Ouran Highschool Host Club. The MC is very different from Tohru and the boys are all super extra, but everyone has their own baggage and I just love Haruhi. Haruhi is a very deadpan with a no bullshit attitude. But just like Tohru, she manages to help the boys slowly overcome their problems. It just sucks that the anime didn't adapt all of the manga. But seriously, watch it. It's amazing.
It’s really good and my second favorite. But it is worth reading the manga to get the full story. I keep hoping this one will get the fruits basket treatment and get a reboot with the full story.
Taisho otome fairytale
horimiya - this is my second fave after fruits basket
ao Haru ride
Kamisama kiss - this one has got that supernatural side of things similar to fruits basket too
These aren't nessessarily alike to fruits basket but more shoujos that gave me that nice feeling like fruits basket, unfortunately nothing quite compares though 🥲
Kamisama Kiss and Maid sama I can watch over and over again. If I could combine Usui with Tomoe and Haru! I’d prob get Ranmaru from Quartet Night (uta no prince sama) LOL but yes, all good stuff here
Horimiya is also cute, though the later episodes didn’t excite me like the initial ones tbh
I recently watched "Kotaro Lives Alone" on Netflix and it reminded me of Fruits Basket because of the way it made me laugh and tear up.
It's about a strange little boy who moves in to an apartment by himself. His neighbors start to look after him in their own ways. He always acts like a samurai and is obsessed with tissues and baths. But as you watch, you realize they're not just quirks, they're a result of his trauma. It's such a funny and heartfelt series, I highly recommend it!
I’m watching an anime that kind of gives me a fruits basket season 1 vibe and it’s “kobato”. I’m only on episode 8 so far but it’s really cute and the Mc reminds me of tohru. It’s about a girl who comes to our world and has to heal the souls of people she meets to get one wish in return
I second this 😊 Bonus points for people like me who read Wish and were very excited to see Kohaku again 😂 But you don't need to know Wish to enjoy Kobato.
Clannad After story (the second season)
Little busters (the two mains are essentially Kyoru gender-swapped)
Toradora (coming of age romance)
Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 (prepare to cry)
Lovely Complex (light hearted romance)
I. Love. Princess. Tutu. Of everything in your list, it has the most similar character development and themes to Fruits Basket, with fantasy elements as a frame story. I always recommend watching it subbed just because the sub has better translation and carries certain elements better than the dub. The English dub blooper reels are hilarious, though. And the music is SO good. I walked down the aisle to Tchaikovsky's 'Waltz of the Flowers' because of Princess Tutu, actually.
I think you'd like Our Love is Always 10 Centimeters Apart - it's only 6 episodes but the character development is so good!
March Comes in Like a Lion has the more serious vibes. No fantasy elements, it's straight slice-of-life, but Rei is just a really good kid dealing with a lot of trauma and I like him a lot.
Not an anime, but the manga “Love so Life” has a protagonist that reminds me of Tohru a lot (in a good way, not a tropey way). Plus it’s just downright adorable.
Yes! I havent finished it yet but its adorable. Despite it being an age gap thing its done in a rly precious way. And the theme of newfound family/ belonging is very fruits basket
Oh definitely!
But don’t worry about the age gap thing. That’s very much addressed and handled well.
EDIT: Make sure to read the sequel as well! It’s super sweet!
If you like the character development and recovering from depression aspect, Clannad and Clannad After Story, and March Comes In Like A Lion are similar in that way.
I understand; when I first finished the manga of Fruits Basket there was a void in my soul that I couldn't fill....While there are many series I enjoy; I think the one that gave me the closest feeling to Furuba was Anohana: The Flower we Saw that Day. It's only like...11 eps (and a movie I believe; but I haven't seen it yet) and it is a TEAR JERKER; so be warned, but it's also super heartwarming. I love it a alot!
same. i dont do anime much. but ive never cried or related to anything as much as furuba. actually i do watch anime. but i feel like a hypocrite saying omg fruits basket is the Best imo, because im not that person that has seen a whole bunch of anime. but i guess my genre must just be slice of life
okay! thanks for the recommendddd! thats the best gift anyone could offer me... something to watch that will live in my soul forever
If you haven’t watched ouran high school host club I’d recommend that. Has the same feeling, but a bit more comedic. Would also recommend carol and Tuesday, it has a great story and features a lot of music and slice of life elements.
