Fruits Basket

Fruits Basket's is defiantly one of those rare shoujo mangas that appear once in a while.
Well thought out; not wasting time on scenarios that don't develop the plot or characters; and a satisfying journey from start to end.

Story: 10
You only really realise near the end that everything in Fruits Basket was planned from the start, and including a lot of foreshadowing in the beginning. I find this rare in a shoujo, as I find that the managka's appear to be making it up as they go along.
I started reading this manga at a young age, and found it to represent a journey through youth for both the characters and myself. Life lessons that get you through every day, and lessons for the incredibly hard times.
I'll admit that I cry like a baby when something like a tragedy happens, but I never expected for me to shed tears over only words alone. That's how brilliant the dialog is.

Art: 8
Well, this was my first manga ever, so admittedly the art seemed amazing back then. However, it's not that great at all. The beginning especially but it does improve dramatically.
However the strength of the art lies in what it conveys without words. Emotions and events can be summarised by just a page of drawings. Words would lose meaning there; it's perfect as it is.
Although the characters can be hard to tell apart like clones, and limbs seem to be slim and unrealistic, it has great strength in other aspects.

Character: 10
Another strength of Fruits Basket. They have their interesting quirks in the beginning, which gel well together for good humour. And while I find quirks the best aspect in characters - especially in large casts - what makes them fantastic is that they grow and mature. This makes them seem human. Nothing is black and white, and Fruits Basket shows the grey sides of people better than most shoujos I've ever read.

Enjoyment: 10
It's long. 23 volumes long. But it grips you to keep reading. It's not one of those shoujos that continues on forever with random plots and characters. Everything is meaningful, and no chapter is wasted. I have an incredibly short attention span and I finished it, which defiantly counts for something.

Overall: 10
Perfect for those who have lost faith in originality in shoujo.

I'm going to be honest when my friend recommended this anime to me, I watched it completed it and was completely bored out of my mind.

It wasn't until later when I started reading the manga to a little girl that I started getting interested in the actual story plot. What's great about reading the manga over watching the anime is that the story plot moves faster.

Not only that but the manga is actually completed compared to the anime.I personally found the anime missed some of the best parts that can only be read in the manga. There is more romance, and drama in the manga and you get to meet the complete set of zodiac animals while the anime is missing some.

Still when you compare this manga to other shoujo manga I won't lie to you it is still more slow paced. But if you are the type of person who enjoys making a connection with characters and likes a dramatic amazing finish, I would say to put up with the slow start. Because by the time you finish the manga you're going to wish there was more to read.


The only serious complaint I have with this manga has to do with the ending, which I don't want to spoil for you. But I will tell you that it only deals with one out of like the billions of different characters, so you don't have to worry much.

Enjoy it! Read it rather than watch it, is what I say.

Story [7/10]: I really enjoyed Fruits Basket, but I felt that their were too many side stories going on at the same time. All the relationships, Yuki's student council stuff, problems with Akito, it was all too much and I was a little overwhelmed at times at how much was going on at once.

Art [9/10]: Everything was really well drawn and beautifully detailed. My only complaint is that in the later chapters, I felt like Tohru didn't really look like Tohru anymore. I got her and Machi confused all the time if it wasn't said who it was right away. Maybe this was due to the author's hand injury, but it was just something I noticed.

Characters [10/10]: The characters are so wonderful! I can't say I hate anyone. I love that they're just normal people (well, except for the fact that they turn into zodiac animals...), and there are no bad guys trying to take over the world. I love how human everyone is. All of the characters' reactions to everything that went on throughout the story seemed realistic and relatable. My favorite part of this manga, easily.

Enjoyment [9/10]: It took me a while to get used to the manga-style (it was my first manga!), but once I did I flew through it! I usually like a lot of romance, but I felt like Furuba does it wonderfully so there doesn't need to be people kissing every chapter. I wish I would've read it from a paper volume rather than online the first time around, though!

