Sunday, February 13, 2005
About pens, a hand and a blank page
To anyone who's:- interested in Japanese anime/manga
- bored with nothing more significant to do
- depressed/melancholic/indulges in the bittersweet rhythms of life
- watched Furuba/Fruits Basket before, or any shoujo stuff for that matter
you can continue reading this entry. Otherwise you'll probably be let down by insipid writing and a topic you cannot be bothered with. +>
Over the past few days I've been reading Fruits Basket manga by Takaya Natsuki. I've watched the anime but could never understand why the animation house has failed to bring out an original video animation or a movie to complete the television series. Having read the orignal comic I now realised why. The series was simply a condensation of the original manga - it didn't stop midway through the manga, rather it picked out crucial bits of the story and left out many more crucial bits. ie. it took the start, kept the end and filled its middle up some way or another. Ha.
There's just simply so much to the story I don't know how to start, though watching the anime will be a good way to begin. Essentially the story's about a girl, Tohru, who meets and lives with the cursed Sohma family. To them she is a beacon of hope and love they never thought the world had; to her they are some of the people who have helped make life easier after her mum passed away. But curses are curses and all the love in the world can't hide their ominous shadow...
I am amazed at myself for getting sucked into a comic which exists solely on paper in a fabricated universe and in the minds of its escapist fans. Hmmm the story for one is immensely readable and funny, bittersweet with a strong dosage of black humour.
I give this 5 perfect stars! Please move your finger over to the 'Manga' link on the right and give it some good exercise. +>
lux at 1:57 pm