12 Anime To Watch Similar To Fruits Basket (the 2019 version)- Similar in Atmosphere, Plot or Theme.
Fruits Basket has enchanted us for generations with its equal mix of sweetness and bitterness, as well as its characters who manage to maintain depth and relatability through their silly jokes and crazy personalities. With its treatment of themes of friendship, love, curses, and spirits, this anime has managed to deeply cement itself in anime culture. It is only natural to look for a similar anime to Fruits Basket as its quirky conflicts that make us laugh and eye-tearing moments are easily missed. If you are looking for shows which provide the same emotional vulnerability wrapped in a slice-of-life setting, look no further.
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1. Horimiya
ホリミヤ
“Everyone has a side of themselves that they don’t want other people to see.”
Plot: Kyouko Hori and Izumi Miyamura are both not as they appeared. The first, admired and liked by her classmates, hides the fact that she is the main houseworker and caretaker to her brother due to her parents' frequent absence. The second, seen as an otaku loser, is actually inept at studying and hides nine piercings and a tattoo. The two meet by chance outside of school and start to develop a friendship in secret.
Similarity to Fruits Basket: The two are able to wonderfully portray the awkwardness and pains of growing up in teenagehood. Tohru and Kyouko share similar aspects in which they both become caretakers to a family. The character development and mix of romance and comedy also greatly resembles that present in Fruits Basket.
Studio + Other Works by Studio: CloverWorks
Trailer: Link.
Genre: Comedy + Romance + Slice of Life
Number of episodes: 13
Number of seasons: 1
List containing this anime: [TOP 43] Best Romance Manga That Will Melt Any Type of Heart
2. Ouran High School Host Club
桜蘭高校ホスト部 - Ouran Koukou Host Club
“I Think... Once You’ve Decided To Change, Then You’ve Already Begun Your Transformation.”
Plot: The premise revolves around Haruhi Fujioka as she breaks an incredibly expensive vase and is forced to join her prestigious school's host club to repay her debt. Subsequently joining the club, she must play the character of a sophisticated young male student, winning countless female peers' hearts. This anime makes use of a lot of familiar tropes we see in typical shojo anime but manages to add its own twist, sometimes parodying with self-aware humor, which makes the series a joy to watch even after its initial release, 15 years ago.
Similarity to Fruits Basket: School premise, a sort of ''reverse-harem'' setting. Similar characters in terms of personality and design. Contains ample amounts of cute and heart-warming scenes. The atmosphere is very lighthearted but is also mixed with a taste of drama, although Fruits Basket is much more tragic (and Ouran High School Host Club has more funny moments).
Studio + Other Works by Studio: Bones
Trailer: Link.
Genre: Comedy + Romance
Number of episodes: 26
Number of seasons: 1
3. Hotarubi no Mori e
蛍火の杜へ - The Light of a Firefly Forest
“I probably won’t be able to look forward to summer for a long time. My chest will hurt. My tears will be overflowing. But this warmth in my hands and these summer memories will live on in my heart.”
Plot: This is one of the most heart-warming, jaw-dropping, tear-induced anime movies ever created. Here, you’ll meet Gin, a forest spirit who helps 6-year-old Hotaru get out of the forest she got lost in. Falling in love with his good nature and delicate words, Hotaru keeps visiting Gin every year during her summer vacations. Soon, they both develop strong affections towards one another, strengthening their bond beyond words. One catch: Hotaru can't touch Gin under any circumstance.
Similarity to Fruits Basket: Gin, like the entire Sohma family, cannot be hugged by humans. Both heroines are of similar character: clumsy and silly yet incredibly strong. Same incorporation of Japanese Folklore and spiritual elements, and both anime also convey the same feelings in terms of heartache and attachment.
Studio + Other Works by Studio: Brain's Base
Trailer: Link.
Genre: Drama + Romance + Supernatural
Number of episodes: 1
Number of seasons: 1
List containing this anime: Top 14 Japanese Animated Movies That Will Make You Cry
4. Orange
“The orange juice was sweet, yet sour.
The taste of sorrow.”
Plot: The entire show revolves around Naho Takamiya as she receives a letter from her 26-year-old self. The message informs her of her future life, filled with regrets, and gives her information about a new transfer student, Kakeru Naruse, who seemingly commits suicide at some point during her school year. With these details at hand, Naho attempts to change both her future and that of Kakeru.
Similarity to Fruits Basket: Both shows are about fruits (I'm kidding, please don't close this tab). There is a deep focus on love and hatred and character-driven moments. The storytelling is very smooth, with no abrupt changes or scenarios that don't make sense. The overall atmosphere is similar with a high school setting, an emphasis on friendship and a deep dive into trauma and bad relationships. Orange also has its own share of supernatural aspects to it. While still slice-of-life, It tends to have more dramatic influences than Fruits Basket.
Studio + Other Works by Studio: Telecom Animation Film + TMS Entertainment
Trailer: Link.
