Translated Commentary for Episode 1 from Director Oota Masahiko (Mitsugo Biyori ~2-ransei~):

* While reading the manga, I got to the Fruit Basket scene and immediately thought it could be expanded upon. During this, I imagined the opening battle of the film Gladiator. "Classmates killing each other?" I thought, drawing inspiration from Battle Royale.

* Verdi's Requiem (The Day of Wrath) played in my head. But, Classical music in Mitsudomoe?! Thought it served as a nice little surprise and the storyboard was drawn made with it in mind.

* As for animation, I drew the storyboard with Satou Toshiyuki in mind aswell. Eventually, he put together a result that was far beyond my imagination. I oblige him.

* For the adaptation, the beginning scene with Yabecchi's admission was added to serve as a contrast of the Fruits Basket scene. Additionally, the Kanji-stroke subtitles were requested by Daume President Mr. Nishioka. Pretty stylish suggestion.

* The CG used for the Fruits Basket explaination scene was made to resemble the eerie reenactment CGs used for murder
scenes on the news.

* Since the goal of the first episode was to establish the triplets, I deliberately directed Chiba and the other sub characters in a way
that they wouldn't stand out

* In the following scene after Yabecchi gets hit in the crotch, the camera pans to the sky with crows flying over the school. After that, it was decided that this would be the way to depict scenes that would otherwise be too poor to display.

* During the climax where the class chants "Chikubi!" I ordered Mr. Misawa to make the music emotionally moving. Since the song was made to fit the storyboard length its addition was perfect