Fruits Basket: Another

I really love Fruits Basket, let's get that out there first. It’s my number one favorite manga of all time and there’s little that manages to come close. Fruits Basket is the first manga I read in a period when I didn’t think reading manga was any good or even better than anime. Reading Fruits Basket was a whole different experience for me. The story moved me for reasons I won't be getting into, because this is a review about Fruits Basket: Another.

With such an amazing story as Fruits Basket though, it was really only a matter of time before I became obsessed with manga—hungry for something that could make me feel as good and invested as Fruits Basket did.

I was seriously hesitant to read this sequel, mainly because Fruits Basket ended fulfilling and beautiful and didn’t need any sort of continuation. This isn’t a continuation per se, but more of an… adaption, so to speak. What I mean is: ‘Fruits Basket: another’ feels like a recycled and mediocre version of Fruits Basket.

We’ve got a Yuki lookalike, who is loved by his peers (both male and female), a Kyo lookalike, who is slightly crass and cold but endearing in his own way (I kid you not, they all look exactly the same and behave the exact same way and that's because they are the children of Yuki and Kyo. Only in this case, the Yuki and Kyo lookalikes have a good friendship). And lastly with have our Tohru lookalike, an innocent and kind girl. The only difference between Tohru and our new main character, Mitoma, is that Mitoma is more hated than liked compared to Tohru.

This story isn't the same as: 'Tohru brings light to the Souma’s lives'. Instead, this story is about: 'the Souma bring light to Mitoma’s life'.

It may sound interesting and different because of that slight change, but it’s just… not. It falls flat, because there’s nothing original going on. I think one of the appeals of Fruits Basket was its originality: the mystery behind the Souma family, the sweet girl who was kind without being annoying, the tender friendships that eased over the dark atmosphere of the plot and the beautiful love that was quite literally the definition of growth and 'you make me a better person’-trope.

You can imagine that if the story is recapped for the second time without the characters we have come to know and love, but instead weak cardboard copies of those characters and minus the proper plot building that it could come off as slacking and turn into a limply failure. By making a copy, we can’t help but compare them to the original and find out that it’s not as great and because of that: a huge disappointment.

That said, If you haven’t read Fruits Basket, then this story is more bearable—though it’s rushed sometimes; jumpy at parts and it lacks proper build up. Our main character has it rough, but it almost appears as if her predicament was jammed into the overall story, so we could get to know the other characters (who are almost all the children of the characters in Fruits Basket), rather than understanding Mitoma, living with her pain and properly experiencing what for effect these characters will or can have on her life.

All in all, it’s an average stand-alone and an unfavorable ‘sequel’.

Fruits Basket is one manga series I will never forget. With its unique story that just sucks you in, it certainly didn't take too long before it became my favorite series of all time. And to this day, after years of reading it, it still is a favorite of mine.

It was only recently that I found out about this "continuation" of the series, with the next generation of the Sohma kids. I was a bit reluctant reading, however. The manga ended so well, and in such a satisfactory manner, that I just didn't think it needed to have a continuation (I mean, aside from your initial 'I just want to see their day to day lives now!' phase after a series ends).
Though I finally got down to it, and read it. After all, it was a continuation from a beloved series that I just loved!

Safe to say, I felt... disappointed, when I finished reading it.



Story: 5

The story of this continuation was, essentially, the same thing as the original, but the roles reversed. Mitoma, a shy and sweet girl, being hated on and abused. Suddenly the Sohmas' come in, and they turn her towards a new lease on life, in hopes she can better herself and come to terms with who she is! You see where I'm getting at? It's the same thing.
The story felt rushed in some of the sections here and there within most, if not all, chapters, and you never got to fully understand what was truly going on; and right as you were beginning to comprehend it, the plot was onto another section that didn't really go along with the last part. It was just too clustered, never giving you the time to understand what was happening, or why it was happening.



Art: 8

As this was done after the Fruits Basket series ended, the art is much better compared to when the original series began. It being my favorite manga style, I have no complaints!