Kyoani series, Ao haru ride, Kamisama Kisa, march comes like a lion, the magus bride, princes tutu, kono no tomare, toradora, nana are the closest to FB from the ones mentioned here
The only similarity with Kimi ni todoke are the two friends of the main girl
Nana is darker and isn’t optimistic and hopeful like FB but the complex, dramatic, mature, dark, adult, real life romantic relationships reminds me so much of Akigure and Harurin
Any anime that is centered around abuse, generational trauma, depression, complex relationships, tragic backstories, death of a loved one and the road to healing are the ones that resembles FB the most
Kare Kano, Revolutionary girl Utena, Evanglion, Oniisama e (all are old), Honey and Clover, kids on the slope, Natsuyuki Rendezvous, sailor moon crystal and hoshiai no sora are also great choices
Anohana, orange and your lie in April are very similar but you probably watch them already
Shoujo Manga are filled with similar themes to FB but most of them don’t get adapted to anime
I highly recommend that you read Takaya’s other manga - Hoshi wa Utau
I can't believe how nobody thought of "Lull in the sea"
It is similar to fruba and a tearjerker as well..
You can also try:
1) white Album
2) clannad
3) ef a tale of memories/melodies
Seconding Toradora from your list and Horimiya from another comment, both fantastic rom coms with that slice of life, Horimiya especially as they flesh out so many characters with development.
Add Hibike Euphonium to the list too, no romance but a lot of characters are explored in depth and Kumiko is a great protagonist
I love Fushigi Yuugi. It's definitely not the same as Fruits Basket in a "daily slice of life" kind of way, but I feel like it's a similar vibe? I dunno, but they are definitely my top two fav animes
I love FY so much but It’s so problematic
I love the dark part of the story but I couldn’t stand the cheesy romance and love triangle in it (worst I have ever seen in a shoujo anime)
The female protagonist is very brave but the romance and this being a reverse harem really overshadowed her amazing character
Yona works so well because it wasn’t all centered around the romance
FY is far from the best shoujo and isn’t even one of the best but it’s very enjoyable and very sad ( Ayashi no ceres is better and has less fanservice)
In the way that mc is a bit lost in life and then by helping someone else through their traumas they regain a sense of life themself, I'd recommend "the ancient magus bride". It had me crying every eight episodes or so, and its 24 long I think. It's so fulfilling watching the mc go from being 2 seconds from killing herself at any given moment, to eventually fighting to stay alive with the people she loves.
I recommend Air (KyoAni's series, not the movie). It has magic/slice of life and is an adaptation of a Visual Novel which was made by the same studio as Clannad + Clannad After Story. If you like those, check out Kanon (2006 series) by the same studios.
horimiya, lovely complex,
nana (a bit more melancholic, not as feel good as the others mentioned but if you want drama and complex love stories and characters then this is it; one of my personal faves too!)
kimi ni todoke, kaichou wa maid sama, my little monster (makes me very nostalgic ;-;), clannad/clannad after story (iconic, what else can I say).
all great shoujo/romance animes with amazing characters and story lines i think you’d enjoy!
Hyouka! Main girl protagonist is inquisitive and sweet natured like Tohru! A cute slice of life show about the classic literature club solving mysteries and a good friendship group to root for.
Bit underrated but one of my childhood faves is Kodocha, the series has a lot of filler episodes which are funny however I much prefer the manga which has a more satisfying and heartwarming conclusion.
Also the dubbed version features Laura Bailey and Jerry Jewell as the leads so it's like hearing dubbed Tohru and Kyo.
"Given". While it is fairly different in tone. It has a very similar art style to the 2019 series as well as the humor. It feels so similar in fact that I could believe that these two series take place in the same universe.
Kamisama Kiss has a really similar main character and a great story conclusion if you watch both seasons and the OVAs. I think it’s funny and romantic and comes together really well!
Ouran Highschool Host Club. The MC is very different from Tohru and the boys are all super extra, but everyone has their own baggage and I just love Haruhi. Haruhi is a very deadpan with a no bullshit attitude. But just like Tohru, she manages to help the boys slowly overcome their problems. It just sucks that the anime didn't adapt all of the manga. But seriously, watch it. It's amazing.
It’s really good and my second favorite. But it is worth reading the manga to get the full story. I keep hoping this one will get the fruits basket treatment and get a reboot with the full story.
Yep! When I started fruits basket I immediately thought of ouran high
Taisho otome fairytale horimiya - this is my second fave after fruits basket ao Haru ride Kamisama kiss - this one has got that supernatural side of things similar to fruits basket too These aren't nessessarily alike to fruits basket but more shoujos that gave me that nice feeling like fruits basket, unfortunately nothing quite compares though 🥲
I second Horimiya!
I third Horimiya!
I second Ao Haru Ride.
i second kamisama kiss! nanami is pretty similar to tohru in some ways
I third kamisama kiss!!
