Fruits Basket Episode 2 Review: They're All Animals

Fruits Basket aired its second episode last week. I have already watched the first two episodes during the premiere screening some time back in March, but I still loved to see the whole greatness of it once again, especially since during the screening the opening and ending parts were missing. And I LOVE the ending and adore the opening. In case you are curious about the stage event report and what the voice actors talked about, check it out in the link:

Fruits Basket Preview Screening Event Report

Please be aware that I will not keep these reviews spoiler-free in any way. Proceed with caution and read them only after you have watched the episode or if you don’t mind being told every little detail about it.

Japanese Title: みなさんが動物なんです！(Minnasan ga Doubutsu nan desu!)

Episode 2–They’re All Animals!

Tohru’s eyes are nearly popping when she finds herself with a rat, a cat, and a dog instead of Yuki, Kyo, and Shigure. When she tries to find help, the postman comes but completely misunderstands her and leaves, just in time for the animals to turn back into humans. They explain that their family is cursed and some members of the family will turn into animals whenever they get hugged by a person of the other sex. Tohru can process the news and just in time realizes that they are late for school. At school, Yuki calls her into an empty classroom to talk about their secret and that they might erase her memories, which Tohru takes in unexpectedly well. She understands the need of protecting such a big secret. When they come home, they hear that Kyo will also go to their school from now on which neither Kyo nor Yuki seem to like particularly much. Kyo’s first day at school could also go better, since he is surrounded by girls and panics when one of them touches him. On top of that he directs his anger ,once again, at Tohru who thinks he hates her now. The two of them are off to a rough start.

Highlights

Kyo dokidoki

Ah… I have a weakness for guys with a temper who instantly regret their fiery response and want to fix it but their pride plays in and they still try to do the right thing so they do it while blushing and being even more angry, but mostly at themselves. Kyo was WAY too cute: how he turned away, covered his face, blushed… I squealed. Loudly. 100% highlight material

Yuki dokidoki

Yuki’s soft side came out when he called out for Tohru in the empty classroom. He hates his family so much, the ‘cage’ he is sitting in that might have Tohru lose he memories. So he smashes the wall. And who DOESN’T like a good kabe-don? I loved it.

Is it just me or does Yuki start to fall in love with her there? At first he was only upset because his family would take another friend and nice person out of his life. But then she fixed his necktie and they talked about two different things… I think that’s when Yuki’s tender feelings for Tohru kicked in. A precious moment. I hope the Prince Yuki-Fanclub won’t realize that she went home with him…

Yuki vs Kyo

Yuki can fight. Kyo can fight too, but has no chance. Somehow I like how they fight.

Shigure

How he takes care of Tohru-kun was so nice. I just like how he is a bit sexy while still not making it pervy-creepy. It’s just how he is.

Top comedy

There was a lot of comedy in this episode. My top favorite moments were: Hana-chan running after the Yuki-Fanclub, Kyo smashing the table onto Tohru’s forehead, the dog stamping the package and Tohru smashing her bag in Kyo’s face.

Comments and Trivia

Bamboo Wood

I’m sorry if this is random, but I love the bamboo wood background when they go back to the Soma house. There are some forests like that in Japan, though I have mostly seen them around temples, which doesn’t mean much, since I live in the big city of Osaka and don’t get out much.

Dokidoki Barometer

If you don’t know yet, dokidoki is the sound a heart makes when it beats faster in (romantic) excitement. This episode, Yuki takes the crown again. I love Kyo and how shy he gets and I definitely squealed more in his scene because I was unable to contain its many feels. But there were more moments with Yuki. The wall, how he blushed when she fixed the necktie, when he starts to beat up Kyo whenever he is not nice to Tohru, how he says he will pick her up from work… My heart is beating faster as I think of him. I will decide on a Dokidoki Barometer winner each week from now on!

COMING NEXT: Let’s Play Rich Man-Poor Man