I remember loving this manga the first time i read it many years ago; this was actually the first licensed manga series i ever bought so i can re-read in the future. Due to my awareness of others though i sort of forgot i had the books after the 2nd re-read...but the story itself always stayed in my mind.
I still recall after watching the anime and another re-read, how i wished there was more of the "future" to read/watch. Now i can understand why it wasn't really necessary....Maybe i have matured?LOL
I have become curious about how i feel about those series i used to "love" when i first started reading mangas, so i started digging into my old collections. In some cases the feeling has been completely gone, and has left nothing but a bitter taste in my mouth. Luckily this was not the case with this series, in fact, i would actually say i appreciate it more than i did then. While my first time it had been about the big gestures and scenes, this time it's all about the small, in between the lines parts. I find myself wondering how i never noticed this or realized that

The thing I love about Fruit's Basket is the amount of time it spends on the characters, their past, their feelings, their development and the problems caused by their curse rather than focusing on the powers it gives them. The way not every guy falls madly in love with Tooru but to each person she meets her kindness takes on a different meaning and I love the way the idea that even the most popular and beautiful people can feel so terribly lonely is addressed. Points knocked off because Tooru was so kind and forgiving it made it annoying at times and unrealistic. Towards the end though instead of everything neatly falling into place the fact that change takes time was mentioned which I think deserves some credit. Very angsty at times and emotional, didn't make me cry but might to those moved by such things, still a good story.

Some people have the wrong impression about what Fruits Basket is about. I don't blame them for judging this series poorly, in fact, I can't be bothered to even criticise their decision. Too much of a hassle.

What I will do is explain what Fruits Basket is about. Fruits Basket isn't so much about the Sohma family curse as it is about Tohru being a ditz. Rather, the story is entirely about the willingness to love and treasure others despite the differences between you and said others. The difference between Karekano and Furuba is exactly that. Karekano treasures the individuality of each person and encourages people to be honest with themselves and their loved ones. Furuba encourages tolerance and acceptance for things that are different. Hence the bitter stories regarding every member of the Sohma family and how they were persecuted/bullied/treated.

Tohru's importance is not to be understated. She herself has undergone a lot of bullying and bitterness yet she strives to smile and do her best regardless. The reason why the series is called Fruits Basket highlights our own cultural prejudices against others. Japan has a children's game called Fruits Basket much like western cultures have this "Goose/Duck" game. Children of a certain "fruit" name are called out to play. Tohru herself was discriminated against when she was called "Onigiri", Japanese for rice ball. Rice balls are not fruits, therefore Tohru would never be called out to play with the other children.

It is this call against prejudice, against discrimination, against intolerance that drives the story forward.

This manga has flashes of brilliance - I've read it multiple times and still get chills when Tohru first sees Akito. At other times it's just okay. The plot revolves around how the zodiac members form interpersonal relationships with others while connected with Akito, but I don't see the necessity of virtually every character ending up in an (often coincidential and contrived) romantic pairing. For instance the Ritsu pairing, Hatori pairing #2, Kyo's master pairing, even Yuki's eventual pairing - what value do these add? I couldn't tell whether the author was trying to make herself feel good, trying to make readers feel good, or implying that true fulfillment can only be achieved by finding love. But ultimately this is a manga about 'being saved' where the characters are basically helpless and unable to achieve any growth through personal strength or self-reflection.

Fruits basket is the epitome of real shojo.It's beautiful, heartbreaking yet warm at the same time. This is one of the few mangas that actually deserves it's reputation. It is one of the very few mangas that actually made me cry. I know the whole "changing into zodiac animals" concept might sound childish but it's not. The stories and consequences of those transformations, and each member of the sohma family slowly growing and accepting their ugliest sides is what it's really about.

I will admit that I wasn't the biggest fan of Tohru Honda myself. There were times when she seriously aggravated me but thankfully the manga isn't about her. It's about the sohma family and how they gradually heal and love themselves. It teaches so many wonderful lessons and it really moves you. Very few manga manage to achieve that.