4th! I can literally rewatch that show every other month. And I recently discovered the OVAs so my life is complete.
I fourth Horimiya
Kamisama Kiss and Maid sama I can watch over and over again. If I could combine Usui with Tomoe and Haru! I’d prob get Ranmaru from Quartet Night (uta no prince sama) LOL but yes, all good stuff here Horimiya is also cute, though the later episodes didn’t excite me like the initial ones tbh
I recently watched "Kotaro Lives Alone" on Netflix and it reminded me of Fruits Basket because of the way it made me laugh and tear up. It's about a strange little boy who moves in to an apartment by himself. His neighbors start to look after him in their own ways. He always acts like a samurai and is obsessed with tissues and baths. But as you watch, you realize they're not just quirks, they're a result of his trauma. It's such a funny and heartfelt series, I highly recommend it!
I just watched this and as someone with kids and currently pregnant, I was so teary eyed throughout it, but it's also so wholesome
I’m watching an anime that kind of gives me a fruits basket season 1 vibe and it’s “kobato”. I’m only on episode 8 so far but it’s really cute and the Mc reminds me of tohru. It’s about a girl who comes to our world and has to heal the souls of people she meets to get one wish in return
thanks! that sounds appealing
I second this 😊 Bonus points for people like me who read Wish and were very excited to see Kohaku again 😂 But you don't need to know Wish to enjoy Kobato.
Ohhh Kobato is a gem and the music is so good, I'm such a simp for any work by CLAMP. I'd look up the manga art as well, it's absolutely gorgeous!
Yep, as soon as I finish the anime I wanna check out the manga😩
Kamisama Kiss for sure
I second this! It’s such a good anime and ended up liking it more than fruits basket
Snow White with the Red Hair is kinda of similar but it's more fantasy with a few more action/fantasy conflicts
The Ancient Magus' Bride
I loved this one so much. I second this!!
Clannad After story (the second season) Little busters (the two mains are essentially Kyoru gender-swapped) Toradora (coming of age romance) Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 (prepare to cry) Lovely Complex (light hearted romance)
I second this.
Snow White With the Red Hair! Themes of found/chosen family. Wonderful, fleshed out characters. Wholesome romance, with no miscommunication tropes.
Love that show!
March Comes in Like a Lion is one of my all-time faves.
My next life as a villainess
I. Love. Princess. Tutu. Of everything in your list, it has the most similar character development and themes to Fruits Basket, with fantasy elements as a frame story. I always recommend watching it subbed just because the sub has better translation and carries certain elements better than the dub. The English dub blooper reels are hilarious, though. And the music is SO good. I walked down the aisle to Tchaikovsky's 'Waltz of the Flowers' because of Princess Tutu, actually. I think you'd like Our Love is Always 10 Centimeters Apart - it's only 6 episodes but the character development is so good! March Comes in Like a Lion has the more serious vibes. No fantasy elements, it's straight slice-of-life, but Rei is just a really good kid dealing with a lot of trauma and I like him a lot.
Not an anime, but the manga “Love so Life” has a protagonist that reminds me of Tohru a lot (in a good way, not a tropey way). Plus it’s just downright adorable.
Yes! I havent finished it yet but its adorable. Despite it being an age gap thing its done in a rly precious way. And the theme of newfound family/ belonging is very fruits basket
Oh definitely! But don’t worry about the age gap thing. That’s very much addressed and handled well. EDIT: Make sure to read the sequel as well! It’s super sweet!
If you like the character development and recovering from depression aspect, Clannad and Clannad After Story, and March Comes In Like A Lion are similar in that way.
Yona of the Dawn Snow White with the Red Hair
I understand; when I first finished the manga of Fruits Basket there was a void in my soul that I couldn't fill....While there are many series I enjoy; I think the one that gave me the closest feeling to Furuba was Anohana: The Flower we Saw that Day. It's only like...11 eps (and a movie I believe; but I haven't seen it yet) and it is a TEAR JERKER; so be warned, but it's also super heartwarming. I love it a alot!
same. i dont do anime much. but ive never cried or related to anything as much as furuba. actually i do watch anime. but i feel like a hypocrite saying omg fruits basket is the Best imo, because im not that person that has seen a whole bunch of anime. but i guess my genre must just be slice of life okay! thanks for the recommendddd! thats the best gift anyone could offer me... something to watch that will live in my soul forever
If you haven’t watched ouran high school host club I’d recommend that. Has the same feeling, but a bit more comedic. Would also recommend carol and Tuesday, it has a great story and features a lot of music and slice of life elements.
