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The Complete Fruit Baskets Boxset (PG)
01/05/2007 . Source: Phil Jones 
Region2 DVD: pub: Revelation Films/Funimation. FUN 72104. 4 DVDs 650 minutes 26 * 24 minute episodes plus extras. Price: £49.99 (UK). English/Japanese (English dolby Digital 5.1/2.0 Japanese Dolby digital 2.0). Buy The Complete Fruit Baskets in the USA - or Buy The Complete Fruit Baskets in the UK  check out website: www.revfilms.com and www.fruits-basket.com
I'm a relative newbie to anime. The one thing that is really starting to strike me is the sheer diversity of the genre. I really don't like to pigeon-hole but if I had to you could describe 'Fruit Baskets' as a comedy with mild romantic overtones but that would be only half the picture.
The story revolves around a 16/17 year-old girl called Honda Tohru. She lost her father as she was growing up and only recently lost her mother, Ka-san, in a road accident. She is meant to be staying with her grandpa, but he's having his house fixed and repaired. She tells him she will stay with school friends while the work is being done but, rather than troubling anyone, sets up a tent on what she thinks is empty land.
Sohma Yuki is the 'Prince Charming' of her school. He is pursued by a fan club, consisting of some of the girls in the school. They have their own code of conduct when it comes to Sohma Yuki and expect other girls to conform to it, even if they're not a member of the fan club. Honda Tohru has a fondness for Sohma Yuki, but she never acts on it. Yuki, though, tends to avoid much contact with the school girls. Unbeknownst to Tohru, her tent is on Sohma Yuki's doorstep and on Sohma's land.
When Yuki and Shigure stumble upon Tohru and find out about her situation, they offer to take her in and give her somewhere to stay. Tohru tells them she has little money to spare as she is spending nearly all her earning on her school fees so offers to cook and clean for the Sohmas. Still, deeply close to her mother, she doesn't want to fall back on her promise to her mum to keep up with her schoolwork. She also meets Kyo who is, to say the least, a little bit touchy and volatile. Tohru begins to organise the three of them and shows she is an excellent cook.
Below the surface, the Sohmas have a dark secret. Their family is cursed. If they are stressed or touched by the opposite sex, they transform into an animal from the Chinese zodiac. The first few episodes exploit this with plenty of accidental collisions resulting in regular transformations. They return to normal after a while, but the family are obviously weary of outsiders finding out. Normally, anyone who finds out about the family secret has their memory wiped. Tohru, though, is accepted into this secret knowledge, although certain extended members of the Sohma family aren't happy with her knowing the family secret. Yuki, Shugure and Kyo all come to rely on Tohru not just for household chores but on an emotional and calming level. Also, the Sohma Yuki fan club is none too happy with Tohru's close association with Yuki.
As the series progresses, we encounter the characters who encompass the twelve Chinese zodiac characters and the cat, who's sorry history is explained with a beautifully drawn explanation of the mythical tale. Each character takes on some of their respected animal traits along with their mythological roles and interactions. Shigure, the dog has a carefree, happy-go-lucky attitude. As in the zodiac tale, Yuki the rat and Kyo the cat fight continually often to comical effect. Shigure's, a novelist, avoidance of his editor and his lack of a finished manuscript is highly amusing. The Sohma family has some eccentric and flamboyant characters which leads to unstable reactions when family members meet.
This is where this anime shines with its humour and comedy elements. It'll have you laughing out loud, initially at the transformations but later on the interaction and introduction of the characters. Surprisingly, the whole animal Chinese zodiac transformations almost fall into the background when so easily it could have been heavily relied on to propel the series. It's the characters, their personalities and there daily struggles that provide the depth and enjoyment of this series. There is little or no plot but the series just works so well. There is hidden depth and meaning that you wouldn't first expect in a series like this. The complexities of the main cast are beautifully drawn out and explored.
This does lead to one the series failings. As we fly through the different characters and the associated animal forms, some are just fleetingly explored. That's not to say any of the characters are lightweight or lacking. Oddball some yes but not without depth but this in effect is the problem, it just leaves you wanting to know more.
There's enough of the family mythology explored to keep you up to speed but enough mystery to keep you on your seat. The lack of any real linear plot is more than made up by the numerous interesting characters. Tohru fits into the usual anime school-girl image but I think her character goes way beyond what is normally portrayed in anime.
The animation is well drawn with some beautiful backgrounds. There is some clever play with drawing and animation styles which keep a freshness to the visuals. The music suits the series well although occasionally falls into the background a bit too much. The English dubbing and voice acting is superb. The casting is spot on and all the characters sound just how you would expect.
Extras include the making of the series along with character profiles and interviews with the Japanese voice artists and director. The director in his interview hints at the possibly of another series if he's offered.
This anime doesn't have any huge battle scenes, explosions, huge mech-warriors or the like. What is does have is a huge bag of interesting characters which you can encounter and find out about as the series progresses. I think this series would be a good introduction to Japanese anime. It has a wonderfully relaxed feel, but there is still plenty of depth to explore.
Phil Jones
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