Fruits Basket
Story
Tohru Honda is a young girl who lost her both parents and lived with her grandfather. One day, due to certain circumstances, she has to leave the house and find a place on her own for some time. She never expected that her decision of living in a tent in a lonely forest would led her into a big event in her life: getting to know the Sohma family.
The Sohma's are a big and wealthy family that hide a terrible secret: 13 members of their family carry a curse - if they fall into a person of a different sex's arms, they transform in one of the Chinese Zodiac animals. This makes life difficult for the cursed members, since they feel that cannot relate much to other people and they have to follow what the househead, Akito, says.
Tohru starts living in Shigure Sohma's house, along with Shigure's cousin (and school prince) Yuki. In exchange of living there, Tohru makes sure the house stays clean and warm food is always ready to be served. Not too long after moving in there, another character, Kyo, enters the scene and causes an incident that reveals the three cursed forms of this three Sohma's to Tohru: Shigure is the dog, Yuki the mouse, and Kyo the cat - the mouse's longlife enemy. After a little shock of Tohru, she promises to never reveal the family's secret, and from that moment on her life completely changes, as she starts to get more and more involved with the Sohma's.
Legend
The story of Fruits Basket revolves around a legend:
One day, God decided to give a dinner party and invited all the animals of the zodiac. All animals were excited about it. The cat, not knowing the party was on that afternoon, asked the mouse for the date. The mouse, trying to play the cat a joke, told the cat the dinner was tomorrow's afternoon. The cat happily went to sleep, dreaming of the party he would go the next day, while all other animals were already on their way. When God realized the cat was missing, he got mad and kicked the cat out of the zodiac. When the cat found out he had been tricked, and now also thrown out of the zodiac, he got mad at the mouse and run after it. And ever since that day, the cat is always after the mouse, trying to get revenge.
This explains why Kyo, the cat, dislikes Yuki, the mouse.
Manga
The manga, by Natsuki Takaya, consists of 23 volumes and was published by Hana to Yume, in Japan. It started being published in 1998 and was finished in 2002. The genious and mangaka is Natsuki Takaya, and this is her most popular manga. This manga has won several prizes and is one of the most read shoujo (girls oriented) mangas in the world.
I've read the manga until volume 15 so far, and it is my biggest manga collection! It also is my favourite manga, since I love how the mangaka, Natsuki Takaya, develops each of the character's stories. As you read the volumes, you can see big differences on how she improved her skills. Also, while the story develops, you see how each character changes, not only spiritually but also physically. Takaya dedicated a lot of time to each character, developing a story for not only the main characters, but for most of the characters, and interlacing all stories together. Ever since you start reading, the curiosity catches you and you cannot let the manga go until you finish!
Anime
The anime consists of 26 episodes and was aired in 2001 in Japan.
I watched the anime and it was really fun to watch, but the end is unexpected and not really logic. The anime covers about the five first volumes of the manga, and that's why it ends so incomplete. Not all Sohma members are introduced and the character's single problems are not resolved. It is disappointing if you read the manga, but if you don't, it's a fun and short anime to watch. But don't take it so bad, I actually liked many things! For example, the music played in the background each time Ayame appears!
Characters
Tohru Honda
Tohru is, at the beginning of the story, 16 years old. She is gentle and kind. Eventhough she lost her father when she was a little child and her mother when she was already a teenager, she always acts strong and cares more about others then about herself. She is the "world peace" kind of girl that when sees a problem, has to try to find a way to solve it.
Tohru wants to try to break the Sohma's curse, even if she has to take some risks. She doesn't mind to sacrify herself for her loved ones, and that's why (almost) everyone loves her so much.
As a little child, her mother used to tell her the legend of how the cat was excluded of the zodiac, and Tohru felt very sad for the cat. Since then she even became a fan of the cat.
Yuki Sohma
Yuki is at the beginning of the story also 16, and he attends the same school and class as Tohru. He is possessed by the mouse of the zodiac. This is a big burden for him, since he always has Kyo on one side trying to fight with him, and Akito on the other side, treating him like an object.
Yuki is very popular at school, he is even called "Prince Yuki" and even has a fanclub, but he doesn't really cares for all this. He tries his best to be good at everything, because he feels that is the only way he can be accepted by others, but at the same time, he is always afraid of getting closer to someone.
Yuki experienced many traumas during his childhood, since he was imprisoned by Akito, but thanks to Tohru, whom he sees like a motherly figure, he goes on forward overcoming his past, including his family.
Yuki has an older brother who is also cursed: Ayame Sohma - the serpent
Kyo Sohma
Kyo is also 16 at the beginning of the story, and he is transferred against his will to Tohru's and Yuki's school/class.
Kyo has been always rejected by most of his family because he is the cat of the zodiac. The cat has an extra, terrible curse on his own, which can be controlled with a little, red armband Kyo is always wearing. Still, the burden of having the cat as a son made Kyo's mother commit suicide, and his father blamed Kyo, though Kyo was only a little child. He was left alone. Kazuma Sohma, a martial arts teacher, took him in and became to love him as his own son. Kyo is very fond of Kazuma, but he first has problems showing his love to him.
Kyo gets easily mad and has problems interacting with people, yet, everyone feels attracted to him and wants to be friends with him. He is also very cold at the beginning, but thanks to Tohru, his heart starts to soften and he even stops to be constantly fighting with Yuki.
Shigure Sohma
Shigure is 27 at the beginning of the story, and is the owner of the house where Tohru, Yuki, Kyo and he live in. He is the only adult in the house, though he does not always act live one.
Shigure works as a novelist, since he wanted a job where he didn't had to complete a schedule. He seems to be careless and easy going, but at the same time, you never now on who's side he is nor what he is thinking. Apart from misterious scences where he appears doing or saying things that make you think he really is not what he looks like, Shigure is usually the joker in the house. He is best friends with Ayame and Hatori Sohma, who are also cursed and went to school with him. Shigure is perverted and clownlike, but he also gives good advises sometimes.
Other members of the Sohma
♥ Kagura Sohma - the boar
♥ Momiji Sohma - the rabbit
♥ Hatori Sohma - the dragon
♥ Hatsuharu Sohma - the ox
♥ Ayame Sohma - the serpent
♥ Kisa Sohma - the tiger
♥ Hiro Sohma - the sheep
♥ Ritsu Sohma - the monkey
♥ Rin Sohma - the horse
♥ Kureno Sohma - the rooster
♥ Akito Sohma - the head of the family
♥ Kana Sohma - Hatori's ex-girlfriend
♥ Momo Sohma - Momiji's little sister
♥ Kazuma Sohma - Kyo's martial arts teacher
♥ Satsuki Sohma - Hiro's mother
Other Characters
♥ Arisa Uotani (Uo-chan) - Tohru's Friend
♥ Saki Hanajima (Hana-chan) - Tohru's Friend
♥ Kyoko Honda - Tohru's Mother