As unbelievable as it sounds with Tohru and the entire supernatural concept, this manga is actually relatable. The sheer variety of personalities in the sohma family makes it easy to identify with at least one of them. I think that's why it's even more tragic because it hits you where it hurts and you genuinely feel sad for the characters, and also really glad when they all find love and happiness.

This is one of the rare mangas where the ending is perfect. It has a 2 volume ending and manages to tie up all the loose ends without being too cheesy. Everyone finds their destiny and you feel emotionally drained when you finish it, but in a good way. I don't think any manga has made me feel so connected to the characters as this one. It's hauntingly beautiful and one of the BEST shojo manga ever created.

... Last updated on March 29th, 2012, 7:15am

This work represents the turning point of Natsuki Takaya's career. Given the length of the series, it's easy to expect a drastic change in art and storytelling by the end of the tale. As it is, this work represents everything that makes Takaya who she is.

As her longest-running series, a large shift happened as the story goes on: it begins with her 90s-style art, following the trends of ukiyo-e-inspired girls' comics of the time, but changes heavily by the end where things are much smoother and more organic, appearing more clean and soft. It moves into a very modern-looking art style, though no less beautiful.

The storytelling also changes. As the story progresses, things become much more emotionally straining, and Takaya shows off an incredible skill. In previous works, depression was always very constricting on the reader; it effectively gave a taste of the sharp edge of such deep despair and could be difficult to go through. As such, the shorter works suited this. However, given the length of this story, changes had to be made. Although things were more comedic for a long while, the sad moments early on were never especially "deep". The story never put the reader in pain. By the end, however, things become much more heavy, but Takaya's style has shifted by then: by the end of the story, this "depression" begins to feel less like tearing or drowning (a sharp pain) and more like a simmering melancholy.

The style Takaya adopted in this story has persisted since then, but this work may very well be the best one she has created. It takes all the best aspects of her earlier style and slowly evolves into something new that hasn't been replicated quite so perfectly; the evolution from one type to the next creates something greater than could be done either before or after the change has been finished.

Fruits Basket is a wonderful work that anyone and everyone should read. It is truly one of the greatest comics ever drawn.

No, this will not be a rant about Tohru, a rave about Kyo or Yuki, or about Akito. Yup, they're our main characters, but they're not actually what made this manga stand out for me.

I am going to honour those who kept their wit in the midst of insanity, those who braved the storm that was the rules of the Zodiac. The characters that nearly made me cry were Momiji the Rabbit, Hiro the Ram and Shigure the Dog. Tohru's mom Kyoko, Ritsu the Horse and Hatori the Dragon deserve mention, too.

If you've followed the series, you'll notice something about the characters I picked out. Yes: it's sacrifice. In fact, the whole story sings of sacrifice for the sake of selfishness: guilt and vindictiveness pervade the whole cast, and only Momiji and Tohru truly stay clean. And that's where Momiji comes in. We're led to believe that Momiji's really just a spoilt brat (though cute), but that impression is quickly shattered when we learn his true story - that he has had to abandon his mother and sister for their own well-being. This has virtually meant losing his father, as well. But Momiji takes that loneliness head-on, cries painfully, and moves on, and this courage warms the heart of every reader.

Again with Hiro: we see a brash and prickly exterior, who's all set to be the new antagonist. He's not even cute like Momiji. Yet, his fangs have evidently been sharpened by circumstance - he's this way because he knows no other way. And we learn, too, of his sacrifice for Kisa, later on. In a story full of repression, where home is more like jail, Tohru perhaps has it easiest as the only one who's free to live out her own life.

Explicit sacrifice pervades the entire tale, but every character has their own pain, and the hidden hurts rankle most of all, especially for the lack of sympathy. Shigure has been there, right from the beginning - a fun-loving and seemingly happy writer prone to laziness and providing comic relief. He does have a serious side when protecting our youthful, innocent cast from the Main House, but otherwise remains the cheerful dog we know. Yet, later on, we slowly catch on that he's had history with Akito, and while it's never really said explicitly, it's quite clear that Shigure has suppressed his own wanting to be loved for the best interests of those he does love.

