English Dub Review: Fruits Basket”Hello Again”

(Possible Spoilers Below)

Two separate subplots slowly converge as the leader of the Yuki Sohma Fan Club named “Motoko Minagawa” looks through a window down at Yuki as she confesses her love for him and dislikes Tohru for getting physically close to him, While Tohru recaps the first season to explain her current circumstances and it is revealed it has been almost a full year since she started living with Shigure and the others. She confesses that she hopes to help and uncover the true nature of the curse while Yuki becomes class president and proceeds to meet the other board members.

Our Take

Based on the Manga series by Natsuki Takaya, We once again dive into the drama of the cursed Sohma family whom in combination with a heap of emotional abuse, are unable to receive any sort of hugs or affection from the opposite sex without turning into cute animals based on the Chinese Zodiac (With the exception of Kyo to some extent). And the pure-hearted Tohru Honda voiced by Funimation Veteran and legendary voice actress Laura Bailey who also voiced her in the previous series in 2001.

Fortunately for those lost or know nothing about the main story or it’s events in Season 1, this first episode of Season 2 helps serve as a jumping-on point/recap of sorts while further continuing the main plot. As for the subplot involving the resident Mean-Girl of the series Motoko, It’s clear she has a lot more in common with the object of her affection (Yuki) than she realizes, and yet is almost capable of self-sabotage when it comes to interacting with him.

 It’s refreshing to at least have some sort of jumping-on point to the newbies out there while also having the plot told from the perspective of somebody outside the main cast. It’s unclear if this will lead anywhere with Motoko’s affections being further reciprocated as that remains to be seen.