Warning: Spoilers for Fruits Basket (2019) and Fruits Basket (2001)The slice-of-life shōjo anime,Fruits Basket(2019), written by pen name Takaya Natsuki and animated by TMS Entertainment Co., Ltd., is a reboot of the existingFruits Basket(2001) anime. The modernized animation is a fresh appeal for viewer curiosity, and the return of select English cast members reels in nostalgia for fans of the 2001 dubbed version.
Withthe ending ofFruits Basket(2019)expanding the story toward the rest of the Sōma family’s individual paths and stating Sōma Kyō and Honda Tōru’s relationship, the difference between the two anime is broad.Fruits Basket’s (2001) ending changes Sōma Akito’s sex and Tōru’s response to Kyō’s true form. Despite adapting only seven volumes of the manga and having an original ending, it is responsible for many current fans of the series. However, the reboot ofFruits Basketadapts all twenty-three of its volumes. Viewers are able to experience the entire story through the reboot.
Fruits Basket’s Most Recent Anime isn’t Just a Great Reboot, it’s One of the Best Shojo Anime of All Time
Years later, Fruits Basket still remains one of shojo’s greatest hits of all time, with relatable characters, a gripping plot, and adorable animation.
A Comparative Look at the 2001 and 2019 Versions ofFruits Basket
ASlapstick Comedy or a Domestic Drama?
Fruits Basket(2019) differs from the original in itsfaithfulness as a manga adaptation and its deeper tone. The original’s characters, like Sōma Shigure, are portrayed differently. Instead of Shigure remaining a layered and mysterious character in the original, he is a simple pervert. This doesn’t allow room for the story to progress as is told in the manga and therefore, the reboot.
Fruits Basket(2019) allows Shigure’s manipulative side to come out. He lets Tōru live with him in hopes that she breaks theSōma Curse by falling in love with the cat zodiac, Kyō, so he can have Akito for himself. WhereasFruits Basket(2001) emphasizes its humor, the reboot focuses on the story’s conflicts more seriously. When Hanajima Saki and Uotani Arisa sleepover in the original, Kyō, Yuki, and Shigure end up transforming through comedic sequences of running into Arisa, Tōru, and Saki.
When Kyō transforms back, Shigure and Tōru grab Yuki’s clothes to throw to him. Shigure ends up throwing the clothes and Tōru, dropping her on top of him and causing his transformation. None of this happens in the reboot. Instead, Arisa talks abouther and Saki’s value in their friendship with Tōruto Kyō, Yuki, and Shigure.
Fruits Basket(2019) Maintains the Delicate Balance Between Drama and Comedy
The character designs inFruits Basket(2019) also stay true to the manga more thanFruits Basket(2001). The 2001 version depicts characters like Sōma Yuki and Sōma Hatori with different eye colors. Instead of Yuki’s silver eyes, he is given violet and Hatori has black eyes in place of indigo.
TheFruits Basketanime reboot follows the manga more than the original with a darker tone. Though there are comedic moments in the 2019 version, it is not a rom-com anime likeFruits Basket(2001) portrays itself. Still, in contrast to their differences, both anime have their merits and can be enjoyed by viewers.
Fruits Basket
Cast
Fruits Basket (2019) is an anime adaptation following Tohru Honda, a high school girl who ends up living with the mysterious Sohma family. She discovers that twelve members of the Sohma clan are cursed to transform into animals of the Chinese zodiac when embraced by the opposite sex. The series delves into the lives and challenges faced by the cursed members while exploring themes of acceptance, friendship, and personal growth.
