“Fruits Basket Another” Begins Online Serialization

“Fruits Basket Another” Begins Online Serialization

Japan’s shojo manga are gaining huge popularity within Japan and abroad. Among them is Natsuki Takaya’s Fruits Basket, which has become well known as a best-selling manga overseas. It’s such a big hit that just within Japan the series has over 18.5 million copies in print.

It has been nine years since serialization of Fruits Basket ended in Hana to Yume (Hakusensha), and now a new story has begun in an online magazine. On Sept. 4, Fruits Basket Another began serialization in Hana LaLa Online, an online shojo manga magazine managed by Hakusensha.

The author of Fruits Basket Another is, of course, Natsuki Takaya. Similarly to the previous work in the series, it is set at Kaibara High School, but takes place months after Tohru Honda and the others have graduated. The new story begins with a young girl named Sawa transferring into the school. With this new story having just begun, how it connects to the previous is still unknown. There is no doubt that many fans are looking forward to how it develops.

Hana LaLa Online is an extravagant online magazine that combines Hakusensha’s four main shojo manga magazines: Hana to Yume, Bessatsu Hana to Yume, LaLa, and Melody. In serialization on the site are manga by popular authors. The site is free to use and is updated every Friday. The lineup features popular, talked-about works including, in addition to Fruits Basket Another, Eigodo (Kiriko Kubo) and Touken Ranbu Gakuen. The magazine is popular for being easy to enjoy.

Fruits Basket is Natsuki Takaya’s representative work. It was serialized from 1998–2006. High school girl Tohru Honda begins freeloading at the Sohma residence, but it turns out that the Sohma’s transform into animals whenever hugged by the opposite sex. The series mixed school romance and comedic elements into its fantasy premise as well. The series was adapted to TV anime in 2001, which too became popular.

Along with the start of the new series, a collector’s edition of Fruits Basket began being published this month as well. Volumes 1 and 2 were released simultaneously on Sept. 4, and volume 3 will be released on Oct. 20. Twelve volumes total are planned, and each cover illustration will be newly drawn artwork by Natsuki Takaya. The edition’s wonderful format also includes all the color frontispiece illustrations from the magazine serials. Each volume costs 950 yen.

Also beginning this month is a rebroadcast of the TV anime on Animax Plus. Excitement is building once again for Fruits Basket this year.

Hana LaLa Online

Source: animeanime

“Fruits Basket Another” Begins Online Serialization 1
“Fruits Basket Another” Begins Online Serialization 2

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