Fruits Basket

Story: I stumbled upon this manga in my high school library, and my friends highly recommended it. They were spot-on. It turned out to be one of the best mangas I've ever read. So what's the story about? Well, with both her parents deceased, though she was closer to her mother, Tohru lives alone in a tent in the wilderness while continuing to attend school like any normal teenager. She remembers her mother telling her stories about the Chinese zodiac and the cat that was supposed to be part of it but got left out because the rat didn't tell him about the king's feast and race. Little did she know, the story was actually true. She encounters a house in the middle of the forest owned by three men: Shigure, Yuki, and Kyo, who share the last name Sohma despite not being related. The reason for this is a curse placed on them. Whenever a human hugs any of them, they transform into their respective zodiac animal, except for Kyo, who turns into the mysterious cat. Shigure transforms into a dog, and Yuki into a rat, which explains Kyo's intense dislike for him. Tohru discovers there are more people involved in this "family," and the longer she stays with them, the more she uncovers their dark secrets. Though labeled as a romance shoujo manga, I wouldn't categorize it strictly as such. Yes, the main character is female, but that doesn't necessarily make it shoujo, hence some false advertising. 10/10 Art: The art style is quite old since the series started in 1998. However, it does evolve into a more modern look as the story progresses. Initially, this bothered me, but I learned to adapt. Honestly, I couldn't even get through Bleach due to its art. Still, the age of the art doesn't hinder my enjoyment. It simply is what it is. The art still conveys the characters' personalities effectively, and the story remains compelling. 8/10 Characters: With each member of the zodiac included, plus Tohru's parents and friends, there are countless characters. Let me highlight the most significant ones. Tohru is believed to hold the key to breaking the Sohma family's curse. Her task is to befriend all members and gain their trust, including the head of the family, who is notoriously hard to please. Yuki and Kyo play crucial roles in Tohru's life, having been part of it before she knew about the curse. Yuki is admired at school, but his real friends are Tohru and the Sohma family. He finds it challenging due to his past isolation (you'll understand why in the manga). Kyo, affected by the cat's tragic history, appears nasty but clearly loves Tohru deeply. He has a terrifying power as the cat and an alternate form that doesn't scare Tohru. He also knew Tohru's mother, details of which will unfold in the story. My favorite character is Momiji, half German and half Japanese, representing the rabbit. He's full of energy and adorably similar to Honey from Ouran. Each character has a unique personality, making them interesting and distinct. 10/10 Enjoyment: I was so engrossed that I checked out every single book from the library on the same day. I read this much faster than Gentlemen's Alliance or Kitchen Princess. I was devastated when I reached volume 23. It was just so good. I can't wait to watch the anime. Was it funny? Yes. Did it deliver what I wanted? Absolutely. 10/10 Overall: You must read and watch this if you haven't already! The score rounds up to a perfect 10 out of 10.

I first started reading Fruits Basket when I was a young teenager. Only a few volumes had been released then, but I purchased every single one up to the twelfth volume. After that, I gradually moved away from manga and completely forgot about the series before the next volume was published.

Now, at 23 years old and a year out of university, I recently returned home to visit my family. My mother told me she had packed all my old things into boxes, and as I was going through them, I found my Fruits Basket collection. Nostalgia hit me hard, and I decided to reread and finally finish the series.

This is no exaggeration: I still love the story of Fruits Basket as much as I did back then. There are definitely some flaws, but overall, the way the author crafted this tale is captivating. I haven't read many shoujo mangas, so I don't have much to compare it with, but now I understand why this was once one of the top-selling manga series.

However, I want to review this with a more critical yet still appreciative eye.

The Story: 9/10

At face value, the story sounds quite cliché. Something like: "A girl who loses her parent decides to live with a few men in a house, but little does she know they have a big secret, and when she finds out, it's going to be a whirlwind of an adventure! Stay tuned!" Sure, there's that clever backstory involving the Chinese Zodiac and its curse, but I remember raising an eyebrow at the plot initially. However, it didn't turn out that way. The story is beautifully written, and you'll quickly find yourself drawn in. At its core, it's about forgiveness, growing up, acceptance, and most importantly, finding true happiness when love is reciprocated. Yes, as an older reader, I found it somewhat annoying that everyone had a tragic backstory (like a telenovela), but the way Takaya weaves everything with comedy and lightheartedness makes it bearable, and you'll find yourself tearing up as the story unfolds.