A manga crying for love and belonging. From start to end it's about a family, and the most painful irony is that this family knows nothing about being a real family, and rejects anyone who tries to teach it so - brutally. They go mad, like Momiji's and Kyo's mother; they get hurt, like Hatori's fiance Kana. Perhaps the art could be tweaked, and perhaps a little more normality could be injected - as Kimlinger commented, "good parents are as common as penguins in the Sahara—every single one is either neglectful, smothering, unfeeling, abusive, misguided, or dead". The storytelling, however, is top-notch, and the characters can only continue growing on you even after 23 volumes. This is, undoubtedly, shoujo emotion evocation at its best. Prepare tissues.

... Last updated on October 24th, 2011, 10:53am

Tired of predictable plotlines and endings? Want something that'll keep suprising you, even when you thought there were no surprises left? READ THIS MANGA.

This manga is one every shoujo fan should read. It starts out seemingly similar to many shoujos; with an innocent orphan girl living with a bunch of guys, two of whom like her. But it gets so much much more complex. What I love about this story is that all the characters have a history, and all their histories are connected and intertwined. And people you would never guess of having an interesting past turn out to be the ones with the most interesting pasts.

None of the characters are one-dimensional, and you are constantly learning new things that you never guessed but explain so much about why the characters are who they are. This is the sort of manga you have to go back through and read over, because all along there are hints of whats to come that you might not notice if you don't know what you're looking for.

Also, the relationships in this manga are very believable as well as intriguing; not just the romantic relationships (of which there are many) but also the friendships, the sibling relationships, the parent-child relationships, and the most mysterious relationship of all: the one between the head of the Sohma family and the rest of the family. It becomes clear early on that that relationship is the most complex of all, and you can't help but wonder why the members of the Sohma family never go against the head's wishes, even when he is so cruel to them.

So overall, this manga has a wonderfully complex plot, one that I haven't seen the likes of in any other shoujo manga (all though The Gentlemen's Alliance Cross comes close), with very interesting characters and very interesting character development. It speaks to the beauty and darkness of different relationships, and just when you think you've got it figured out, the story will throw you a curve ball. It's conclusion might be called a little too perfect, but I think it's very well done, and it suits the rest of the story well. Overall it's a very humane wonderful story, that also manages to include the stereotypical shoujo humor that so many of us enjoy (the first half of the manga, is lighter-it's the second half that really takes a darker turn). READ IT READ IT READ IT. From beginning to end. The art is ok in the beginning, but gets more and more beautiful as the story progresses. I was quite amazed by the artwork by the time I got to the end. So read it. You won't regret it.

... Last updated on December 1st, 2010, 5:37am

i love this manga, its happy, its sad and it makes you feel warm inside, its actually rely funny too!! has to be my fav-i have the entire series in book form AND on my pc. wud definatly recomend it!!!

There is a reason why Fruits Basket is considered amazing, actually there are many, and in the end, this happens to be a favorite of mine. I've read alot of really atrocious manga and alot of really dazzling, show stoping, freaking amazing manga, so I'm sure I have the right to judge FB. I'm not going to lie, there were a few problems in the beginning (the artwork, the paneling, the dialogue) but it progressively got better around the fifth book.

The reason why this series is so great is because its got great characterization and a finely detailed, super tight plot. People tend to say that Tohru is pretty much a Mary Sue, a perfect character, and that in itself makes her annoying and unreal... But, if you paid attention through out the 23 books, you'd notice just how much of a stepford smiler she was and that she too had alot of pain that she hid by being an overly optimistic and cheerful girl. (V17- "I can't explain it to anyone...but on the other side of the door...I'm afraid she's starting to fall apart.")

Not just her, the other characters were just as amazing. Though I think my favorite was Shigure. He could have been considered the mastermind behind pretty much everything, and he was seriously messed up. (or just as much as Akito). I loved that Natsuki Sensei showed such a broad spectrum of human emotions, something many mangaka and authors can't do. As a writer myself, I'm astonished at how well everything fits together. It just runs seamlessly.

I can not tell you how many times Fruits basket has made me cry. (At least every volume.) But probably the saddest moment was in volume 16- "I wonder what hurts more- to be left behind or to leave behind?" *curls up in a ball* can't read that book without sobbing...everytime.