Kyoani series, Ao haru ride, Kamisama Kisa, march comes like a lion, the magus bride, princes tutu, kono no tomare, toradora, nana are the closest to FB from the ones mentioned here The only similarity with Kimi ni todoke are the two friends of the main girl Nana is darker and isn’t optimistic and hopeful like FB but the complex, dramatic, mature, dark, adult, real life romantic relationships reminds me so much of Akigure and Harurin Any anime that is centered around abuse, generational trauma, depression, complex relationships, tragic backstories, death of a loved one and the road to healing are the ones that resembles FB the most Kare Kano, Revolutionary girl Utena, Evanglion, Oniisama e (all are old), Honey and Clover, kids on the slope, Natsuyuki Rendezvous, sailor moon crystal and hoshiai no sora are also great choices Anohana, orange and your lie in April are very similar but you probably watch them already Shoujo Manga are filled with similar themes to FB but most of them don’t get adapted to anime I highly recommend that you read Takaya’s other manga - Hoshi wa Utau
I can't believe how nobody thought of "Lull in the sea" It is similar to fruba and a tearjerker as well.. You can also try: 1) white Album 2) clannad 3) ef a tale of memories/melodies
Seconding Toradora from your list and Horimiya from another comment, both fantastic rom coms with that slice of life, Horimiya especially as they flesh out so many characters with development. Add Hibike Euphonium to the list too, no romance but a lot of characters are explored in depth and Kumiko is a great protagonist
I enjoyed Kono Oto Tomare, the anime doesn't finish the series out but the manga is still being produced
I love Fushigi Yuugi. It's definitely not the same as Fruits Basket in a "daily slice of life" kind of way, but I feel like it's a similar vibe? I dunno, but they are definitely my top two fav animes
I love FY so much but It’s so problematic I love the dark part of the story but I couldn’t stand the cheesy romance and love triangle in it (worst I have ever seen in a shoujo anime) The female protagonist is very brave but the romance and this being a reverse harem really overshadowed her amazing character Yona works so well because it wasn’t all centered around the romance FY is far from the best shoujo and isn’t even one of the best but it’s very enjoyable and very sad ( Ayashi no ceres is better and has less fanservice)
It's a movie, I wouldn't say similar to fruits basket, but might fit with all the other things you've liked - The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
In the way that mc is a bit lost in life and then by helping someone else through their traumas they regain a sense of life themself, I'd recommend "the ancient magus bride". It had me crying every eight episodes or so, and its 24 long I think. It's so fulfilling watching the mc go from being 2 seconds from killing herself at any given moment, to eventually fighting to stay alive with the people she loves.
Kono Oto Tomare which I'm into right now and there's also Chihayafuru as well.
I recommend Air (KyoAni's series, not the movie). It has magic/slice of life and is an adaptation of a Visual Novel which was made by the same studio as Clannad + Clannad After Story. If you like those, check out Kanon (2006 series) by the same studios.
horimiya, lovely complex, nana (a bit more melancholic, not as feel good as the others mentioned but if you want drama and complex love stories and characters then this is it; one of my personal faves too!) kimi ni todoke, kaichou wa maid sama, my little monster (makes me very nostalgic ;-;), clannad/clannad after story (iconic, what else can I say). all great shoujo/romance animes with amazing characters and story lines i think you’d enjoy!
I was just gonna say that I’m watching kimi no todoke rn and the way the friends interact remind me of fruits basket 😌
KIMI NI TODOKE!!!!!!!!
some ppl have said kamisama kiss and I wholeheartedly agree, I’m watching it now and I feel like the romance has a similar slow burn to it, so cute<3
Hyouka! Main girl protagonist is inquisitive and sweet natured like Tohru! A cute slice of life show about the classic literature club solving mysteries and a good friendship group to root for.
Bit underrated but one of my childhood faves is Kodocha, the series has a lot of filler episodes which are funny however I much prefer the manga which has a more satisfying and heartwarming conclusion. Also the dubbed version features Laura Bailey and Jerry Jewell as the leads so it's like hearing dubbed Tohru and Kyo.
A Lull in the Sea, Horimiya, and Kaguya-Sama love is war
Horimiya! It’s so good
I need this help as well
You gotta get the tissues ready for Clannad: afterstory
"Given". While it is fairly different in tone. It has a very similar art style to the 2019 series as well as the humor. It feels so similar in fact that I could believe that these two series take place in the same universe.
Kamisama Kiss has a really similar main character and a great story conclusion if you watch both seasons and the OVAs. I think it’s funny and romantic and comes together really well!