[Feel free to move this if I'm in the wrong section]
As the title goes: Is Furuba really as great as everyone is raving about?
Now, I'm not saying that it's terrible or anything; in fact, I do enjoy reading it and I think it's a pretty good manga. However, I don't think it's the best out there and there are other manga out there that are just as good. [Ex: Hana Yori Dango/Tokyo Crazy Paradise etc]
It's just that I get so annoyed when my friends just go: 'Fruits Basket is soooo great! It's the best manga ever!!!' Especially when they've never really read anything else...
What do you guys think?
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Is Fruits Basket really all THAT?
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12:32 am, Mar 9 2007
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3:17 am, Mar 9 2007
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3:17 am, Mar 9 2007
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its an ok read but yeah maybe a little overrated
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3:33 am, Mar 9 2007
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3:33 am, Mar 9 2007
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I think the same thing. It's good though, it's atleast worth your time. Which makes good enough for me.
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2:22 pm, Mar 9 2007
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Well, on the upside, it's on the hairy edge of being too bishonen pretty, but stays on the "I can stand to look at this" side of that edge. Panel and page composition is pretty good, the supporting characters are adequately interesting, and Tohru, while not exactly as 3d as some shoujo manga leads is a lot more believable than, say a Watase Yuu character.
And there are plenty of characters! If you don't like one, you're sure to like two or three others...
On the downside is that there *is* a big cast of characters (the whole Sohma family) and they're all drawn pretty much alike. And Tohru (to look at) is the same almost-generic pale-chibi-heroine character we see all over in shoujo lately (Tsubasa in Kare Kano, Hagu in Honey and Clover). And, because there's so much ink spent on the Sohmas arguing over what biscuits they'll have with tea today, we never learn all that much about Tohru's friends.
Then there's place: the whole story happens in three locations...well, maybe five, but there's a very definite ukiyo-e (floating world) feeling about it because nobody ever goes to a noodle shop, gets a bag of taiyaki, or watches a movie. Compare to KKNJ, where they go to Kyoto on a class trip and visit the temples, or Mahoraba, where several shop owners have recurring roles in the manga.
Oh, and can we have establishing shots when we switch scenes between these three places, please? The inside of Shigure's house looks a whole lot like the inside of the Sohmas' house...
I've got to say that I like the character development in Kare Kano better, for all that I was bored by the Tsubasa/stepbrother arc in the middle. Both of the leads in KKNJ seem to be reasonably close to fully human. I'm not sure I could say the same of anybody in Furuba but maybe Shigure and Yuki. I don't think it's possible for a real human to be as happy about housework as Tohru seems to be through all 23 volumes...
And, while it's early in the scanslation process, I'd have to say that, unless the animators invented the depth we see in Honey and Clover, it's got to be significantly better than either KKNJ or Furuba. Of course, it's josei, so it'd likely be more complex anyway.
All that said, I put Furuba on the cuddle-with-milady and read manga list instead of KKNJ because it's a more interesting plot than yet-another-teen-romance and we'd just finished up Midori no Hibi and are working our way through Chobits.
Last edited by senile_seinen at 11:38 am, Apr 16 2007
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And there are plenty of characters! If you don't like one, you're sure to like two or three others...
On the downside is that there *is* a big cast of characters (the whole Sohma family) and they're all drawn pretty much alike. And Tohru (to look at) is the same almost-generic pale-chibi-heroine character we see all over in shoujo lately (Tsubasa in Kare Kano, Hagu in Honey and Clover). And, because there's so much ink spent on the Sohmas arguing over what biscuits they'll have with tea today, we never learn all that much about Tohru's friends.
Then there's place: the whole story happens in three locations...well, maybe five, but there's a very definite ukiyo-e (floating world) feeling about it because nobody ever goes to a noodle shop, gets a bag of taiyaki, or watches a movie. Compare to KKNJ, where they go to Kyoto on a class trip and visit the temples, or Mahoraba, where several shop owners have recurring roles in the manga.