Overall [9/10]: A really wonderful manga. I really recommend this one to anyone who has a lot of time on their hands because it's pretty long.

This manga is basically happiness fuel. If you are ever feeling down and need something to make you feel better read this story. I've read the whole thing at least 7 times and still enjoy the whole thing. All of the characters are great, with purpose and goals and dreams of their own, stuck by a curse that limits their basic human interaction. If the last few chapters of this manga don't make you overjoyed then i don't really know what will, having character you've seen go through some of the most difficult events in their life only to break out of their pain and find happiness is the best thing ever.
Let me tell you something about Fruits Basket, this manga takes a family and puts a curse on them that makes them transform into animals of the Zodiac every time they touch a person of the opposite sex, which sounds really funny until you realize most of these people just want to live normal lives, and cant.
Even the person who plays God is truly a sad person that just wants to be happy but cant because of this age old curse that wasn't intended to be a curse.
Seeing all these characters work through their problems and overcome their curse is heartwarming and the backstory on the curse that started all of this is my favorite thing in all manga, now i want to go read it again.
And as a side note: never, EVER watch the anime adaptation, it is terrible and stops at the worst point for no reason and gives no satisfying ending to anything

first couple volumes of fruits basket is a look into the life of someone who dosent have everything she wants but is thankful for everything she has including her great friends she meets along the way i think this series is good for young girls to read along with everyone else this book taps into the imaginations of spirited intelligent youth that has alot of laughs and a few tear jerkers and love interests? read this book it wont hurt you matter of fact read them all you wont be dissapointed.

When I was in middle school I used to rent this from the library, but I never completed it as they didn't have all the copies. Now that I'm an adult I decided to purchase the collector's edition after receiving Barnes and Noble gift card for Christmas. I bought and read the entire collector's edition series in a month. I own a bit of manga but this is the first series I have owned and finished.

Story: The story is probably my favorite part of this manga. The Synopsis is a pretty good description of what it is about. If you love folklore, fantasy, friendship, romance, and overcoming hardship, this story is for you. The way in which the lives' of all the characters intertwined was truly spectacular. It made me laugh, smile, gasp, and cry. I can't really say what I want without spoiling it, but READ THIS SERIES. The last volumes, chapters, and ending made me quite happy

Art: This was the first manga I ever read as a child so I have a soft spot for the art. It's not exactly beautiful but still appealing to the eyes. Many of the girls/younger characters are quite cute, and I think some of the males are quite handsome. The author broke her hand in the middle of the series so the art changed sorta drastically after that, but it was very easy to get used to. I personally preferred the older style as there were a few characters that looked too similar after the change and I feel some looked better before, but I know it's not Takaya's fault. Some people think it was better after the change, which I can understand as they matured in style and age throughout the series, but I guess my nostalgic self likes the older style. The colored pictures in the collector's edition books are quite lovely.

Character: There is a plethora of characters in this series, mostly Sohmas, since they align with the animals of the Chinese Zodiac. Even though there are many characters to learn I didn't find it very difficult to learn the names and personalities. Most of the characters in this series have very distinctive personalities, making it quite fun when they interact. Most (if not all) of the characters have been through extreme hardship. Even the ones who seem cruel still make you feel sympathetic for them. I can honestly say that many of these characters make me want to be a better person. Not to spoil anything, but at a certain point in school new characters are introduced, and I somewhat struggled to figure out their names' and stories. I only wish they would have stepped further into the backgrounds of some characters, but the series can't go on forever. The character development is pretty great for most of the characters.

I spent a majority of this series crying tears of sadness and joy. This series will send you on an emotional roller coaster while telling an interesting story. I can honestly say it's a spectacular manga series and I will probably reread it again and again. I have to give it a 10/10.
(This is my first review, so I hope it's okay!)

I first began to read Fruits Basket when I was but a tender adolescent. Just a few of the volumes had been released then but I had bought every one of them until the 12th one. After that point, I was slowly outgrowing the world of mangas and completely forgot the series before the following volume was ever published.

