By Amira Fariha
The anime “Fruits Basket” is an adaptation based on the manga with the same name. It follows the main character, Tohru Honda, a high school girl who gets involved with the Sohma family, who are cursed to transform into Chinese zodiac animals when hugged by the opposite sex. After Tohru discovers their secret, she finds herself living with Yuki, Kyo, and Shigure Sohma. The story explores themes of trauma, acceptance, love, and friendship as Tohru helps the Sohmas confront their past and the challenges that come with their curse.
"The story explores themes of trauma, acceptance, love, and friendship as Tohru helps the Sohmas confront their past and the challenges that come with their curse."
“Fruits Basket” is a fantastic story that mixes drama, fantasy and romance. The character development for each character is astounding, especially with Tohru, whose kindness and resilience shine throughout the anime. Some might consider her a “Mary Sue,” a term often used in fiction to describe a character who is perceived as too perfect, lacking in flaws, and able to overcome any obstacle. However, in the case of Tohru, this is a misconception. She is a very complex character. The viewers learn about her struggles, and the show proves how her kindness is why she can be so strong and resilient. As the anime progresses, viewers can see the change in her character and how flawed she is; it’s one of the reasons she makes such a good heroine.
The anime tackles many issues and heavy themes like grief and family dynamics while providing a hopeful and heartwarming tone. The original anime was released in 2001, with only one season, where the anime had diverted from the manga’s original storytelling and left out key plot points and character developments. The conclusion of the 2001 version left many unanswered questions. Considering the manga wasn’t finished when the 2001 version was released, it is understandable that people would be left wanting more. In 2019, a reboot was released, this one following the storyline of the manga. The reboot had a total of three seasons, and it ended in 2021. The new version of the anime had given the characters much more depth and complexity, with a significant focus on their individual struggles and growth. The reboot showed the characters' relationships and the challenges they faced concerning their relationships with family and themselves.
While both versions are great on their own and have their twists and turns, the 2019 version is the one that follows the source material and offers a more complete experience with much deeper character development. The 2019 anime shows things are not black and white and villains are not always bad people. As the show progresses, viewers are reminded of the humanity of both the main characters and the villains. None of the main characters are perfect, and none of the villains are entirely evil. Each character has a personality and struggles that are unique to them.
In the end, viewers learn that there was not a set villain, and those that were thought of as villains were just hurt by the actions of others. Every character suffered, and every character grew. They all had their own hardships, and no one was seen as a hero. Granted, the cruel actions of a person can never be justified due to what the character went through. Nonetheless, the anime shows that humans are flawed creatures, and not all actions are considered before taking them.
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