So you’ve decided to dive into the magical, heartwarming world of Fruits Basket, where cats don’t just knock things off tables but occasionally turn into awkwardly charming boys.
This shoujo gem isn’t just about zodiacs and animal transformations; it’s a masterclass in tugging at your heartstrings with its tale of found family, emotional healing, and the occasional comedic chaos.
But before you dive headfirst into the Sohma family’s curse-laden antics, let’s make sure you don’t end up more confused than Tohru at a family reunion. Buckle up, check this Fruits Basket watch order!
Original
1. Fruits Basket (2001)
| Episodes | 26 |
| Aired | Summer 2001 |
Tohru Honda is 16 year old orphaned girl who gets invited to live in the house of her classmate, the handsome boy Sohma Yuki, and his cousins, 16 year old Kyo and 27 year old Shigure.
However, these young men and parts of the rest of their family (both close and distant) hold a curse; if they are hugged by the opposite gender, they transform into animals of the Chinese Zodiac.
Everyday is an adventure for sweet Tohru, as she gets to know everyone in the large family better (especially Yuki and Kyo), in both common and bizarre situations. But, the Sohma Family curse is certainly no laughing matter… it also holds horrible cruelty and heartbreak.
Remake
1. Fruits Basket (2019)
| Episodes | 25 |
| Aired | Spring 2019 |
Tohru Honda thought her life was headed for misfortune when a family tragedy left her living in a tent. When her small home is discovered by the mysterious Soma clan, she suddenly finds herself living with Yuki, Kyo, and Shigure Soma. But she quickly learns their family has a bizarre secret of their own: when hugged by the opposite sex, they turn into the animals of the Zodiac!
2. Fruits Basket Season 2 (2020)
| Episodes | 25 |
| Aired | Spring 2020 |
A year has passed since Tohru Honda began living in the Souma residence, and she has since created stronger relationships with its inhabitants Shigure, Kyou, and Yuki. She has also grown closer to the rest of the Souma family and has become familiar with their ancestral secret, having helped them with many of their personal issues. The closer Tohru gets, however, the more she begins to realize that their secret holds a darker truth than she first presumed.
Summer is approaching and Tohru is invited to spend her days with the Soumas, mainly Kyou and Yuki. Tohru wishes for an easy-going vacation, but her close relationships with the two boys and the rest of the Soumas may prove to cause trouble. As they grow more intimate, their carefree time together is hindered by older hardships and feelings from the past that begin to resurface. The Eternal Banquet also dawns on the members of the zodiac, and they must tend to their duties alongside the unnerving head of the family, Akito Souma.
With the banquet approaching and a plethora of feelings to be solved, will Tohru’s life with the Soumas remain peaceful, or will she find herself in a situation from which she cannot escape?
3. Fruits Basket The Final Season (2021)
| Episodes | 13 |
| Aired | Spring 2021 |
After last season’s revelations, the Soma family moves forward, but the emotional chains that bind them are not easily broken. Unable to admit why she wants the cure, Tohru wrestles with the truth, aware that time is running out for someone close.
And a secret still lurks that could break another’s heart. But hope is not lost—a clue to the curse is found. Could their imprisonment’s end be near?
4. Fruits Basket -prelude- (2022)
| Episodes | 1 |
| Aired | Winter 2022 |
Before there was Tooru and Kyou – there was Katsuya and Kyouko. Discover the turbulent beginning of Tooru’s mom’s dark past, and the man who breathed new hope into her. Watch the evolution of their love story and the birth of the Honda family, as this chapter completes the full adaptation of the heartwarming Fruits Basket story.
And there you have it—your ultimate guide to experiencing Fruits Basket in all its heartwarming, shoujo glory!
Whether you started with the classic or dove straight into the reboot, one thing’s for sure: by the end, you’ll feel like a true member of the Sohma family (minus the animal transformations, hopefully).
So grab some tissues, prepare for all the feels, and remember: in this world of zodiac curses and found family, there’s always room for a little more love and a lot more laughter. Happy watching!