Oh, and can we have establishing shots when we switch scenes between these three places, please? The inside of Shigure's house looks a whole lot like the inside of the Sohmas' house...
I've got to say that I like the character development in Kare Kano better, for all that I was bored by the Tsubasa/stepbrother arc in the middle. Both of the leads in KKNJ seem to be reasonably close to fully human. I'm not sure I could say the same of anybody in Furuba but maybe Shigure and Yuki. I don't think it's possible for a real human to be as happy about housework as Tohru seems to be through all 23 volumes...
And, while it's early in the scanslation process, I'd have to say that, unless the animators invented the depth we see in Honey and Clover, it's got to be significantly better than either KKNJ or Furuba. Of course, it's josei, so it'd likely be more complex anyway.
All that said, I put Furuba on the cuddle-with-milady and read manga list instead of KKNJ because it's a more interesting plot than yet-another-teen-romance and we'd just finished up Midori no Hibi and are working our way through Chobits.
Last edited by senile_seinen at 11:38 am, Apr 16 2007
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Fruit Basket is boring
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3:45 pm, Mar 9 2007
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I used to read Fruit Basket and like it. But I have stop for months now. The story kind of goes downhill in later volumes for me. Considering that my manga taste has changes 3 or 4 times since the first time I read Fruit Basket, my view on the manga is alot different from before. I like Tohru at the beginning but later on she just grates on my nerve with how "saintly" she is presented. Alot of girls seem to be presented so saintly in Shoujo so much. If everyone is saintly like Tohru is. There will peace all around the world. What's with the, only needing a few talks, and most animosity/misunderstanding between two parties get resolved just like that. It's a miracle. Seeing how fast these long time arguements end just because Tohru appears, makes it seem these arguments were petty arguments to begin with. Most people who have met Tohru seem to be taken with her, want to be friends with her, or protect her. Even people who don't like her at the beginning, like her in the end.
The introduction of that student council girl into the picture is a clumsy and forced one. The mangaka keeps fixated on the triangle relationship almost through out the whole series. Now that the series almost ends, she pushes this new person into the picture in an attempt to make everyone has a happy ending -_-
One of the character is so annoying. He doesn't seem to have any character development. He feels sorry for himsef from the beginning till the end through the 23 or more volumes. At the rate the manga is going, Tohru probably ends up with him. The other guy who has changed abit. Start to think about others and doesn't burden people with his problem so he doesn't complain as much. He doesn't end up with Tohru.
I just hate the story pretty much in the latter volume.
And what's with the mother hating the children. In most cases, it's always the mothers. It's always seem that these mothers are married into the family, so they are extremely shock having giving birth to a strange babbies. So... is just just me, or there are no female of the inner circle family ever gives birth to Zodiace babbies. It's only the female who are married into the family.
Incase, you are wondering. I read text translation done by someone who read the Japanese magazine that has Fruit Basket. So I knew what was happening in the latter volumes since last year.
The introduction of that student council girl into the picture is a clumsy and forced one. The mangaka keeps fixated on the triangle relationship almost through out the whole series. Now that the series almost ends, she pushes this new person into the picture in an attempt to make everyone has a happy ending -_-
One of the character is so annoying. He doesn't seem to have any character development. He feels sorry for himsef from the beginning till the end through the 23 or more volumes. At the rate the manga is going, Tohru probably ends up with him. The other guy who has changed abit. Start to think about others and doesn't burden people with his problem so he doesn't complain as much. He doesn't end up with Tohru.
I just hate the story pretty much in the latter volume.
And what's with the mother hating the children. In most cases, it's always the mothers. It's always seem that these mothers are married into the family, so they are extremely shock having giving birth to a strange babbies. So... is just just me, or there are no female of the inner circle family ever gives birth to Zodiace babbies. It's only the female who are married into the family.
