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Fruits Basket

From Alfawiki
Fruits Basket
Company typeManga series
IndustryManga, Anime
Founded1998; 28 years ago (1998)
FounderNatsuki Takaya
Headquarters
Japan
ProductsManga, Anime adaptations, Compilation film

, often shortened to , is a Japanese manga series created by Natsuki Takaya. It was featured in the semi-monthly shōjo manga publication , issued by Hakusensha, spanning from 1998 until 2006. The series’ title is inspired by a well-known game commonly played by Japanese elementary school children, which is referenced throughout the story.

Fruits Basket centers on Tohru Honda, an orphan who uncovers that thirteen members of the Sohma family are afflicted by a curse causing them to transform into animals of the Chinese zodiac whenever they experience weakness, stress, or are embraced by someone of the opposite sex who is not possessed by a zodiac spirit. Through Tohru’s empathy and kindness, the narrative delves into the emotional challenges faced by the Sohma family members and their journey toward healing, while also portraying Tohru’s own development and interpersonal connections.

Takaya introduced a sequel titled Fruits Basket Another in September 2015 and followed with a spin-off called The Three Musketeers Arc in April 2019. The original manga was adapted into a 26-episode anime series in 2001 by Studio Deen, under the direction of Akitaro Daichi. A rebooted anime adaptation produced by TMS Entertainment and directed by Yoshihide Ibata aired across three seasons from April 2019 through June 2021. Initially co-produced by Funimation and streamed via Crunchyroll, the series later became exclusively available through Crunchyroll. Additionally, a compilation film titled Fruits Basket: Prelude premiered in Japan in February 2022 and was subsequently released theatrically in North America and the United Kingdom later that year.

By December 2018, Fruits Basket had achieved over 30 million copies in circulation, placing it among the best-selling manga series worldwide and ranking it as one of the top-selling shōjo manga globally. It is widely regarded in academic circles as a seminal and influential work within its genre.


Plot

Following the death of her mother in a car accident, high school student Tohru Honda moves in with her grandfather. When he begins renovating his home, Tohru opts to live independently in a nearby forest rather than burden her friends.

While exploring this area, she discovers the residence of her popular classmate Yuki Sohma and his cousin Shigure. After her tent is destroyed by a landslide, the Sohma family invites her to stay with them. During her time there, Tohru witnesses Kyo Sohma transform into a cat, unveiling the Sohma family’s curse: twelve family members are possessed by spirits of the , causing them to change into their respective zodiac animals when stressed or embraced by someone of the opposite gender. Kyo, who is inhabited by the excluded cat spirit, endures discrimination within the clan.

Tohru vows to keep their secret and continues living with them. Her acceptance has a positive effect on those affected by the curse, inspiring her determination to break it. Throughout this journey, she faces antagonistic zodiac spirits and Akito, the family’s authoritative leader who enforces their bond to these spirits.


Production

The series title originates from a children’s game called , where players are assigned fruit names and must find new seats when called upon. As a child, Tohru is designated as ""—not an actual fruit—symbolizing her initial exclusion from the group. This serves as a metaphor for her outsider position within the Sohma family.

Creator Natsuki Takaya named most of the zodiac-cursed Sohma characters after traditional months from the former Japanese lunisolar calendar, aligning with their respective animal signs. Notable exceptions include Kureno and Momiji, whose names were accidentally switched, as well as Kyo and Yuki, who do not follow this naming pattern due to narrative considerations.

Manga

The Fruits Basket manga, consisting of 136 chapters, was serialized by Hakusensha from July 1998 until November 2006.[1][2] These chapters were collected into 23 volumes, which were published between January 1999 and March 2007.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name On 4 September 2015, Hakusensha initiated the release of the Fruits Basket: Collector's Edition under the Comics Special imprint, concluding with the twelfth volume in July 2016.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name

English-language rights for the series are held by Tokyopop in North America and the United Kingdom, while Chuang Yi manages the license in Singapore.[3][4] The Singapore edition is authorized for import into Australia and New Zealand through Madman Entertainment.[5] Tokyopop published all 23 volumes in English, including a boxed set containing the first four volumes released in October 2007, as well as "Ultimate Editions" that combined two volumes into hardcover formats. Nonetheless, these editions contained repeated errors and inconsistencies in page numbering.[6] By June 2008, six Ultimate Editions covering twelve volumes had been made available. Following Tokyopop's discontinuation of publication, Yen Press acquired the license and started issuing the series in twelve omnibus volumes that correspond with Hakusensha's collector's editions beginning June 2016.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name

Spin-offs

Fruits Basket Another commenced serialization on 4 September 2015 in HanaLaLaOnline, later transferring to Manga Park in August 2017. Although initially slated to conclude on 3 December 2018, the series resumed briefly with a final "chapter 13" in 2020 and tentatively wrapped up in September of that year. The inaugural volume was published on 19 August 2016, and the series reached completion with its fourth volume on 18 February 2022. Yen Press secured the manga's rights in November 2017.

