Sword Art Online (Anime)

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Name: Sword Art Online
Type: Anime

Official Rating: TV-PG

Director: Reki Kawahara

Seasons: 2
Genre: Action, adventure, science fantasy, romance
Age Rating: 17+

Review:
Thousands of players around the world suddenly find themselves trapped inside the video game universe of Sword Art Online. Hero Kirito must fight his way to the top level in order to defeat the game and release the players.

There were a lot of surprisingly heavy themes in this anime including suicide, kidnapping, heartbreak and the definition of the term, "hero." The art was good, and the whole idea of being able to experience a video-game firsthand--as if you were actually there--is certainly an intriguing one. SAO stands as one of the most popular anime in the genre, as it appeals to both genders and delivers adventure, romance, and virtual reality. I loved all the cool elements in the game, and it managed to provide believable aspects such as instant messaging, a trading system, and juggling finances within the SAO universe.

Though not set in a distant future, the technology presented in SAO greatly surpass our own, giving the show a more futuristic feel. Ironically it doesn't list romance as one of the genres, because that is a major focus of the show later on. The romance between Kirito and Asuna is sweet, though a little forced and somewhat stifling at times. Kirito appears as a quiet, brave, and handsome hero who wants to do the right thing and save the world of Sword Art Online (and later on rescue his beloved Asuna). The amount of females who fall in love with him is sad, considering that Kirito is your typical oblivious male. 

In all honesty, this wasn't one of my favorite animes because I felt it had a lot of elements and scenes that just weren't needed, didn't flow well with the plot, or simply made no sense. The whole "kidnapping Asuna" story line changed what the show started off as in the beginning episodes, and it was completely unnecessary to have a creepy sexual predator as the villain. The ending scenes in the first season with Asuna in chains while "Fairy King Oberon" ripped her clothes off and licked her face was absolutely sickening and uncomfortable to watch. And why did there have to be a whole side-plot about Kirito's stepsister's loving feelings towards him? I like the idea of this show, but it wasn't as good as I could have been, in my opinion, and was more about romance than I was expecting to be.

Mature Content:

• Sexual References- Oberon kidnaps Asuna because he is physically attracted to her. Later on, he chains her up, and rips her clothing and touches her in inappropriate ways against her will
• Asuna is fondled quite intimately by two alien-like creatures when she tries to escape from her prison
• Suguha, who was raised as Kirito's younger sister, is in love with him
• All the girls fall in love with Kirito's character
• Oberon laughs sadistically about raping Asuna in real life
• Nudity- Asuna's breasts are almost fully revealed (all but the nipple are drawn) when her shirt is ripped off
• Some excessive cleavage is shown
• Asuna's thighs are exposed in later scenes
• Violence- Video-game violence and death
• A few suicides take place (when they die, people explode into sparkles)
• Profanity- Use of the word "ass," "damn," "dick," and "shit"
• Intense Scenes- This anime is very emotionally intense

Personal Note: 
The voice actor who voices King Oberon was the same voice as Prince Raj in Snow White With the Red Hair!

Ouran High School Host Club (Anime)

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Name: Ouran High School Host Club
Type: Anime

Official Rating: TV-14

Director: Takuya Igarashi

Seasons: 1
Genre: Romantic comedy, drama, harem, gender bender
Age Rating: 15+

Review:
When Haruhi stumbles upon Ouran's High School Host Club and breaks a vase, the boys agree to let her join the club in order to pay off her debt, not realizing that she is actually a girl.

This anime is better when you watch it with a good friend, like I did. All the characters were wacky and their personalities were intriguing. I appreciated how each episode focused on one or two of the members, digging deeper into their past, personal ambitions, and the ultimate reason they joined the club. I do think that this anime appeals more to girls than boys; my dad saw one episode and thought it was awful, to the disbelief of my friend and I. It can be a bit wacky at times, and a lot of random things happen throughout the show, but it added humor instead of irritation.

The twins were harder to understand, and incest--or "twincest" as they called it--was implied, though never truly confirmed. Despite this, the implications were uncomfortable and disconcerting at times, which is one of the reasons why I gave a 15+ age rating. There was also cross-dressing of the main character, Haruhi, and her father, who turns out to be a transvestite. There was also a lot of "dating" between the characters and the girls who were obsessed with them, but there was no kissing(other than an accident between Haruhi and another girl), which in a way made the show less of a romance and more of a comedy.

