Volume: 1 (of 12)
Creator: Natsuki Takaya
Format: Unflipped
Original Publisher: HAKUSENSHA
US Publisher: Yen Press
Release Date: 6/28/16
Pages: 392
ISBN: 0316360163
MSRP: $20.00
Genre: Shoujo/Comedy
Rated: Teen
Description: After a family tragedy turns her life upside down, plucky high schooler Tohru Honda takes matters into her own hands and moves out...into a tent! Unfortunately for her, she pitches her new home on private land belonging to the mysterious Sohma clan, and it isn't long before the owners discover her secret. But, as Tohru quickly finds out when the family offers to take her in, the Sohmas have a secret of their own--when touched by the opposite sex, they turn into the animals of the Chinese Zodiac!
A perennial favorite of fans and librarians alike, Natsuki Takaya's beloved bestselling Fruits Basket series returns to print in gorgeous deluxe English-language omnibus editions with beautiful full-color illustrations that are not to be missed!
A perennial favorite of fans and librarians alike, Natsuki Takaya's beloved bestselling Fruits Basket series returns to print in gorgeous deluxe English-language omnibus editions with beautiful full-color illustrations that are not to be missed!
Contains Chapters 1-12:
- Chapter 1
- Chapter 2
- Chapter 3
- Chapter 4
- Chapter 5
- Chapter 6
- Chapter 7
- Chapter 8
- Chapter 9
- Chapter 10
- Chapter 11
- Chapter 12
Review:
Cover: The cover's for the new edition of Fruits Basket are brand new and not like the previous editions at all. The front for this volume features our lead character, Tohru Honda, on a very clean, powdery pink background. The Series title is on the upper left corner, with the mangaka and volume number following right underneath.
The spine from top to bottom features the volume number, the series title, an image of Tohru and her mother (both images from the front and back cover), the mangaka, and the Yen Press Company logo.
The back cover uses the same clean, powdery pink background, but features an image of Tohru's mother, Kyoko Honda; literally, besides the barcode, that is the only thing on the back cover.
Because of the content of this series, and how it can really be light hearted and very deep at the same time, it makes me really appreciate it from a series standpoint. I know a lot of new fans or blind purchasers probably won't care as much for the cover art due to it doesn't really show what the series is about, but in all sense, the cover really does. This is a series about Tohru and the people in her life, especially the Sohma family who she goes to live with. Since this is the first cover, and its technically a rerelease with cleaned up artwork, I must say, it is probably the better omnibus, Collected Editions, released so far by any company, and it truly is beautiful.
The spine from top to bottom features the volume number, the series title, an image of Tohru and her mother (both images from the front and back cover), the mangaka, and the Yen Press Company logo.
The back cover uses the same clean, powdery pink background, but features an image of Tohru's mother, Kyoko Honda; literally, besides the barcode, that is the only thing on the back cover.
Because of the content of this series, and how it can really be light hearted and very deep at the same time, it makes me really appreciate it from a series standpoint. I know a lot of new fans or blind purchasers probably won't care as much for the cover art due to it doesn't really show what the series is about, but in all sense, the cover really does. This is a series about Tohru and the people in her life, especially the Sohma family who she goes to live with. Since this is the first cover, and its technically a rerelease with cleaned up artwork, I must say, it is probably the better omnibus, Collected Editions, released so far by any company, and it truly is beautiful.
Artwork: The art style of this series is very clean and beautiful. Being a shoujo title, there is not any huge battle scenes that really gets any of the pages convoluted. Backgrounds are minimal, which isn't a bad thing where this series is concerned as the story is so light hearted that it just makes sense for the art to not be so busy.
However, there is one thing I don't like. At times there are blurry panels, I guess the artist decided to use this for flashback scenes, but they just look really bad. There is also sometimes stick figures used for light hearted comedy moments. It was ok the first couple times, but after a while it just shows a bit of laziness really.
However, there is one thing I don't like. At times there are blurry panels, I guess the artist decided to use this for flashback scenes, but they just look really bad. There is also sometimes stick figures used for light hearted comedy moments. It was ok the first couple times, but after a while it just shows a bit of laziness really.
Translation: Perfect translation. Character names, sound effects, locations, cultural references are all left intact. I can not ask for anything better!
Extras: There's translation notes and a one page Afterword. I really wish the original creator's notes on each chapter were left in, but they were removed due to her thinking they were not relevant on an older title like this. There is also a lot of color artwork from the original title pages.
Content (Warning: May Contain Spoilers): Welcome to the world of Fruits Basket. This is a very light hearted series that I am actually making my second trek through it in the manga world (fourth in the anime world). I absolutely love this series, and seeing that it was getting a re-release as a collector's edition series, I decided what better way then to review them this time around.
