Capturing the hearts of countless fans around the world, Natsuki Takaya became a renowned name after her work, Fruits Basket, became a massive hit that deeply narrates the human journey that each of her characters undergoes. The anime is the perfect title if you are looking forward to watching something whimsical yet so serious that will keep you on the edge of your seats.
The show was quite popular in the Otaku community all the way back in 2001, which returned with grace when, in 2019, the remake of the fan favorite anime was announced. Takaya-Sensei had a big demand for the remake because she was not fond of the original series.
Hence, when the idea of the remake of the 2001 was pitched to the manga artist, she did not hesitate to bring forth her demands. As a result, the show has become an evergreen part of the Slice of Life genre that fans return to time and again.
Natsuki Takaya Had Some Big Demands For Fruits Basket’s Remake
With a nostalgic soundtrack and a gripping storyline, Natsuki Takaya’s Fruits Basket or Furuba has been spanning across generations of anime viewers and fans. The title narrates the tragic tale of Tohru Honda, an optimistic high school girl, and the Sohma family, who are cursed.
The manga was popular among the readers, who were eagerly waiting to watch the anime when it was aired for the first time in 2001. However, the show was a topic of conversation among the fans, as they felt divided over their favorite show.
On one hand, some believed that the show was perfect, while on the other, some believed that the series was wrapped up before the main plot of the show was resolved. Nevertheless, the title remained close to the fans and the author.
As a result, when the 2019 remake was announced everyone was excited, but Natsuki Takaya had two major demands that the remake had to avert the same outcome as the original show. While talking to Funimation via Anime News Network, the mangaka dropped her demands to the production studio.
Takaya-Sensei mentioned that her “heart was full of all sorts of emotions,” when the new anime version of her anime was decided to be produced. This flabbergasted her and made her say, “What?! I closed the curtain on this and now you want to open it again?!?! (lol).”
Though she did not think too negatively about the original series, she made several demands at the beginning, that consisted of: “Completely new” team where “every single person,” would be new to the project; The second request that she made was because of her poor health, where she requested the producers “to not make the art look too much like my art.”
Lastly, what she had was a “mix,” as she gave them detailed thoughts on the project and her “blessing” to do as they seemed fit. The requests were accepted and the rest we know is history.
Fruits Basket Is Everything that a Shōjo Reader Asks For
Natsuki Takaya’s magnum opus might seem like a typical Shōjo anime at first glance, but once delved deep, it is everything that a reader can ask for. From a diverse range of character lists to unforeseen twists, the popularity of the series just soared higher with each day.
The manga sold 30 million copies worldwide via Anime News Network, which cements its legacy and how infectiously popular it is among the fandom. However, it was not the anime that made it so popular; instead, it was the unique art style that made the readers grow fond of the series, which perfectly explored the elements of comedy, mystery, romance, and tragedy, taking its readers on a rollercoaster of emotions.
While it has a slow pace, once the plot progresses, it is everything that a reader would ask for in a series. Additionally, layered characters showcase a sense of vulnerability. Hence, it makes this work an original and something that you would like to read, if you have grown tired of watching mainstream titles like One Piece and JJK.
Fruits Basket (2019) can be streamed on Crunchyroll.
