Fruits Basket Fan Book -Cat-

by Natsuki Takaya (Creator)

This is THE book for all Furuba fans!

In this volume, find out everything you ever wanted to know about the world of Fruits Basket! Filled with character profiles, color illustrations, quizzes, stickers, behind-the-scenes with Takaya-sensei, and story recaps through volume 17, this must have collection also includes a short previously unpublished manga featuring Ritsu and Mitchan. Don't miss out on all the Furuba fun!

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels, Anime, Fiction, Young Adult

189 pages, Paperback

First published May 19, 2005

About the author

Natsuki Takaya (高屋奈月, real name Naka Hatake) is the penname of a Japanese manga artist best-known for creating the series Fruits Basket. She was born on July 7, 1973; (Tanabata). Takaya is left-handed and once revealed that she wanted to be a mangaka since first grade, when her sister started drawing.

She was born in Shizuoka, Japan, but was raised in Tokyo, where she made her debut in 1992. She enjoys video games such as the Final Fantasy series or Sakura Wars, or working on her different manga series, such as Fruits Basket, which is the second best-selling shōjo manga ever in Japan, and the top selling shōjo manga in North America. Fruits Basket has also been adapted into a twenty-six-episode anime series.

In 2001, Takaya received a Kodansha Manga Award for shōjo manga for Fruits Basket.

According to Takaya (in a sidebar of a Fruits Basket manga volume), she enjoys drawing girls (girly ones) more than she does boys. Takaya also enjoys electronics and music, but dislikes talking about herself. Also revealed in a sidebar of Fruits Basket, Takaya broke her drawing arm (left) after Fruits Basket volume six was published. She had to go into surgery, and as a result, had put Fruits Basket on a brief hiatus. Takaya made a full recovery, but complains that her handwriting had gotten uglier, due to the surgery. During her hospital stay, she gained an interest in baseball.

Reviews

[Krystal]

This was a decent attempt to fill the Furuba-shaped hole in my heart after I finished the series. There's some more fantastic artwork and notes and its jam-packed with interesting things. Not a necessary addition, but still rather enjoyable.

[aikaterine]

A cute companion novel for fans of the series. As someone who hasn’t read them, I was initially a bit lost but then got intrigued and now plan to actually read it, haha.

My quiz answers:
I’m 100% like Kyo and Yuki, and Horse Type 🐴

[Erika Radabah]

This book is only for those that have completed reading the series. It contains spoilers.

It was great getting an insight to the characters and answer's from the creator. Makes me miss the days, of reading it. And reading the little side panels of the author's struggles. Which i missed seeing in the collectors edition of the books. Now the series is being rebooted with the whole story next year. I am soo excited!

[Carly O'Connell]

I remember wondering if I should buy these fan books back in the day and deciding against it. But now a friend has gifted them to me and it has been fun to revisit the series through the fan books as I also watch the new anime. There is not a lot of truly new content in here - a couple of interviews with the creator, revealing nothing earth shattering, and a few panels of new scenes, mostly silly stuff. Overall this book is cute but not necessary for your enjoyment of the Furuba fandom.

[Em Mirra]

Pending.

[Katie Umland]

Fun little addition to the story that give “behind the sense” looks at the characters and the writing. Also fun quizzes and games.

[Marjo]

It was ok, I guess. I might have liked it more if someone hadn't hacked away the color pages in the library book, which is upsetting on several levels.

[Kurtis Burkhardt]

Really cute manga, the story is pretty good but cute and adorable art and characters 👍😻😁❤️

[Ridhima Sarda]

Loved it! Recommended to all Furuba fans! ❤️❤️

[τλιϓλ]

Enjoyed it ^_^

[Lindsey]

Do not read until after volume 17.

It was cute enough, but there were several design inconsistencies and significant editing mistakes.

[Tess]

A very exhaustive reference book for almost everything about the manga series Fruits Basket.
I loved how it included pages from the series to illustrate particular conversations, however they were often photocopied so small the dialogue could not be read.
Great mapping of all the character relationships, and a fun interview with the author. I haven't finished the series yet, so there were a few spoilers. I'm not sure what volume this goes up through, or if it is a review of the whole series.
Very very dense, with lots of little comments on each page. It includes in-depth looks at why characters dress they way they do, why they react to different people, how some of them have changed through the series, etc.

Great reference, but does contain spoilers if you haven't gotten up through at least vol.13 or so of the series.

[Artemis Crescent]

2022 EDIT: From my 'Fruits Basket, Vol. 1' review:

Changing my rating to fit my mood and views nowadays. I'm not as passionate or excited about, or as fond of, this series as I used to be. Perceptions and feelings change upon reflection overtime, regardless of nostalgia, which can be fleeting, and that's fine. Growing up, revaluating and reprioritising things are fine. I need to declutter, anyway. The manga remains a classic, nonetheless.

Final Score: 4/5





Original Review:



A book of character profiles and descriptions from the manga, 'Fruits Basket'. Contains great titbits of detail, quotes from the series, quizzes, life lessons to be had, and some colourful and gorgeous artwork (plus a sticker collection) for fans. This is one fan book worth keeping on the shelves. It’s so cute! I love Furuba so much.

Final Score: 5/5

[Rena]

I found this a little entertaining. I especially like the interview and color pages. The character profiles were okay, but the story synopsis seemed unnecessary. There are some interesting things in here, but it isn't something that needs to be read. It doesn't really add much to the story... though I did fail to realize that Kagura was twenty... I don't know how I missed that detail in the story.

[Nelly.j]

fruits basket is about a girls who mum and dad have died and now she is living in a tent because her other family members can't affored to look after her, but the think that she is staying a friends house.
soon a guy from her school discover her and offers her a place in his house with his uncle and him. but the family is cursed.

[Rebecca]

A great book for any Furuba fan to own! It has a lot of useful information combined with a bit of fun.

It could have been fact-checked a little better, but I honestly have little complaint with this book in general.

[Chibeh-chan]

I bought this just recently... I guess it wasn't that great since it just repeated what the series is, but the short unpublish manga stories at the end was AWSOMENESS!!! KAWAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

[Megan]

I wouldn't really recommend this book. Its not as good as the real Fruits Basket books but it does have a bunch of info thats kind of handy if you like fruits basket but I wouldn't buy it.

[Amanda]

This is a great book to catch up on everything Fruits Basket. But keep in mind that if you haven't read up through 18, then this book contains spoilers.

[Audrey]

looks pretty good heard better reviews from different people and places around so its on my to-read list!

[Bridgett]

Great collection of character profiles, timelines, and quotes (I love quotes). A good resource if you forget something about the series.

[Nicole]

Filled with great art and information on the characters of this lovely story.

[Anna]

Read this in the Japanese version. Nice overview of characters and story so far with extra information about all the characters. Lovely art.

[Evie]

Adorable. Some new stuff but lots of review too. Would probably be cooler if it had been awhile since you read the series. I liked it a lot though! :)

[Danielle]

Super cute. I mostly read it for the interview, because trying to read all the character profiles is a serious drag.

[Danyka]

I'd watched and liked the anime version when I was still a kid.

And, I got no plans for reading it's manga.

[Mahdieh]

This book really clears all the questions I want to ask about the series.Its great.

[J]

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

[Cameron]

This has some fun art and polls and notes on the characters.

[Marianne]

That was an insightful read into the story! It went very in-depth into the characters, plus fun and games for readers! 😃👌🏼