I’m 23 now, a year fresh from graduating university, and I had recently returned home to visit my family. My mother had informed me that she had packed up all my old things in boxes and as I was sifting through them, I found my Fruits Basket collection. Nostalgia overwhelmed me and I then decided to reread, and to finally finish, the series.

This is not a lie. I still, as I have back then, love the story that Fruits Basket holds. There are definitely some flaws but overall, the way the author weaved this story is captivating. I have not read many Shojuo mangas so I don’t have much to compare with, but I can now understand why this was once one of the top selling mangas back in its day.

However I do want to create this review with a more critical, but still APPRAISING, eye.

The Story: 9/10

The story, at face value, sounds very cliché. Kind of like this: “Girl, who recently loses parent decides to live with a few men in a house, but little does she know that they have a big secret and when she finds out, it’s gonna be a whole whirlwind of an adventure! Stay tuned!” Sure there’s that clever and interesting back story of the Chinese Zodiac and its curse but I remember raising my eyebrow as I read the plot. However, it didn’t turn out that way. The story is simply written beautifully and you’ll quickly find yourself being pulled into it. At its core, it is about forgiveness, growing up, acceptance, and most importantly, that true happiness is found when you love and have that same love returned. Yes, as an older person reading it now, I did find it somewhat annoying that every single person had a tragic story behind them (like a Telenovela honestly), but the way Takaya entwines everything with comedy and lightheartedness makes it bearable and you’ll find yourself bawling at times as the story unfolds.

The romance in this manga is also one that is written with as much care and thought; It does not rush through it nor does Takaya just throw the main characters at each other and nor is it predictable. The beginning Yuki x Tohru x Kyo love triangle was first introduced but that completely changes to something more deeper and stronger. Such as with Kyo and Tohru (god bless them), to put it plainly, their love for each other just makes sense. It isn’t like other stories where the author shoves two characters together and force them to make love and have the audience root for them as they fornicate, their love grows timidly and cautiously AND ITS JUST. SO. DAMN. BEAUTIFUL! (Onions everywhere!!!)

The Characters: 10/10

There are many characters in this manga and you will have your favorites (KYO!!), and your dislikes (Rin), and your don’t-really-care’s (student council people, meh), but that’s the power of this manga. There is a variety of characters with different personalities that play out with each other. I would like to defend our heroine Tohru Honda. Many people hold a deep love-hate relationship with her and I know that my younger-self never really approved of her as being the main character (omg it was Twilight all over again). I thought she was too plain, too boring, too flat, too gentle, too nice of a character to have THAT much effect on everyone she meets. This is of course coming from a raging little girl who thought herself akin to a strong, independent female. Still now, I do not prefer bubbly main characters in novels or mangas, but in Tohru, I find solace. I finally see her value in the story, as that girl, who in herself, is very flawed and needs as much gentleness and kindness and love as all the other characters she befriends. You will find yourself loving her, I promise.

For the rest of the characters, they are all very much fleshed out and written about carefully. The persons that they are when they are introduced are definitely not the persons they become at the end of the manga. This is definitely evident on the two main male characters, Yuki and Kyo, but also with our antagonist Akito. I truly did appreciate how each character, even the side ones, had their own personality, yet I also believe that Takaya did not intend this for the purpose of just having a slew of characters to add interest to the story, but instead each one had an effect or addition to the entire story line.

The Art: 7/10

I forgive Takaya for the art simply because the story trumps all the flaws and because her art matures as the manga progressed. However, I was not a fan of the art in the beginning of the series. There is such a thing as too-big-anime-eyes. I also did not like that some characters looked too similar, sometimes I only had to depend on the coloring of their hair to tell some of them apart. I also know that she notes several times that she adores drawing pretty girls, but that hurt her in her design of some of the male characters in the manga. Not that they were bad, I just wish she added more details and finishing touches in her designs when it came to the boys (biceps and abs galore). However her shading and expressions were some of the best I have seen. You can truly feel the emotions, either bad or good or funny, with some of the shading and expressions she put on her characters.

