Review


 * May contain minor spoilers*

Sequels always tend to spark different reactions in people. Some people are happy to get a continuation of the story they love so much, and others are... not too fond of the idea of a great manga to receive a sequel. I, myself, was hesitant. Fruits Basket has been one of my favorites mangas of all time for a long time, and with the ending of the original manga having satisfied me, I was scared that this sequel would let me down. But oh boy, let me tell, you. Something that I expected would let me down, actually ended up entertaining me a lot.

STORY: 7/10 To put it simply, Fruits Basket Another contains the same theme core as the original Fruits Basket. But instead of a single girl helping a whole family, it is the children of the original Fruits Basket cast helping this girl overcoming her inner demons. The premise may seem like it's recycled and predictable, but keep in mind that Natsuki Takaya-sensei is a great writer. She turns this simple concept into something that will touch your heart, and if you are a huge Fruits Basket fan like myself, you will enjoy the parallels shown between the Tohru Honda and the Sohma family, and our new protagonist Sawa Mitoma and the next generation of the Sohmas. But the story is more than this-- the characters and the mystery behind Sawa's background will intrigue you.

ART: 6/10 Takaya-sensei's art has gone a long way. I will admit that I'm not a huge fan of her original art style, but her art style in Another is decent and works well with the story. The characters have great expressions and anatomy, but they can look kind of stiff sometimes. Takaya also doesn't use backgrounds as much I would like to see, and mostly emphasizes the character's emotions and expressions, but they are minor flaws that I can overlook since the art didn't get in the way of my enjoyment.

CHARACTERS: 8/10 Our protagonist is Sawa Mitoma, and her development and change throughout the manga are what makes Fruits Basket Another what it really is. Takaya-sensei made a good decision by making Sawa different from Tohru, even if they are quite similar in some aspects. Tohru is a bundle of joy with a secret trauma she keeps hidden behind her smile. However, Sawa is awkward, has serious self-esteem and anxiety problems, and has internalized the idea that she is worthless and a problem to the people around her. Actually seeing her struggle with her issues and not being able to hide them away behind a mask, feeling like she has to be grateful towards her mother even when she is incredibly abusive, and later feeling scared and confused when she begins changing for the better, makes her feel so much more "human" and real. Speaking of her mother; while she is a frustrating character that is very easy to hate, she does fulfill her role as the "villain" in this story. I also like that Sawa develops a budding romance with someone you wouldn't expect at first glance. This romance is very sweet and develops smoothly and organically throughout the story; it makes you want to root for both of them.

As for the other characters, I assure you that you will like most of the characters for themselves, not because they are the children of the original cast. However, some characters are stronger than others, and I feel like since the story is short, some of the characters weren't always properly developed and were mostly there for fanservice rather than actual plot advancement.

Mutsuki and Shiki present themselves as being the people they seem to be at first glance, but as the story progresses, you start to notice that they have much more depth to them and character quirks that aren't found in any of the original casts' personalities. While Mutsuki's growth is a little lacking and Shiki's growth is more prominent, both of these characters are the most complex and have clear reasons for doing the things they do, as well as clear morals, goals, and backgrounds. Shiki, being the son of one of the most twisted characters in Fruits Basket, will really give you an insight into how much people can change. His one-shot really showcases this (which I really recommend checking out after you're done with this manga).

Sora and Kinu are comic relief characters that are super entertaining and fun to watch, especially since they are relatable (especially Kinu) and quite different from their parents. Despite their "fun" presence in the series, they have their moments of wisdom and give Sawa a lot of advice.

Hajime, Rio, Hibika, Ruriko, and Riku, while I do appreciate them, are in my opinion the weakest characters in this story. Hajime and Riku are mostly copies of their fathers, and Hibika, Ruriko, and Rio copies of their mothers, both in appearance and personality, with only one or two additional quirks that make them different from their parents. Thankfully, they are entertaining to watch and Riku and Hajime do get their unique growth and development, especially the latter.

Mina, Chizuru, and Michi are unfortunately not explored much, since as I explained before-- the manga is very short. However, Mina is an honest and sassy girl with big dreams; Chizuru has a hot temper but is actually down-to-earth and "the odd one out" in his family, and Michi is the "big sister" type of character with a quirky and energetic personality. She is the weakest out of the three I mentioned, but nonetheless still a fun character.

While they don't add a lot to the story, characters from the original Fruits Basket really enriched the story. Megumi, Saki's younger brother, is now a teacher; Momo, Momiji's younger sister, now knows that she and Momiji are siblings; Hinata, Hiro's younger sister, is all grown up; and Takei; the student council president, is now a teacher but thankfully just as annoying and entertaining, just like in the OG.

ENJOYMENT: 8/10 I am a huge Fruits Basket fan, so seeing Another feature cameo appearances for characters from the original manga and plenty of inside jokes, really just took me on a nostalgia trip. With that said, I appreciate Another for what it is and what it tried to convey. Comparing Another to Fruits Basket and expecting a dramatic and heartfelt manga on par with the original manga is not ideal. Instead, focus on Another as a stand-alone series, where this lonely girl with a multitude of issues changes into a happier, more cheerful girl with hope for the future, who despite her acknowledgment that her trauma or issues will not magically disappear, decides to confidently live her life due to wanting to cherish the people who cherish her. Just like in Fruits Basket, Another contains a lot of important life lessons and relatable themes that will touch your heart.

I can't guarantee that everyone will like this sequel, but if you are a fan of the original manga, you should still give it a shot. You might not enjoy it, but the feeling of having your favorite characters from the original manga growing up and becoming great parents, when (most) of them were broken in the beginning and had, to put in bluntly, shitty parents, will probably warm your heart. Overall, Fruits Basket Another gets a 8/10 from me.

With all of that said, I'm done with my first review ever! Feedback is greatly appreciated, but please be kind~