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Too Much *Emo* in Fruits Basket
By aimee | September 14, 2009
After so many months of reading the manga version of Fruits Basket, I’ve finally conquered its ending. Yey! Of course, the ending is a happy one as all endings are (or most), but I must say the journey to the characters’ happy endings here are not to my liking. Yes, as all stories are always made up of problems before happy endings, this shouldn’t bother me. However, I think the creator of Fruits Basket has way too much angst and bitterness to the world and family life and values and she poured it ALL out into this manga, which should’ve only been fun, comedic and light in the first place.
I believed I was deceived. I thought that this manga is one of those which offers fun and light entertainment to its readers cause its plot talks about a wealthy family whose members turn into the animals of the chinese zodiac. Plus, the setting is in a secondary school which made me think this is one fun anime to put time into. I was disappointed in its anime version when I first watched it since the ending didn’t really talk about how the curse was lifted off the Sohma members unfortunately bestowed with it. This is exactly the reason why I turned into its manga version since I also hold the belief that manga’s are better than anime versions (which of course holds true most of the time). If I’d only known the horror brought by the “too-much-emo-plot” of Fruits Basket manga, I would’ve just gladly be contented with the anime version.
Of course I’d still have to say that the manga has its share of laughs as well what with Tohru’s good-but-sometimes-naive nature, Kyo and Yuki’s never-ending battles, Tohru’s friends who act like her parents, Shigure’s adult jokes, the weird Student Council members, Yuki’s fan club, Haru’s sudden outburts of love for Yuki, Kyo’s cat-friends, and Ayame’s weird way of brotherly love and even weirder costume shop. But these were sadly overpowered by the emo-ness of the plot. I just can’t stop saying that it’s really emo cause that’s how I feel about it! I just can’t believe that the characters there, especially the Sohmas with the curse, young as they are presented, could hold so much angst and bitterness against the world and their families. Jealousy, betrayal, anger, obsession, envy are there common complaints and feelings, and did I mention jealousy, betrayal, anger, obsession and envy as well? It’s cause these are the never-ending issues of the characters! I had enough of it at some point, the reason why it took me months before I finished this. I just couldn’t bear to read about these bad vibes on a daily basis. It even became uninteresting for me since I’d have to go through these “blahs” before I get to that simple happy ending I’ve been wanting to get to.
So, needless to say, it was a sure relief for me to be able to get to the bottom of this. The author seemed to have no way of ending the curse either, I daresay at first. It was bacause a simple, heartfelt and meant goodbye from Akito (who turned out to be a girl, big surprise there. Not!) was all it took to do the trick of lifting off the curse. But when I thought about it, it is actually a valid way since if Akito serves as the God, then only he can free the Sohmas from this gift-turned-curse cause of the years of repetition of history. I was also skeptical about Tohru’s involvement and why people believed her to be the way to save them from the curse. That is, until she was able to break thorugh Akito’s cold heart, soften it up, and let her be free of her deep issues within. Some inconsistencies as well - it was said that the cat was not able to go to God’s banquet because of the rat’s doing, reason for the cat being an outcast among the animals and of his monstrous true form. Fastforward to the end, it was made known that the cat was really God’s first companion and was the one tasked to call the other animals for the banquet. Also, the real reason for his being made outcast was because he refused to participate in the eternal life of banquet that God suggested them to have, just so they could always be together having fun. So, how does the author explain that? I’m thinking that the explanation lies in the misunderstandings circling the history of the chinese zodiac animals and how they came to be. As simple as that.
Although I’d like to say that I was quite happy with Kyo ending up with Tohru and Yuki ending up with Machi. It was so cute to see Yuki acting in love and having a girlfiend in the form of quiet and mysterious Machi. ^_^ And if asked who my fave character is among them, the answer would be Ayame, Yuki’s weird elder brother, no doubt about that! I just love it that he’s so free-spirited, lively, comical, naive, and weird all at the same time! Haha! I can even say he is the most “non-emo” among the Sohmas. He just lives to enjoy life, make cute costumes with Mine, have fun with his two cousins, and be there for his kawaii brother Yuki. 
Yes, I’ve analyzed that much. And I’m still disappointed in the manga. Word of advice: Don’t read the manga if you could help it. Be contented with the Fruits Basket anime, people! 
Of course, these are all just my thoughts and opinions.
Topics: Anime Addiction, Fruits Basket |