Incase, you are wondering. I read text translation done by someone who read the Japanese magazine that has Fruit Basket. So I knew what was happening in the latter volumes since last year.
tl;dr
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6:47 am, Mar 17 2007
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i got bored in the first chap of it
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5:04 pm, Mar 17 2007
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5:04 pm, Mar 17 2007
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i used to think it was all that..but now, i don't think it's all that, and tat there's some better manga out there, but i still like fruits basket
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I'm not going to lie, I am definitely one of those people who go "Fruits Basket is soooo great" with just as many exclamation points. I adore the series and have ever since I started reading it (whatever year it was that it came out).
Fruits Basket is one of those series that isn't necessarily predictable right off the bat, like many shojo series are--no one is sure right away who the couples are, and there are enough characters who interact in a way that could be considered romantic that the pairings could go any which way. (And they do. Have you seen some of the pairings people come up with? Jeez.) That's one reason I like it, because it keeps me guessing.
The plot keeps me guessing too, though that does get a little repetitive: we all know that Tohru will somehow save the day, bless her "saintly" soul, but what interests me is how she does it. I adore Tohru, which seems to be becoming rarer and rarer these days. Is it so wrong for a person to be kind and happy and to want to help people...? Ah well. Honestly, Furuba can be related to real life if you pay attention. I suppose that can be said about many things, but out of all the shojo manga I've read so far Furuba has taught me the most.
To Akillarian:
I don't think you're giving the later part of the series enough credit, no offense. I'm not really sure how far you've read up to (I'm on ch 135) but there is definitely character developement on Kyo's part. It's vague and sort of wishy-washy, because of Kyo's dramatic personality--being the way he is, he could never just gradually learn something; it has to come in a big, dramatic, "ZOMG Tohru just fell off a cliff so I need to go improve myself big time because I love her so much" sort of way.
And I rather like Machi. I think you're partly right--the author did have to introduce someone for Yuki, as everyone else had already been snapped up--but she's just right for him. He's always been seen as perfect, she hates perfection and thus can see right through him. And for Yuki, who has always relied on others to help him stand on his own two feet, it's wonderful for him to finally be able to help someone else.
I can see, however, why you blame the later volumes--thing did take a drastic turn at volume six, but that's not where the problem lies. I'd probably put it around volume 9 or 10...and then again at 17, where the *big* spoiler lies...^^
To senile_seinen:
Hana and Uo get their dues...both manage to become romantically involved with members of the Sohma family (well...Hana not so much) so since everything revolves around the Sohmas, they get more attention.
Can't say I've read Kare Kano or Honey and Clover, so I didn't follow some of the comparisons...but I agree that the places all look alike. The usual lack of color in manga doesn't help either. One really has to pay attention to the background oftentimes--but the focus is the characters, so it doesn't matter much. Still, I almost feel that the author could be the type to plan everything out (like maps of places and such) whether or not it gets used in the story...she certainly seems to do that with relationships.^^
Well, I guess this post has gotten long enough.^^;
Fruits Basket is one of those series that isn't necessarily predictable right off the bat, like many shojo series are--no one is sure right away who the couples are, and there are enough characters who interact in a way that could be considered romantic that the pairings could go any which way. (And they do. Have you seen some of the pairings people come up with? Jeez.) That's one reason I like it, because it keeps me guessing.
The plot keeps me guessing too, though that does get a little repetitive: we all know that Tohru will somehow save the day, bless her "saintly" soul, but what interests me is how she does it. I adore Tohru, which seems to be becoming rarer and rarer these days. Is it so wrong for a person to be kind and happy and to want to help people...? Ah well. Honestly, Furuba can be related to real life if you pay attention. I suppose that can be said about many things, but out of all the shojo manga I've read so far Furuba has taught me the most.
To Akillarian:
I don't think you're giving the later part of the series enough credit, no offense. I'm not really sure how far you've read up to (I'm on ch 135) but there is definitely character developement on Kyo's part. It's vague and sort of wishy-washy, because of Kyo's dramatic personality--being the way he is, he could never just gradually learn something; it has to come in a big, dramatic, "ZOMG Tohru just fell off a cliff so I need to go improve myself big time because I love her so much" sort of way.
