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Fruits Basketis anything but a middle-of-the-road shojo series. Based on the manga written by Natsuki Takaya, the anime stands as a trailblazer in many aspects. This is especially true for its compelling storyline and complex themes.
The series unpacks themes of family, friendships, and various dynamics within the plot. But it boils down to romance and relationships, which diverges from its message. That, however, is not the end of it all.
Aside from romance, it sheds light on the dynamics between characters. The platonic relationship between Tohru and Yuki is one such example often misconstrued by fans. Their dynamic is symbolic of an ever-present theme in the series.
In writing complex and layered characters, the mangaka laid the groundwork for human relationships brilliantly. This is especially true for the exploration of soul ties and chosen families in her manga.
‘The Mother Wound’ in Natsuki Takaya’s series
The early 2000s was a golden era for anime and manga. While people hoot about shonen’s prominence, Natsuki Takaya gave a gem in the shojo genre. Her series isa prime exampleof unconventional yet novel storytelling.
It isn’t often that we come across a compelling shojo series. The misconceptions attached to the genre have most people deeming it low-brow. Takaya, however, changed the landscape through her chartering of complex human relationships.
Platonic bondstake center stage inFruits Basket,especially with Tohru acting as a mother figure. This is especially true for Rin who was hesitant to befriend the character. As the plot progresses, she lets her guard down.
Although Tohru is mostly associated with the mother archetype, this also applies to her bond with Yuki. While both characters were shipped as a potential couple, fans attributed their dynamic to Yuki’s unhealed mother wound.
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Onr/FruitsBasketusers responded to a fan’s well-written explanation of the characters’ dynamic.
Yuki, like most Sohma family members, is subjected to trauma by Akito. This severely impacted his personality on the whole. It was only through Tohru’s actions that he was able to feel comfortable in his skin.
And though both are shipped by the fandom, their friendship is rather wholesome. It also points to the most overlooked theme in the series. Other than romance, it underscores the role of soul ties and chosen families in life.
Soul Ties and Chosen Families inFruits Basket
The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb is one of the most overused and mistranslated quotes of all time.Fruits Basket, however, lives up to the essence of this idea in every aspect.
It navigates the different hues of relationships between characters. An overarching element in the series is the abuse subjected to the Sohma family by Akito. Along with the curse, her mistreatment triggered the mother wound.
Additionally, her actions were questionable and unbecoming of a mother. The verbal, emotional, and physical abuse manifested into full full-blown rampage. This is true for her beating up Kisa which is truly disturbing.
Consequently, her actions forced the members to turn to Tohru for motherly love. And while some fans deem it unusual, it makes sense. Tohru’s friendship with the Sohmas and her close ones validates theexistence of a soul family.
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By and by, Tohru and Yuki’s bond is beyond the binary of friendship and romance. And though most people are scornful of the motherly dynamic, it is a standalone aspect that makes the series noteworthy.
Fruits Basketis available for streaming on Netflix.
Himanshi Jeswani
Anime Writer
Articles Published :993
Himanshi Jeswani is an anime writer at Fandomwire, with her work spanning over 900 articles. Her articles cover shojo, shonen, seinen, and all things beyond. Her interests, however, aren’t limited to simply anime. She has a penchant for exploring different genres of manga, be it horror, yanki, music, and food. She brings out her specialization and expertise in the performing arts through her articles. As a writer, she strives to bridge the gap between the viewers and the medium itself. To her, anime is a revolutionary medium that is capable of creating communities and stories after all.
