For this anime highlight, I’m going back to the old, but sweet romantic comedy called Fruits Basket.

Check out this fan made video by xXxdehxnarutardxXx on youtube:

Fruits Basket is a story of an orphan and homeless teenage girl, Tohru Honda, who stumbles across a house in the woods she is living in (in a tent I may add).  The house belongs to a Shigure Sohma, and living with him is his younger cousin and the most popular boy at Tohru’s high school, Yuki Sohma.  One night, while walking home from dinner, Yuki and Shigure find Tohru’s tent which happens to be on their land, and catch Tohru as she is coming home from her late night cleaning job.  They are shocked to learn that she is homeless.  Tohru collapses from exhaustion and Shigure quickly takes her back to his house to take care of her.  They are appalled by her living conditions, and Shigure decides to offer her a room in his house.  In exchange, Tohru offers to clean the house and cook for them which both Yuki and Shigure are awful at as she quickly learns.

Tohru Honda

Everything seems normal at first until Kyo Sohma, another member of the family, arrives.  Kyo, the outcast of the family, tries to pick a fight with Yuki, and Tohru rushes forward to stop them.  She trips and falls on Shigure, Yuki and Kyo, hugging them in the process.  Right before her eyes she watches them transform into different animals: Shigure as a dog, Yuki as a rat and Kyo as a cat.  Tohru has come to know the family secret or curse: they are all members of the chinese zodiac.  Sworn to secrecy, Tohru keeps their secret and becomes Yuki and Kyo’s friend.

Kyo and Yuki

Throughout the show, Tohru gets to meet other members of the zodiac like the hilariously obsessive (with Kyo) boar named Kagura, the cute, but trouble making rabbit named Momiji Sohma, and the bipolar cow named Hatsuharu (Haru for short).  Each come to love and respect Tohru throughout the story as friendships and love interests blossom for this once down and out young girl.

Fruits Basket is a heartwarming and funny story that has elements of drama in it.  It will make you laugh so hard you cry, and then make you bawl your head off.  Each of the characters are interesting and many have quite sad back stories.

I think the most interesting character is Tohru herself as she has one of the saddest back stories, but she never gives up or gives in to sorrow or despair.  She is always trying to push forward and do better.  At times she can be a little naive which can lead to some really hilarious encounters especially with Black Haru and Yuki’s flamboyant older brother, Ayame.

I also found myself equally rooting for both Yuki and Kyo to be with her.  Kyo’s relationship with her is a bit more rocky and tumultuous as he starts out not wanting to know her, but eventually falls in love with her.  Yuki has always been kind to her, and finds himself becoming more and more entranced with her.

What I also liked was how clean and innocent it was (except maybe for some episodes with Ayame which has more adult humor).  It was refreshing to see something that was so sweet and made you laugh your butt off.  The characters were all endearing and you found yourself quickly invested in what happened to them.

I also loved Tohru’s quirky friends like the tough Arisa Uotani (a former gang member) and Saki Hanajima (a semi psychic who can sense electric signals).  They are extremely protective of her and are shocked when they learn that she was homeless, but come to accept that she now lives with the Sohmas.  One of the funniest episodes was when they come over  to make sure the house and it’s strange inhabitants are suitable for Tohru.  This episode had me rolling as the boys of the house narrowly manage not to reveal their secret in front of Tohru’s two friends.

Saki Hanajima, Tohru Honda, Arisa Uotani

And there is some rich story telling going on in this anime as past events and memories are interwoven so well throughout the story.  It was one of the first animes I have ever seen, and it has stuck with me through all these years.  If you want something that will warm your heart, make you laugh, and cry check out Fruits Basket.