Ever felt empty after watching one really really good romance anime? To the point where you’re probably digging Crunchyroll, Netflix, or other streaming platforms for an Anime that might equal to the last one you’ve watched? Fruits Basket gives you that feeling.
Kyo and Tohru’s story was so heart-warming, it took weeks for many fans to get over the fact that the show was actually over. No more Kyo and Yuki bickering, or no more seeing the Sohma kids by the beach while watching the fireworks. Don’t get the wrong idea though, the show was amazing, but it kind of takes you a while to recover from all the heartache and tears before the happy ending finally happens.
Not only that, but the ending was short-lived too! There were probably only 2 episodes (each with 23-24 minutes) dedicated to the ending of the 3-season anime, it isn’t even long enough for one therapy session!
All jokes aside, Fruits Basket was one of those hard-to-forget anime, and while you’re still in your romance feels, we provide you with a list of certain anime that might help you recover from the beauty (or tragedy, whichever term you prefer), Fruits Basket is.
1. Kaguya-sama: Love is War!
Did you watch Fruits Basket because of its slow-burn romance plot? Here’s another Anime with that plot all for your consumption! Kaguya-sama: Love is War! Is probably the slowest slow burn could actually go, but it definitely is still quite amazing!
The plot begins with a battle of wits between the Student Council’s President, Miyuki Shirogane, and Vice-President, Kaguya Shinomiya – both of whom are attempting to force the other to confess to them, viewing a confession as a loss in the fight of love. The majority of the plot early on takes place in the Student Council’s room and features the shenanigans of the two protagonists’ intentions, which are typically foiled by the chaos factor, Chika Fujiwara.
Read More: Kaguya-sama: Love is War Anime Film Releases Trailer
2. Kamisama Kiss
Probably you watched Fruits Basket because of the Sohma’s interesting constituents. Fantasy-Romance is probably your cup of tea, if that’s the case, then Kamisama Kiss is the one for you!
Nanami meets Mikage, a weird man who is scared of dogs after her father has fled owing to gambling debts and she has been evicted from her flat. Nanami “saves” Mikage from a dog and shares her story with him. As a thank you for saving him, he offers Nanami his house. Nanami accepts the offer because she has nowhere else to go. Mikage makes a map that shows her where she needs to go. When she arrives, she discovers that it is a dilapidated shrine. Nanami is then nearly slain by Tomoe, who was hoping Mikage would return after a 20-year absence.
She is then welcomed as the shrine’s new land god by both Onikiri and Kotetsu. Tomoe, unable to accept Nanami as the new land god, mocks her before leaving the shrine, which turns back into a run-down state without Tomoe’s influence. Nanami flees, understanding that her abilities as a god are too weak to strip Tomoe of his home, but is later pulled back by Tomoe after she signs a contract with him, making him her familiar.
3. Ouran High School Host Club
Romantic Comedies? The best just arrived. Ouran High School Host Club or OHSHC is just one of the many romantic comedies that’s perfect if you want to get over the harsh tragedy that was Fruits Basket.
Ouran High School Host Club is a romance classic among anime fans. It follows the story of Haruhi Fujioka who was only looking for a place to study inside Ouran Academy, a big school for the elite and ultra-rich. During her quest to find a quiet place, she stumbles upon an empty music room, which turned out to be a club room for the Ouran Host Club where a group of boys who have too much time on their hands entertains ladies who also have too much time on their hands. After knocking over a very expensive vase and having no money to pay for it, Haruhi is forced to work for the Club as one of the hosts.
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4. Tada Never Falls In Love
This plot would honestly follow more of a Yuki-Machi story rather than the Kyo-Tohru one. If Fruits Basket’s Yuki-Machi trope was the ‘love between the “prince” and the normal kid,’ Tada Never Falls In Love follows the exact same trope, except it really is love between the Princess and a Commoner.
Mitsuyoshi Tada, a boy who has never tasted love, is the protagonist of the novel. When he meets Teresa Wagner, a transfer student from Luxembourg, a European country, he is photographing the cherry blossoms in full bloom. She appears to have separated from her travel partner upon arrival in Japan. Tada assists her by transporting her to his grandfather’s coffee business. The following day, they enroll in Tada’s school and are assigned to the same class. Mitsuyoshi is a budding photographer who aspires to be like his father, a well-known photographer. The plot revolves around Tada and his friends’ experiences and the development of their friendships.
Also, another plus to this anime because the cliffhanger doesn’t really assure us that they get together in the end, more slow burn!
5. Orange
Sometimes, the best therapy for pain is more pain. Orange is a one-of-a-kind anime that’s somehow fantasy but somehow is not. Trigger Warning, this anime’s plot greatly revolves around suicide and depression.
Naho Takamiya receives a letter written to herself 10 years in the future one day. As Naho reads on, the letter recounts the events of the day, including the addition of a new pupil called Kakeru Naruse to her class. The Naho from 10 years later constantly expresses that she has many regrets and that she wants to make amends by ensuring that the Naho from the past can make the right decisions, particularly regarding Kakeru. What’s more upsetting is that she realizes that Kakeru will no longer be with them in ten years. Future Naho requests that she keep a careful eye on him.
Read More: 15 Best Romance Anime Of All Time
6. Love is Hard for An Otaku
Have a thing for redheads who have hotheads too? Love Is Hard For An Otaku is a Romantic Comedy Anime with no drama at all it’s all just fun and games until the end, and if you decide to read the manga, it’s all fun and games there too! So no hassle, stress-free, and definitely the anime therapy session you might need.
The story revolves around Momose Narumi, 26, a yaoi fangirl nerd who recently changed careers with the aim of playing off an image of a perfect, attractive young lady. Her aspirations are dashed, however, when she reunites with her middle school
l classmate Nifuji Hirotaka, an enthusiastic videogame nerd who is aware of her secret. Both bond over booze, and Hirotaka agrees not to reveal Narumi’s geek identity. Hirotaka invites Narumi out while they drink, offering to help her pass her gaming levels as a bonus. Narumi accepts, ecstatic.
7. Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You
Another new release on Netflix, Kimi ni Todoke is sure to give you all the butterflies you need for the next 10 years. This narrative revolves around a girl named Kuronuma Sawako, who is dubbed Sadako (the ghost girl from “The Ring”) by her classmates due to her frightening appearance and temperament. She admires Kazehaya from afar because he is “100% refreshing” and has the ability to draw people in with his charm. Despite her expressions, she wishes to make friends and enjoy typical student life.
All of these, how good they may seem, are only mere suggestions for your next watch. Each anime has its own charm, and the story may not necessarily fill a void, but these plotlines definitely deserve your attention!
Read More: Fruits Basket: Is It Good or Sad?
