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Why I love Fruits Basket: It's mainly a story about self growth. It has an underlying hope despite all the trauma most of the characters face. There's beauty in the execution when showing why you want these characters to be happy.
The protagonist Tohru always puts others need first and its ok to suffer alone if it means her dear friends are happy. She helps a lot of people by just being herself but ignores her own needs. Her growth comes from realizing its fine to be selfish sometimes and ask for help.
Her innate kindness doesnt work miracles though, the ones she helps have to continue figuring out how to feel better about themselves with their own strength. Losing her mom affected her deeply, but shes fortunate her new family is as willing to protect her as she is for them.
Yuki wishes he had loving parents that accept him the way he is, having grown up isolated. Tohru assures him from the start that his kindness is genuine and trying again to connect with others is possible. He gains more friends and helps others too with his own experience
His self hatred comes out occasionally, the abuse he experienced isn't fast or easy to overcome. But he keeps standing up with more resolve by opening up to people who are important to him. After having so much trouble speaking up about his own feelings, he isn't alone.
Kyo had a mother who was afraid of him and a father that blamed him for it. As the cat, the family head belittles him and excludes him, threatening to imprison him forever. He lashes out, though he's good at socializing. He doesn't wanna be close to anyone if it'll burden them
Tohru makes him realize he can be loved despite his true form's initial shock. He gets a great adoptive dad, and some good positive reinforcement with martial arts too. Kyo blames Yuki for why he isn't considered part of the family, but the fights decrease with time
I'll stop with those 3 since they're the main characters. You can be assured this series has a ton of fleshed out characters with their own problems and wants. Music, atmosphere, voice acting and themes are top tier. The lighthearted moments blend well with the drama too