The three-chapter mini-series Fruits Basket: Three Musketeers Arc appeared in Hana to Yume from April to July 2019, succeeded by a second season beginning April 2020. These chapters were gathered into the fourth volume of Fruits Basket Another, with Yen Press offering digital simulpublishing. The first installment of Three Musketeers Arc 2 debuted in April 2020, followed by additional chapters through August that year.

First series (2001)

The initial anime adaptation of Fruits Basket, directed by Akitaro Daichi, consists of 26 episodes produced by NAS and TV Tokyo, with animation handled by Studio Deen. It was broadcast on TV Tokyo from 5 July to 27 December 2001. Certain story elements, such as traits of Momiji and Shigure, varied from those in the original manga. The opening and closing themes were performed by Ritsuko Okazaki, with English renditions by Meredith McCoy, Laura Bailey, and Daphne Gere.

In Japan, King Records distributed the series across nine DVD volumes between September 2001 and May 2002. A complete box set was later issued in April 2007, featuring all episodes alongside a message card from Natsuki Takaya, an exclusive booklet, and a bonus soundtrack CD.

Funimation obtained Region 1 licensing rights and released four DVD volumes plus a full box set. The company re-released the series under its Viridian label in 2007 and issued Blu-ray editions—including standard and collector’s versions—in August 2017. In the United Kingdom, Funimation initially partnered with MVM Entertainment for distribution before transitioning to Revelation Films in 2006; both firms offered individual volumes and box sets. MVM reacquired licensing rights late in 2011. For Region 4 audiences, Madman Entertainment launched a complete series box set in October 2003.

Second Season (2019)

In November 2018, a fresh anime adaptation was revealed, produced by TMS Entertainment with a revamped cast and crew as requested by creator Natsuki Takaya. The series was directed by Yoshihide Ibata, with Taku Kishimoto overseeing series composition and Masaru Shindou responsible for character designs. It commenced airing in April 2019, covering the entire manga storyline. The initial season consisted of 25 episodes broadcast from 6 April to 21 September 2019 on TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, and TV Aichi. Opening themes featured "Again" by Beverly for episodes 1 through 13, followed by "Chime" performed by Ai Otsuka from episodes 14 to 25. The ending themes included "Lucky Ending" by Vickeblanka and "One Step Closer" by Intersection.

The second season was broadcast between 7 April and 22 September 2020. Its opening themes were "Prism" by AmPm featuring Miyuna for episodes 26 to 38 and "Home" by Toki Asako starting from episode 39 onward. Ending themes comprised "ad meliora (acoustic mix)" by The Charm Park and "Eden" by Monkey Majik.

Titled Fruits Basket: The Final, the third and concluding season aired from 6 April to 29 June 2021. This season's opening theme was "Pleasure" by Warps Up, while the ending theme was "Haru Urara" performed by Genic.

This reboot was co-produced with Funimation and distributed via the Crunchyroll-Funimation partnership. Mighty Media acquired licensing rights for the Asia-Pacific region, streaming the series on both Netflix and Animax Asia. Home video distribution was managed by Funimation. The English dub retained many of the original voice actors from previous adaptations. Crunchyroll streamed the subtitled version, whereas Funimation provided the dubbed episodes.

International release of episodes 9 and 10 experienced delays due to Japanese coverage of the French Open tennis tournament. In March 2020, production of the SimulDub was postponed starting with season two, episode four because of the COVID-19 pandemic; however, dubbing resumed during season three. After Sony’s acquisition of Crunchyroll, full distribution rights transitioned exclusively to Crunchyroll.

The English dub made its Australian debut on ABC Me on 19 June 2020.

Compilation Movie (2022)

Following the 2019 anime series, a compilation film titled Fruits Basket: Prelude premiered in Japan on 18 February 2022. This film revisits the events of the 2019 adaptation and includes a prequel episode called Kyо̄ko to Katsuya no Monogatari, which centers on Tohru’s parents. Additionally, it features an original story penned by Takaya set after the main series conclusion. The movie’s theme song is "Niji to Kite" ("Rainbow and Kite") by Ohashi Trio.

The film saw a limited theatrical run in the United States and Canada from 25 to 29 June 2022, offering both subtitled and dubbed versions. In the United Kingdom, it screened exclusively with the English dub on 20 July 2022. Distribution responsibilities were handled by Crunchyroll.

Additional Media

In 1999, a special Fruits Basket drama CD was released through a magazine, containing an original four-chapter story interspersed with brief talk segments. This drama CD preceded the anime adaptation, featured a different voice cast, and was issued as a limited promotional item that is now out of print. Alongside it, two music CDs—Memory for You and Four Seasons (also known as Song for )—were launched concurrently with the anime.

