Natsuki Takaya

Lianne Sentar

Kyo remembers meeting Kyoko in the past, including the story she told him about how she met Tohru's father, Tohru's birth, the truth about her parents, and Yuki's declaration of independence.

Volume 16. Volume 16

Fruits Basket

Fruits basket

Sarah Sammis

Tohru Honda, the female protagonist of Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya has a lot in common with Hattie Brooks. Both are orphans and both have been shuttled between families. Where Hattie gets her chance to find a home by inheriting her uncle's claim, Tohru decides its time to set out on her own. She'd rather live in a tent on a damp hillside then "inconvenience" her grandfather any longer.

Just as Hattie finds a family in the Muellers, Tohru finds a family with the Sohmas. They have a secret to keep but concern for Tohru trumps it. They bring her into the family and she quickly learns that each of them is cursed to turn into an animal from the Chinese zodiac whenever one is hugged by a member of the opposite sex.

Like the old Ramna 1/2 anime, the curse gives many excuses for comedic situations. People are turning into animals left and right, and each one is cuter than the next. Despite the lighthearted gags, it's a good story full of drama and heartbreak.

I have the next eight issues that I will be working through as time permits.

Fan-favorite Fruits Basket is back with more Sohma-filled adventures! Except this time, it's set in the same world, ten years later. Find out more in this new volume! School's no longer an endless pit of anxiety and solitary lunches for Sawa thanks to the Sohmas. She's joined the student council and made new friends who don't abandon her no matter how painfully awkward or useless she is-they don't even get angry when she screws up or starts blabbering gibberish! Though social interactions are still daunting, people don't seem to be as scary anymore-at least, until another Sohma appears?!

Fruits Basket Another

It doesn't have the same impact as Fruits Basket, but the warm fuzzy feeling is still there.

Mari

Sawa Mitoma, a nervous, skittish girl who prefers minimal human contact, has just started high school, and it's already not going well...until she meets the "it" boys-the "prince-like" Mutsuki and the sharp-tongued Hajime. But little does she know, they're Sohmas!? It's Fruits Basket...again!

The pacing and the amount of characters that we meet in this volume was a little overwhelming, but it’s also very nostalgic to be back in the world of the Sohmas. The characters are colorful, and I’m interested to see what direction the overall story goes. 

Floofyflower

Christine Bruce

Really sweet books. What I've always love about them, is you can watch the talent of Takaya as an artist improve as the series goes along.

Orphan Tohru Honda, having discovered the Zodiac secret of the Sohma clan, has trouble handling the responsibility of what she knows when two friends come for a sleepover.

Fruits basket.

Kirsten Simkiss

In this book, you discover two more of the zodiac and more of the culture of the Sohma family, even though it's steeped in something dark. You learn that there's more to the "curse" than just turning into an animal of the zodiac. Kyo and Yuki both grow more protective over Tohru.

Fruits Basket, Vol. 3

Yuki begins to open up more and Kyo, who seems to be hiding something dark, is noticeably getting more and more tolerant of Yuki - even if he is constantly trying to compete with him. Tohru, as usual, thinks of everyone else before herself.

This is my second red through. The art definitely matures a lot from the beginning to the end, but the art is still quite lovely in the first volume. The characters are very clear from the start, as is their plight. However they don't explain how the Sohma curse is broken in this volume. You can definitely see the beginnings of the relationships the author is building when you know what's to come.

Delving into the recesses of Kyo's past, we find the Sohma trio returning home on a rainy day. There, a mysterious man who has known Kyo for a long time meets them and the bonds of family and friendship are tested as Kyo deals with monsters he's been avoiding.

This novel introduces the important concept of Kyo’s OTHER cat form, which is a big deal, and is mostly about mending relationships. It’s so fun rereading this after having finished the series because you can see how far they’ve come by the end.

Yuki's parent-teacher conference has arrived and Yuki must learn to make his own decisions. Tohru later sets off on a quest to find Kureno Sohma.

In this volume, you get to meet the vessel for the ram, Hiro. While he may be my zodiac sign, he’s got a lot of growing up to do. You also get to learn a lot about Uotani and her relationship with Tohru’s mother. It’s nice seeing more of her mom.

Tohru Honda was an orphan when one day fate kicked her out of the house and onto land belonging to the mysterious Sohma family. Everything goes well until she discovers the Sohma family's secret: when hugged by members of the opposite sex, they turn into their Chinese zodiac animal!

Fruits Basket Volume 5

In this volume, you get to meet Kisa, the vessel for the spirit of the tiger. Really, Kisa becomes an example of the effect bullying can have on people, as well as providing a different example of what the parents of Zodiac children can be like.

These manga really are classics. While still in keeping with the traditional manga drama, the concept of this world that Takaya has created is amazing. I absolutely love all of the characters in their own way - barring Akito, who you meet for the first time in this volume. You also meet Momiji’s mother, who is a complicated thing.

Fruits Basket, Vol. 12

In this volume, the plot picks up again as summer break ends for the characters. Parent teacher conferences start up and Tohru finally asks the big question: how do you break the Sohma curse?

