Fruits Basket

This series holds a special place in my heart, but that doesn't mean I'm biased. Let's address some complaints other users have made:

"It's unrealistic that Tohru was the 'angel' who saved everyone from their traumas/abusive past."

Firstly, let's clarify: Tohru wasn't really the 'angel who saved everyone.' Everyone saved themselves. They grew mostly on their own, with some influence from Tohru. They also learned from others like Machi and people in their families. While Tohru did play a significant role in influencing the Sohmas, she wasn't the sole carrier of change. Admittedly, it can be unrealistic to some extent. But remember, this is a MANGA series; very few are entirely realistic, especially in genres like Shoujo or Slice of Life, even those based on history.

"Tohru is a Mary Sue... she's little Miss Perfect."

Honestly, while Tohru is your typical nice girl, she has her flaws. Being overly selfless can be selfish, and that's what she embodies. She still envies other characters and recognizes her faults, such as feeling weak. She didn't leave to live with her grandfather because her relatives hated her. She left because they were renovating the house, and she felt like a burden staying in a small area meant for her aunt, uncle, cousin, and grandfather during renovations.

"Some of the relationships are creepy, and the ending was a bit rushed."

I agree that the ending was rushed, but it was still satisfying to me. As for the relationships, I partially disagree. The build-up to them was generally well-developed. The largest age gap we know for sure is between Saki and Kyo's father figure (I forgot his name). Even so, Saki is of age, and he is likely in his thirties at most. Such relationships are relatively common in Japan.

"The way they handled abuse was unrealistic and infuriating."

As someone who has experienced abuse and trauma, I found the portrayal to be well-written for its time. The cause and effects were pretty realistic. Characters didn't excuse Akito's actions, but that doesn't mean they should remain miserable forever. Her mom got her comeuppance. Everyone still struggles with their trauma, but they've matured enough to handle it.

"The art is trash."

That's really unnecessary. For its time, the art is pretty good. It may not be as detailed as many other shoujos of its era, but it's still beautiful. Plus, this was one of Natsuki Takaya's first works, which is amazing considering its popularity. I love how Takaya has grown since Fruits Basket.

"The story was basic."

I agree to an extent. It does have the typical nice girl and tsundere bad boy, but it doesn't entirely fit the mold. It was somewhat revolutionary for a shoujo series to include trauma and abuse the way Fruits Basket did, and it remains significant even today in conservative Japan, where mental health, abuse, and trauma are rarely discussed.

Now that we've addressed those points, here's the rest of my review. The characters were enjoyable. Sure, there are some clichés, but most were tolerable and/or well-done. The ending was expected yet still enjoyable. There's a reason why Fruits Basket is a shoujo classic. I would still recommend this to anyone.

The first couple of volumes of Fruits Basket offer a glimpse into the life of someone who doesn't have everything she desires but is grateful for what she has, including the wonderful friends she meets along the way. I believe this series is great for young girls to read, as well as everyone else. This book taps into the imaginations of spirited and intelligent youth, filled with plenty of laughs, a few tear-jerkers, and some love interests. Read this book; it won't hurt you. In fact, read them all—you won't be disappointed.

Fruits Basket is one of those rare series that offers something for everyone. It’s a unique blend, almost like every genre rolled into one—though I must emphasize the 'almost'. This manga is humorous, heart-wrenching, joyful, and packed with valuable life lessons. It also features romance that adds depth to its rich narrative. Not only do I recommend reading Fruits Basket, but I also suggest revisiting it. While it touches on various themes, it remains appropriate for readers of virtually any age. So, if you're in search of a remarkable manga, Fruits Basket is definitely worth checking out.

Fruits Basket is a manga that you can read repeatedly, discovering new insights with each reading, never growing tired of it. It's unequivocally my favorite manga, possessing the unique ability to evoke profound sadness and incredible happiness simultaneously.

Story: The narrative revolves around the juunishi, or members of the Chinese zodiac, and a high school girl named Tohru, whose life intersects with theirs unexpectedly. The juunishi live under a dark curse, masking their pain with fake smiles and laughter. Across 23 volumes, the author illustrates Tohru’s impact on them, showing how they come to love her and open up to her and others. Each book builds upon the last, keeping readers thoroughly engaged and progressively intensifying the action. The story is dark and sinister, filled with death, yet manages to shine a happy light, making it the reader’s focus while only a bit of darkness lingers in the background. The interconnected backstories of well-developed characters enhance the sense of shared mystery within a richly developed universe.

Characters: This is the best part of this manga. Each character is uniquely and deeply developed, making readers love them despite their challenges and sometimes unattractive traits. There’s the quiet, selfish rat who wants more and whom people admire; the quick-to-anger cat who draws people in; the indifferent, carefree, scheming dog; the lovable, hyperactive bunny who is deeper than he seems; the bipolar cow who shifts between calm understanding and insanity; the calm, collected dragon who is nicer than he appears; the overly emotional boar; the dramatic snake who loves talking; the brooding horse with a one-track mind but deep care; the annoying monkey; the shy, adorable tiger; the obnoxious sheep with an overdeveloped ego; and the reserved, kind rooster. Each character’s individual story grows alongside the main plot, blending seamlessly into the overarching storyline, culminating in satisfying resolutions for all.

