Fruits Basket 2 - What Becomes Of Snow? [DVD]

I have been renting the 'Fruits Basket' series in order to see those episodes which I missed when I originally watched it. This disk, as opposed to the first, sets a nice contrast between the 'rom-com' and (melo)dramatic, darker side to the series.

We start off with the introduction of two new Sohmas, Momiji, the hyperactive little Rabbit, and Hatori; the stern, stoical Dragon of the Zodiac. Tohru remains living with Shigure and the boys, with her usual air of optimism. But such is the style of a show so close to 'soap-opera', the nicety isn't going to last....

Episode 8 has to be one of the most touching, but dramatic episodes in the whole series. You won't laugh, but it might just upset hopeless romantics ;). Up until this point, the show seems to have been working off the back of its charm and sentimentality. Yet there is something genuinely disquieting about the revelations made by Hatori, whose history through monologue and flashbacks take up much of episode. As he states to Tohru: "Life among [the Sohmas] is not as pleasant you may have come to believe.", so 'Fruits Basket' begins its detour away from comedy and romance. As Tohru leaves the 'ghost-town' of the Sohma estate, the episode ends with a similar sense of unease.

I much preferred the first four episodes on this disk. Episode nine reverts back to the 'cuteness', with Tohru facing New Year alone, and being saved by her 'two princes' once again (that said, the first scenes of Shigure's tormented editor are laugh-out-loud funny). Episode ten introduces yet another Sohma, the strangely likeable, but rather odd Hatsuharu. The 'Ox' of the Zodiac has a split personality, which is both funny and rather disturbing. "Somehow this has turned into a fighting anime", Tohru remarks helplessly.

Episodes 11 and 12 revolve around 'Valentine's Day', or rather, one day where the girls give presents to boys, and one day where the reverse happens. Yuki and Kyo both get too much chocolate then they can handle; Yuki's locker is full of gifts from his admirers, whereas Kyo simply can't stand to eat the huge chocolate heart Kagura has given him. In episode 12, Momiji invites Tohru to the hot-springs owned by the Sohmas, and with Kyo and Yuki in tow, be prepared for even more romantic cuteness and...questionable humour.

Overall this is a fine continuation of the anime series. It gets five stars because it does "exactly as it says on the tin". It has comedy, romance and - from this disk on - certainly some drama.

However, I shall supply this positive review with the same conditions as I did on my review of the first disk:
If you want any substance or philosophical message beyond "it would be a good idea to be nice to people for a change", then you should look elsewhere. On the other hand, if you're looking for a nice, fairly harmless series, then stick with this one and you won't be disappointed.

The message of the series as a whole can perhaps be summed up by a quotation from episode 8:

"Here's a question for you! When it melts, what does snow become?"
"...The answer is water, of course."
"No...it becomes Spring!"

I enjoyed this DVD much more than the first one. We are introduced to some new characters, and there's the mix of humour, sadness and enjoyment that Fruits Basket is so good for.

In episode seven we had Yuki in a dress! Tohru's class decided to do an Onigiri (riceball) stand for the festival that's coming soon, and some older students ask Yuki to wear a dress. We meet two more members of the Sohma family - Hatori and Momoji, who is a hyper boy who turns into the rabbit of the Zodiac

In episode 8 Tohru is told to come to the Sohma house by Hatori, so she does so, though is worried she will have her memories erased. Tohru finds out why Hatori does this...and it's not what she thinks. We also find out Hatori's Zodian form...

Episode 9 - The Sohma family always celebrate New Year at their big house, and there are no outsiders allowed, so Tohru can't go. But she lets them go, even though Yuki and Kyo are reluctant to go in the first place, at the prospect of seeing Kagura and Akito. very cute ^^

Episode 10 - Yuki is ill, just before the school Marathon. Kyo wants to beat Yuki at this, but Tohru is reluctant to let Yuki go because of his illness. While running the marathon, Tohru sees another member of the Sohma family, though at the time she doesn't know it is one of them. An interesting and amusing-at-points episode.

Episode 11 - Valentines day. Tohru spends all her money on everyone's chocolates, and Kagura gets Kyo a huge chocolate heart. Another cute episode with it's own bit of humour and sadness.

Episode 12 - Momoji invites everyone to the Sohma family hotsprings. Kyo and Yuki don't seem to want to go at first, but soon they give in and go. It's white day, and Yuki's got a present. Another extremely cute episode.

All in all a very enjoyable DVD all fruits basket fans will enjoy!

Having introduced the kooky Sohma family and their curse, "Fruits Basket" starts introducing some of its darker dimensions.

To make matters even more complex, "Fruits Basket, Volume 2: What Becomes of Snow?" introduces us to three new members of the Sohma family, as well as a look at how the mysterious Akito rules over them. But despite these darker moments, the series never strays too far from the warm-hearted comedy and appealing characters.

Our leads are all involved in the school's Cultural Festival, despite Yuki's distress at having to wear a dress. But then two new Sohmas turn up: bubbly rabbit Momiji, and the chilly Hatori, who tells Tohru to meet him at the Sohma main house -- alone. Despite Tohru's nervousness, she obeys -- and finds out the painful facts about Hatori's past, and the isolation felt by cursed Sohmas.

When New Year's rolls around, Tohru and her friends help Kyo and Yuki clean the house, while Shigure torments his hysterical editor Mii. They're expected back at the main Sohma house, but the boys are reluctant to leave Tohru alone. And a school endurance run is interrupted by Haru Sohma, who is determined to fight Kyo -- but their battle is interrupted when Yuki collapses.

Then Valentine's Day comes around. Tohru has chocolate for everyone (literally), Yuki is stalked by his fangirls, and Kagura is busily trying to feed Kyo a chocolate heart the size of his head. And a month later, Momiji repays Tohru's favour by giving her an extravagant gift -- a trip to a hot spring.

There are definitely some darker moments to "Volume 2: What Becomes of Snow?" Most of these come from Hatori's tragic past, and the revelation of just what a lonely, painful life many of the zodiac members lead. Even the younger ones like Haru aren't immune, since we see that he was often mocked for his animal's part in the old zodiac folktale.

But don't worry, the dark spots are surrounded by lots of heartwarming moments (Momiji's "foolish traveler" story) and goofy dialogue ("No means NO, woman!"). And there's loads of comedy, from Shigure tormented Mii by refusing to write the rest of his novel, to the shrieking hostess at the hot spring. ("AAAAAAAAA! I'm sorry, world! I apologize for this boy! I'm SORREEEEEE...").

I have to admit that the hot spring episode is a bit slow, since much of it involves eating and soaking. And singing. But it has some cute moments like Yuki laughing, and the crazed ping-pong game.

We also get to see some different sides of Tohru and her friends -- for instance, it's revealed that despite her cheery demeanor, Tohru is sometimes very lonely for her mother. Yuki continues trying to come out of his shell, while Kyo verrrrrry slowly tries to overcome his social awkwardness. The "plum on the back" scene ends up being adorable because of this.

And we get to meet some new Sohmas, particularly Haru and Hatori. Haru has a dual personality -- one placid and serene, one violent and lecherous -- and a tumultuous past with Yuki. And Hatori comes across as the most tragic figure thus far, convinced that he is doomed to loneliness, and haunted by what happened when he dared to love someone.

"Fruits Basket, Volume 2: What Becomes of Snow?" introduces us to some new Sohmas, and some dark secrets. But it also never lets up on the warm'n'fuzzy smiles.