The Fruitscast

Graduations, redemption arcs, and happily ever afters... It's the final episode of Fruits Basket (but not the Fruitscast!) and if you know us, you know exactly what we're going to say: IT'S. SO. GOOD!Check out Katie's Etsy shop for some prime Fruits Basket merch (among other things)!https://www.etsy.com/shop/bonesmakenoiseIntro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Big changes continue in this penultimate episode, including two new couples getting together officially, plus Tohru and Kyo making plans for the future. PDA! Translation! Bleach?! Yes, dear listener, it's one of those episodes. Check out Katie's Etsy shop for some prime Fruits Basket merch (among other things)!https://www.etsy.com/shop/bonesmakenoiseIntro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

This week, everything changes for the Fruits Basket crew. We've got myths, confessions of love, and just a whole bunch of hugs. It is, as always, so good - and best of all, it's still not the last episode!Check out Katie's Etsy shop for some prime Fruits Basket merch (among other things)!https://www.etsy.com/shop/bonesmakenoiseIntro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Yuki confronts Kyo, Kyo confronts his dad, and Tohru distinctly doesn't confront anybody. This isn't the last episode, but we do spend a chunk of time discussing good and bad shoujo endings.Check out Katie's Etsy shop for some prime Fruits Basket merch (among other things)!https://www.etsy.com/shop/bonesmakenoiseIntro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Akito confronts Tohru, and Tohru counterattacks with her strongest ability: EMPATHY! Unfortunately, Mother Nature cares not for such things, and our heroine finds herself in quite a predicament. Check out Katie's Etsy shop for some prime Fruits Basket merch (among other things)!https://www.etsy.com/shop/bonesmakenoiseIntro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

It's the Kyo Show, at last! Somehow we didn't say that in the actual episode, but nevertheless, this week is all about Kyo and his feelings. Also our feelings about his feelings. Also Sarah's feelings about the anime writers. We laugh a lot more than you might expect!Check out Katie's Etsy shop for some prime Fruits Basket merch (among other things)!https://www.etsy.com/shop/bonesmakenoiseIntro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

CW: Brief discussion of suicide (~5:20-6:40)Kyo has a nightmare, Akito has a bad day, Hiro's mom is still the best, and we get pretty deep in the weeds talking about adaptation choices and the importance of educating children. Would we even be The Fruitscast if we didn't overthink everything?Check out Katie's Etsy shop for some prime Fruits Basket merch (among other things)!https://www.etsy.com/shop/bonesmakenoiseIntro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

It's time for Tohru to open her own closed lid and face her true feelings. If you like emotional validation, photo-based horror, and digging way too deep into character motivations, you'll love this episode. Also, where my Zoombinis fans at?Check out Katie's Etsy shop for some prime Fruits Basket merch (among other things)!https://www.etsy.com/shop/bonesmakenoiseIntro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

If you like Momiji even half as much as we do, you're in for a treat this week. Our favorite rabbit is going through a lot of big changes, but he handles them all with grace and maturity (unlike this podcast).Check out Katie's Etsy shop for some prime Fruits Basket merch (among other things)!https://www.etsy.com/shop/bonesmakenoiseIntro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

CW: Brief allusions to child abuseThis episode has everything: A cute baby! Visual metaphors! Childish tantrums about foiled murder plots! People are finally starting to take a stand against Akito, and we are HERE for it.Check out Katie's Etsy shop for some prime Fruits Basket merch (among other things)!https://www.etsy.com/shop/bonesmakenoiseIntro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

It's the Yuki Show again, and we couldn't be happier! Join us as we learn the rest of Machi's tragic backstory and appreciate the emotional growth of various characters. Also, we discuss (step)ladders.Check out Katie's Etsy shop for some prime Fruits Basket merch (among other things)!https://www.etsy.com/shop/bonesmakenoiseIntro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Finally, we get the scoop on what is up with Shigure and Akito. I hope you're watching close, because it's one big Shigure Moment. Featured discussions: aisatsu, cute teenagers, and otome game bad routes.Check out Katie's Etsy shop for some prime Fruits Basket merch (among other things)!https://www.etsy.com/shop/bonesmakenoiseIntro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

We're back for the final season! We pick up exactly where we left off with a big revelation about Akito, plus we meet a new Sohma family member. Tohru cries, we laugh, and Katie's new cat makes his debut.Check out Katie's Etsy shop for some prime Fruits Basket merch (among other things)!https://www.etsy.com/shop/bonesmakenoiseIntro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/This episode was edited in part by Danny Paparozzi.

