Okay, now it’s official: this series needs a second season. This episode was apparently also anime original, and yet it blended in really well with the story: I would not have guessed it. The way it detailed the scenario also is bound to be good for this series in the long term. However, at this rate we’re never going to be able to reach the good stuff at episode 25. Studio Deen’s policy around sequels is… a bit weird, though. I mean, they let Kyou Kara Maou go on for three seasons of 39 episodes (directed by Junji Nishimura, of all people as well), and yet Fruits Basket just never went beyond 26 episodes, despite the huge amounts of manga still left.
Overall, I liked some of the ideas in this episode: I like how Gyuki’s subordinates actually managed to track down one of those evil youkai, who on his turn was trying to destroy all kinds of statues in an attempt to destroy some of the defences of the Nura clan, as well as trying to piss them off. On the meantime, you see that the gate that was destroyed gets immediately rebuilt, and a grave has been put up for the youkai that died in the previous episode. This episode didn’t particularly develop any plot or characters, but it made the setting a lot more solid with these subtle details.
As for the rest of the episode, it was average. Rikuo’s classmates are getting better, but they still are not the most exciting to watch. It also was a typical building up episode. This episode had a neat atmosphere, though it still nowhere is where it needs to be.
Rating: * (Good)
Some people found out in one of the lastest issues of Jump that a VA has been named for the next big villian so it seems more likely now that Nura is getting a second season.
that eps was fuckin crazy yo , KAPPA
Noto is voicing Kitsune for the upcoming Jump Special.. wouldn’t that be out before this season even ends lol?
Anyway I’m sure we’re getting filler/anime original episodes now because they want to use the main part of this arc for the home stretch.
And Fruits Basket not getting a second season was always weird, it’s probably sold better than anything else DEEN has done in the last decade and there was plenty left.. and it would’ve actually finished.
The number of episodes actually still wasn’t official confirmed. In an interview, the creators said that if the show is popular enough, it will go into “Kyoto arc” immediately after the Shikoku arc ends, with no season-break.
Also, since the recap episode isn’t officially an episode (officially this is episode 14 and the last week’s episode is 13) we still have 11 episodes until the end of Shikoku arc so there is still time for creators to decide if NnM will continue airing, get a season break or just end.
Rumor has it that the Fruits Basket mangaka (who supposedly clashed with the director, Akitaro Daichi, and has since been unwilling to authorize another anime project) has something to do with the lack of continuation.
Not sure if there’s any truth to it.