It’s been a long time for me since the original Fruits Basket anime (not as long as it’s been in existence, but long just the same), and almost as long since I read the manga. So sometimes the memories are a little slow in coming back, and because this new series is subtly (and sometimes not subtly) different to the first one, my perception is oddly conflicted – something just feels like it isn’t quite right. But we’re far enough in now that I feel as if I’m getting a pretty good handle on how the franchise sits with me, and where the 2019 fits into that.
In a sense, this is almost a Hunter X Hunter situation. We had a popular anime which was a less faithful adaptation of the source material, followed by another more faithful anime many years later. But because the first anime was many viewers’ first experience, to them it’s canon, not the manga. It’s all subjective of course, but my feeling is that with Hunter X Hunter the more faithful second series is better off for it (and better generally, in that case) but it’s just the opposite with Furuba. Is that because the first anime was my introduction to FB? Maybe – as I said, subjective – but I think there’s more to it than that.
What I can say is this: for me, Fruits Basket is a manga that has its ups and downs, as most do. When the anime are adapting the stronger material, they’re pretty much on solid ground, and I don’t see a lot of difference. But when the material is a little bit weaker – as this week’s source chapter was in my opinion – that’s where the dropoff from the first anime to this one really shows itself. I think Furuba can be a little self-indulgent at times, and too fond of its own self-perceived poignancy – and when that happens it founders. Akitarou seemed to have a keen sense of where those pitfalls were, and work his way through them seamlessly. Unfortunately that earned him (and the 2001) the eternal enmity of Takaya Natsuki, who probably and quite naturally believes everything about the manga is great as is.
It’s not so much that I disliked this episode, but that I was bored with it. This is really low-hanging fruit (pun intended) for Takaya, playing on our heartstrings and flogging the poor little orphan Tohru angle to the hilt. Honda-san’s friends are great but they’re also a bit one-note in that they totally play into this side of the story, and it – and they – come off as a little condescending towards the protagonist at times because of it. In truth Tohru’s story isn’t in the top tier as Fruits Basket arcs go – it’s far more simplistic and primary-colored than the better Sohma arcs – but because she is the lead of course it’s never far from the spotlight. Maybe this was another area where the 2001 benefitted from personnel, and Horie Yui’s almost-superhuman performance elevated her character beyond what was given to it on the page.
Apart from that, the New Year’s angle is surprisingly anti-climactic, given how important it is to the whole zodiac mythology. Yuki and Kyou both are reluctant to go to the estate for the holiday, for different reasons. The exclusion of the cat from the New Year’s banquet is a pretty big deal (duh). Honda-san tells everyone she’s just fine staying at Shigeru’s house alone (her family is spending the New Years holiday in Hawaii) and truthfully, I think she probably would have been. But Saki shames Kyou and Yuki into going back, which they both wanted to do anyway. And not just because of the mochi either (though mochi choking is a legitimate health problem here).
Overall, this is pretty sentimental and borderline saccharine stuff – as I said, low-hanging fruit. Indeed, the most interesting moments of the episode are seeming throwaways – the introduction of a new Sohma (I’ll cover him when his intro proper hits) and Shigure’s rather hard reaction at seeing Akito miserable about Yuki not coming home for New Year. There’s more to the stronger characters in Fruits Basket than it seems on the surface, and Shigure is definitely one of the stronger characters.
Yukie
May 25, 2019 at 3:20 pmAs someone who didn’t watch the first anime or read the manga, I was also quite bored with this episode. In fact, it reminded me of why I didn’t watch the first anime in the first place. The whole premise of the heroine declining help from/acting strong in front of her female friends and then having her weakness revealed/getting in trouble so the male protagonist(s) can swoop in to save her is one of my least favorite shoujo tropes. Still, so far I’m enjoying this series a lot more than I expected even with all its flaws. In fact, possibly even a little bit more than the other shoujo trope-laden show this season, Kono Oto Tomare. I’m actually very tempted to go back and watch the old Fruits Basket, since I am a big fan of Hocchan, but am afraid it’ll ruin my experience of this new version.
As someone who enjoyed the first HxH very much and thought the beginning of the new HxH very rushed in comparison, I think old Fruits Basket fans will just have to wait for the new, uncovered material to come out. And since Fruits Basket isn’t HxH, there will be more dips and drops before then.
Guardian Enzo
May 25, 2019 at 9:33 pmI would hate to think of someone never experiencing the first Furuba, and not only because of Hochan’s performance (as incredible as it is). But yes, probably a better idea to wait until this one ends first, as I fear its flaws will be more obvious after watching the first series.
leongsh
May 26, 2019 at 12:08 amThis. This is the problem of Furuba. It has no subtlety about it. Even the OP is like a blunt hammer bludgeoning exhorting us to “Cry, dammit, cry.”