On surface level, Ouran High School Host Club is a lighthearted show about a girl who finds herself surrounded by beautiful men and thrown into many wildly hysterical adventures. The more I watched the show, the more I realized it is more a psychological anime about acceptance, inner pain, and the dramatized life of outcasts who found their place with each other.It was easy to become engrossed in this show; many heart-wrenching backstories and almost pitiable circumstances hidden behind sugar-tainted humor leave the viewer sympathetic and protective of the characters. 

Mature Content:

• Sexual References- Tamaki calls himself Haruhi's father, and calls her his "daughter", and "little girl"
• The twins exhibit a "brotherly love" that seems more incestuous than familial 
• Homosexuality- Haruhi doesn't care if she looks like a girl or a boy
• Haruhi's father is a transvestite and cross-dresses accordingly
• Haruhi accidentally has her first kiss with another girl in the first episode
• Profanity- Use of the word "damn"

Personal Note: 
Honey would be my best friend!!

Beyond the Boundary (Anime)

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Name: Beoynd the Boundary
Type: Anime

Official Rating: TV-PG

Director: Taichi Ishidate

Seasons: 1
Genre: Action, supernatural, fantasy
Age Rating: 14+

Review:
A short anime about a girl with powerful, magical blood, and a half-human, half-youmu boy who decides to befriend her. 

I watched Beyond the Boundary with my younger brother, Nathan, because it is one of his favorite anime and he wanted to share it with me. It was particularly fun to watch it with him, and I believed it to be worth the watch. The art and story were very similar to Kotoura-San, as if the same studio produced it. The characters were drawn like the characters from Kotoura-San and possessed many of their same characteristics as well. In a lot of ways, it was a subtle retelling of the story, though Beyond the Boundary came first. I had to get used to all of their voices in the English subtitled version, because they didn't seem to always match the character. Nonetheless, the story felt completely original and the characters were all very cute and easy to connect with. I understand why Nathan likes it so much.

Although I wouldn't consider the battle scenes as completely graphically-intense, a lot of blood was shown, mostly due to the fact that Mai uses her blood as a weapon and fights with it. There were also a lot of violent-looking weapons such as machetes, a powerful spear/scepter/chainsaw object, and a sword made completely from Mai's blood. Because of this, I put a higher age-limit on the show as a reminder for parents to preview it before allowing their children to watch.There were some magical elements to the show as well, and Ahkito in his youmu-form was almost demon-like.

This anime was definitely entertaining and fun, but at the end I felt as if not enough answers had been given. The fights were well-developed but kind of weak at the end, when it was supposed to be the most intense and emotion-provoking. It was also never clarified whether or not Ahkito and Mai actually got together at the end. Despite some of these confusing elements, it was a good show, and I liked watching it. I would recommend it to both boys and girls who can enjoy this show in a safe environment.

For more on Beyond the Boundary, click here.

Mature Content:

• Nudity- The characters are shown taking showers in a locker room, but nothing is ever shown
• Sexual References- There are a few, subtle sexual innuendos 
• Ahkito has an  uncanny attraction to women wearing glasses
• Violence- A lot of blood is shown during fights
• Magic- Mai can manipulate her own blood
• Most of the characters possesses magical abilities
• Spiritual- Demon-like creatures
• Profanity- Use of the word "damn"

Personal Note: 

A special thank-you to Nathan. I love you, little bro!

Snow White With the Red Hair (Anime)

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Name: Snow White With the Red Hair
Alternate Name: Akagami no Shirayuki-hime
Type: Anime

Official Rating: PG-13

Director: Various

Seasons: 2
Genre: Adventure, romantic comedy, fantasy, drama
Age Rating: 13+

Review:
Shiriyuki is an herbologist with unnatural red hair. When she catches the eye of Prince Raj, he orders her to become his concubine, but she flees the kingdom and meets Prince Zen. Together, Shiriyuki and Zen help each other as they try to find their place in the world.

I really liked the characters; they were all developed very well, and the backstories made sense and were interesting and added to the overall story. The animation is absolutely gorgeous--with colorful and detailed scenes. This show is well-worth watching just for that, if not the amazing overarching plot. While it isn't solely focused on romance between Zen and Shiriyuki, it is a large part of what the show is about. However, there are no inappropriate scenes and the characters' relationships develop slowly and politely. Though it is fluffy at times, it isn't so slow or unnecessarily gushy so boys can enjoy watching this show as well.

