Sep 21, 2019
Disclaimer, I have never seen the original Fruits Basket or read the manga, so this is my first time being exposed, you could say, to the Fruits Basket franchise. Twitter blew up on this show, so I figured I wanted to check it out and see what and who this adorable Tohru Honda is, all these cute zodiac animals, and of course all the friendships and shoujo things that are going to happen.
Ok. Where has this franchise been my entire life??? I've been living under a rock.
At first, I thought this show was going to be a cute shoujo series for shoujo lovers, which,
...
honestly, I wouldn't have minded (lol) but before I knew it there was SO much more in store. Each of the characters (even the supporting ones!) have such a darker, more complex backstory that I wouldn't have even thought they would have. And that is one of the reasons why Fruits Basket 2019 is such an amazing show; their characters are so well written and have to confront their dark pasts and traumatic experiences and display a different look on the outside.
Not only does Fruits Basket have so many lessons that viewers can learn, but viewers can come to understand and even learn things about themselves through experiencing the characters' backstories. I believe the difference between a good show and a great show is that through character development, it teaches you lessons and changes viewers for the better. Tohru creates an analogy about a plum in a rice ball which in a shortened summary, teaches about how we get jealous of others because we can see the plum [skills, talents, achievements, etc.] on the other person's back, but we can't see our own plum. Everything has something amazing about themselves, so there's no point in doubting yourself in something. This analogy is so meaningful, it may seem dumb at first, but as you look into it deeper it displays a crucial lesson that everyone can take to the heart.
The characters in this show are memorable and lovely. Even though she may be a small high school girl, Tohru Honda is one of the strongest characters I've ever met. She has a warm heart and is determined to help others; her meaningful words and soft smiles even broke Kyo's hard shell formed from jealousy, trauma, and loneliness. Tohru's interactions with other Zodiac members even brought me to tears sometimes. Even though most times she can't help with their problems, her being there and comforting them helps them immensely. Her soft aura is so charming; it's so hard to not like her when Tohru is so sweet and caring.
The first opening, "Again" by Beverly, is stunning. Most openings are filled with action or a small glance at a crucial moment in the series, but the opening is surprisingly soft, which captures the feeling of the show perfectly. "Chime" by Ai Otsuka is great too, the recurring idea of umbrellas and that one shot of Tohru grasping Yuki and Kyo's hands and tossing away their umbrellas is so heartwarming and wholesome. The endings are awesome as well; they fit the aesthetic of the show and honestly, they make me really emotional too! Maybe I'm just weird, but whatever chord or key the songs are in always just make me tear up or want to cry. T-T
Again, I haven't seen the original anime, so I have no say in whether to see the original series first or watch the 2019 version. However, I can definitely say this: I love this series, and this show is so memorable!! Fruits Basket evokes a lot of emotions that I didn't even know that could spill out, and there are countless times where I've cried, smiled, screamed, and everything in between. It is a beautiful show, and I encourage all those who are wondering if they should watch to check Fruits Basket (2019) out. You definitely won't regret it!
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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