And I rather like Machi. I think you're partly right--the author did have to introduce someone for Yuki, as everyone else had already been snapped up--but she's just right for him. He's always been seen as perfect, she hates perfection and thus can see right through him. And for Yuki, who has always relied on others to help him stand on his own two feet, it's wonderful for him to finally be able to help someone else.
I can see, however, why you blame the later volumes--thing did take a drastic turn at volume six, but that's not where the problem lies. I'd probably put it around volume 9 or 10...and then again at 17, where the *big* spoiler lies...^^
To senile_seinen:
Hana and Uo get their dues...both manage to become romantically involved with members of the Sohma family (well...Hana not so much) so since everything revolves around the Sohmas, they get more attention.
Can't say I've read Kare Kano or Honey and Clover, so I didn't follow some of the comparisons...but I agree that the places all look alike. The usual lack of color in manga doesn't help either. One really has to pay attention to the background oftentimes--but the focus is the characters, so it doesn't matter much. Still, I almost feel that the author could be the type to plan everything out (like maps of places and such) whether or not it gets used in the story...she certainly seems to do that with relationships.^^
Well, I guess this post has gotten long enough.^^;
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9:00 pm, Mar 17 2007
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9:00 pm, Mar 17 2007
Posts: 11
I think Fruits Basket started out pretty good, but it 'jumped the shark' a long time ago... My sense is that sometimes a mangaka has a really hard time bringing a series that's gotten really popular to its natural end (maybe pressure from the publishers?). Furuba just went on and on and on... about twelve or fifteen volumes instead of the twenty-whatever it ran to would have been perfect (I stopped reading around 12). It depresses me a little because it's one of the series that got me interested in anime in the first place.
Plus the art, story, and Tohru's personality... all saccharine to the point of being cloying. My advice to people considering Furuba is, watch the anime and skip the manga altogether.
...I hardly ever have the urge to post on forums (more of a lurker) but reading how thoughtfully everyone had replied to this post made me want to out my two cents in too.
Plus the art, story, and Tohru's personality... all saccharine to the point of being cloying. My advice to people considering Furuba is, watch the anime and skip the manga altogether.
...I hardly ever have the urge to post on forums (more of a lurker) but reading how thoughtfully everyone had replied to this post made me want to out my two cents in too.
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10:23 pm, Mar 17 2007
Posts: 10
10:23 pm, Mar 17 2007
Posts: 10
Having read it to the end, I think Fruits Basket is good, but not "all that". I wouldn't read it again. But, I would watch the anime again, and have.
It's really all about the characters. You either love them or hate them. The actual story of the Zodiacs wasn't very interesting to me, it was the personal tragedies(Sohma or non-Sohma) that struck me. My favorite character was, of course, Tohru, followed by Kyo, then Uo, Hana and Shishou. Never really fond of Yuki or Shigure.
As others have pointed out, the series really shines in the beginning. Towards the end it got pretty boring.. I could care less about many of the couples.
It's really all about the characters. You either love them or hate them. The actual story of the Zodiacs wasn't very interesting to me, it was the personal tragedies(Sohma or non-Sohma) that struck me. My favorite character was, of course, Tohru, followed by Kyo, then Uo, Hana and Shishou. Never really fond of Yuki or Shigure.
As others have pointed out, the series really shines in the beginning. Towards the end it got pretty boring.. I could care less about many of the couples.
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11:24 pm, Mar 17 2007
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11:24 pm, Mar 17 2007
Posts: 2
I think I have to disagree with several of the points made above me.
Summary: Fruits Basket is one of those mangas that either you love or hate. It focuses a lot on character relationships and that bores some people easily. It's about people struggling to be able to live with themselves and others, to get over the pain and go on with life. I think these quotes by Shigure and Hatsuharu in chapter 70 (Hoshimanga scanlation) pretty much sum it up:
"You two, it's nice to be young. Struggling through life. Trying so hard to keep from drowning in things. Even though, if you relaxed, you'd surface anyway."
