Fruits Basket
Fruits Basket is a critically acclaimed manga series written and illustrated by Natsuki Takaya. It was first serialized in the Hana to Yume magazine from 1998 to 2006 and was later compiled into 23 volumes. The story centers around Tohru Honda, a high school girl who moves in with the Sohma family, who are under a curse that transforms them into animals from the Chinese zodiac whenever they are hugged by someone of the opposite sex. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive guide to the Fruits Basket manga series.
Plot of Fruits Basket
Fruits Basket is a manga series that follows the life of high school student Tohru Honda. After the death of her mother in a car accident, Tohru decides to live with her grandfather. However, renovations on the house and an unsupportive family member cause her to move out temporarily. With nowhere else to go, Tohru begins living in a tent and supporting herself.
After a landslide destroys her tent, Tohru discovers a nearby house inhabited by her popular classmate Yuki Sohma and his cousin Shigure. On her first day living there, she meets Kyo, Yuki and Shigure’s orange-haired cousin, who crashes through the ceiling and challenges Yuki to a fight. Tohru tries to stop him and accidentally falls into him, causing him to transform into a cat in front of her. This is how she discovers the Sohma family curse – twelve members of the family, excluding Kyo, are possessed by the spirits of the Chinese zodiac.
Tohru promises not to tell anyone about the curse and is allowed to keep living with the Sohmas. As she gets to know the family, she uncovers their past traumas and helps them confront their emotional wounds. Although the curse is deeper and darker than Tohru initially thinks, her presence and acceptance of the Sohmas soon becomes a positive influence on those possessed by the zodiac.
Throughout the series, Tohru navigates her growing feelings for Yuki and Kyo, who are both affected by the curse in different ways. She sets out to break the curse and, on the way, meets and discovers the Sohma’s vengeful zodiac spirits, including their leader, Akito, who occupies the position of “God” in the Chinese legend. As Tohru and her friends confront their inner demons and the challenges of their cursed lives, the series becomes equal parts heartwarming, heartbreaking, and heart-stopping.
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Publication
It was originally serialized in Japan by Hakusensha in Hana to Yume from July 1998 to November 2006. It comprises a total of 136 chapters, which were later collected into 23 tankōbon volumes. The tankōbon volumes were published from January 1999 to March 2007. The first two volumes of Fruits Basket: Collector’s Edition were released in Japan on 4 September 2015 under the Hana to Yume Comics Special imprint, with the 12th and last volume published on 20 July 2016.
The series has been licensed in English in North America, the United Kingdom, and Singapore. Tokyopop holds the license for the series in North America and the United Kingdom, while Chuang Yi has the license for the Singapore edition. All 23 English-language volumes have been released in North America and Singapore. Tokyopop has also released a box set containing the first four volumes and started re-releasing earlier volumes in “Ultimate Editions” that combine two sequential volumes into a single larger hard-cover volume with new cover art. After Tokyopop ceased publication, the series was re-licensed by Yen Press, which plans to release it as twelve omnibus editions corresponding to Hakusensha’s collector’s editions.
In addition to the original series, there are several spin-offs. Fruits Basket Another, a new series, began serialization on 4 September 2015 in HanaLaLaOnline, and was later transferred to Manga Park. The first collected volume was published on 19 August 2016, and the series finished with its fourth volume, released on 18 February 2022. Yen Press has acquired the manga. Another spin-off, titled Fruits Basket: Three Musketeers Arc, was published in Hana to Yume in 2019 and 2020, with the chapters later collected in the fourth volume of Fruits Basket Another.
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Reception
Fruits Basket is a highly acclaimed manga series that has captured the hearts of fans around the world. It has sold over 18 million copies in Japan and more than 30 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling manga series of all time. The English adaptation was also very successful, with the 15th volume becoming the highest-charting manga volume on the USA Today Bestseller list, and the final volume topping the New York Times bestseller list for 12 weeks. Fruits Basket has received several awards, including the Kodansha Manga Award and the “Best Manga” award at the 2007 American Anime Awards.
Critics have praised the series for its intellectual and thought-provoking storyline. The characters are well-developed and relatable, with a good mix of comedy, drama, and action that appeals to a wide range of readers. Natsuki Takaya’s artwork is also highly praised for its ability to convey the character’s emotions without any dialogue.