The romance in this manga is also carefully crafted; it doesn't rush through it nor does Takaya just throw the main characters together or make it predictable. The initial Yuki x Tohru x Kyo love triangle is introduced but evolves into something deeper and stronger. Take Kyo and Tohru, for instance—plainly put, their love for each other just makes sense. It isn't like other stories where the author forces two characters together and has the audience root for them as they fornicate. Their love grows cautiously and timidly AND IT'S JUST. SO. DAMN. BEAUTIFUL! (Onions everywhere!!!)

The Characters: 10/10

There are many characters in this manga, and you will have your favorites (KYO!!), dislikes (Rin), and those you don't really care about (student council people, meh). That's the power of this manga—a variety of characters with different personalities that interact with each other. I'd like to defend our heroine, Tohru Honda. Many people have a love-hate relationship with her, and I know my younger self never really approved of her as the main character (it was like Twilight all over again). I thought she was too plain, boring, flat, gentle, and nice to have THAT much effect on everyone she meets. This, of course, came from a raging little girl who thought herself akin to a strong, independent female. Still, even now, I don't prefer bubbly main characters in novels or manga, but in Tohru, I find solace. I finally see her value in the story as a flawed girl who needs as much gentleness, kindness, and love as the other characters she befriends. You'll find yourself loving her, I promise.

The rest of the characters are all well-developed and carefully written. The persons they are when introduced are definitely not the same by the end of the manga. This is especially evident with the two main male characters, Yuki and Kyo, and also our antagonist Akito. I truly appreciated how each character, even the side ones, had their own personality. But I believe Takaya didn't add these characters just to make the story more interesting; instead, each one had an impact or addition to the entire storyline.

The Art: 7/10

I forgive Takaya for the art simply because the story trumps all flaws, and her art matures as the manga progresses. However, I wasn't a fan of the art in the beginning of the series. There is such a thing as eyes being too big in anime. I also didn't like that some characters looked too similar; sometimes I had to rely on their hair color to tell them apart. I know she notes several times that she adores drawing pretty girls, but that hurt her design of some male characters in the manga. Not that they were bad, I just wish she added more details and finishing touches to her designs when it came to the boys (biceps and abs galore). However, her shading and expressions were some of the best I've seen. You can truly feel the emotions—whether bad, good, or funny—with the shading and expressions she put on her characters.

The Ending: 10/10

Pure satisfaction is all I can say. Read the manga and find out, but I guarantee you'll finish it with a smile on your face.

Before I say anything, Fruit Basket is truly an amazing manga. You might think the story sounds all happy, but as you read, you realize it isn't like that at all. It's actually a serious manga (with some comedy to top it off and lots of romance). Each character has a past filled with suffering. They struggled and made mistakes, but in the end, they all managed to find their own happy endings. After everything they've been through, you grow attached to these characters. The only characters you end up hating are their parents (xD). Don't be fooled by appearances; even the happiest-looking person can have a deeply sad past. For instance, Tooru is much more than she seems. She, too, carries a painful past in her heart. At first, I thought the art looked rather old-fashioned, but it was cute. As the series progressed, it became incredibly beautiful. The story is so much more profound than it initially appears. Everything starts out simple, then turns into complex situations. Everything changes. The atmosphere becomes less cheerful, characters evolve, secrets are revealed, and more characters cry. I guarantee Fruit Basket will take you on an emotional rollercoaster. It has comedy, romance, a touch of the supernatural due to their unique situation, and plenty of drama. It offers everything you could want. Trust me. It's really good.