"But the reward for struggling is that after the struggle, you know what it means to live."
It's uplifting and inspiring, with realistic and compelling characters, it's funny and heartwarming, and it's never boring. Furuba is, without question, the best manga I've ever read.
Quote from senile_seinen
we never learn all that much about Tohru's friends
Yes we do. In volumes 7 and 9 Arisa and Saki's stories are told. The manga as a whole focuses mostly on Kyo, Tohru, and Yuki, but Tohru's friends continue to be significant right up to the end.Quote
nobody ever goes to a noodle shop, gets a bag of taiyaki, or watches a movie. Compare to KKNJ, where they go to Kyoto on a class trip and visit the temples, or Mahoraba, where several shop owners have recurring roles in the manga.
In volume 13 all the 2nd years go to Kyoto for their class trip. In 10-11 they go to the beach for the summer. Tohru takes Kisa and Hiro to the park in 7, and Arisa and Saki take her swimsuit-shopping. A lot of the interaction does happen at school or at home, but that's not it.Quote
I don't think it's possible for a real human to be as happy about housework as Tohru seems to be through all 23 volumes...
I know I would never be, considering I'm probably the world's worst slob, but I know that my mom and my aunt love to clean relatives' houses whenever they visit.Quote from Akillarian
I like Tohru at the beginning but later on she just grates on my nerve with how "saintly" she is presented
I agree that maybe she's a little too nice, but hardly saintly. Tohru has her own issues, her own struggles. She's just not hung up over the usual things. Quote
Seeing how fast these long time arguements end just because Tohru appears, makes it seem these arguments were petty arguments to begin with.
No, that's not it at all. She didn't fix things between Kyo and Yuki - they took steps on their own. She just gave them the courage to try. And their argument was hardly petty.Quote
The introduction of that student council girl into the picture is a clumsy and forced one. The mangaka keeps fixated on the triangle relationship almost through out the whole series. Now that the series almost ends, she pushes this new person into the picture in an attempt to make everyone has a happy ending -_-
Volume nine is hardly the end of the series - it's barely halfway through. And not everyone has a happy ending.Quote
One of the character is so annoying. He doesn't seem to have any character development. He feels sorry for himsef from the beginning till the end through the 23 or more volumes. At the rate the manga is going, Tohru probably ends up with him.
Are you talking about Kyo? He does have character development, although some of the significant bits happen before the three-year period of the manga.Quote
And what's with the mother hating the children. In most cases, it's always the mothers. It's always seem that these mothers are married into the family, so they are extremely shock having giving birth to a strange babbies. So... is just just me, or there are no female of the inner circle family ever gives birth to Zodiace babbies. It's only the female who are married into the family.
Rin, Kagura, Kyoko, Kyo, and possibly Kisa had fathers who didn't love them. And since the family is so large, the only mother who was definitely not a Sohma was Momiji's.Quote from snarkish
it has to come in a big, dramatic, "ZOMG Tohru just fell off a cliff so I need to go improve myself big time because I love her so much" sort of way
In some ways I agree with you. One moment Kyo was saying you must be insane and the next he was madly in love with her. At the same time, would you really expect him to get over his past so easily? Spoiler (highlight to view)
Would you be able to forgive yourself for "killing" Kyoko if you were in his shoes?
Summary: Fruits Basket is one of those mangas that either you love or hate. It focuses a lot on character relationships and that bores some people easily. It's about people struggling to be able to live with themselves and others, to get over the pain and go on with life. I think these quotes by Shigure and Hatsuharu in chapter 70 (Hoshimanga scanlation) pretty much sum it up:
"You two, it's nice to be young. Struggling through life. Trying so hard to keep from drowning in things. Even though, if you relaxed, you'd surface anyway."
"But the reward for struggling is that after the struggle, you know what it means to live."