Characters: 4

I was never able to attach to any of the characters present in this series. Even though Mitoma was the main protagonist, and had the most backstory, I just couldn't find myself wishing to protect her, or really... feel bad for her. She was bullied and generally hated, and it is well understood from the very beginning. But why? Why was she always hated, friends and family alike? You never get a full explanation, or when there "is one," you're still confused.
Near the end, it just threw a group of Sohma family members, how they're related, and a general assumption of what their characters are like. And that's the problem.
Throwing so many characters in at the last second is a bad thing to do, because you never remember them, and they're just... unimportant to the story at hand. This was a story of Mitoma (basically) trying to better herself, with the aid of Hajime Sohma, and Mutsuki Sohma. The other characters didn't matter, aside from basically going 'Yeah, we're the children of the main characters of the original series!" Riku and Sora showed some form of importance, but not much--they were main side characters, at best, and the others seemed to just be filler.



Enjoyment: 5

I did enjoy this to some extent. I found it interesting to see the lives of the next generation of my favorite characters, but IT wasn't all that great.



Overall: 5

Fruits Basket: Another was a continuation of something that ended well. And due to that, there really wasn't much to go off of to make a proper storyline. The curse was broken, everyone achieved the happy ending and life that they wanted at the end of the story. Even Akito recieved her happy ending. What else could you make of the series aside from making comics of their everyday lives?
This might've been interesting, had it been set in the same time as Kyo, Yuki, Tohru, and others. Of course, they wouldn't be the same characters, but perhaps if it had been about some students trying to crack down what exactly was happening with the Sohmas', it could have gotten to be very intriguing. Of course, I am no writer.
It was mediocre, at best, and I just couldn't help but just lose my sense of satisfaction. I will certainly continue reading once new chapters are released, but as of now, this is not a favorite of mine.

Fruits Basket was the first manga I ever read and open my eyes to the world of manga and anime (sorry this was so cheesy). Hence, I was delighted to find that a sequel had been made. However, I must say that I am rather disappointed with Fruits Basket Another as it seems to, so far, lack originality and appears to be a copy of the first series with a slightly different art style but identical characters. Consequently, I am only continuing to read this series due Fruits Basket and I have remained optimistic that it will become more interesting as the series progresses since there are currently only 7 chapters

Personally, I loved Fruits Basket. It was one of the first manga I ever read and to this day is still at the top of my favorites list. Nothing will ever replace it; hardly anything even comes close.

That being said, when I found out about Fruits Basket: Another, of course, I was both really excited and very hesitant. For a long while, I tried not to read it... then I gave in, and what I discovered is that it was actually not all that bad.

First, I will say this. Furuba: Another isn't really a sequel but more like an extended epilogue. It's main purpose is not to pull you into another fantastic story on par with Fruits Basket. In fact, the entire reason for its existence is to make the readers, the target audience - Furuba fans, feel nostalgic and want to go read the original again. Why? Because it's currently going through a republishing/reselling in celebration of the anniversary.

That's not to say that Furuba: Another itself isn't a great read. It really is. What I believe, however, is that whether you enjoy it or dislike it depends on what type of fan you are and the attitude you have going into it. If you're the type who's wanting something as wonderful, emotional, and dramatic as the original, there's a high chance you're going to be disappointed. If you're the type who is open to anything and can keep in mind that this sequel is really just a sweet after story (and will only span 2-3 volumes max), you'll most likely greatly enjoy Fruits Basket: Another.

To paraphrase something another Furuba: Another fan said:
Where Fruits Basket was about one girl - having been loved and cherished growing up and who has a warm and caring heart despite her own share of hardships - helping a group of burdened and broken people find a better outlook; Fruits Basket: Another is the opposite. This time, the Sohmas - being loved and raised well by parents who went through hardship - are there to bring hope and light to one girl who is lost and broken.

That's exactly what this sequel is: a light-hearted and sweet look at how the next generation of Sohmas turned out because of the events in the original. Like I said earlier, this is more of an extended epilogue than another stand-alone epic.

All in all, I really like this manga so far and am looking forward to more of it.

Ratings

7/10 for Story.
Ten chapters in, not much has happened yet other than meeting the cast. So on that note, there isn't much of a story yet. What there is so far, though, is very enjoyable and nostalgic enough to pull you in. Story rates a 7 because it is a bit lacking if only because the chapters are much shorter than the original and exposition is prevalent in what's available so far.

9/10 for Art.
I mean, come on, this is still Natsuki Takaya. Of course, it's wonderfully drawn. I only docked one point because, in my own opinion, it's not as sharp and polished as in the original. Still, even with the slightly softer style, it's beautiful. Much love for Takaya-sensei.