This is the first manga that compelled me to write a review. Despite enjoying most romance manga, I hold high standards for quality content. Fruits Basket stands out as the most beautiful and inspiring manga I've ever encountered. Although it's a shoujo manga aimed at young girls, its profound themes make it universally appealing. The story begins slowly and innocently but gradually delves into darker themes such as psychological and physical abuse, abandonment, and the complex curse that initially seems harmless. It illustrates how human flaws and mistakes, though inexcusable, often stem from reasons, purposes, or causes, suggesting everyone deserves another chance. Torhu is a character whom I believe everyone will admire and aspire to emulate, despite her fictional nature. The manga intricately details each character's suffering and their journey overcoming their inner darkness. I doubt any other manga will be written with such beauty. If you seek a manga featuring solid romance, serious drama, and one that motivates personal growth, Fruits Basket is perfect for you.

It truly is an exceptional manga; once you begin, it's incredibly hard to put down. Every character possesses depth and is meticulously developed. The storyline evolves naturally, with the characters growing in a believable manner.

I decided to read the manga because I watched the anime and wanted to know what happened next... only to find it quite different from the story. At first, I found it funny and really liked the art, but towards the end, it became a bit disappointing. The character development was well done, and the story offered an interesting take on the zodiac. What disappointed me was that the author waited until the very end of the series to address everyone's problems and reveal details about their past. It was overwhelming and too much at once. Sometimes it was confusing, which might have been due to new scanlators who weren't the best. (Sorry, I'm still grateful, but the grammar and punctuation made me feel like a lot had gotten lost in translation.) Another thing I disliked was the protagonist. After a while, you realize she is just a typical shoujo girl: pretty, weepy, idiotic, and smiling through everything. Her character didn't develop as much as the others. The ending gave her a little more depth, but not enough to understand why all these boys were interested in her. Honestly, Momiji was a weak rival later on, even though he was so cute. I wish he had gotten a fair chance; he was awesome. :) I also felt the art style changed a bit when they got older, and I disliked the change for some characters. And Akito? $#@%$#@@$?3 Why did this person have such power over them for so long? I liked Rin because, despite having many issues, she had depth and remained true to her character until the end. I wish I got to see more instances with her. Also, Tohru's friends were great. They cracked me up, especially Hanajima. :) Other than that, it was still a solid read. Funny at times and, of course, full of bishies.

Fruits Basket! I admit, the title made me chuckle at first. However, what truly caught my attention when I picked up these books was the stunning art style. Every illustration is mesmerizing and vividly conveys the characters' emotions.

Each page is filled with dialogue as well. It takes me roughly 45 minutes to finish one volume, which is about the same time it takes to read a chapter in a novel. It took me around a week to get through the entire series, but I devoured the last six books in a single night. Around volume 19, I started wondering intensely, "What will happen to the Sohmas?" and I couldn't stop reading.

The characters in this manga are all unforgettable. I can recall every character and their story. Perhaps it's because each has a unique tale to tell, most of which are profoundly sad.

This manga is deeply emotional and incredibly sad. After finishing it, I cried my eyes out. When I reread it, it was easier but still stirred deep sadness within me. There are funny moments (some outrageously hilarious), but the pain each character experiences resonates closely with me.

Fruits Basket is an essential read. With outstanding art, an outstanding story, memorable characters, and overall? A masterpiece.

I'm going to be honest: when my friend recommended this anime to me, I watched it and was completely bored out of my mind.

It wasn't until later, when I started reading the manga to a little girl, that I began to get interested in the actual story plot. What's great about reading the manga instead of watching the anime is that the story moves faster.

Not only that, but the manga is actually completed compared to the anime. I personally found that the anime missed some of the best parts that can only be read in the manga. There's more romance and drama in the manga, and you get to meet the complete set of zodiac animals while the anime is missing some.

Still, when you compare this manga to other shoujo manga, I won't lie to you—it is still more slow-paced. But if you're the type of person who enjoys making a connection with characters and likes a dramatic amazing finish, I would say to put up with the slow start. Because by the time you finish the manga, you're going to wish there was more to read.

The only serious complaint I have with this manga has to do with the ending, which I don't want to spoil for you. But I will tell you that it only deals with one out of like the billions of different characters, so you don't have to worry much.

Enjoy it! Read it rather than watch it, is what I say.