It's uplifting and inspiring, with realistic and compelling characters, it's funny and heartwarming, and it's never boring. Furuba is, without question, the best manga I've ever read.
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10:08 am, Mar 18 2007
Posts: 58
I gotta agree with zsuzsi. Tohru is just too saccharine, and sometimes she just appears too perfect. Sure, she has her selfishness and such (if you can consider it that) but when it comes down to it, she's too nice, smiles too much, doesn't get mad, acts in that typically cutesy shoujo style, and is just flat out saintly. I just think that she's not a character that's easy to relate to. Sure, I feel sympathy for her, but it's very... detached. There's nothing about Tohru that I can say honestly that I feel for. I like her, but that's because she's meant to be the protagonist and is thrown into such a light where you can't help but like her.
The fact that everyone just seems to fall head over heels in love with her is too unrealistic for me. Even Akira (?) ends up turning almost sane after Tohru "changed" her. I mean, come on! Akira might be this cruel person, but people don't change so easily and the fact that the author made Akira gradually like Tohru...
I suppose it's because I have this thing against the girlishly perfect Tohru, she comes across as a weak person even though I know there are many scenes that claim otherwise. Somehow those scenes displaying her strength just don't appeal to me cuz they are far from realistic when we think about it reasonably. The best example: living in a bloody tent. Seriously. That's supposed to be making her an independent person? I highly doubt anyone in their right mind would ever do something like that. Which makes me question if she's strong or just plain stupid (and I'm leaning towards the latter).
Look at Kare Kano. Even the lead character (forgot her name) has her flaws and could be seen from book 1. She was merely pretending to be a perfect person but in reality she was a selfish person, hated losing, pretentious. Those flaws of hers makes it easier for the reader to relate to and much more endearing. Sure, we all love Tohru, but she's too perfect a person to just be like 'Yeah, I know how that feels,' or 'I do that sometimes too.'
Gosh, this post seems more like a Tohru bashing session than anything else; but don't get me wrong, I actually like Furuba. Just... Tohru lacks all the flaws of an ordinary person, so there aren't many sides of her characters that can be seen. One thing that irritates me a lot is that she cries too much, I don't know about you, but I just get bored of it after a while. Her character just falls flat if one compares it with others like the protagonists in Kare Kano or Hana Yori Dango.
I remember the first time I watched the anime and it was switched on English dub. I actually got goosebumps just listening to the chirpy voice. No, I'm not a perfect person, and I'd like my protagonists to be just as imperfect as me
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The fact that everyone just seems to fall head over heels in love with her is too unrealistic for me. Even Akira (?) ends up turning almost sane after Tohru "changed" her. I mean, come on! Akira might be this cruel person, but people don't change so easily and the fact that the author made Akira gradually like Tohru...
I suppose it's because I have this thing against the girlishly perfect Tohru, she comes across as a weak person even though I know there are many scenes that claim otherwise. Somehow those scenes displaying her strength just don't appeal to me cuz they are far from realistic when we think about it reasonably. The best example: living in a bloody tent. Seriously. That's supposed to be making her an independent person? I highly doubt anyone in their right mind would ever do something like that. Which makes me question if she's strong or just plain stupid (and I'm leaning towards the latter).
Look at Kare Kano. Even the lead character (forgot her name) has her flaws and could be seen from book 1. She was merely pretending to be a perfect person but in reality she was a selfish person, hated losing, pretentious. Those flaws of hers makes it easier for the reader to relate to and much more endearing. Sure, we all love Tohru, but she's too perfect a person to just be like 'Yeah, I know how that feels,' or 'I do that sometimes too.'
Gosh, this post seems more like a Tohru bashing session than anything else; but don't get me wrong, I actually like Furuba. Just... Tohru lacks all the flaws of an ordinary person, so there aren't many sides of her characters that can be seen. One thing that irritates me a lot is that she cries too much, I don't know about you, but I just get bored of it after a while. Her character just falls flat if one compares it with others like the protagonists in Kare Kano or Hana Yori Dango.