The show's concepts are thought-provoking and non-offensive. Shirayuki is a serious herboligist, and keeps up on her studies. Throughout the show, the balance between studying, work, and free-time is constantly adjusted, which I think can be a really practical lesson for kids who study too hard and forget to take care of themselves. The main characters are also very helpful to one another, and don't act inappropriately towards others. Another highlight is the fact that many of the villains are taught a lesson and many are compelled to change.

Another element that I appreciated was the morals upheld in the show. For example, it is repeatedly suggested that doing the right thing even if no one else agrees or roots for you, is always what you should do. The friendships in the show were real and genuine, and it was implied that we should see deeper into a person rather than taking them at face values such as looks, wealth, or fancy titles.

We never learn too much about any individual character's backgrounds, but their development is crucial in the show, and all of the characters are different in the end than in the beginning. Prince Raj becomes less arrogant and starts taking his role as prince seriously, Kiki opens up more, and Shiriyuki herself undergoes some serious transformations. Not only a spin on the fairy tales Little Red Riding Hood and Beauty and the Beast, Snow White With the Red Hair is a coming-of-age story with a satisfying ending and beautifully drawn characters.

Mature Content:

• Profanity- "Damn" and "Hell" and "Bitch"
• Sexual References- Prince Raj wants Shiriyuki to be his concubine in the beginning
• Violence- Some fighting scenes (no blood is shown) 
• Shiriyuki is kidnapped several times
• Umihebi slaps her prisoners and has Kadzuki held forceably under the water to make him talk

Personal Note: 
I think Obi and Raj are absolutely hilarious; they're actually probably my favorite characters. And Kiki and Mitsuhide should get together. 

Magi: Adventures of Sinbad (Anime)

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Name: Magi: Adventures of Sinbad
Type: Anime

Official Rating: TV-14

Director: Yoshikazu Miyao

Seasons: 1
Genre: Adventure, fantasy, magical
Age Rating: 12+

Review:
An epic adventure of Sinbad and his life before the popular show, Magi. Join Sinbad and his friends on swashbuckling adventures as they travel via high-seas to join the nations together.

I really enjoyed this anime for several reasons. One: it was family-friendly and though there was fighting, Sinbad stood for what was right, and was always putting others before himself. It is definitely a good anime that boys will particularly enjoy, but both my girlfriend and I loved this show, so I know it appeals to both genders and all ages. Two: The characters were well-developed and interesting. I thoroughly appreciated Sinbad for his personality, demeanor, and frequent good choices. There were also multiple good themes and morals taught like friendship, compassion, and humility.

This show is a good spin-off for the show Magi, which has several installments. I recommend that you watch this before starting Magi simply for avoiding confusion and a proper introduction to Sinbad. It is an excellent stand-alone show, too, if you decide not to continue watching the show that was the inspiration behind it. It doesn't exactly follow the Arabian Nights retelling of the tale, but it definitely has its own charm as an adventure legend. On another note, the art was pretty great, too. I have to say, Netflix knows how to produce good anime from what I've seen so far!

There was an episode where Sinbad and two others wear leaves on their privates similar to how Adam and Eve are depicted. However, it is supposed to be humorous and wasn't overly offensive. It went with the plot, even though it could have easily been taken out, and if it is a concern for you, I suggest screening it for yourself, first. It is "Episode 12: Djinn Equip Battle." Other than this, Sinbad is appropriate for all ages, and is something I will be showing my future children. It is sure to be a hit!

Mature Content:

• Nudity- There are several scenes in episode 12 where three of the male characters are naked except for a leaf on their private parts. Nothing is ever shown
• Profanity- "Damn"
• Violence- Fighting and battles, but they don't last very long and no blood is seen
• Magic- The magi knows magic 
• Sinbad captures a lot of dungeon spirits, that are similar to genies and enhance Sinbad's power magically

Personal Note: 
Sinbad only got more attractive as the show went on, and it was weird because he is 16 at the end--clearly younger than me. Still....it heightened my love for anime guys...

Kotoura-San (Anime)

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Name: Kotoura-San
Type: Anime

Official Rating: PG-13

Director: Masahiko Ohta

Seasons: 1
Genre: Romantic comedy, drama, mystery, supernatural
Age Rating: 16+

Review:
This was a heartfelt story about Kotoura, a girl who can read minds and has been ostricised all her life because of it. When Manabe befriends her, they join the ESP club and she is suddenly surrounded by friends.