The series begins with a girl named Tohru Honda, who has pretty much the worst luck ever, but it doesn't stop her from trying to keep a happy life. Her mom died about a year ago and she lives in the woods in a tent, since she doesn't want to burden the rest of her family. One day she stumbles upon a nearby home, one that one of her classmates lives at, as well as a few of his other family members. His name is Yuki Sohma. Yuki's older cousin, Shigure Sohma is the other resident. She sees a shrine dedicated to the Chinese Zodiac and really appreciates it as she has always loved what the Zodiac stood for, even the Cat which is not part of the zodiac. Eventually, the house is crashed by another member of the Sohma family, Kyo. Kyo and Yuki don't get along much and when a fight between the two breaks out, Tohru tries to break it up. In the process, she falls into them in a type of embrace, causing them to transform into animals of the Chinese Zodiac itself. Thus our real story begins...
The Sohma's are cursed, and there are a total of thirteen members who transformed if hugged by the opposite sex, or are weakened in health. Tohru eventually gets asked to stay with the Sohma family, for the most part I felt it was to keep an eye on her at first so she won't tell the family secret, but the members of the household begin to fall for her charm more and more.
This volume really is just a set up and introduction of some of the characters. We are also introduced to Hatori, Momiji, and Kagura in this volume (three other members of the Sohma family). Each time one is introduced the members who are basically already their try to make bets with Tohru on who they are. Hatori however is the only member who was a bit more refrained. We learn of his tragic backstory though which is kind of our first real emotional ride in this series, with tons more to come along the way.
The volume doesn't really leave readers in a sore spot with a cliffhanger, but even if the reader wants to read more, the first two volumes were released on the same day. We have lots of mysteries though to look forward to. The first being is there is a curse in the family and although Tohru is not part of it, these characters are relying on her for something (no spoilers out of me here). We also have a seventh member, Akito Sohma, who basically controls the entire family. Who or what she is is still a mystery. The series has a lot of room to grow, but for a first volume, this was a great romp through a special world. For readers that this is their first time reading this, please, sit back and enjoy it; Fruits Basket is one amazing ride that will push you through every emotional spectrum possible. For those who have read it, enjoy it again with me, as we see Furuba through to the final chapter again.
The series begins with a girl named Tohru Honda, who has pretty much the worst luck ever, but it doesn't stop her from trying to keep a happy life. Her mom died about a year ago and she lives in the woods in a tent, since she doesn't want to burden the rest of her family. One day she stumbles upon a nearby home, one that one of her classmates lives at, as well as a few of his other family members. His name is Yuki Sohma. Yuki's older cousin, Shigure Sohma is the other resident. She sees a shrine dedicated to the Chinese Zodiac and really appreciates it as she has always loved what the Zodiac stood for, even the Cat which is not part of the zodiac. Eventually, the house is crashed by another member of the Sohma family, Kyo. Kyo and Yuki don't get along much and when a fight between the two breaks out, Tohru tries to break it up. In the process, she falls into them in a type of embrace, causing them to transform into animals of the Chinese Zodiac itself. Thus our real story begins...
The Sohma's are cursed, and there are a total of thirteen members who transformed if hugged by the opposite sex, or are weakened in health. Tohru eventually gets asked to stay with the Sohma family, for the most part I felt it was to keep an eye on her at first so she won't tell the family secret, but the members of the household begin to fall for her charm more and more.
This volume really is just a set up and introduction of some of the characters. We are also introduced to Hatori, Momiji, and Kagura in this volume (three other members of the Sohma family). Each time one is introduced the members who are basically already their try to make bets with Tohru on who they are. Hatori however is the only member who was a bit more refrained. We learn of his tragic backstory though which is kind of our first real emotional ride in this series, with tons more to come along the way.
The volume doesn't really leave readers in a sore spot with a cliffhanger, but even if the reader wants to read more, the first two volumes were released on the same day. We have lots of mysteries though to look forward to. The first being is there is a curse in the family and although Tohru is not part of it, these characters are relying on her for something (no spoilers out of me here). We also have a seventh member, Akito Sohma, who basically controls the entire family. Who or what she is is still a mystery. The series has a lot of room to grow, but for a first volume, this was a great romp through a special world. For readers that this is their first time reading this, please, sit back and enjoy it; Fruits Basket is one amazing ride that will push you through every emotional spectrum possible. For those who have read it, enjoy it again with me, as we see Furuba through to the final chapter again.
- Language: No
- Violence: No
- Nudity: No
- Sexual Situations: No
- Cover: 10/10
- Artwork: 7/10
- Translation: 10/10
- Extras: 6/10
- Story: 8/10
Where Purchased: Barnes and Nobles
Original Review Date: 7/19/16
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