Over the years, Japanese animation has created a wide range of romantic stories, from funny and light-hearted to deep and emotional. Some romance anime are heart-wrenching dramas filled with tears and angst, while others are lighthearted rom-coms that remind fans that love can be fun. Fruits Basket is indeed romantic and heartwarming, containing one of the cutest anime couples ever, Kyo and Tohru.
Fruits Basket‘s tragic yet uplifting narrative has resonated with generations of fans and embodies much of what audiences expect from the shojo genre. Owing to its immense success in both anime and manga industry, Natsuki Takaya has made a name for herself globally. While the series has certainly established a prominent reputation in the shojo genre, fans might be surprised to learn that Takaya nearly abandoned it altogether.
What Almost Led Natsuki Takaya to Quit Fruits Basket Despite Its Shojo Success
Fruits Basket portrays romantic relationships very well, encompassing all the emotions and experiences and captivating several fans with its compelling characters. Almost 20 years after its initial anime adaptation, Fruits Basket remains highly acclaimed and continues to be celebrated as one of the best in the shojo genre.
Shojo is a diverse subgenre of anime that is rapidly growing more popular by the day. Furthermore, the heartwarming ending of Fruits Basket only cements its legacy as one of the greatest shojo anime.
Though Takaya’s masterpiece is widely celebrated in the community, the mangaka nearly gave up on the beloved series, which would have been a heartbreaking outcome for fans.
A crucial tool for any artist is their hand, and Takaya happens to be left-handed. Unfortunately, while Fruits Basket was still being published, Takaya suffered a severe injury to her drawing hand, forcing the series into a temporary hiatus.
After undergoing surgery, Takaya returned to continue working on the ending of the beloved series but felt a significant change in her art style. She disliked the new look of her work so much that she nearly gave up on the series.
Fruits Basket follows high schooler Tohru Honda, who moves in with the enigmatic Sohma family and soon uncovers their shocking secret: they instantly transform into animals when hugged by the opposite gender. Furthermore, the ending is not just fortunate for Tohru and Kyo, though, as in the series’ final moments, everyone achieves their own form of happiness.
The Return of Netflix’s Most Beloved Rom-Com for Season 2
Arguably, the most popular Netflix rom-com anime series has recently confirmed its return window, taking everyone by surprise. The show debuted on Netflix in July 2023 and ran until September 2023. With its beautiful setting, incredible cast, and stellar character designs, the anime received massive appreciation from the worldwide audience.
Finally, My Happy Marriage Season 2, which was green-lit before the first season’s finale, has unveiled a thrilling first trailer and a release window. Love and supernatural things come together in My Happy Marriage, making it a standout romantic anime. Despite the series’ immense popularity, the anime director was a bit skeptical of the anime’s success following its dark story.
My Happy Marriage anime is based on a light novel series written by Akumi Agitogi. It offers a unique take on the classic Cinderella tale set in a time period reminiscent of the 19th-century Meiji Restoration era. Owing to the novel’s immense popularity, the anime had huge shoes to fill and successfully exceeded fans’ expectations.
Fruits Basket is available to watch on Crunchyroll, whereas My Happy Marriage can be streamed on Netflix