I'll start off by saying that I liked watching this anime, and it very nearly made me cry. My heart broke for the sweet Kotoura, and ache along with her when she faced the world alone. It was fun and sweet, with funny parts along with the sad, and it all turned out fine in the end. The character development was steller; I felt really connected to the characters by the time the show was over. 

There is a lot of sexual content in this anime, and I would absolutely not show it to anyone under the age of 16. While there is no full-on nudity, there are parts where it is implied, and at one point I was confused and uncomfortable with the fact that Manabe and Moritani might have had sex while drugged. It turns out that they didn't, but the suggestion was so strong, it spooked me out, especially considering Manabe's relationship to Kotoura. There were also quite a few mentions of boobs and butts, and sex appeal was quite important to Mifune. Manabe's thoughts were perverted and though they weren't too racy, I didn't think they were always necessary in regards to the plot.

The story itself was interesting and emotionally uplifting. It didn't take me long to watch at all, but I would definitely screen it yourself before deciding whether or not your child is  mature enough to handle it. It wasn't over-the-top bad, but like I said, there were racy parts and parents should understand what that looks like themselves before completely banning it. There were also supernatural abilities, like ESP, mind-reading, and seances. I don't think it should be written off completely, because there were good themes in the show and it placed a high value on friendship and accepting yourself.

Mature Content:

• Nudity- In Manabe's daydream, characters are implied to be naked, but nothing is ever shown
• Sexual Refrences- The character, Manabe, has perverse thoughts
• Characters talk about "boobs" and "butts" and their bodies
• It is implied that Manabe and Moritani have sex, but that is later not the case
• Spiritual- Supernatural abilities/magic (ESP, seances)
• Homosexuality- Manabe has several girlxgirl daydreams of Moritani and Kotoura
• Violence- In the end mystery, the "ninja" attacks several characters and corners, and tries to kill Kotoura on a roof

Personal Note: 
Okay, seriously, what is with Muroto's fish-lips? 

One Punch Man (Anime)

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Name: One Punch Man
Type: Anime

Official Rating: TV-PG

Director: Chikashi Kubuta

Seasons: 1
Genre: Action, comedy, parody, superhero
Age Rating: 14+

Review:
Saitama is a man who trained hard to be able to take down his enemies in one swift punch. When Cyborg, Genos, meets Saitama, he assigns himself as the hero's apprentice despite Saitama's protests.

This is probably one of the--if not the most--hilarious animes I have seen thus far. The characters were enjoyable and funny (especially Saitama, Genos, and Mumen Rider) and the villains were comical. If I had to describe this anime simply, I'd say it is a parody of most all other fighting animes and manga. There were so many subtle jokes and highlighted cliches through the show--even Saitama's ability to take down an enemy in one punch pokes fun at cartoon heroes' unrealistic winning streaks. 

Though it is very funny, it did have battles and if you cannot understand the humor it would be best to wait until a kid is mature enough to understand the content. The fact that Saitama can take out an enemy in one punch is funny in and of itself, but some of the fights can get unrealistic, and the show categorizes the enemies and sends out warnings to the people accordingly. There are a lot of casualties, though none are shown. It should also be clarified to younger viewers that most conflicts can't be solved with violence, and not everybody is as physically strong as Saitama.

I saw this with a sixth-grader during one of our "Anime clubs" and he enjoyed the show as well as everybody else. Aside from some language and strangely-clothed characters, One Punch Man was fun for everybody involved. This is one of those shows that is best watched with multiple people. It is just that much funnier. Trust me, you will never experience the weirdness in full otherwise.

Mature Content:

• Profanity- "Damn," and "ass" and "hell"
• Homosexuality- It is insinuated that Puri-Puri-Prisoner is gay
• Nudity- Some of the clothing is questionable; the lobster only wears underwear and it's kind of gross'
• In one episode, One Punch Man punches another character in the genitals, and it shows an uncomfortable close-up shot of this
• Violence- Fights, though usually quite comical
• Evolution- The "House of Evolution" is filled with test subjects and other mutations and experiments

Personal Note: 
My girlfriends and I could NOT stop laughing at Saitama's secret behind his strength: his exercising until he went bald. We also could not stop laughing at "Caped Baldy" and "Blonde Cyborg."