The Ending: 10/10

Satisfaction. Pure satisfaction is all I can say. Read the manga and find out but I guarantee you that you will finish it with a smile on your face.

AAAHHH!!! What a refreshing series! It's like after reading it you feel like you've drank from some magical water that really tastes good. (WHAT DID I JUST SAID?) Anyway, before I say something really stupid I must make a review first.

STORY (9) - Why? Yes, it's unique, it's something like you would ever wish for. It's about romance and everything like any other shoujo manga BUT! It's not just your average lovey-dovey manga, it has an interesting plot and a story that may astound you. Comedy, romance, and magic, everything is placed in one good, refreshing manga. But I can't lie.. it really is a bit rushed. I really hoped for a good ending which I had but then I really want to know about what happened to the other characters.. anyway, just read it and you'll understand what i mean.

ART (8)- In the first few chapters the drawings are a bit cute, detailed and it had a few pencil strokes that really give off a true manga feeling then after a few volumes.. all that art changed. I think because the author had a problem with her hand or something but anyhow I didn't really mind, in the end I concentrated on the story, the comedic acts of the characters and lastly the emotional parts in the manga.

CHARACTER (10) - Yes, A PERFECT 10! Each of the characters had a sort of funny side as well as their dramatic side. It goes to show that not all characters are perfect, they have problems that will affect their life, their emotions and how they could deal with other people just like us.

ENJOYMENT (10) - It really did gave me a piece of entertainment. Something that made me addicted. The laughs, sorrows, learning I shall never forget each of them after reading this manga. It tells you that even if you fall you could still learn how to get back up and when you meet other people they will be the ones who will help you.You'll never know if you never try.

OVERALL (9)- Yes not every shoujo manga is perfect. SO what if this is an old manga.. I never cared. I only care that this manga really changed who I am and what I can become. It showed me that even if you are a typical simple girl you change the world if you just believe and if you just don't hesitate in showing what you feel. Sometimes it's okay to let it all out because that way... THEY WILL KNOW HOW YOU FEEL.
But then this manga.. really needs more chapters... WHY?! WHY IS IT SO......
No I'll be a spoiler..

Okay... I've managed to calm myself a bit from saying something very stupid by being a stupid spoiler... so here it goes FRUITS BASKET.. a must read manga!
I HOPE YOU READ IT! :)

Before I say anything, Fruit Basket is truly an amazing manga. You may think the story sounds all happy but as you read, you realize it isn't like that at all. It's actually a serious manga (with some comedy to top it off and lots of romance). The characters, all of them, had this sort of past and suffered from it. They struggled and made mistakes but in the end, they were all able to have their own happy ending. You grow to be attached to characters after all that passed.The only characters that you do grow to hate are their parents (xD). Don't be fooled by their appearances, even the most happy one can have a really sad past. For example, Tooru is so much more than she looks. Even she has a past that dwells in her heart. The art, I must admit, I thought it looked really old style at first but it was cute. But as the series went on, it became so beautiful. And the story is so much more than from it looks. Everything was so simple then turns into a complex situation. Everything was changing. The atmosphere wasn't as cheerful as before, characters were changing, secrets are revealed and more characters are crying. I guarantee Fruit Basket will have you all over the place. It has comedy, romance, it's a bit supernatural due to their situation and drama. Everything you could want. Trust me. It's good.

Let me tell you something about Fruits Basket.

You learn a LOT from this manga.

I am SO glad I decided to read this manga. I don't think I have loved a manga so much before. The amount of tears I've shed for this manga is unreal but I have no regrets whatsoever because it was SO WORTH IT. I would gladly shed a whole ocean for it if it were possible.

I am in pain. But it is a good pain.

I'm just saying that the moment I thought "Which manga should I write a review for?" I instantly thought of Fruits Basket.

