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Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya is the ultimate slice of life anime that has significantly impacted fans. The famous shojo icon is an emotional rollercoaster that will make you smile, cry, and sometimes wonder if you can continue the next day because your heart is in a million pieces. Whether you watched the original anime, read the manga, or watched the 2019 reboot, you became emotionally invested in the relationship between Tohru, Kyo, and the other members of the Sohma family household.
Fruits Basket Prelude gives a heartfelt conclusion to the 2019 anime reboot and a little recap of the anime, giving fans and newcomers a refresher of the series’ iconic moments that took place before smoothly transitioning into the backstory of Tohru’s parents.
Before diving in, don’t worry; this is a spoiler-free review. You get to see Kyoko’s past through her eyes while learning how she became the woman she was and how Tohru changed her life. But, before Tohru even existed, there was her father, Katsuya, who captured Kyoko’s heart.
Kyoko didn’t have a great start in life; her parents were less than stellar in taking care of their daughter. And unfortunately, that negative impact forced Kyoko to make some interesting choices and mistakes along the way. But, underneath those mistakes is a raw character who shows you that she’s human . That she deserves what we all do at the end of the day, and that’s love and compassion.
You will be taken on a journey of Kyoko and Katsura’s budding relationship. You get to see how these two souls, who have empty pasts and think they have nothing to offer, were given a chance by fate to love again.
Even though this is a finale, Takaya was able to tie the two heartwarming stories of Tohru/Kyo and Kyoko/Katsuya. Takaya was able to put a beautiful bow on this story for fans by giving them exactly what they wanted.
As the final credits rolled, this stunning conclusion brought a happy tear to my eye. Fans like myself will get precisely what they were looking for with this warm and fuzzy story. Yes, there is some sadness, but you will find the conclusion satisfying by the end.
Check out Fruits Basket Prelude in select theaters in the U.S. and Canada on June 25, 28, and 29.
For more from Portia, check out her review of Blood Scion here!