Tokyo Mew Mew (Anime)

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Name: Tokyo Mew Mew
Type: Anime

Official Rating: TV-Y7

Director: Mia Ikumi, Reiko Yoshida

Seasons: 1
Genre: Magical girl, romantic comedy, superhero
Age Rating: 12+

Review
Ichigo Momomiya along with five other girls, are mysteriously infused with the DNA of endangered species that gives them special powers and allows them to transform into the "Mew Mews." Along with maintaining a job at a cafe, the girls save the earth from aliens and protect the public from evil.

An unbelievably cute show about a girl and her four friends. Though it's a bit different than the manga because of length, it has more detail and there are 52 episodes as opposed to 9 books. This was the first full-length anime I watched in Japanese with subtitles, and I absolutely loved it. I couldn't stop watching it! It was funny, touching, and engaging. There was never a dull moment, and I loved all of the characters' quirks! All of their personalities were so different, and yet went together so well. 

I do wish the metamorphosis didn't take so long, and the fight scenes can drag a little bit because of it. It was unnecessary to go though each girl's transformation each time there was a battle. There were also references to evolution in retrospect to the endangered animals each girl represents. As long as the viewer understand this from a Biblical perspective, it is a minor issue. Aside from these things, I believe that this show would appeal to everyone!

Along with the characters being fun and cute to watch and get to know, there is fighting and romance, but it isn't overdone, and it isn't scary or offensive. The only thing I didn't appreciate was how young Ichigo was to be "falling in love" with a boy. Still, they kept it very polite and respectable and appropriate. I feel so bummed that there is only one season! Like Fruits Basket, Tokyo Mew Mew quickly earned a special place in my heart. I will definitely be showing this to my own children one day.

For more on Tokyo Mew Mew, click here.

Mature Content:

• Sexual References- Kissu kisses Ichigo against her will, and calls her "his toy" and refers to her as "mine," "kitty-cat," "honey," and "sweetie-pie"
• Evolution- References to the way endangered species have "evolved"
• Violence- Non-intense battle scenes (there is no blood)
• Magic- The Mew Mew team possess magical powers they use to fight aliens

Personal Note:
PUDDING IS SO CUTE I CAN'T EVEN

Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet (Anime)

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Name: Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet
Type: Anime

Director: Kazuya Murata

Official Rating: PG-13

Seasons: 1 
Genre: Adventure, mecha, science fiction
Age Rating: 12+

Review: 
Takes place in the distant future, a soldier from space, Ledo, and his intelligent talking spacecraft, Chamber, wind up on Earth after a battle with the Hideauze. As a previously assumed extinct planet, Ledo tries to learn all he can about Earth's culture and people as he cannot find a way back to his home planet. 

This anime is super fun and interesting! All the voices fit the characters well, and the plot was engaging and piqued my interest from the first episode. The characters are enjoyable and I connected with them easily. I would recommend this show to middle-schooler's and up. There are some sexual innuendos, but it isn't overly violent even though their is battles, and the story is really good. 

I really liked learning along with Ledo as he explored Earth and started getting used to the way things worked, and there were some really good messages in his learning, such as the idea that people with disabilities are valuable and not a waste of space as Ledo first believes. One of the main themes of this anime is the idea that all life is precious, and I really appreciated that.

The only reason I didn't give it a higher rating is because of the length. It was getting really good! Because it was only 1 season, it had to be cut short, and it left me hanging and somewhat unsatisfied. I would have liked to see where it went! There were some explanations that related to the theory of evolution which, for an audience of Believers, isn't true and you should make sure that the person watching it understands that.

Mature Content:

• Nudity- Unrealistically large breasts
• Revealing outfits/swimsuits 
• Homosexuality- There is a cross-dresser man who chases Ledo around in an episode
• Profanity- "Damn" and "hell" and "ass"
• Sexual references- Ledo and Chamber briefly discuss reproduction, and Amy dances for Ledo
• Evolution- Evolutionary explanations of the Hideauze

Personal Note:
I'm not going to lie: I found Ledo to be really attractive :) Also, Chamber's voice in the English version was on point.

Code Geass (Anime)

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Name: Code Geass 
Type: Anime

Director: Goro Taniguchi

Official Rating: TV-14

Seasons: 2 
Genre: Action, mecha, science fiction, anti-hero
Age Rating: 17+

Review: 
Follows the high school experience of Lelouch after a mysterious girl named C2 gives him the power of the Geass, which allows him to completely control people, though only once. Taking his abilities to aid in the war of the state, Lelouch creates an alter-ego of himself: the intelligent and feared Zero and launches a rebellion with his faithful followers. 