7/10 for Character.
I hesitated between 6 or 8 for this rating. Mainly because I'm biased, I mean, who wouldn't be. I settled with a compromise and rated 7. I wanted to rate 8 because... well, the principle of the matter is This Is The Second Generation! How could you not love them? On the other hand, I was close to rating 6 because the second generation is like a literal 'The Apple doesn't fall far from the tree'. I understand genetics, so yeah, but even then. Still, that wasn't the deciding factor. I have no real problems with the Sohmas. It's the MC that dropped my rating. She's the "Tohru lookalike" though she looks hardly anything like Tohru. It's her personality that grates... seriously. I understand that there are reasons for the way she is, but what's annoying is annoying and I'm not a big enough person to ignore that. So overall character rating ended up at 7.

9/10 for Enjoyment.
Now, I can't speak for everyone, but I personally really like what I've read so far. It was enjoyable and very amusing, fun and sweet with the little tiny bit of emotion and drama still hidden in there. There are a few great side character cameos from the original and a few second generation characters that are descendant from previous side characters as well; all of which add to the amusement. It's a story pandered to Furuba fans, so if you're the type to love cameos and inside jokes there's a greater chance you'll enjoy it.

And so, because I had ratings of 7-9-7-9, my Overall rating for Fruits Basket: Another is 8/10 Very Good.

I hope this review helps! And to all those Fruits Basket fans who are still on the fence about this sequel, I encourage you to give it a chance. I'm not going to guarantee you'll like it, everyone is different, but you'll never know one way or the other if you don't take the plunge!

Go for it, you might just love it!

*May contain minor spoilers*
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Sequels always tend to spark different reactions in people. Some people are happy to get a continuation of the story they love so much, and others are... not too fond of the idea of a great manga to receive a sequel. I, myself, was hesitant. Fruits Basket has been one of my favorites mangas of all time for a long time, and with the ending of the original manga having satisfied me, I was scared that this sequel would let me down. But oh boy, let me tell, you. Something that I expected would let me down, actually ended up entertaining me a lot.

STORY: 7/10
To put it simply, Fruits Basket Another contains the same theme core as the original Fruits Basket. But instead of a single girl helping a whole family, it is the children of the original Fruits Basket cast helping this girl overcoming her inner demons. The premise may seem like it's recycled and predictable, but keep in mind that Natsuki Takaya-sensei is a great writer. She turns this simple concept into something that will touch your heart, and if you are a huge Fruits Basket fan like myself, you will enjoy the parallels shown between the Tohru Honda and the Sohma family, and our new protagonist Sawa Mitoma and the next generation of the Sohmas. But the story is more than this-- the characters and the mystery behind Sawa's background will intrigue you.

ART: 6/10
Takaya-sensei's art has gone a long way. I will admit that I'm not a huge fan of her original art style, but her art style in Another is decent and works well with the story. The characters have great expressions and anatomy, but they can look kind of stiff sometimes. Takaya also doesn't use backgrounds as much I would like to see, and mostly emphasizes the character's emotions and expressions, but they are minor flaws that I can overlook since the art didn't get in the way of my enjoyment.

CHARACTERS: 8/10
Our protagonist is Sawa Mitoma, and her development and change throughout the manga are what makes Fruits Basket Another what it really is. Takaya-sensei made a good decision by making Sawa different from Tohru, even if they are quite similar in some aspects. Tohru is a bundle of joy with a secret trauma she keeps hidden behind her smile. However, Sawa is awkward, has serious self-esteem and anxiety problems, and has internalized the idea that she is worthless and a problem to the people around her. Actually seeing her struggle with her issues and not being able to hide them away behind a mask, feeling like she has to be grateful towards her mother even when she is incredibly abusive, and later feeling scared and confused when she begins changing for the better, makes her feel so much more "human" and real. Speaking of her mother; while she is a frustrating character that is very easy to hate, she does fulfill her role as the "villain" in this story.
I also like that Sawa develops a budding romance with someone you wouldn't expect at first glance. This romance is very sweet and develops smoothly and organically throughout the story; it makes you want to root for both of them.

As for the other characters, I assure you that you will like most of the characters for themselves, not because they are the children of the original cast. However, some characters are stronger than others, and I feel like since the story is short, some of the characters weren't always properly developed and were mostly there for fanservice rather than actual plot advancement.

