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Fruits Basket

Written and Drawn by Natsuki Takaya

First Published in Japan in 1999, in the Magazine “Hana to Yume” and the English Translation in 2004, Published by TokyoPop

The Total amount of Books published under this title is 23 ,plus two bonus books and one art book.

This series follows our main Protagonist, Tohru Honda. She’s a young girl,a hard worker, and a kind hearted person that enjoys helping people and cheering them on with their endeavours, but also doesn’t wish to be a burden to anyone. She is living with her grandfather ( her father’s father), after her mother passes away (her father died when she was 3 years old) before the story actually begins. After few months of living with him, he tells her he must do remodelling to the house because his daughters family was going to live with them as well. He asks if she can stay with one of her friends during the construction, and not wanting to worry him she instantly replies “yes”, although she also doesn’t want to be a burden to her friends so she instead lives in a tent in the woods. Little does she know that the property that she is living on belongs to the Sohma family. Her classmate, Yuki Sohma is a member of this family and after he and his relative finds out that she is living in their backyard offer to let her stay at their home. After another member of the Sohma family unexpectedly drops in, it is revealed that the Sohma family is under a curse. Yuki and twelve other members are possessed by the spirits of the animals of the Chinese Zodiac, and  are forcibly changed into their respected animal when the proper circumstances for it occurs. Vowing to both keep their secret and to find a way to lift their curse, Tohru befriends and finds her place among this strange assortment of her new found family, a rice ball within a Fruits Basket.

The Story itself is drawn in a Typical Shojo Style (thin lines, big eyes even for cartoon standards, and lots and lots of Screen tone.) But it itself is not a usual shojo ,as it itself became a best seller for years and it gave the best that shojo’s have to offer; an interesting range of characters, each accompanied by deep exploration  throughout the series, clean line work and a variety of screen tones, plus beautifully rendered colour pages. Another thing that I think was pulled off wonderfully was how each character does seem to influence each other and moves the plot along, giving each other important words to live by, the three main characters being in High school, its a given that they would need some guidance, but the kind words printed onto the page could also just  as easily be taken to heart by the reader, which are good messages to live by and can be good advice on how to deal with other people and to view your own emotions and actions in a more positive light.

This series on top of having 23 volumes also has two fan books called “Banquet” and “Fruits Basket Fanbook -Cat-” which I suggest that you read the rest of the series first since they do contain some inside jokes for the series and spoilers. The art book “Fruits Basket Art Book” if you enjoyed the series could be a nice addition to your collection, or maybe you might want to add it to your bookshelf if you like beautiful illustrations alone.