Genre: Sci-Fi + Drama + Romance + School + Shoujo
Number of episodes: 13
Number of seasons: 1
List containing this anime: Top 14 Anime Similar to Tokyo Revengers - In atmosphere, plot or theme
5. Mahoutsukai no Yome
魔法使いの嫁 - The Ancient Magus' Bride
“Do you want people to understand? Or do you just want to believe you’re the only one suffering?”
Plot: Come forth ye who seeks visual delights in anime; I bring to you: Mahoutsukai no Yome. Meet Chise Hitori - an orphaned child ostracised by both her family and society - who, one day, decides to put herself up for auction to be bought by someone and finally have a place to call her own. There, seven-foot-tall magus Elias Ainsworth buys her in the hopes of developing the magical powers that lie within her. A story of romance wrapped in the supernatural yet everyday-life unfolds, accompanied by both feelings and perceptions of beauty.
Similarity to Fruits Basket: Fantasy/Supernatural elements, very vulnerable main protagonists who get abandoned at the beginning of their story yet manage to form connections with their new family. Mahoutsukai no Yome also has the same sad and more dramatic atmosphere that Fruits Basket sometimes makes use of.
Studio + Other Works by Studio: Wit Studio
Trailer: Link.
Genre: Mystery + Dark Fantasy + Supernatural
Number of episodes: 1
Number of seasons: 1
6. Kimi ni Todoke
君に届け - From Me to You
“It was like you brought color to my life. You changed my life, all by yourself”
Plot: This award-winning manga turned anime series tells the story of 15-year-old Sawako Kuronuma, an ordinary sweet girl with a contrastingly terrifying appearance. Her looks lead her to have an evil reputation in class which immensely lowers her self-esteem and turns her into a timid and quiet girl. At some point, she meets Kazehaya, a fellow classmate who will slowly cheer her on and carefully encourage her to make friends and come out of her shell.
Similarity to Fruits Basket: Protagonists have similar personalities; although Sawako is much shyer than Tohru, they are also surrounded by similar characters such as overprotective best friends and a handful of new people who direct them towards growth and joy. Kimi ni Todoke emphasizes the ‘slice-of-life aspect of Fruits baskets and takes it to a whole new level. You’ll experience similar feelings of warmth and sweetness, but the degree of sorrow is not as apparent in this one. Similarly, characters are given great depth and growth, but the plot is not as intricate.
Studio + Other Works by Studio: Production I.G
Trailer: Link
Genre: Drama + Romance + Slice of Life
Number of episodes: 25
Number of seasons: 2
List containing this anime: [TOP 43] Best Romance Manga That Will Melt Any Type of Heart
7. Kamisama Hajimemashita
神様はじめました - Kamisama Kiss
“I can’t make the past pay for what I owe. What I owe now, I have to pay in the present.”
Plot: Nanami Momozono has an absentee gambler father who has gathered so much debt that she gets kicked out of her apartment. Becoming homeless, she randomly runs into a strange-looking man getting harassed by a dog. After helping him, she tells him about her situation, and to her surprise, he offers her his home as a token of his gratitude. The man leads her into a shrine, where she learns that he used to be the Earth Deity of the shrine and that she is now his replacement.
Similarity to Fruits Basket: Supernatural aspects based on comedy. Both protagonists find themselves in similar situations where they need a new home to live in and embrace their new duties. Same sweet and bubbly atmosphere, with a ‘reverse-harem genre.
Studio + Other Works by Studio: TMS Entertainment
Trailer: Link
Genre: Comedy + Fantasy + Romance + Supernatural
Number of episodes: 25
Number of seasons: 2
8. Kakuriyo: Bed And Breakfast For Spirits
かくりよの宿飯 - Kakuriyo no Yadomeshi
“I was just thinking how I never looked at you from this angle”
Plot: Aoi Tsubaki has the strange ability to see Ayakashi, spirits of the Hidden Realm - an ability she inherited from her deceased grandfather. Ayakashi have a particularity: they are quite hungry and sometimes use humans as their meals. As such, Tsubaki has armed herself with exquisite cooking skills as a means of protection against these spirits. One day, she meets an Ayakashi who kidnaps and transports her to the Hidden Realm, where she learns that she must become the bride of ogre-god Oodanna to repay her grandfather’s debt of one hundred million yen. She refuses and decides instead to open up an inn where she will serve delicious food to the spirits until she compensates him.
Similarity to Fruits Basket: This series manages to beautifully weave together magical and romantic elements in a quirky and charming way. While not nearly as funny nor as dramatic as Fruits Basket, the similarities here lie in the likeness of the main protagonist's personalities as well as the overall charming and cute atmosphere.
Studio + Other Works by Studio: Gonzo
Trailer: Link
Genre: Drama + Gourmet + Romance + Supernatural
Number of episodes: 26
Number of seasons: 1
9. March comes in like a lion
3月のライオン - 3-gatsu no Lion
“if I ever really were a bird, then at least I would pass through the days oblivious to such agonizing torment as this.”