Marty
May 26, 2019 at 9:52 amSo, in a sense, could Fruit Baskets be considered like the Dragon Ball of modern shoujo romance? A series that became extremely influential within its own genre but still an imperfect product of its time? (At least regarding the manga, since the Fruit Baskets of 2001 sounds like it emphasized the manga’s strengths and minimized its weaknesses)
Guardian Enzo
May 26, 2019 at 10:15 amThat might not be a bad comparison. Down to the point where it gets criticized by newer viewers for using tropes it actually invented (or at least popularized).
Of course, IMHO Furuba is a better example of its breed than DB is of its breed. But that’s just subjective opinion.
ZillaGrrl
May 27, 2019 at 4:27 amOne of the things I find myself really missing are the swipes or eye catches or whatever they are called.
This version of the anime seems quite slow, boring, and a little annoying; but so did the original anime version the last time I watched it. Hopefully it will seem less so once they get beyond the previous anime.
Guardian Enzo
May 27, 2019 at 7:47 amWatch Mix, it’s got you covered in that department.
Gonna be a while before we lap the first anime.
Joseph Cates
May 27, 2019 at 2:07 pmSo far I like the original better than the 2019. I can feel more with the original then the 2019 version. I’m a never a fan of remakes. I saw a Child’s Play trailer and I am not very happy about a remake of Child’s Play. You cannot beat the originals. And I was talking about me the Original fruit baskets baskets vs 2019 fruit baskets.
coriolisky
May 28, 2019 at 11:09 am“Akitarou seemed to have a keen sense of where those pitfalls were, and work his way through them seamlessly. Unfortunately that earned him (and the 2001) the eternal enmity of Takaya Natsuki, who probably and quite naturally believes everything about the manga is great as is.”
This does not seem like an objective or fair estimation of what happened. A lot of Furuba 2001’s memorable qualities — the outstanding seiyuu cast, for one — were insisted on by Takaya. Daichi wanted to use more unknown seiyuu, as he tends towards in general.
They found working with each other exhausting, and even though I love the old Furuba anime, it’s strange to assume that the friction was caused entirely by Takaya.
Guardian Enzo
May 28, 2019 at 11:31 amI never suggested it was. What I suggested is that the scorched earth policy of avoiding any connection to the original anime comes entirely from Takaya.
coriolisky
May 29, 2019 at 8:44 amThe numerous comments you’ve made as to why Takaya was upset with Daichi suggest otherwise.
Onix Franceschini
May 29, 2019 at 2:40 amI’ve never watched or read Furuba before watching the 2019 edition. How close are we to lapping the first anime, out of curiosity?
Guardian Enzo
May 29, 2019 at 6:41 amIt should happen around the end of the second cour.
aldeayeah
June 25, 2019 at 6:57 pmOne think I’m liking better in this adaptation is the characterization of Shigure. In the original adaptation he was extremely buffoonish, but here you can take him more seriously. Here, in fact, he looks manipulative, even mean, in a way he never did.
aggies11
June 26, 2019 at 11:54 pmInteresting. While I agree with the observation, I have an entirely opposite personal reaction to it. Shigure was my favorite character from the 2001 version, as while his buffoon-ish antics were used for comedic effect (and enjoyable), they also seemed to be used as a thinly veiled mask of his ulterior motives. I found it an interesting contrast, and enjoyable to watch as the characters seemed focused on his sillyness, while we the viewers could see more closely what was going on. In almost every episode, if you watch closely, he is manipulating the various characters towards his own purposes, which as the viewer you hope is ultimately beneficial, but are never quite sure.
In this remake, I find him a bit less interesting as it’s laid out quite obviously that he is up to something, but there is way less ambiguitiy about it and so maybe less suspense. He more plainly states his intentions. And then when some comedic lines are thrust upon him (joking that Harry might be up to no good with Tohru) they seem awkward and unfitting with his current portrayal.
In general from the 2001 serious I really enjoyed the over the top, almost slapstick bits of humor, as it really helps add some levity to what could be a very emotionally draining subject matter. The topics of this show could be quite heavy and morose if just laid out bare without anything else.
But again, it’s hard to compare with nostalgia, and I’m interested to see what direction the remake takes.
Guardian Enzo
June 27, 2019 at 6:37 amPretty much in the same boat. I never had any doubt Shigure was using his clownish exterior as a front, and I’d never read the manga at that time.