I remember the first time I watched the anime and it was switched on English dub. I actually got goosebumps just listening to the chirpy voice. No, I'm not a perfect person, and I'd like my protagonists to be just as imperfect as me
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10:28 pm, Mar 18 2007
Posts: 9
Quote: "Gosh, this post seems more like a Tohru bashing session than anything else"
You're right, it does.^^ I'm glad Tohru hasn't kept you from enjoying Fruits Basket. See, to be honest, I don't think she's perfect at all. She's naive, too easily moved to tears, occasionally insipid, etc. If those aren't flaws, I must be perfect as well. I'll just say this about her: she is genuinely kind. I think what upsets everyone is that today we don't believe a truly selfless person could ever actually exist...but if one did, everyone would love them. Tohru is selfless to begin with, but she learns to be more selfish as the series goes on. She may have started out trying to please everyone, in that sort of annoying "must be a do-gooder" sort of way, but she learns to try and get what she wants--and it just so happens that what she wants is happiness for everyone. It's like, she's so selfless that even when she's being selfish she's being selfless!
...that does seem rather saintly, come to think of it...>.>
But who said that was necessarily a bad thing? Maybe we should all aspire to be like Tohru!
Hmm...as for what happened between Akito (you were close) and Tohru...well, I knew that was going to happen from the beginning, but I thought Akito was in such dire need of being "fixed" that I was happy when it finally happened.
To livvispatula:
It will take Kyo years to get over that...what I mean is, he'll never realize he's really not over it, never try and get over it (and all his other issues, like with his dad and his future and all that) unless something dramatic happens to kick him in the pants and make him realize what it is he needs to start doing. It's sort of like "you never know what you got until it's gone" with Kyo--it takes a serious shock to force him into action over getting over his issues, perhaps because his life is so full of serious, sudden, shocking events that he can't deal with any other way.
I have to take my nonexistent hat off to you for so accurately pinpointing the true meaning of Fruits Basket: for everyone to keep struggling, because it's worth it in the end. Also, I couldn't agree more: Fruits Basket is the BEST manga I have ever read.
Last edited by snarkish at 10:57 pm, Mar 18 2007
You're right, it does.^^ I'm glad Tohru hasn't kept you from enjoying Fruits Basket. See, to be honest, I don't think she's perfect at all. She's naive, too easily moved to tears, occasionally insipid, etc. If those aren't flaws, I must be perfect as well. I'll just say this about her: she is genuinely kind. I think what upsets everyone is that today we don't believe a truly selfless person could ever actually exist...but if one did, everyone would love them. Tohru is selfless to begin with, but she learns to be more selfish as the series goes on. She may have started out trying to please everyone, in that sort of annoying "must be a do-gooder" sort of way, but she learns to try and get what she wants--and it just so happens that what she wants is happiness for everyone. It's like, she's so selfless that even when she's being selfish she's being selfless!
...that does seem rather saintly, come to think of it...>.>
But who said that was necessarily a bad thing? Maybe we should all aspire to be like Tohru!
Hmm...as for what happened between Akito (you were close) and Tohru...well, I knew that was going to happen from the beginning, but I thought Akito was in such dire need of being "fixed" that I was happy when it finally happened.
To livvispatula:
It will take Kyo years to get over that...what I mean is, he'll never realize he's really not over it, never try and get over it (and all his other issues, like with his dad and his future and all that) unless something dramatic happens to kick him in the pants and make him realize what it is he needs to start doing. It's sort of like "you never know what you got until it's gone" with Kyo--it takes a serious shock to force him into action over getting over his issues, perhaps because his life is so full of serious, sudden, shocking events that he can't deal with any other way.
I have to take my nonexistent hat off to you for so accurately pinpointing the true meaning of Fruits Basket: for everyone to keep struggling, because it's worth it in the end. Also, I couldn't agree more: Fruits Basket is the BEST manga I have ever read.