How do you know if you'll enjoy it??
If you're an angst enthusiast (like me), sign up now.
You'll also enjoy it if you like slow developing types of love.
It's not the type of romance that gives you butterflies, but the type of love that warms your whole being up. The one that makes you say "I want to fall in love with someone, slowly. And when I realise it, it's already too late."

This manga is, and forever will be my favorite manga. The way Honda Tohru spreads love and kindness in the manga really affected me and made me want to try being a better person. The art might not be very good, but it is a manga that had made me laugh, felt warm inside, and made me flood my room with my tears (from joy and sadness). It is a manga that made me feel all three at once.

The character development is amazing as well. You can see the character's behaviours changing.

I hope that you'll read it and understand that sometimes what cannot be said and expressed on a review must be felt.


Story
In my opinion, is pretty original. Before furuba I've never come across a manga even touching the topic of the zodiac signs. And, most of the time, trying something new isn't good. However, it worked out for this manga.

The starting is good, got me hooked immediately. The in-between is pretty consistent, it doesn't suddenly go downhill unlike some manga which starts off really well but ends really badly.
The ending is one of the endings which I cried out of HAPPINESS. I rarely do that. The only other manga which I cried out happiness of was "Hana to Akuma". (I recommend it!!! It's really good!)

Art
The art isn't EXTREMELY well done. You don't get the slim ankles and normal well-defined bodies like in the "normal" mangas, but the story does make up for it.

However, you get used to it after a while and it somehow becomes appealing.

Character
My favorite part of a review where I can diss and curse characters!!!!
Every character is drawn exactly how they will act. Like, you see Tohru and you just KNOW she's going to be a pure cinnamon roll. And you see Kyo and you just KNOW he's the wounded type. I guess this kind of overlaps with the art category but I felt like it's more appropriate to be in character.
And when you see Akihiko you know he's the type you will beg not to approach the other characters.

Other than the way they're portrayed, the way they have their goods and bads even out the entire story and accumulates to how the manga became a masterpiece in the end. It all connects and slowly builds up to become a masterpiece. Get what I mean?

Enjoyment
Binge read it!! Then regretted it later on because there's no more.

Overall
Amazing, amazing, amazing. I know it's one of my earlier mangas that I've read, but I know that none in the future can ever beat this one.

I hope this review helps you!!!

I'm writing from the perspective of a person who normally watches/reads all of the things with action - vampires, bounty hunters, ninjas. A lot of fighting and no mushy feelings. That's what I typically like. And I thought I'd read Fruits Basket because I thought the anime was really sweet, in that kind, sensitive yet still a little funny way. A cool break.

The immediate faults that came to mind were that sometimes the speech bubbles got confusing, not knowing who was saying what and in what order, but it's not enough to really distract anyone, at least I wouldn't think. Also, in the beginning, it appeared to have the same faults as the anime as well. Tohru - the main protagonist - was far to air-headed to truly be cared about, someone who somehow solves everyone's problems yet can't stop crying or being a klutz. Really a Mary Sue character. To stop an abuser with her words? Highly...unlikely.

However, the manga, as I should have known, dug even deeper. The main girl is no longer a Mary Sue, at least not in the later chapters. You see why she gets involved with the cursed boys the most and how she's not doing it to simply be "nice" to them, but because of other feelings as well. You see her and so many other members of the cast evolve over their high school years. You see people letting go of what they were dependent on to grow into true adults. You see backgrounds that previously weren't established which brought a whole new light to their dimensions.

The one issue I won't forget is when you see the backstory for "Hana". Exiled as a sort of witch, given power she can barely control. In a way, it kind of reminded me of Marvel's X-Men. Out of all the heart-warming Fruits Basket volumes, that one chapter is the only one that literally brought me to tears.

The artwork and bubble-placement was so confusing for me reading this, but the overall story was outstanding. I'm sorry the anime only got so far in the storyline because there was a lot more for them to deliver. The mere depth of each character is amazing and I'm sure anyone would enjoy this.

