Fruits Basket

Episode Count	63 (25 in Season 1)
Season	Spring 2019
Genres	Drama, Romance, School, Shoujo, Supernatural
Source Material	Manga
Rating	TV-14
Streaming	TBD

A cheerful teenage girl named Tohru Honda is living in a tent in the woods on land owned by the wealthy Sohma family when Yuki and Shigure Sohma discover her. They invite her to come live with them and she takes on the role of their housekeeper but she soon finds out this house keeps many secrets. The black sheep of the family: Kyo Sohma has returned to challenge to another fight and his sudden entrance reveals that some members of the Sohma family turn into animals of the zodiac when they are embraced by the opposite sex. Tohru finds herself willingly wrapped up in their family drama as she meets all the others afflicted by the curse.

Fruits Basket was my first real taste of anime that wasn't hyper-fighting or giant robots. I picked up the DVD on a whim because 7 episodes for 25 dollars was such a bargain for an anime DVD at the time and I instantly fell in love. Tohru is a wonderful protagonist. She's so earnest, caring and thoughtful and her reactions to absurd circumstances are always a riot. And you'll be hard pressed not to enjoy the dynamic of the Sohma boys as well as other members of the family and Tohru's friends. It's a phenomenal cast you can't help but find endearing. The original anime remains fantastic and well worth experiencing but I think the 2019 anime is even better.

- Sketch