Fruits Basket, Volume 3: Puddles of Memories (Episodes 13-19)

Each episode is amusing and charming (and makes me love Kyou even more.. mmm) and, on top of that, has a nice little lesson to it. 'People get jealous because their beauty is on their backs, like the treats on a rice-ball..' It's darling. I can watch them over and over again without getting tired, and I highly prize it as one of the best of the lesser known, if not all, animes I've ever seen.

There are six episodes per DVD. In this set, you get to meet Yuki's older brother who turns into a snake, and his stories are hilarious. If you have no qualms about seeming mildly girly, I recommend Fruits Basket as a laugh-out-loud, sweet, and tear-jerking gem that can get anyone a little emotional, but most of the emotions you'll feel are happy. Certainly, none will be disappointment.


The magic continues   June 21, 2004
10 out of 10 found this review helpful

This volume of Fruits Basket unfolds much at the same pace as the previous two. We are finally properly introduced to Akito, the head of the Sohma family, and, as suspected, he is not a very reassuring person, in fact, he is downright scary. Tohru is also introduced to two other members of the Zodiac, the first being Ayame, Yuki's previously unmentionned older brother. Ayame is quite similar to Shigure, except that he is even more of a tease, much flashier and much less insightful (although he does eventually prove he can be something more than an immature show-off, if only for a few seconds). The second new character is Kisa, a little girl who desperately needs just the kind of love Tohru is capable of giving. Also, in what I found to be the least interesting episode, the Yuki Fanclub hatches a scheme to get rid of Tohru.

I rated this volume five stars, because I think it contains enough new developments and enough humour and touching moments to keep us interested, but, in comparison to the previous two volumes, my rating would probably be closer to 4 1/2 stars. For one thing, I felt Yuki got too much of the spotlight, since many of the episodes centered around his relationship with other characters, such as Akito, Ayame and the Fangirls. Kyo hardly gets any crucial moments, except in the last episode, in which he shows a rare display of affection towards Tohru. Also, although Kisa is quite a likeable character, her arrival doesn't really teach us anything new, it merely repeats the message of courage, perseverance and trust in other people's kindness. Finally, the episode with the Fangirls would have been pointless, had it not introduced Hana's little brother Megumi, who doesn't even appear after that anymore.

Nevertheless, this 3rd volume is still extremely enjoyable, as it continues to deepen the bonds between the main characters and reveal their secrets one by one. Despite not being quite as consistantly good as the first two, it remains an excellent anime, conveying the same inspiring impression of the strength and fragility of love and happiness.


A deceptively simple anime, that will draw you in.   April 11, 2003
Sherline H. Lee (Atlanta, GA USA)
8 out of 9 found this review helpful

Based on the highly popular manga (which still continues in Japan), Fruits Basket at first glance would appear to just be another shoujo (girls') anime. However, don't be misled by the pure, simple art or the episode summaries - this is an anime about how one girl's kindness and hope brings healing to a family that is isolated because of a long-standing curse upon them.

Honestly, I bought the first volume on a lark. But I was drawn in by the beauty of the characters and their interactions with one another. It's a sincere, funny anime that deftly balances angst with hope. I immediately went back out and bought the next two volumes, including the one being reviewed now.

As for the extras in these dvds, there are some really nice touches. INterviews with various staff, and various image galleries as well as textless openings.

Highly recommended. This is one series to add to your library.


More Soma Craziness   April 16, 2003
6 out of 7 found this review helpful

The third disc of Fruits Basket is the most interesting of them all so far. We get to meet Akito, the mysterious leader of the Soma family, and we're introduced to even more of the family. There's Ayame, Yuki's older brother (boy is he a trip!), and Kisa, the cute little girl who turns into a you don't think I'm actually gonna tell you do you? That would ruin it! The relationships between Toru, Kyo (the really hot one!), and Yuki are given more dimension, which is always nive :) (can you tell that I'm somewhat of a romantic?). The third disc is really good and it only leaves you wishing that you already had the fourth disc, but you'll have to wait until the end of May for that. Darn!


Not Your average Stereotype   March 26, 2004
Lee Sumtz (Somewhere, USA)
6 out of 7 found this review helpful

When you first see Fruits Basket, you think that it must be a soft, gentle, childs anime, and that it might not be a worthwhile investment. You might think that the plot is not meaningful, and that it might just be a waste of money. Boy, are you wrong. In this DVD, there are three episodes, where Tohru, who has more love in her heart then brains in her head ( not that I respect people who make fun of her- that's childish), Does many things. She meets two new members of the Sohma family, Ayame and Kisa. She goes on another vacation trip- to a lake. She fails an exam. And, celebrates (no joke) the aniversary of her mother's death. But, that's not what makes you want to watch it. The title, Puddles of Memories, is definately justified. For those who saw the second DVD and were looking for more romance won't find it here (except with Shigure and Ayame- lol), besides for something nice Kyo actually does for Tohru (clue- hhe over comes a fear of something that is a green vegetable). It deals with a revelation of Momiji's that connects him to Tohru, the saddening story of Kisa, which relates to Yuki as well, and clues to why Akito is so feared (not many- and feared by Yuki only). Otherwise, this DVDis hilariously funny. There are the joke like always, except now we have Ayame, classmate of SHigure and Hatori, in which all three of them play off eachother perfectly (plus Haru in the bathroom). There are not many things talking about the curse, like how Kagure mentioned Kyo's other form (in DVD 1), except for something Yuki says in teh episode with Kisa. Overall, this DVD is more then it seems, and it would be wise to pick one up.