“Fruits Basket -Prelude-” Hits US Theaters This June

Crunchyroll announced today that they will be bringing Fruits Basket -prelude-, the prequel to the hugely popular Fruits Basket anime reboot, to select theaters in the US and Canada this summer. This will be the North American debut of the film, which hit screens in Japan just this past February.

Fruits Basket, based on the manga of the same name by Natsuki Takaya, is the story of Honda Tohru and her relationship with the Soma family – a family who has been cursed for generations to turn into animals when touched by a member of the opposite sex. The reboot anime, which premiered in 2019 and is available to stream on Crunchyroll, explores themes like generational trauma and dealing with grief. Fruits Basket -prelude- will chronicle the doomed relationship of Tohru’s parents, Kyoko and Katsuya, both of whom had died before the original story began.

Before there was Tohru and Kyo – there was Katsuya and Kyoko. Discover the turbulent beginning of Tohru’s mom’s dark past, and the man who breathed new hope into her. Watch the evolution of their love story and the birth of the Honda family, as this chapter completes the full adaptation of the heartwarming Fruits Basket story. 

The film is adapted from several flashback chapters in the manga detailing how Kyoko and Katsuya met and fell in love. Fans were originally dismayed that the chapters were omitted from the anime, as they explain a lot about who Tohru is as a person and where she was when the series started.

Fruits Basket -prelude- is directed by Yoshihide Ibata (Fruits Basket; Attack on Titan: Junior High). Studio animation is provided by TMS Entertainment and 8PAN, who together are known for producing 2019’s Fruits Basket, Dr. STONE, Bakuon!!, and more.

Fruits Basket -prelude- includes a screenplay by Taku Kishimoto (Fruits Basket; Haikyu!!; 91 Days; Erased), character design by Masaru Shindō (Fruits Basket; My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU), art direction by Tamako Kamiyama, and music composed by Masaru Yokoyama (Fruits Basket; Horimiya; Your Lie in April). The movie’s theme song, “Niji to Kite” (“Rainbow and Kite”), was performed by Ohashi Trio. Total running time is 88 minutes.

The special event film, subtitled and dubbed, will have three showings in select theaters in the US and Canada – June 25, 28, and 29. Tickets go on sale this Friday, June 3.

The film will also debut in select theaters in the UK, dubbed only, on July 20. Tickets go on sale June 24.

Author: Jamie Sugah

Jamie has a BA in English with a focus in creative writing from The Ohio State University. She self-published her first novel, The Perils of Long Hair on a Windy Day, which is available through Amazon. She is currently an archivist and lives in New York City with her demon ninja vampire cat. She covers television, books, movies, anime, and conventions in the NYC area.

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