Fruits basket has lots of life lessons to learn from.
From brother relationship to friendship to family relationship and romance.
Although the 12 zodiac signs people have curse and they turn into animal whenever someone not their family touched them-which is far from reality, the anime has real life scenes that we, people, usually encounter in our everyday life.
It might sound boring but don't judge until you watched it !!

Fruits Basket is my all time favorite manga ever. Not only it is hilarious but it also has tragic moments in it and when I read those parts, I feel deeply affected as if I'm also a part of the story. LOL. I especially loved the end part. I don't know why, but I really felt TRUE LOVE in this manga because in other shojo manga, only the superficial kind of love is displayed. THIS is different! :D

This is the first manga I have ever read that made me literally roll on the floor laughing, or shake my computer screen with tears of rage/sorrow in my eyes. Fruits Basket is like a rollercoaster that you can't get off of. Having first watched the anime, I didn't have high expectations for the manga, since the story left quite a few plotholes. But then, as I read the manga, I discovered that the anime had to be some kind of OVA. I mean, the anime was a total rip off of this beautiful manga, in my opinion. THe diversity of the story was so incredible that I could NOT stop reading. At a first glance, once you get to about volume 7 or so, you start to think that this manga has absolutly nothing sad and it's just a fun, sunny, happy ending story where nothing bad ever happens. Boy, was I WRONG. Most of these characters' pasts are so devestating and heart breaking that I cried for hours. And I usually don't cry. Period. Near the end, the story got so involved, and so dramatic that I thought my eyes would fall out or my brain would explode or both. ANd with Fruits Basket, the art was so simple and kind of just a step up from stick figures; nowhere near the beauty of Vampire Knight's art. But that's not the point. The simple art becomes appreciated and then you start to realize how much a simple art is needed to tell such a diverse story. If it had beautiful art, such as Vampire Knight, then your brain probably really would explode and you would find yourself thinking that it was too good to be true.


I think I had whiplash from this series. Soo many times was I slapped in the face with a plot twist that I didn't see coming in a million years. This was beautiful. To this day, my favorite manga series of them all.

Fruits Basket! I will admit, when I first saw the title I laughed. What stood out to me when I picked up these books, though, was the beautiful art style. Each drawing is breathtaking and really shows the emotions of the characters well.

Each page is packed with dialogue too. It takes me about 45 minutes to get through one volume, about the same time it takes me to read a chapter in a novel. It took me around a week to read the whole series, but I read the last 6 books in the same night. At around volume 19, it really started to make when wonder "What will happen to the Sohmas?" and I just had to keep reading.

The characters in this manga are all memorable, each and every one of them. I can remember every character and their story. Maybe it's because they all have a different story to tell, most of them are very sad.

This manga is very emotional, and very sad. After I finished this, I bawled my eyes out. When I read it a second time, it was a lot easier but it still made me sad. It has it's funny moments (some are down right hilarious) but the pain that each character goes through really hits close to my heart.

Fruits Basket is a must read. Outstanding art, outstanding story, characters, and overall? A masterpiece.

This is one series that I hold dearly to my heart, but it doesn't mean I would be bias. First off, time to knock down somethings other users has complained:

"It's unrealistic that Tohru was the "angel" that saved everyone from their traumas/abusive past"
First off, lets explain how Tohru wasn't really the "angel who saved everyone. Everyone saved themselves. They learned to grow by mostly themselves with some influence from Tohru. They learned from others like Machi and people in their families as well. While Tohru does play a big role in influencing the change of the Sohmas/Soumas, she wasn't the carrier of the change. I do agree with, however, that is what unrealistic to a degree. Then again, this is a FREAKING MANGA series; there are very few series that are actually comepletely realistic especially in Shoujos, Slice of Life, etc. even series based on history.