Mutsuki and Shiki present themselves as being the people they seem to be at first glance, but as the story progresses, you start to notice that they have much more depth to them and character quirks that aren't found in any of the original casts' personalities. While Mutsuki's growth is a little lacking and Shiki's growth is more prominent, both of these characters are the most complex and have clear reasons for doing the things they do, as well as clear morals, goals, and backgrounds. Shiki, being the son of one of the most twisted characters in Fruits Basket, will really give you an insight into how much people can change. His one-shot really showcases this (which I really recommend checking out after you're done with this manga).

Sora and Kinu are comic relief characters that are super entertaining and fun to watch, especially since they are relatable (especially Kinu) and quite different from their parents. Despite their "fun" presence in the series, they have their moments of wisdom and give Sawa a lot of advice.

Hajime, Hibika, Ruriko, and Riku, while I do like them, are in my opinion the weakest characters in this story. Hajime and Riku are mostly copies of their fathers, and Hibika and Ruriko copies of their mothers, both in appearance and personality, with only one or two additional quirks that make them different from their parents. Thankfully, they are entertaining to watch and Riku and Hajime do get their individual growth and development and helps the story move forward, especially the latter.

Mina, Chizuru, Rio, and Michi are unfortunately not explored much, since as I explained before-- the manga is very short. However, Mina is an honest and sassy girl with big dreams; Chizuru has a hot temper but is actually down-to-earth and "the odd one out" in his family, Rio is a soft-spoken boy who is always smiling but is also very insightful and social; and Michi is the "big sister" type of character with a quirky and energetic personality.

While they don't add a lot to the story, characters from the original Fruits Basket really enriched the story. Megumi, Saki's younger brother, is now a teacher; Momo, Momiji's younger sister, now knows that she and Momiji are siblings; Hinata, Hiro's younger sister, is all grown up; and Takei; the student council president, is now a teacher but thankfully just as annoying and entertaining, just like in the OG.

ENJOYMENT: 8/10
I am a huge Fruits Basket fan, so seeing Another feature cameo appearances for characters from the original manga and plenty of inside jokes, really just took me on a nostalgia trip. With that said, I appreciate Another for what it is and what it tried to convey. Comparing Another to Fruits Basket and expecting a dramatic and heartfelt manga on par with the original manga is not ideal. Instead, focus on Another as a stand-alone series, where this lonely girl with a multitude of issues changes into a happier, more cheerful girl with hope for the future, who despite her acknowledgment that her trauma or issues will not magically disappear, decides to confidently live her life due to wanting to cherish the people who cherish her. Just like in Fruits Basket, Another contains a lot of important life lessons and relatable themes that will touch your heart.

I can't guarantee that everyone will like this sequel, but if you are a fan of the original manga, you should still give it a shot. You might not enjoy it, but the feeling of having your favorite characters from the original manga growing up and becoming great parents, when (most) of them were broken in the beginning and had, to put in bluntly, shitty parents, will probably warm your heart. Overall, Fruits Basket Another gets a 8/10 from me.

With all of that said, I'm done with my first review ever! Feedback is greatly appreciated, but please be kind~

I was really nervous about reading Fruits Basket: Another, because i didn't want it to influence my enjoyment of the original manga.

I have heard really mixed reviews about it, with some people saying that it just recycles the characters and dynamics from the original but without any of the substance, and so even though I was excited to hear about it when it came out, I steered clear from reading it.

However with the 2019 anime reboot my Fruits Basket feelings CANNOT be contained and I was desperate enough to start reading Fruits Basket: Another. Surprisingly, I really enjoy it so far. In addition to thinking of it as an additional epilogue, as many commenters have mentioned, reading this manga is also like reading a canonical fanfiction straight from the mangaka herself.

The story is pretty basic, and reading it as a standalone manga I would not be very impressed, but as a supplement to the original Fruits Basket, it's incredibly enjoyable. It's also really fun to guess which characters are related to who, and to see the personalities and mannerisms that have been inherited from their parents. I also really like the shift in dynamic as someone from "outside" the Sohma clan is welcomed and supported through her emotional struggles and shown unconditional love for the first time (paying it forward from how Tohru affected everyone's lives!)

I can't wait to read more of this series and meet more characters who will undoubtedly be showing up in the future.