We must bid farewell to Fruits Basket for the year, but we're given plenty of revelations to chew on in the meantime. We also talk about the unfortunate need for pronouns in English, Japanese flower language, and which other shoujo series you should consume in the next six or so months!Intro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

It’s New Year’s already?? If you say so. This is a weird episode, with two very different halves, but we have our protagonist Yuki to guide us through it! (Tohru who?) Unfortunately, it also features the worst translation goof so far.Intro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The play's the thing this week, and it brought thigh-high boots! THIGH-HIGH BOOTS!! Plus a variety of personal epiphanies.Intro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Yuki and Kakeru finish their heart-to-heart, Tohru tries very hard to be an evil stepsister, and Kyo sulks in various places.Intro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Trigger warnings: emotional/physical abuse of children, discussions surrounding suicideIn which Yuki finishes his sentence, and Sarah has a LOT to say about it.Intro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

This is episode 45 and it is 45:45 long. Also we’re mad about cliffhangers.Intro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

At last we reach the "comfort" part of Rin's hurt/comfort story! For now, anyway. Also, in case you were wondering, Kimi is still our favorite.Intro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Content warning: discussion of emotional and physical child abuse (specifically by the parents), brief nonspecific discussion of disordered eatingHave you been wondering what Rin's deal is? Time to find out. This is probably the heaviest episode so far, and maybe even in the whole series. In order to cope, we talk a lot about an overly-animated kiss.Intro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

School trip, school trip! Time to visit Katie's favorite city, Kyoto, and just have a grand old time. Featuring: mitarashi dango, a human-voiced cat (no, not Kyo), and Yuki continuing to learn how to love himself.Intro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Tohru is still doing her best to meddle, and this time she's going to go see Kureno. Along the way, she bumps into Momiji's tragic backstory, literally.Intro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

It's finally time for the parent-teacher conferences, which unfortunately means it's time to meet Yuki's mom. She's bad, but thankfully, other people in Yuki's life are really pretty great. Also, we're so proud of these kids.Intro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Rin and Haru return to the spotlight! Meanwhile, Tohru visits her grandpa and unearths some unhappy memories.Intro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

We finally meet the rest of the student council, a unique bunch of volatile personalities. We also discuss the importance of Kakeru in the story and how amazing and wonderful his friendship with Yuki is, you GUYS, it's SO GOOD!Intro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

It's time to revisit Hatori and Kana's very sad backstory, this time through the lens of Kana's best friend: Mayu, the homeroom teacher.Intro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Everybody welcome Kagura back to the show! Is her backstory tragic and/or interesting enough to make up for her past nonsense? Depends on who you ask, I guess. More importantly, we get some juicy details on just what exactly the curse is. Intro and outro music: "Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

This week, we unveil our master plan for defeating Akito, as well as discussing Mogeta for really far too long (read: at all). Meanwhile, Tohru finally meets every member of the Zodiac. Intro and outro music: "Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

CW: Suicide, mentioned occasionally throughout and specifically from 22:50 to 23:17 Kyo gets his time in the spotlight, which he would probably prefer not to have, because it involves dredging up a lot of past trauma. Also, is there magic in this show? We may never be sure! Intro and outro music: "Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Summer vacation is basically ruined now that Akito's here to take all of Tohru's friends away from her, but Tohru remains strong! Plus, she still has Kyo to hang out and make sandcastles with! We also get to see Rin's animal form, which means there's only one zodiac member we haven't met yet... Intro and outro music: "Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Time for a watermelon splitting contest! That's definitely the only thing in this episode! Why else would that be the episode title? It's not like series villain Akito shows up to ruin everyone's fun, and it's definitely not like Yuki has an Extremely Important Character-Defining Scene!Please note that Sarah considered and rejected a much sillier episode title because she refuses to sink to their level this week.Intro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