"Tohru is a mary sue... she's little Miss Perfect"
Honestly, while Tohru is your typical nice girl, she still has her flaws. Ever heard of being too selfless it's selfish. That's what she is. She also still envies other characters and recognizes her faults like being weak. Also, she did not leave to live with her grandfather because her relatives hated her. She left because the were renovating the house, and she felt like a burden for staying in a relatively small area that's meant to house her aunt, uncle, cousin, and grandfather while the house is renovated.

"Some of the relationships are creepy, and the ending was a bit rushed"
I do agree that the ending was pretty rushed; however, it was still pretty satisfying in my opinion. The relationships, I partially disagree with, but the build to the relationships were overall pretty developed. The largest age gap we know for sure is with Saki and Kyo's father figure (I forgot his name). Even so, Saki is of age, and the oldest possible age for him is like the thirties. Plus, it's pretty common in Japan.

"The way they handled and abuse was unrealistic and inferiating"
As someone who has experienced abuse and trauma, this was well written for it's time. The cause and effects were pretty realistic. The characters didn't excuse any of Akito's actions, Rin for example, but it doen't mean she should be completely miserable for her entire life. Her mom did get her comeuppance. Everyone still struggles with their trauma, but they've matured to handle it.

"The art is trash"
Okay... now that's really unnecessary. Again, for it's time, it's pretty good. Definitely not as detailed as many other shoujos of it's time, but it's still beautiful. Plus, this was one of Natsuki Takaya's first work, which is amazing on the popularity it got for one of her firsts. I love how Takaya has grown since Fruits Baskets.

"The story was basic"
I would agree to a degree once again. It does have the typical nice girl and tsundere bad boy, but it still doens't entirely fit in the mold. It was somewhat revolutionary at it's time for a shoujo series to include trauma and abuse in the way Fruits Baskets has, even today it's still significant for conservative Japan, that rarely talks about mental health, abuse, trauma, etc.

Now that we got that out of the way. I'm going to say the rest of my review. The characters were enjoyable. Sure there are some cliches, but most were tolerable and/or well done. The ending was expected yet still enjoyable. There's a reason why Fruits Baskets is a shoujo classic. I would still recommend this to summon.

I almost can't write this review because somehow it feels like I'm evaluating something so familiar it defies the boundaries of language. Because that's what Fruit's Basket is to me: home.

This is the one manga that i can not only bring myself to but actually CRAVE to re-readto again and again without getting bored. the the story is so multi-faceted and complex that upon every re-reading i draw from it a deeper, richer appreciation, discover new things i never noticed before, or a combination of the two.

The reason for this is because there is just so, so, so much going on at the same time in the manga. at first, i'll admit, this was slightly daunting, and i found myself having to really concentrate in the later volumes as the plot became more intense and emotionally charged. but that's the wonder and delight of fruit's basket. character development is not purely concentrated on the main protagonist as it is in many shoujo mangas, but is fully extended for each and every supporting character. although, it may be more accurate to say that there are no supporting roles in fruits basket. every character is a main component or focus of the story, and it is this that makes it stand out amongst a sea of unrealistic, mediocre, badly developed shoujo mangas. this is the success of fruits basket, and why it will remain as popular for years to come.

never have i cried with such visceral emotion at the tragedy and unrelenting hope of the characters (such as momiji and kyo- i quite literally bawled my eyes out), and never have i almost pulled my hair out in such frustration at the indecipherable actions of some (*ahem* akito). the dynamics between the characters, and the genuine bond of friendship between them is so realistic and rich that the characters, the storyline and the manga itself takes on a life of its own, almost outside of the mangaka's interference.

this is the sign of a truly great work of art and masterful storytelling- when the story ceases to be just a story, and becomes a mirror of everyday life that explores and challenges the joys and pain of the human condition. for me anyway, it will invariably always be a part of my own development as a person, and i know i will be picking up the volumes countless more times as i grow.

this series was great. it was funny but also very dramatic. i got really into it after the 1st book. this series was very interesting and made me want to know what happens next and if "this going to happen?" or "this". the main character is to innocent but that is what makes this series so funny. all the Sohma's have very unique personalities. its a tragedy at 1st but when you read on you'll laugh,cry, and get angry at what happens.

