high school senior and lives in Alameda, California.