Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya is one of the most popular and beloved shojo manga series of the 2000s. The 2001 anime adaptation was similarly popular but didn't quite capture the full story. Fans hoping for a full adaptation of the manga finally had their wishes granted in 2019 when Fruits Basket returned to the small screen with HD animation, new voice actors and a stronger grasp of the original material.
Two seasons of the 2019 Fruits Basket have aired so far, streaming on Crunchyroll and FUNimation, and the third and final season, titled Fruits Basket: The Final, is around the corner. What should fans of shojo anime know before the season launches?
The Story Of Fruits Basket So Far
Tohru Honda was orphaned right before starting high school, losing her mother's life in a tragic traffic accident. Living by herself in a tent in a light forest near her school, she one day stumbled upon the sprawling estate of the secretive Sohma family. Tohru soon learned their secret: that the Sohmas are cursed with the spirits of the Chinese zodiac. At any time, 12 Sohmas are cursed to transform into one of the zodiac animals when hugged by a member of the opposite sex. Now in on their secret, Tohru starts living with three of the Sohmas: the mildly suspicious dog Shigure, the cool and popular rat Yuki and the hotheaded Kyo, who deals with the extra curse of being the cat (an unofficial 13th animal excluded from the zodiac, with a secret monstrous form).
Tohru eventually meets all of the cursed Sohmas, who each have their own serious issues to deal with relating to the curse. They can't easily integrate into modern Japanese society, so they live reclusive lives with only each other for company (which can be a curse in itself). Yuki, Kyo and the other teenage Sohmas are lucky that they can even attend public high school at all; as the cat, Kyo in particular is seemingly destined to a life of solitary confinement post-graduation. Tohru, however, is not afraid of any curse, and with her heartfelt intuition, kind words and remarkable strength and patience, she uncovers the truth about each Sohma's inner struggles, desires and fears.
By now, Tohru's involvement in the family's affairs has provoked the wrath of Akito, the family head who fills the role of "god" in the Chinese zodiac story and who jealously shields every other Sohma from the outside world. Akito wields considerable influence over the other Sohmas, not only via the curse itself but through insidious verbal, emotional and at times even physical abuse. Akito has manipulated each spirit-bearing Sohma into becoming a docile pet, of sorts, and Tohru is ready to challenge this grim status quo and set the Sohmas free at last.
What to Expect in Fruits Basket Season 3
Season 2 of Fruits Basket ended with two major reveals. The first is that not only is the zodiac curse breakable, but it's already been broken in the case of Kureno, formerly the rooster. Kureno might be free of the curse, but he's also by far the least free of Akito's control compared to his increasingly confident and independent cousins. The second big twist is the reveal that Akito is, in fact, a woman who is in a sexual relationship with Shigure. Learning why Akito became such a cruel family leader and figuring out how to free the other Sohmas from their curse will be among Tohru's biggest concerns in Season 3.
Release Date
Fruits Basket's third and final season is slated to start streaming in April 2021 on FUNimation. Information about the premiere date and time will be added as it becomes available.
Trailers and Promos
No trailer has been released yet for Fruits Basket: The Final, but a promotional image was revealed on January 29. It shows Tohru and Akito standing back to back. Tohru has her hands to her heart, while Akito contemplates a red flower whose blossoms are falling off one by one, perhaps symbolizing the crumbling bond that binds the twelve zodiac spirits to her. More information will be added as it becomes available.