The success of Fruits Basket is evident by the fact that it was one of the top anime series in Japan, ranking third in Anihabara’s list of top televised anime series in February 2002, and in the June 2002 issue of Animage magazine, it was first on a list of the best 20 anime series in Japan. Critics also praised the anime adaptation, with some noting its similarity to Ranma 1/2 and others praising its sleek, stylish character design and refined animation.
Overall, Fruits Basket is a must-read for any manga fan, and its universal themes and relatable characters have helped it stand the test of time.
Fruits Basket Anime
The first anime adaptation aired in 2001 and ran for 26 episodes. Directed by Akitaro Daichi and animated by Studio Deen, the series premiered on TV Tokyo on July 5, 2001, with the final episode airing on December 27, 2001.
The opening and ending themes were performed by Ritsuko Okazaki, and the series was released in Japan in nine individual DVD volumes by King Records. Funimation aired the English dub of the series on the Funimation Channel and licensed it for Region 1 DVD release. They later released it as part of their lower-priced Viridian line and on an upscaled Blu-ray. In the United Kingdom, Funimation distributed the series through MVM Entertainment and Revelation Films.
A new anime adaptation of Fruits Basket was announced in November 2018, and it premiered in April 2019.
The new adaptation covers the entire manga and features a new cast and staff, as per Takaya’s request, with TMS Entertainment handling the production. The first season ran for 25 episodes from April 6 to September 21, 2019. A second season aired from April 7 to September 22, 2020, and a third and final season, titled Fruits Basket: The Final, aired from April 6 to June 29, 2021.
The reboot is a co-production of Funimation and was released through a Crunchyroll-Funimation partnership. Mighty Media has licensed the series in Southeast Asia and South Asia, and it is streaming on Netflix and Animax Asia.
The English dub features many of the English voice actors that were voiced in the first Fruits Basket series. Crunchyroll streamed the English-subtitled version, while Funimation streamed the English-dubbed version.
The Characters of Fruits Basket
Tohru Honda
Yuki Sohma is the rat of the Chinese zodiac and the same zodiac animal as Tohru. He is the student council president at his high school and is admired by many of his peers. Despite his popularity, Yuki struggles with his past and his complicated relationship with his family.
The Sohma Family
The Sohma family is the main focus of Fruits Basket, and each member has a unique zodiac animal that represents their personality and traits. Some of the notable characters in the Sohma family include:
Yuki Sohma
Yuki Sohma is the rat of the Chinese zodiac and the same zodiac animal as Tohru. He is the student council president at his high school and is admired by many of his peers. Despite his popularity, Yuki struggles with his past and his complicated relationship with his family.
Kyo Sohma
Kyo Sohma is the cat of the Chinese zodiac, a zodiac animal that does not actually exist. As a result, Kyo is often ostracized by the other members of the Sohma family. He is hot-headed and often clashes with Yuki, but deep down, he cares about his family and friends.
Shigure Sohma
Shigure Sohma is the dog of the Chinese zodiac, and he often acts as a mediator between the other members of the Sohma family. He is a laid-back and carefree person who loves to tease his friends, but he also has a darker side and holds many secrets.
Ayame Sohma
Ayame Sohma is the snake of the Chinese zodiac, and he is Yuki’s older brother. He is flamboyant and eccentric, with a love for fashion and a desire for attention. Despite his over-the-top personality, Ayame cares deeply for his family and friends.
Hatori Sohma
Hatori Sohma is the dragon of the Chinese zodiac, and he serves as the family doctor. He is reserved and stoic, often keeping his emotions hidden from others. Hatori has a tragic past that has left him with a deep sense of guilt and regret.
FAQs
Fruits Basket is generally appropriate for children, but there are some themes and content that may not be suitable for younger children. The series deals with issues such as trauma, mental health, and abuse.
The 2019 anime adaptation of Fruits Basket is much more faithful to the manga than the previous 2001 adaptation. However, there are still some differences and changes.
Yes, the Fruits Basket manga is complete. It ran for 23 volumes and 136 chapters.
The age rating for Fruits Basket is generally around 13+.
If you enjoy emotional and character-driven stories with themes of family and kindness, then Fruits Basket is definitely worth reading.