New Furuba series launches this spring

After waiting over 15 years, Fruits Basket fans finally have something they can hug a Sohma about.

The beloved series about a high school girl finding herself caught up in the drama of the Sohma family, cursed by having to represent the animals of the Chinese Zodiac, plus the cat, in a strange way ▬ returns this April. And even before that, anyone who can get to one of these select US theaters can see the first two episodes March 26 (dub) and 27 (sub) and receive a special gift pack.

Back when the original anime released in 2001, the manga had not been completed, leaving fans to feel the anime itself open-ended and in need of another season. Now, under the supervision of manga creator Natsuki Takaya, everyone can expect to see one of their favorite tales come to life in full in the completely new series.

Although the Japanese voice acting cast appears to be all new, long-time lovers of the English dub will be pleased to hear some familiar voices as well as new. So far, Laura Bailey (Tohru Honda) has confirmed she'll be back, as well as Jerry Jewell (Kyo Sohma), Eric Vale (Yuki Sohma), John Burgmeier (Shigure Sohma), Justin Cook (Hatsuharu Sohma), Kent Williams (Hatori Sohma) and Christopher R. Sabat (Ayame Sohma). Yes, all Mabudachi Trio voice actors returning, in English anyway.

The new talent already announced for the show looks promising as well, especially Colleen Clinkenbeard (Wolf Children, Rin, Fairy Tail) coming to the cast as the voice of Akito Sohma, who was originally believed to be a man when the first anime launched. You can also expect to see Tia Ballard (Guilty Crown, Fairy Tail, Sakura Quest) as Kagura Sohma, Mikaela Krantz (Attack on Titan, MansLaughter, Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card Arc) as Momiji Sohma, Elizabeth Maxwell (Attack on Titan, Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie, RWBY) as Arisa Uotoni and Jād Saxton (Wolf Children, Death Parade, High School DxD) as Saki Hanajima, and Lydia Mackay (Attack on Titan, Black Butler, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel) as Tohru's beloved mother, Kyoko.

The Japanese cast will feature Manaka Iwami (Tohru), Nobunaga Shimazaki (Yuki), Yuma Uchida (Kyo), Megumi Han (Momiji), Rie Kugimiya (Kagura), Kazuyuki Okitsu (Hatsuharu), Takahiro Sakurai (Ayame), Maaya Sakamoto (Akito), Miyuki Sawashiro (Kyoko), Atsumi Tanezaki (Arisa) and Satomi Sato (Saki). More cast member announcements can be found over at @fruitsbasket_en on Twitter.

Catch the new series on TV Tokyo, TV Osaka and other stations, as well as streaming on FunmationNOW.

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