Common Sense Media Review
Poignant romcom about family, growing up has intense images.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Fruits Basket
What's the Story?
FRUITS BASKET follows the high school years of Tohru Honda (voiced by Laura Bailey in the English dub) and her misfit group of friends as she unravels that secrets behind the Sohma family curse. A newly homeless orphan, Tohru is living in the woods when popular classmate Yuki Sohma stumbles across her tent. This fated meeting sparks the start of a new friendship which leads Tohru to want to help the Sohmas while learning that maybe they, too, can help her along the way.
Is It Any Good?
This touching anime remake successfully tackles the challenges of growing up in a broken situation and learning to find hope. Fruits Basket has a little bit of everything: humor, action, romance, friendship, magic, mystery, mythology, and drama. With such a large and likable ensemble cast of characters, the diversity of life experiences represented means nearly any viewer can find something to relate to. Even when contrasted by comedy, every character's struggle is taken seriously by the story. Although the show has room for growth when it comes to representing diversity in culture, gender, and sexuality, it has strong transferrable messages about acceptance and understanding others.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
How do the characters in Fruits Basket demonstrate empathy? Why is this an important character strength?
The characters in Fruits Basket often help each other a lot without even realizing it. How do friends in the show treat each other? How do these friendship inspire growth, offer support, and help people solve problems on their own?
Families can talk about processing trauma. How do characters' pasts affect them? What do they do to process those experiences and begin to change? If you know someone experiencing what a character went through, how can you help them?
Families can talk about violence and conflict resolution. Why do so many characters resort to violence? Does violence solve the problems? What are some more constructive, positive ways the characters could respond to conflict?
TV Details
- Premiere date : April 6, 2019
- Cast : Laura Bailey , Eric Vale , Jerry Jewell
- Networks : Hulu , Crunchyroll
- Genre : Anime
- Topics : Friendship , School ( High School )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Empathy , Perseverance
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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