It's summer vacation, and everyone's invited to a Sohma beach house! (Except the animators, who have been sentenced to horny jail.) Kyo and Yuki both have wonderful moments with Tohru, and Shigure has some Shigure moments with...some other people.Intro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Listen. We were a little punchy this episode. We go on a lot of tangents. We can admit that! But no worries, we still talk plenty about the brand new cast member and the seriously messed-up dynamics of the Sohma family.Intro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Hey, have you guys noticed that Haru seems stressed lately? Maybe we should check up on him - oh no, it's too late, he's wrecked the whole classroom! Let's sift through the rubble together and contemplate the Sohma family genealogy, Kansai food, and Haru's definitely tearaway pants.Intro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Ayame is back! Again! Yuki visits Ayame's mysterious shop and the two brothers bond(?), plus Tohru gets all dressed up. Listen as we appreciate Ayame's character growth and Sarah refuses to stick to one pronunciation of his name. Intro and outro music: "Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

It's time for Tohru and the rest to turn in their future plans at school, and that's causing some anxiety. Luckily, Shigure, Katie and Frozen 2 have good advice for everyone! Intro and outro music: "Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

We're back!! Season Two starts off with some new character introductions and a shocking lack of screentime for Tohru, Kyo and Shigure. Seriously, Tohru's only in two scenes, and we don't even address that in this episode. Also, we talk about Tupac? But most importantly, Fruits Basket Season Two is real! Intro and outro music: "Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

It's the end of Season 1, and everything is getting tied up with neat little bows (for now). Kyo and his master/foster father share a moment of true connection, Yuki engages in some reckless kabedon, and we get a glimpse of three brand new characters. Plus, Season 2 confirmed for 2020!Intro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Kyo's true form is revealed. Tohru fights back.Meanwhile, Katie wonders where the series takes place, and Sarah argues against certain directorial choices that may or may not be related to our episode title.Intro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Tohru catches a cold after failing a test, and nobody can relax until she's feeling better. Then Kagura comes to visit Kyo - and so does somebody else! Are you ready for the rollercoaster ride? We're almost to the top of the hill now...A quick programming note: we wanted to be live for the end of the season, so we skipped ahead, but we will go back and fill in the episodes we've missed!Intro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

We're back!! At last, we bring you the second half of Uotani's backstory, featuring improvised weaponry, the world's coolest mom, and all the warm fuzzy feelings you can stand.Intro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

It's a backstory episode! And...a cliffhanger?! The boys and Tohru's friends buy her a swimsuit, and then Uo tells the first half of the story of how she became friends with Tohru. Meanwhile, we go on tangents about Japan's female gangs as well as stingers in media. (You did watch the scene after the credits, right?)Intro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Time to go to a lake house! Shigure torments his editor, Tohru apologizes for no reason, Yuki and Kyo yell at each other, and Hatori just tries to find some peace and quiet. Business as usual, really. Until Jason appears...Intro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

First, trigger warning for self-harm discussion from 28:00-30:30. This is a packed episode, starting with Momiji's past and ending with yet more questions about our main boys. Things get a bit serious, but don't worry - everything is going to be okay.

The moron has arrived!! This week we meet a brand new member of the zodiac, who is truly one-of-a-kind. We also learn just how much the Tokyopop manga lied to us. Seriously, you guys, it's a travesty sometimes.Intro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

As the kids would say, this week's episode was peak Fruits Basket. We've got comedy, we've got drama, we've got trauma, and we've got a good old-fashioned happy ending. Plus, we finally get to meet the mysterious head of the family, Akito Sohma.Intro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

We sure hope you like those cultural insights we sometimes throw in, because there are a lot of them this week! We also dig into character motivations and, most importantly, talk about those heart-pounding moments that we're all really here for.Intro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

This week's episode is one long Shigure Moment Watch and we are LOVING it. Come for the cute kids, stay for the monster man and his mysterious machinations. Also, Katie went to a zodiac shrine!Intro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Our man is here! Which man? Find out in this episode of your favorite Escaflowne podcast! ...Wait, I mean, Evangelion. Or is it Utena? It's apparently not Fruits Basket from the number of other series (ten?!) we bring up this time! Don't worry, we still actually discuss the episode.Intro and outro music:"Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/