Plot: Rei Kiriyama lost both his parents and younger sister in an accident when he was younger. After living with an adoptive family for most of his life, he decides to move out at 17. To sustain himself financially, he uses his skill as a professional shogi player, playing matches to win money. Alone, Rei takes poor care of himself, and due to his poor social skills, he is not well-liked by either his schoolmates or fellow shogi players. In this new life in Tokyo, he meets three sisters that take a liking to him and eventually begin to provide him with all the love and care he lacks, whether or not he is ready to receive it.
Similarity to Fruits Basket: Both shows are equally heartwarming in a way where they touch your heart and give you butterflies but also make you want to cry in misery. Protagonists and the surrounding characters deal with similar internal problems, and I would even say that ''March Comes In Like a Lion'' tends to be darker and more dramatic than Fruits Basket at times. Overall, a similar array of great subjects are tackled with the use of visuals, dialogues, and scenarios that you will love.
Studio + Other Works by Studio: SHAFT
Trailer: Link.
Genre: Drama + Slice of Life
Number of episodes: 44
Number of seasons: 2 (Ongoing for a 3rd one)
10. Yamato Nadeshiko Shichihenge♥
ヤマトナデシコ七変化♥ - The Seven Metamorphoses of Yamato Nadeshiko
“Well, why don’t you just become a “creature of light” too? Stop being so dark. …and let a little light shine into your life.”
Plot: After confessing to her crush and being rejected and insulted for her appearance by him, Sunako Nakahara became a shut-in with a deep hatred for anything considered ‘pretty or ‘beautiful,’ choosing instead to adorn herself in anything morbid and occult-like. Concerned by her lack of lady-like behavior, her aunt strikes a deal with four boys who just happen to live in her mansion: if they teach Sunako to become a proper lady, she will allow them to live rent-free, but should they fail, they will pay triple the amount of their curent rent.
Similarity to Fruits Basket: 'Reverse-harem' genre, equal touches of friendship, romance, comedy, and slice-of-life. Although 'Yamato Nadeshiko Shichihenge' tends to lack the depth and drama that Fruits Basket can have, it makes up for it in its high comedic emphasis that is sure to make you laugh. The overall atmosphere and the way the boys become protective of Sunako are also quite similar to that of Fruits Basket.
Studio + Other Works by Studio: Nippon Animation
Trailer: Link.
Genre: Comedy + Romance
Number of episodes: 25
Number of seasons: 1
11. Natsume's Book Of Friends
夏目友人帳 - Natsume Yuujinchou
“If there’s someone you wish to see, then you are no longer alone.”
Plot: Takashi Natsume has always had the ability to see spirits, inheriting this strange power from his grandmother. Due to this peculiar trait, he was ostracized by both friends and family during his childhood, lacking social life, and passed from one relative to another. On the day of his grandmother’s death, he receives the Book of Friends - a highly prized item of the spirit world - which contains various names of past spirits she tyrannized into servitude. Takashi must now spend his time essentially easing tensions, dissolving past contracts, and liberating these spirits, some malicious, others benevolent.
Similarity to Fruits Basket: Supernatural and slice-of-life, although it lacks romance, here you will find the same feelings and emotions of fondness that Fruits Basket evokes and produces. Natsume lacks a place where he belongs; he does not have parents and loving home. He must grow up and take care of himself and has been hurt by countless people in his life, the only entity that sticks by him is a feline spirit who takes a liking to him, and through his adventures, he evolves into a happier being and is eventually able to weave new friendships into his lonely life.
Studio + Other Works by Studio: Brain's Base
Trailer: Link
Genre: Drama + Slice of Life + Supernatural
Number of episodes: 74
Number of seasons: 6
12. My Little Monster
となりの怪物くん - TONARI NO KAIBUTSU-KUN
“The old me would never have known how blue the afternoon sky looks from the roof. My world is growing. What I once considered background noise is now comforting.”
Plot: Nicknamed as ‘dry ice,’ Shizuku Mizutani is apathetic towards her classmates and is only interested in studying to achieve her future goals. One day, she meets Haru Yoshida, a boy who rarely comes to school and has the reputation of a violent troublemaker. These two only have in common their little understanding of human behavior and lack of friends. Haru decides that he is in love with Shizuku and immediately declares his intention to her, and the two become friends, eventually helping each other out in identifying the sea of emotions and feelings that befalls us, human creatures.
Similarity to Fruits Basket: My Little Monster focuses much more on the main two protagonists, and the growth of romantic relationships is given more considerable light. Apart from the similar love storylines, tropes, and comedic aspects, these two anime diverge in their protagonists’ personalities: Shizuku is not a selfless, warm individual, making it perhaps more interesting when it comes to character growth.
Studio + Other Works by Studio: Brain's Base
Trailer: Link
Genre: Comedy + Romance + Slice of Life
Number of episodes: 13
Number of seasons: 1
List containing this anime: Top 16 Rom Com Anime Series That Will Melt Your Heart & Make You Laugh
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