I was particularly drawn to how the characters interacted. The juunishi share a strange bond, knowing each other their whole lives yet rarely seeing each other before the manga begins. Their mysterious connection made me crave that kind of relationship with friends—the kind where you can drop by unannounced or go to a summer home together. Despite their glamor and fascination, they all depend on Tohru in different ways, finding solace in her genuine self.

Art: I’ve always admired manga artists for how much art adds to the story. Not only do you get the words like in a novel, but you also see the characters’ facial expressions, body movements, and styles. While imagination is spectacular, there’s something extra about seeing the sad smile, irritation, or ecstasy on characters’ faces. I especially love the clothing in Fruits Basket. Momiji’s outfits always make me smile and wish I had clothes like that. The clothing, hair, and eyes of all characters truly finalize their personalities. Along with Momiji, Haru and Rin have great outfits that add depth to their characters.

Takaya Natsuki excels at developing characters over time. It took seven years to finish the series, and her style evolved, fitting as the characters grew through high school. You can see them getting taller and their faces filling out as time progresses in the story.

Enjoyment: I LOVE this manga. It will never grow old. It always makes me happy.

Overall: Fruits Basket makes me incredibly depressed and overwhelmingly happy simultaneously. It always cheers me up, even just thinking about it, yet it’s one of the most depressing stories I’ve ever read. But don’t misunderstand—this isn’t just for those who like depressing stories. Perhaps the best way to describe it is that it makes you aware of how bad things could be, which is what’s depressing. It shows you another life and way of living, then reveals that even that can be okay. I love this story because it brings out the “other side of the rainbow” idea. It’s spectacular at cheering up.

Fruits Basket is a very special manga that makes you reflect on your life, family, friends, future, and happiness.

Fruits Basket stands as my absolute favorite manga ever. It's not just funny; it also packs tragic elements that hit me hard, making me feel like I'm a part of the story. Laugh out loud. The ending especially resonated with me. For some reason, this manga radiates true love, unlike other shojo manga where only surface-level affection is shown. This one breaks the mold! :D

I first started reading Fruits Basket when I was a young teenager. Only a few volumes had been released back then, but I bought every single one up to the 12th volume. After that, I gradually moved away from manga and completely forgot about the series before the next volume came out.

Now, at 23 years old and fresh 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 not an exaggeration; I still love the story in Fruits Basket just as much as I did back then. There are definitely some flaws, but overall, the way the author crafted this story is captivating. While I haven't read many shoujo mangas, I now understand why this was once one of the top-selling mangas in its time.

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

The Story: 10/10

At face value, the story sounds cliché. It's like: "A girl who loses a 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 gonna be a whirlwind 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 through mutual love. Yes, as an older reader, I did find it somewhat annoying that everyone had a tragic backstory (like a telenovela), but the way Takaya blends comedy and lightheartedness makes it bearable, and you'll find yourself crying as the story unfolds.

The romance in this manga is also handled with care and thought; it doesn't rush through it nor does Takaya force the main characters together, nor is it predictable. Initially, we see the Yuki x Tohru x Kyo love triangle, but that evolves into something deeper and stronger. Take Kyo and Tohru, for instance (god bless them); 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 timidly and cautiously 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. There is a variety of characters with different personalities interacting with each other. I'd like to defend our heroine, Tohru Honda. Many people have a love-hate relationship with her, and my younger self never really approved of her as the main character (it felt 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 comes from a raging little girl who thought herself akin to a strong, independent female. 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 will find yourself loving her, I promise.

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

The Art: 8/10

I forgive Takaya for the art simply because the story trumps all the flaws, and her art matures as the manga progresses. However, I wasn't a fan of the art in the beginning. There is such a thing as overly large anime eyes. I also didn't like that some characters looked too similar; sometimes I had to rely on hair color to tell them apart. She notes several times that she adores drawing pretty girls, but this hurt her design of some male characters. Not that they were bad, but I wish she added more details and finishing touches for the boys (biceps and abs galore). Her shading and expressions, however, 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

Satisfaction. 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.

Fruits Basket is an exceptionally captivating tale, transforming its somewhat fantastical premise into something believable and intriguing. The romantic subplot is tender without veering into overly sentimental territory, and the characters are distinctively unique.

The standout element of Fruits Basket is undoubtedly its characters. While their exteriors might seem clichéd at first glance, beneath the surface lies a complex web of personalities and motivations that unravel as the manga progresses, especially for the main characters. I was particularly impressed by Tohru; never did I expect an archetype typically portrayed as scatterbrained in anime and manga to be so compelling. The overarching plot is also deeply engaging, exploring themes of love, loss, and redemption. It's heartwarming, and I found the ending particularly satisfying.

