Fruits Basket -Prelude- is out now in select U.S. movie theaters. As a fair warning, anyone who plans on watching it probably needs to bring tissues with them. Love and romance remain major elements in the film’s plot, but this time it focuses on a different couple — Tohru Honda’s mother and father. With that, the movie effectively shows the similarities between Kyo Soma, Tohru, and her parents.
The first part of the movie is a recap of the Fruits Basket anime. Although, it mainly focuses on the development of Tohru and Kyo’s relationship. Meanwhile, the second part highlights protagonists Kyoko and Katsuya Honda. To recap, season three revealed the surprising connection between Kyo and Kyoko. Fruits Basket -Prelude- explored more of that, showing the parallels between the two orange-haired characters. Kyo and Kyoko suffered a dark and troublesome past. However, Tohru and Katsuya showed Kyo and Kyoko what it means to be important to someone.
As for family matters, both Kyo and Kyoko had terrible biological parents. Kyoko grew up in a problematic household due to selfish parents who never cared for her. They only cared about themselves and what other people thought of them. Kyoko ended up becoming a hot-headed and violent delinquent, which greatly disappointed her father. Due to her parents’ lack of love and care, Kyoko ultimately felt that the world didn’t want or need her. She felt immense loneliness — to the point that she wished she was never born. All she wanted was for someone to care about her.
Kyo was in the same boat. Kyo’s father rejected his existence because he was the Cat, and blamed Kyo for the misfortune in their lives. Meanwhile, Kyo’s mother expressed love towards Kyo, but it was mixed with fear. Later on, she takes her own life, and Kyo gets blamed for her death. As a result, Kyo lived with heavy feelings of guilt for simply existing.
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One day, Kyoko has a moment of rage in school. Katsuya, the new student teacher, ended up as the witness to Kyoko’s emotional breakdown. After that, Katsuya takes Kyoko out for ramen. The two eventually form a bond, and their relationship develops. From there, Kyoko finally learns what it’s like to feel seen and cared for. But, because of her past, she initially struggled with accepting Katsuya’s feelings. She didn’t understand why Katsuya chose someone like her — she felt undeserving of it. In the Fruits Basket anime, Kyo had similar sentiments regarding Tohru’s feelings for him. Kyo didn’t think he had the right to be with Tohru because of what happened in the past.
Katsuya and Tohru gave Kyoko and Kyo the love and attention they needed. Kyoko turned away from being a delinquent and became more optimistic. Meanwhile, Kyo was more at peace with his past. At the same time, Kyoko and Kyo also helped their partners improve. Katsuya and Tohru opened up to them about their insecurities. These couples are an example of how two people in a relationship could help each other become better.
Fruits Basket -Prelude- further solidified a central theme in the Fruits Basket series. Through Kyo, Tohru, Kyoko, and Katsuya, the film shows its audience how love and understanding can affect one’s outlook on life. It may feel a bit too cheesy for some or simply overrated, but in Fruits Basket, there is beauty in finding someone who will help you even if it feels challenging to help yourself. As Kyoko puts it, “even if the world doesn’t need us, we live for the people who do.”