Finally summer has arrived! While Tohru vacillates between hope and anxiety, Yuki comes face-to-face with the new member of the student council. And, Uo-chan is hanging out with someone new. Is it love? Plus, Hana-chan's past is finally disclosed in a bonus feature!

This volume sets the stage for a lot of things to come, but this particular volume is not particularly eventful in terms of large plot points. Yuki meets some of his fellow student council members and reacts strangely to a hat. Kyo's guardian is ready to go to war for him so Kyo doesn't spend the rest of his life in isolation. Arisa goes on a date with a handsome Sohma man and Hanajima's origins are confirmed.

Fruits Basket, Vol. 8

This volume is actually full of a lot of emotional growth for all our protagonists, minor and major. The relationships are definitely strong in this volume and it definitely is a great volume to showcase how the characters are pulling away from the zodiac and towards becoming empowered individuals.

Side note: Kyo is my absolute favorite artistically speaking and I adore his panicked rage at even the slightest inconvenience.

Tohru Honda is an orphaned teenager who comes to live with the Sohma family in exchange for housekeeping duties, but she soon comes to know the family secret.

This one really starts to open up dialogue on how the curse can be broken and the penny finally drops for Tohru.

At the Sohma vacation home, Tohru finds herself caught up in a whirlwind of family strife. None of the Sohmas make it easy for her to relax and have fun--even a horse attacks her! Meanwhile, Kyo reveals his feelings for Tohru to Akito, and Akito makes an announcement about his true identity.

In this volume, while on summer vacation, the family is on vacation as a group and is forced to meet with Akito. Akito, of course, takes exception to Tohru - a thorn in the side of his control of the family. It is only in this volume that the two meet and Tohru learns Akito’s true role: that of God.

jana <3

the whole series is so so cute. such a comfort anime/manga

Mandy Picard

One of my top favorites in this category of manga <3

Katie

What a trip down memory lane! I used to be obsessed with this series back in my pretty serious weeb days of middle school, and I recently picked up the first 3 volumes to see if it held up to my memory. It definitely does!

This story is just so charming. Fruits Basket follows Tohru Honda after she moves in with some members of the Sohma family, who just so happen to turn into different animals from the Chinese zodiac any time they are hugged by a member of the opposite sex. The premise sounds a little bonkers, and it is, but it's also so cute and completely unique.

The characters really shine in this book. I think Natsuki Takaya did a wonderful job of introducing the characters in this volume without doing a ton of long, boring flashbacks. There are flashbacks, but they are pretty short and seamlessly woven into the present-day storyline. Tohru is honestly the biggest cinnamon roll EVER. She is so sweet and kind, and she genuinely cares about everyone she meets. Her heart is so huge, and she is already showing how she is a positive influence on the Sohmas even in this first volume. Yuki is the mysterious prince, who probably has the largest dark side of all. His is a quiet sort of charm. And Kyo. Oh Kyo, my favorite boy. Kyo seems prickly on the outside, but he is trying to hide a lot of insecurities, which means he is my favorite type of character.

The art style is also absolutely stunning. Takaya does a great job of showing emotions on characters' faces and nailing small details that make a big difference. I will say that sometimes the more action-heavy panels can get a little confusing, but this is not a fighting-heavy kind of story, so it isn't too much of a distraction.

I am so glad I decided to explore this series again, and hopefully finish it this time around! I never did when I was in middle school, and I have always wondered how the story ended. I definitely recommend this manga series if you want something that will tug at your heartstrings while also making you feel happy and hopeful!

Brianna Best

I. LOVE. THIS. This might be my favourite manga that I've ever read. It was still a little hard to get into, and I couldn't really tell which characters were which, and I still have the same complain that I usually have about manga (females???whyaretheyallthesamealmost???) but despite that, this was still such an intriguing story and I can't wait to read more!

Jordan Robinson

Ariel Himboi

I wanted to go back and rate manga that I have read and watched as a teen.

Fruits Basket had a good plot with solid characters and twists, but really fell do to the forced romance and fact that towards the end the plot really dropped and went no where, but it was a great start. I loved this series a lot as a kid! I definitely recommend the anime rather than the manga.

Cherylin Tay

Nikki Sojkowski

Honda-San was so cute! I loved kagura in this though... Others seem to disagree but she's just sad to see Kyo the live of her life with Tohru some outside girl and if they (Kyo and Tohru) live each other they better do something about it and Tohru better tell him! Telling Kagura and Rin doesn't help her! I live Momjii's growth he wa this adorable bunny kid and now he's this stunning handsome bunny man! 

Yuki just got over Tohru just like that?!? I mean I know that he knew Tohru loved Kyo and that a Yuki/Tohru relationship was impossible but really?!? Moving on to Machii so fast? But I guess being with her would help him recover from Tohru... 

I don't care what others think, Akito had a messed up childhood and forced her messed up ways on others because that's all she knew! Tohru changed her by falling off the cliff without Akito trying to kill her! and Akito even visited her in the hospital and became friends with Hana-San who called Akito A-San (so cute) and instead of drowning in her fears and trying to keep them as close she she can until she loses them, she sets the zodiacs all free! And even before that she destroyed the cat room and was nice to Kyo who everyone detests because of the first memory forgotten.

Fruits Basket Volume 16. Volume 16

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