I got to spend today hanging out with a fantastic 12-year-old cousin-ish of mine (my family's complicated; suffice to say that "ish" is my way of denoting that there is no biological relationship). Conversation with someone 6 years my junior was actually incredibly pleasant, but perhaps the most amusing part was that we got to the topic of her favorite Japanese cartoons. In particular, she got hooked on these anime and manga almost exactly the same way I did and at pretty much exactly the same age. "What way is this?" you may ask. Well, the way that I hear many American tween girls get caught up in the delightful world of manga (comics, for those not in the know) is through the shojo genre: lots of pretty boys and pretty girls in adorable school uniforms and bizarre situations that lead to sadness, confusion, self-discovery, and love. Yes, it's the Twilight of Japanese comics.
It should be noted, though, that my young friend and I did not just happen to both start reading this same genre. No, we started on the same series, actually, both introduced by a friend to learn the ways of perfect hair, cute uniforms, enormous eyes and pointy chins. And this series was Fruits Basket, or Furuba for short. It is all that shojo strives to be: bittersweet, hopeful, and filled to the brim with pretty boys all lusting after a few female characters.
For those who haven't heard of it (and to those who have, I hope you share some small bit of my shame), the plot is relatively simple to describe. A girl named Tohru Honda has just recently had her mother die, and as her father died many years ago, this leaves her in the custody of her grandfather and extended family. While attempting to live on her own during some remodels, she happens upon a luxurious house in the middle of the wilderness, happening to be the residence of a classmate of hers who is so perfect and cool that a fan club containing about half the student body forms around "Prince Yuki." But Yuki Sohma has a terrible secret, revealed when his distant cousin and enemy Kyo Sohma arrives at the house (owned by Shigure Sohma, a young adult novelist and another cousin). Whenever any of 13 particular members of the Sohma family are hugged by someone of the opposite sex outside those 13 members and the head of the family, they are instantly transformed into the form of one of the animals of the Chinese Zodiac, or in Kyo's case, 'the Cat.' According to legend, the Cat was tricked by the Rat (which possesses Yuki) to miss the feast at which all other animals were assigned to the zodiac, so the cat and the rat remain permanent rivals. And Tohru, upon discovering this terrible secret, searches for a way to free the friends and people she loves from this curse.
Sounds contrived? You haven't even heard the dialogue: corny, overdramatic, and littered with... more ellipses... than you can... imagine (it averages about 7 every 2 pages, if I remember correctly). Oh, and all the family members with the curse (which passes from generation to generation in the Sohma family) happen to be somewhere between tweens and young adults. Only 4 are girls, and the guys are all ridiculously attractive according to the description, even the one who crossdresses (the Monkey, Ritsu). You'll laugh! You'll cry! You'll pass out from mental malnutrition!
Okay, I'm being harsh. But after seeing some really good anime, particularly Fullmetal Alchemist, and reading a bunch of not-quite-so-bad shojo manga, I have to admit it's hard to imagine how I stomached this stuff. I was so happy that the series finished before I left for college so that no one could see how excited I was to get the last book of it. So, now that I've rid my shelves of about 20 volumes of pathetic cheesiness (gone to a more appreciative soul), I'm curious if anyone has recommendations of favorite anime and manga that should occupy the free space.
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