With a vast ensemble cast including three primary leads and at least fifteen supporting and minor characters (and likely more), Natsuki Takaya manages to give each character sufficient screen time, complete with individual backstories and subplots that eventually find resolution. Notably, there wasn't a single character whose storyline ended in a way I didn't appreciate. Occasionally, the narrative transitions from joyous moments to sorrowful ones quite abruptly, which can be slightly jarring. However, overall, the humor and serious elements are well balanced. Some plot devices felt a bit contrived but were still fitting within the story's context.

Nonetheless, managing such a large cast does make it challenging to keep track of who’s doing what or interacting with whom, exacerbated by some characters having similar designs. There were several instances where I had to pause and reconsider ('how does Kimi know Rin?... Oh, right, that's Kagura'). Still, on the whole, I enjoyed the artwork. Natsuki Takaya's skill noticeably improves as the series advances, adeptly depicting her characters' growth over time.

I would recommend Fruits Basket to virtually anyone. Beyond being just a romance story, it offers something valuable to every reader.

Fruits Basket is a heartwarming and hilarious romantic manga that highlights the importance of friendship and confronting one's inner struggles rather than avoiding them. It’s genuinely relatable and highly enjoyable. Although the artwork wasn’t my top preference, the unique storyline and character growth more than compensate for it. The interactions among the characters are particularly engaging. This manga beautifully blends love, friendship, and humor, all while imparting numerous life lessons and exploring various themes and motifs. As a big fan of shojo, this series definitely ranks among my favorites.

Art was abysmal. By today's standards, this series would have been wrapped up in a single chapter.

The characters were far from believable. Where on earth would you encounter 15 or 16-year-olds who communicate and understand themselves so lucidly? Tohru is the epitome of perfection. Her flaws are portrayed as endearing traits that make her even more lovable. You can skip every interaction she has with the zodiac members; they all boil down to one thing: Tohru wins them over effortlessly. Moreover, the villain is utterly unsympathetic. Their childhood trauma doesn't justify their actions, and the author’s last-minute attempt at humanizing them after making us despise them feels hollow. A major plot twist? Who cares by that point? Just wrap it up already.

In the end, the only redeemable characters are Yuki, whose hard work justifies his self-awareness, and Tohru's quirky electromagnetic waves friend. Even they fall victim to the author’s obsession with giving everyone a happy ending, resulting in unsettling relationships.

The rooster hugging Tohru to apologize for not meeting his crush (Tohru's best friend)? How romantic! A teacher in their twenties touching the hair of a 14-year-old student and kissing her forehead upon first meeting? Must be love at first sight! A woman having casual sex with a companion and then getting together with her crush without discussing it like adults? Ugh.

The real question is: What did Fruits Basket do right in its portrayal of characters? Why demolish everyone's character development to cater to an audience clearly composed of middle school girls swooning over every kiss and hug, despite these interactions being sexual harassment in reality? How did Fruits Basket squander such potential?

All I can conclude is:

This was unequivocally the biggest waste of my time and the most uncomfortable manga I’ve ever read. Go pick up a novel about human nature instead. It might actually enrich you.

If you've watched the anime Fruits Basket and are contemplating whether to dive into the manga, go ahead! It's absolutely worth your time. The narrative, illustrations, and characters—all of it is exquisite. Fruits Basket masterfully encompasses a broad spectrum of concepts, feelings, and diverse themes.

Takaya excels at transitioning between different moods seamlessly and portrays the evolving characters with elegance. There's no denying that Fruits Basket is an exceptional piece of art, and I'd recommend it to anyone who inquires. And yes, the manga stands toe-to-toe with the anime, if not surpassing it in quality.

Conclusion: Absolutely worth it!

I find it nearly impossible to pen this review because it feels like I'm trying to evaluate something so deeply familiar that it transcends language. To me, Fruits Basket is home.

This is the one manga that not only draws me back but makes me yearn to re-read repeatedly without ever getting bored. The story is multi-faceted and complex, offering deeper, richer appreciation with each revisit, unveiling new details or nuances previously unnoticed.

The reason for this lies in the sheer volume of concurrent events within the manga. Initially, it felt a bit overwhelming, requiring intense concentration as the plot thickened and became more emotionally charged. But therein lies the magic of Fruits Basket. Unlike many shoujo mangas that focus character development solely on the protagonist, Fruits Basket extends this depth to every character. In fact, there are no supporting roles here; every character plays a crucial part in the narrative. This comprehensive approach sets it apart from other unrealistic, mediocre, poorly developed shoujo mangas, ensuring its enduring popularity.

Never have I cried with such raw emotion at the tragedies and unwavering hope of characters like Momiji and Kyo—I literally sobbed uncontrollably. And never have I been so frustrated by the enigmatic actions of others (*cough* Akito). The dynamics between the characters and their genuine bonds of friendship feel so real and rich that the characters, storyline, and manga itself seem to take on a life independent of the mangaka's control.

This is the hallmark of great art and masterful storytelling—when the story ceases to be just a tale and becomes a reflection of everyday life, exploring and challenging the joys and pains of the human condition. For me, Fruits Basket will always be integral to my personal growth, and I know I'll return to its volumes countless times as I continue to evolve.