Tohru Honda is relentlessly kind and optimistic—so much so that one would never expect that she was practically homeless, working constantly and living on her own in a tent after the death of her mother. However, after her shelter is buried under a mudslide, a more permanent place is offered as a home, living with a family with a most unique connection to the animals of the zodiac.
Fruits Basket holds a dear place for so many anime fans of a certain age…I’m so glad that it’s been remade for a new generation, though strangely enough, it may be us older folks that enjoy it even more. My experience with the series is relatively minimal, having read most of the manga and watched a few episodes of the anime, but even I was struck by how this initial episode captured the feel of the manga—by the end of it, I’d both experienced teary eyes and a wide smile. Both for newcomers and those who have waited all these years to see the anime close out properly, this is going to be a special, special ride.
I should note that I watched the dub for episode one. It was excellent—Laura Bailey remains just the right actress to play Tohru, and the dialogue, too, felt so natural that in a series that’s so Japanese-y, I’d quickly forgotten I was watching a dub. Recommended!
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The dub for Fruits Basket can be streamed on Funimation.