Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Thoughtful anime has great messages for older tweens.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Fruits Basket
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 10 parent reviews
Based on 54 kid reviews
Kids say the show is a heartwarming and emotional experience that emphasizes themes of friendship, kindness, and personal growth, but it also contains some mature content, including mild language, violence, and elements of tragedy. Many viewers appreciate its positive messages and character development, while some caution that certain themes may be intense for younger audiences, suggesting it is more suitable for kids aged 9 and older, depending on their maturity levels.
- heartwarming themes
- mild language
- character development
- suitable for older kids
- some violence
- emotional depth
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
FRUITS BASKET opens to the story of recently orphaned Tohru Honda (voiced by Laura Bailey) stumbling upon the closely guarded secret of the Sohma family, whose 13 members bear a curse that can turn them into embodiments of the Chinese zodiac animals when they're stressed or if they touch a member of the opposite gender. When she promises to keep their secret, they invite her to live with them as a housekeeper, which allows her to get to know them -- and their alter egos -- better over time. She's drawn to Kyo (Jerry Jewell), a fiery teen who embodies the resentfulness of his animal form, the cat whom legend says was left off the Zodiac because of the rat's trickery. Meanwhile Yuki (Eric Vale), the rat, harbors feelings for her as well, which complicates matters in the Sohma home. Determined to help her adoptive family, Tohru sets out to break the curse that holds them hostage.
Is It Any Good?
This series is a surprisingly warm-and-fuzzy addition to the anime genre, thanks to overwhelmingly positive themes about strong relationships built on trust and mutual respect. Flashy, loud, and often weighted down by blatant marketing (Pokemon and Bakugan, anyone?), anime is an acquired taste, and it doesn't strike a chord with everyone. But because of Tohru's generosity and kindness, the guarded Sohmas come to appreciate long-avoided companionship in an unexpected way, which eventually proves life-saving to everyone involved.
Despite its exceptional attributes, some of Fruits Baskets' content still demands a tween's maturity, particularly in the periodic language and the often-violent feelings that surround the characters' circumstances. But if yours tune in, they'll also witness an evolving teen relationship that favors patience and devotion over physical infatuation, and several emotional journeys out of despair and loss, all tied together by a strong underlying spiritualism.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about coping with feelings of sadness or loss, like Tohru does in Fruits Basket. Have your kids ever dealt with issues like these? How does confiding in someone help? To whom do they go for a sympathetic ear when it's needed?
Tweens: Do you feel much pressure to conform to how your peers dress or act? Are you ever self-conscious about the qualities that set you apart from them? How does it feel to be different from the pack?
Conflict is a constant presence in the characters' lives. How do your kids resolve differences with siblings or friends? Is violence ever the right answer?
How do the characters in Fruits Basket demonstrate empathy? Why is this an important character strength?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 29, 2002
- Cast : Laura Bailey , Jerry Jewell , Eric Vale
- Network : Online
- Genre : Anime
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Character Strengths : Empathy
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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