Updated May 12, 2024 by testing

If you’re a fan of Shoujo anime, surely Fruits Basket has ended up on your list. For those unfamiliar:

Fruits Basket follows Tohru Honda, a recently orphaned and homeless girl, who decided to live in a tent.

What she initially thought was an empty lot is actually a part of Shigure Sohma’s property. And when he discovered her, Shigure extended an offer to stay in his home together with his cousins, Yuki and Kyo.

Pretty soon though, Tohru finds out a hilarious secret. The Sohmas are cursed to turn into the animal of their zodiac if they’re hugged by the opposite sex!

With plenty of good-looking men (and love story) to go around this is one series you are sure to enjoy but how does one go about enjoying the series? Fruits Basket’s popularity has propelled the making of multiple media items and merchandise such as art books, plushies, and multiple adaptations.

Focusing on the adaptations released, if you want to dive into the world of a family living with a curse related to the Chinese zodiac and their journey to healing with the help of a young girl, which should you watch first?

Luckily we can help you with it!

How to watch Fruits Basket! 

Fruits Basket Quick Watch Order

Fruits Basket (2019 TV Series) 

The 2019 TV series adaptation is the second production based on the original manga, after the manga concluded (2006) this reboot features a lot more elements that the 2001 version missed. 

As per Natsuki Takaya’s, the author’s, request the series will feature an entirely new cast of Japanese crew and staff.

The 2019 series was produced by TMS Entertainment and co-produced by Funimation, who released the series through the Crunchyroll-Funimation partnership. Currently, it is also available to watch on Netflix.

Chronological Order

Season 1

The first season focuses on Tohru as she moves in with the reclusive Soma clan after her family dies and she was left homeless and was found by the Somas, she adjusts to her new life with them and the discovery of their curse. It is also in this season where we are introduced to all of the zodiacs, including the outcast Cat zodiac.

This season has twenty-five episodes, the first episode was aired last April 6, 2019, and the final episode was aired last September 21, 2019. It focused on the first 5 volumes and parts of volumes 6 and 7 of the manga.

Season 2

Season two continues with Tohru now having adjusted with the Somas and teaching them about family love and acceptance. It is also during this season that she is exposed to the clan’s dark past and sinister “god” Akito. 

This season also has twenty-five episodes, with the first episode aired on April 7, 2022, and the final season 2 episode on September 22, 2020. It covers the rest of volumes 6 and 7 and all the content of volume 8 until the beginning of volume 17. 

Season 3

Season three also known as Fruits Basket the Final, is where things come to an end. This season revolves around Tohru trying to break the curse to save Kyo (And the rest of the Sohma family, of course) but it seems that a presence aims to hinder her.

This season also has thirteen episodes, with the first episode aired on April 6, 2021, and the final season 2 episode on June 29, 2021, and now shows the remaining volumes that were missed in the first adaptation.

Fruits Basket: Prelude

The prelude is a 2022 animated film that sheds light a bit more on Tohru’s life with her parents, it also includes a rehash of the series and a special epilogue added in by Takaya. So it makes perfect sense to watch it right after binging the seasons one to three. 

The special focus on Tohru’s parents was announced towards the end of the 2019 series’ final episode and was later said to be part of a compilation utilizing the same cast and staff from the 2019 adaptation. 

Fruits Basket (2001 TV Series) 

If you want to see the original or feel a bit of nostalgia, you can check out the first anime adaptation of the manga with its first episode released last July 5, 2001, and its finale airing on December 27, 2001. 

This adaptation finished before the manga’s final publication which was on November 20, 2006, so the finale of the 2001 series took some liberties and did not end in the mangaka’s intended ending. It took too many liberties wherein, fun fact: the mangaka has grown to dislike this version of the anime because of all the creative differences she and the director of the anime had. As noted it was incomplete but critics felt that the series ending was a good stopping point but still highlighted that there is still much more left for the Sohmas and Tohru to discover.

That’s about it, on what to watch and when to watch to be able to fully enjoy and appreciate this lovely manga and anime series. Even with the just 2001 adaptation, I have fallen in love with the multidimensionality of all the characters and I am sure you will be rooting for each Soma clan member to finally find their true happiness.

✨ BONUS ✨

If you will be deep diving into the world of Fruit Basket from manga to the series, you can also try your hand at checking out the special Fruits Basket Drama CD which was released in 1999. It has a four-chapter original story and talk sessions in between each story, as it was released before the anime so has different voice actors. 

Conclusion

And there you have it! A short but comprehensive list on how to enjoy Fruits Basket! I hope you give this series a try and tell me what you think about it below! Already watched the series? Who was your favorite zodiac? Do you agree who Tohru ended up with? Do you prefer the 2001 series or the recent reboot? Let’s talk all about it in the comments, I can use someone to fangirl with!