Last edited by snarkish at 10:57 pm, Mar 18 2007
Member
5:12 am, Mar 19 2007
Posts: 58
XD! I'm sorry then, it wasn't really my purpose to bash up Tohru because I don't really hate her. What I meant when I said she was just too perfect was that there wasn't any ugly side to her. Sure, all those points that you mentioned can be considered by some to be flaws, but from my perspective, they're the kind of flaws that are very... typical of the shoujo manga heroine and those flaws are often shown in a good light. They're flaws and yet at the same time they aren't (if you get what I mean). I also noticed that the mangaka likes to victimize Tohru, bad things just seem to happen to her one after another, and the mangaka would attempt to show how it makes Tohru out to be a stronger person. I would like to see for once Tohru kick someone's ass or say 'F*ck you, I don't need this crap.' and not feel sorry about it later rather than smile and go 'I forgive you.' -___-
I suppose I'm the type that is moved more by a heroine who has been shown to have an ugly side. Not ugly in a bad sense, but the kind of ugliness that exists in all of us. The ugliness that makes us jealous, angry, envious... As you've mentioned, she's selfish that she wants people to be happy, resulting in a form of selflessness. Are there people who for the sake of their own happiness finds the need to make others happy? It's actually a pretty laughable thought. Selfless people... nope, don't buy it. Even if I meet someone like that, I wouldn't be able to trust them. Too good to be true and all that
LOL! Yeap, I was wasn't I? Gah, how could I have messed up Akira and Akito! I think that's another part of the manga that I'm not really fond of (I never said dislike) is that it's so... preachy. I mean, come on! What's wrong with Akito? She's a horrid person to begin with, that I agree, but then they just HAD to convert her onto the good side. Okay yes, I was pleased that Akito was converted, but really!
The line between good and bad was so easily drawn and goodness just simply revolved around Tohru. It's not preachy preachy, but the whole 'everything will get better if you try hard' part, it doesn't always come true.
In the end, the plot is really the one thing that makes this one different because it doesn't focus so much on romantic relationships, but it didn't make me get addicted to it to the point where I suffered withdrawal symptoms (unlike HYD :haha
Note: Again I really like this manga, and it's on my Top 5 list. The reason why I'm so hard on it and having criticisms is because it's not just mere fluff like other shoujo manga and deals with some certain issues emotionally.
________________
As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods,
They kill us for their sport
- King Lear, Shakespeare
I suppose I'm the type that is moved more by a heroine who has been shown to have an ugly side. Not ugly in a bad sense, but the kind of ugliness that exists in all of us. The ugliness that makes us jealous, angry, envious... As you've mentioned, she's selfish that she wants people to be happy, resulting in a form of selflessness. Are there people who for the sake of their own happiness finds the need to make others happy? It's actually a pretty laughable thought. Selfless people... nope, don't buy it. Even if I meet someone like that, I wouldn't be able to trust them. Too good to be true and all that
LOL! Yeap, I was wasn't I? Gah, how could I have messed up Akira and Akito! I think that's another part of the manga that I'm not really fond of (I never said dislike) is that it's so... preachy. I mean, come on! What's wrong with Akito? She's a horrid person to begin with, that I agree, but then they just HAD to convert her onto the good side. Okay yes, I was pleased that Akito was converted, but really!
The line between good and bad was so easily drawn and goodness just simply revolved around Tohru. It's not preachy preachy, but the whole 'everything will get better if you try hard' part, it doesn't always come true.
In the end, the plot is really the one thing that makes this one different because it doesn't focus so much on romantic relationships, but it didn't make me get addicted to it to the point where I suffered withdrawal symptoms (unlike HYD :haha
Note: Again I really like this manga, and it's on my Top 5 list. The reason why I'm so hard on it and having criticisms is because it's not just mere fluff like other shoujo manga and deals with some certain issues emotionally.
________________
As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods,
They kill us for their sport
- King Lear, Shakespeare