Well. When I saw the manga of Fruits basket I was excited.

story.

First of all the first 8 volumes of the manga are the anime are they exactly the same. the writters add some completed story and a final. But im talking about the manga. I like the manga becouse Haru is in love with Rin (the horse) and appear the 2 horoscopes that dont appear in anime. Rin or Isuzu, the horse and Kureno the rooster.

I like the story becouse it has more comedy and is more sentimental than anime. We know the past of some characters like Arisa, Hanajima and the parents of Tooru.

Art.

Really I like the art of the manga. Natsuki Takaya did a great job in the design of the characters. In art I like the cat (Kyo)

Character.

I allready sad. There are more characters in the manga. I mention 2. But in school there are more characters. Like Machi, Kimi, etc. Some characters I hate them, but with this characters the story is good.

Enjoyment.

I give it an 8 becouse some parts of the manga are bored or i dont understand some situations. But In all manga is little this things. I likle it becouse the comedy (i think i already say this): I think its all. I realy recocmend this manga. And if you already saw all anime or you are watching it or plan to watch I recomend becouse the manga have a final, not like anime

If there ever was a story worthy of praise- it would honest, to life be Fruits Basket.
For, it is not one of those typical mangas where the main protagonist is a good-for-nothing clumsy [Tohru is clumsy... but never mind that] girl, whose life gets delivered to her lap on a silver platern. No, this is a manga where ones happiness is earned through honest effort, good friends, and the person herself who brings everyone together in the end [because of her personal experiences], Tohru.

The way in which this manga is paced, introduced and concluded is brilliantly woven into a story perhaps a bit non-puzzling.
The way in which it introduces its characters is peculiar, because it is done in a way that makes all the characters memorable in their own way- I swear, I could possibly name all the 12 animals of the zodiac, and from there describe their individual story.
If not remembering their name, I remember their zodiac sign.
For it is that unforgetable.
The story itself is pretty simple- a girl getting to know about the deep secrets of the Sohma family, thereafter meeting each and everyone of them. Learning about them, healing them and recieving a special place in their hearts.
Which is pretty much all she does, and is what pretty much concludes the story.

The art is simple, and beautiful. Nothing to flaw about it, because it fits the theme- the seriousness, the silliness, the warmth perfectly.

So, who are the characters you ask?
Tohru- a clumsy, air headed girl- whose parents have both died. Because she does not wish to trouble her friends while her Grandpa [who took her in] is gone, she moves into a tent in the middle of the woods. She has a peculiar gift of talking her way [through her mothers words] into others heart.
Kyo- the Cat of the zodiac [though he's not one of the twelve zodiac animals...]. He is shunned by all, and hates Yuki, the rat. He is a rather hot headed, though kind fella.
Yuki- the Rat of the zodiac, your typical kind and conciderate "prince". In my opinion- he has a somewhat split personality problem, couse he seems rather cold sometimes [to me at least... I don't like him much -nod nod-].
Arisa Uotani- One of Tohru's friends, a "delinquent". Her big inspiration in life was Tohru's mother, and she holds true to that, for she still loves her even after death. She loves Tohru very much, and threatens to beat people up from time to time.
Saki Hanajime- Tohru's other friend. She is seen as a pretty weird person, and she ALWAYS wears black, no matter what. She can read peoples thoughts and send weird, electrical signals. She also notices that there is something "different" with the Sohma people.
Akito- probably the biggest antagonist of the story. Can't really tell much about this person, because most of it is spoilers. Lets just say, I took a liking to him near the end.
And lots more; including some of my favorites- Momiji, Haru, Ayame [xD], Rin [She comes in a little bit late in the manga, and doesn't even get an entrance in the anime...].
Among others, of course.

The enjoyment of this series is absolute- whatever the reason for picking it up, it will have you laughing, rejoycing, crying and more without fail in doing so.
Enjoy reading. =)