Fruits Basket Season 3 is just a month away from our screens. After the shocking revelation of Season 2, April can't come soon enough. If you can't wait for more content of the beloved Shōjo anime we have good news: the show is based on a manga, written and illustrated by Takaya Natsuki. But is the Fruits Basket manga complete or ongoing? Here's everything you need to know:
In Fruits Basket, we follow Tohru Honda, a 16-year-old schoolgirl who ends up living in a tent after her beloved mother dies in an accident. When a storm destroys her temporary home and she falls ill, Tohru, who has a bubbly personality and never wants to inconvenience others, must learn to accept help and support.
Moving in with her classmates, Yuki and Kyō Sohma, and their older cousin, Shigure, she finds that the family hides a sinister secret. Many Sohmas are cursed, each with a spirit of the Chinese Zodiac Cycle, which causes them to transform into their respective Zodiac animal when hugged by a member of the opposite sex or when they are sick.
Funny as this might seem at first glance, the curse has complicated the Sohmas lives in serious ways. Most have grown up isolated to protect their secret, sometimes abused or neglected even by their parents.
Regardless of their circumstances, all Sohmas have one thing in common: they're at the mercy of Akito, the head of the family, who has god-like powers over them. By befriending them and helping them with their problems – while they also help her with hers – Tohru becomes a target for Akito's wrath. Even so, she and her new friends will fight for freedom and acceptance.
The Fruits Basket manga, sometimes abbreviated as Furuba starting being serialized back in 1998 in the Shōjo magazine Hana No Yume. The manga was completed in 2006 and is now sold on its own. There is a total of 136 chapters, spread over 23 volumes.
Following the success of Fruits Basket, Takaya Natsuki also released a spin-off titled Fruits Basket Another which follows another girl, Sawa Mitoma, whose life changes for the better after an encounter with the next generation of Sohmas.
Fruits Basket is one of the most beloved slice of life manga not only in Japan but also in the US. While it has fantasy elements, it's about much more. With a vibrant, diverse cast of characters who all face real, human problems – even if those stem from their animal transformation – the story is very moving and fans are bound to relate with at least one character at some point.
The realistic portrayal of the characters' mental health and emotions, mixed with enough everyday occurrences and comic relief to make this a comforting read, is another strength of Fruits Basket. While there are quite a lot of romantic relationships, the manga is suitable for those who don't love the romance genre, since most relationships feel believable without being overcomplicated and they aren't the only focus.
The ongoing anime that started being aired in 2019 is – unlike its 2001 predecessor– very faithful to the source material and committed to having adopted it in its entirety by the end of season 3. Therefore, you won't miss key elements if you wait for season 3. However, if you enjoy manga, we highly recommend giving Fruits Basket a chance – it has something for everyone.
Fruits Basket Season 3 will start airing this April, being Simulcast on Crunchyroll and Simuldub on Funimation. Later, it will be available on Hulu.
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