This anime is extremely intense and emotionally taxing just because of the amount of story, background, and rich characters. It is different and interesting to have Lelouch as the main character, because he's an anti-hero, and most animes don't do that. You get a chance to see that kind of plot and engage with the offbeat characters that aren't seen as much onscreen in regular shows. Not only that, but the ability to make others do something was always chilling in an edge-of-your-seat way, especially later when Lelouch begins losing some control over his Geass.

Though violent, it has a terrifically interesting plot, and the violence isn't unnecessary; the characters have a reason and there is a point to the war they are fighting. I enjoyed the epic battles and strategic planning on Lelouch's part, and had fun with the newfangled machines they introduced. Though most of the episodes were serious, there were several random, quite hilarious ones that evened out the severity of the show, which was nice. It seems that most animes have at least one episode filled with completely random sequences.

I liked this show because it was well-written and the characters were well-developed, and it had a killer ending. I was never able to guess what was going to happen, and the tale was engrossing and spiked my curiosity. I watched this with a group of people, and I think it was better that way, just because of how intense it is, and I wouldn't have anyone under the age of 16 watch it. Still, it's a good anime and if you're a die-hard fan, this one is definitely on the "to-see" list.

Mature Content: 

• Profanity- "Shit" and "damn"
• Nudity- In several episodes, bare breasts are briefly shown of the characters Kallen, Viletta, and C.C.
• The character Nina is never shown naked, but in one scene she is shown in a dark room touching herself 
• Some of the women wear pretty skanky outfits (short skirts, lots of cleavage) 
• Spiritual- Some of the characters' morals (especially Leloush's) are questionable
• Violence- Extremely violent and culturally intense (shows blood, and includes the deaths of certain races of people)
• Racism- A war between Briton and Japan
• Extreme cultural tension and a class governmental setup (Japanese are inferior to Britons)
• Drugs- Some characters are seen smoking
• Sexual References- Subtle references to sex (not spoken, but hinted at)
• Intense Scenes- Multiple emotional deaths (Shirley, Rollo)
• Emotionally intense

Personal Note: 

My favorite characters were Euphemia and Suzaku.

Fruits Basket (Anime)

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Name: Fruits Basket       
Type: Anime

Director: Natsuki Takaya

Official Rating: TV-PG

Seasons: 1 
Genre: Romantic comedy, drama, harem
Age Rating: 12+

Review: 
A beautiful story with wonderful characters and an engrossing story. Appeals to all audiences, but probably more particularly to girls. This series follows the story of the lovable Tohru Honda during high school. The Sohma family--Shigure, Yuki, and Kyo--finds her living in a tent after the death of her mother, and offers to shelter her in their home. But is there more to this family than meets the eye?

Filled with themes of friendship, humor, tragedy, and hauntingly real characters this series is absolutely breathtaking. A lot of what gives this story depth are the important messages and thought-provoking such as "My happiness comes from the kindness of others." This is a great rendition of the manga series. It follows the plot well; the only difference being in the dialogue. For example, Shigure is referred to as a "weirdo" instead of a "pervert." This makes it more family friendly.

Other than mild sexual references and fleeting nudity, I'd say it's appropriate from ages middle-school and up. Another thing I appreciated was the clothes and the way the girls were drawn. There were no unrealistically large breasts, and there weren't very many swear words. There were times when two or more characters were physically fighting with one another, but it was always exaggerated in a way that usually made it funny. Sometimes the music would get louder than the talking, but the episodes are a nice length.

My only disappointment is that there is only one season! It doesn't even cover half the series, and the ending was different than what I was expecting. It ended well, but because it had to end in a different spot, it did change things, like the lack of romance. I didn't give it 4 stars for these reasons. Still, the voices went well with the characters, and I enjoyed watching it with my younger brother. While both boys and girls can find enjoyment in this anime, it is more aimed towards girls.

For more on Fruits Basket, click here.

Mature Content: 

• Mild Profanity- "Damn" is used sporadically, especially by Kyo in reference to Yuki 
• Violence- Akito is abusive to the other characters
• Nudity- The Sohma's are naked after transforming back into human form from their zodiac animal form, but nothing is ever shown
• Homosexuality- Momiji cross-dresses, but isn't homosexual
• Magic- The Sohma family is under a magical zodiac curse

Personal Note: 

Not gonna lie: Momiji's song is super catchy.