Fruits Basket

This post comes to us from guest blogger Cat Penny...

Tohru Honda is a highly optimistic girl, despite being an orphan. Because of her desire to not burden anyone, and determined to finish high school, Tohru balances a part-time job and school. Things become more difficult for her when her grandpa has his house remodeled, and Tohru must find somewhere else to stay. Not wanting to impose on her friends, she ends up pitching a tent on a forested hillside until she can return to her grandpa’s.

Enter the Sohmas. A family plagued by an ancient curse that turns 13 of its members into animals from the Chinese Zodiac, they are very wary of outsiders. (Understandable, since getting hugged by a member of the opposite gender will turn them into their animal form!). Tohru unknowingly pitches her tent on the property of two of these Sohmas: Shigure, the lecherous dog of the Zodiac; and Tohru’s classmate, Yuki, the rat.

Shigure and Yuki eventually stumble upon her tent, and bring Tohru back to their less-than-spotless house. They invite her to stay with them until she can move back in with her grandpa, and in exchange for this hospitality, Tohru cooks their meals and cleans their kitchen. Although Tohru is a girl, Yuki and Shigure are confident they can keep their secret from her.

Boy, are they wrong.

Things go well until Kyo Sohma, the vengeful cat of the Zodiac, appears, looking to fight his rival, Yuki. Surprised by this turn of events, Tohru accidentally hugs him, revealing the secret of the Sohma family.

Whoops.

Things only get worse when she falls into Yuki and Shigure, transforming them as well. However, she is allowed to stay, as long as she keeps the family secret. Excited to meet more Zodiac members, she soon gets her wish with the arrival of Kagura, the seemingly innocent girl who becomes completely psychotic when in the presence of her love, Kyo. Angered that he didn’t call her during his four-month disappearance, Kagura shows how much she missed him by promptly throwing him through a wall. One event leads to another, and Kagura ends up transforming into her Zodiac animal—the boar.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and Tohru returns to her grandpa’s. No one is happy with this arrangement, and the men sorely miss her good-natured kindness (not to mention her cooking!). At her grandpa’s, Tohru is met with hostile relatives, and is only saved when Yuki and Kyo, fed up with her not being around, track her down and bring her back with them.

So, why would Ron like Fruits Basket? Well, with impending doom upon the wizarding world and nearly fatal adventures with his best friends, he could probably use a good comedy. Plus, he could understand the whole person-becoming-animal thing since he’s met a few. Then there’s the expansive Sohma family with which he could relate (his family is massive, after all), and the close friendships. All in all, it’s the perfect series for him!

Besides, Ron likes rats, doesn’t he?