Creator Natsuki Takaya has published one art book alongside two fan books related to Fruits Basket. The art book spans 101 pages and was released by Hakusensha on 16 April 2004. The first fan book, , containing summaries and character profiles, debuted in Japan on 19 May 2005 and later in English via Tokyopop on 11 September 2007. The second fan book, , came out in Japan on 19 March 2007 and saw its English release on 27 April 2010.

Official merchandise includes plush figures representing zodiac animals, calendars, apparel, key chains, wall scrolls, buttons, figurines, and school supplies. A collectible card game produced by Score Entertainment supports gameplay based on Fruits Basket alongside other titles. On 5 July 2022 at Anime Expo, Crunchyroll announced a collaboration with the Hello Kitty brand set to launch in August of that year.

In theater adaptations, the all-male troupe Gekidan Studio Life staged a production of Fruits Basket running for two weeks at Tokyo’s Galaxy Theater beginning on 25 February 2009. Another stage play titled Fruits Basket The Stage was performed at Nihonbashi Mitsui Hall from 4 to 13 March 2022. Its sequel ran from 6 to 15 October 2023. The final installment titled Fruits Basket Stage: The Final is planned for presentation between 18 and 27 October 2024 at Hulic Hall Tokyo.

Manga

The Fruits Basket manga stands as a bestseller both in Japan and internationally, having sold over 18 million copies domestically and reaching a total of 30 million copies worldwide. It holds the distinction of being Tokyopop's highest-selling manga, surpassing 2 million copies sold by 2006. The fifteenth volume in English attained the fifteenth spot on the USA Today Top 150 Bestselling Books chart—the highest placement ever achieved by a manga in the United States. Additionally, volumes eighteen and nineteen led the Nielsen BookScan sales rankings. Despite a sluggish manga market overall, Fruits Basket maintained its position as the second best-selling series among Bookscan-participating companies in 2007. The concluding English volume remained on the New York Times manga bestseller list for twelve weeks, peaking at number one.

In recognition of its quality, the series received the 2001 Kodansha Manga Award for shōjo manga and was honored with the "Best Manga" accolade at the 2007 American Anime Awards. Reviewers commended its thoughtful narrative, highlighting how early chapters subtly suggest darker undertones beneath an otherwise lighthearted storyline. Some critics pointed out a recurring theme of numerous troubled parental figures, questioning the realism of so many dysfunctional family dynamics within the plot.

Natsuki Takaya's artistic style garnered praise for its intricate detailing, use of shadows, and shading techniques that effectively express characters’ emotions without relying heavily on dialogue.

In Manga: The Complete Guide, Jason Thompson awarded the series three and a half out of four stars. He described it as "surprisingly sad," featuring well-developed characters but noted it was "neither particularly well drawn nor incredibly witty." He characterized it as "a fascinating manga, like a sweet, melancholy dream." A significant contributor to its English-language popularity was its distribution through mainstream bookstores rather than comic specialty shops, allowing it to reach a wider audience beyond the typical male-centric market.

Anime

The original anime adaptation of Fruits Basket received favorable reviews, ranking third among televised anime series in Japan according to Anihabara’s rankings for February 2002. By June 2002, it had secured the top position on Animage magazine’s list of Japan’s twenty best anime series. The show earned an Animage Anime Grand Prix award in 2001 and was placed ninety-third on TV Asahi’s list of Japan’s 100 favorite animated television programs in 2006. Critics noted parallels with Ranma ½ in terms of premise and musical style. While some commentators described the characters as "superficially pretty" with exaggerated features, others praised the animation for its sleekness, stylish design, and polished quality. Although the anime covers only a portion of the manga’s storyline, its conclusion was regarded as a fitting pause that emphasized ongoing elements such as the Sohma family curse and protagonist Tohru’s future decisions. The series was acclaimed for its strong character dynamics and emotional depth beneath its comedic surface.

In April 2005, Funimation Entertainment initiated a campaign urging convention attendees to fold 1,000 origami cranes—a traditional Japanese symbol believed to grant wishes—to encourage Studio Deen and Hakusensha to create a second season. Fans successfully achieved this target by the end of that year; however, it took thirteen years before a new Fruits Basket anime was officially announced in 2018.

The 2019 reboot was met with critical acclaim; Thrillist included it among the best anime productions of the 2010s decade. At the fourth Crunchyroll Anime Awards in 2020, it received three nominations including Best Drama; its second season won Best Drama while Akito Soma earned a nomination for Best Antagonist at the fifth ceremony. The final season garnered four nominations at the sixth awards event, including Best Drama and Best Romance categories. In February 2022, Fruits Basket: The Final won three honors, notably "Anime of the Year," at the eighth Anime Trending Awards.

Further reading

External links

Manga

Anime

  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Serialization-Start
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  4. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named chuang-yi
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  6. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named AoDUE1Review
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