Kyoko To Katsuya No Monogatari - What We Know So Far

Fans of the popular shoujo anime "Fruits Basket" may have been saddened by the grand conclusion of the anime's final season in June 2021. However, their spirits will be lifted when they learn that the franchise isn't quite finished yet. The original series, which follows a girl named Tohru as she helps relieve a family of individuals cursed to transform into animals from the Chinese Zodiac when under stress, is receiving a prequel spinoff.

This new series, entitled "Kyoko to Katsuya no Monogatari," (literally meaning "Kyoko and Katsuya's Story") is being developed by the same studio as the original anime, TMS Entertainment. At the moment, not much is known about this upcoming anime project in regards to its release date or other details. Nonetheless, it promises to flesh out much of Tohru's backstory through its new characters and plot. With that in mind, here is what we know so far about "Kyoko to Katsuya no Monogatari."

While neither the series' staff nor the animation studio have pointed towards a specific release date for this spinoff series, they have given a broad release window. On June 29, the official "Fruits Basket" website announced that the show would be given a continuation in the form of a spinoff focusing on the protagonist's parents. This also came with the news that "Kyoko to Katsuya no Monogatari" would be released sometime in 2022.

Unfortunately, the announcement made no indication of where people will be able to catch "Kyoko to Katsuya no Monogatari" when it finally releases. However, all three seasons of the original "Fruits Basket" anime were all streamed on both Crunchyroll and Funimation (via Anime News Network). In all likelihood, this trend will continue, and fans will be able to see this brand new series shortly after its episodes air in Japan. It is unknown if the series will receive an English dub. The original series was dubbed in multiple languages, meaning "Kyoko to Katsuya no Monogatari" may receive the same treatment.

Since "Kyoko to Katsuya no Monogatari" is a prequel spinoff to the original "Fruits Basket," it's a bit more difficult to pin down which characters will and won't appear in the new anime. The story focuses on "Fruits Basket" protagonist Tohru Honda's (Yui Horie/Laura Bailey) parents, Kyoko and Katsuya (via Myanimelist). Kyoko — voiced in the anime by Reiko Yasuhara (Japanese) and Julie Mayfield (English) — is a no-nonsense gang leader until she meets Katsuya. Meanwhile, very little is known about Katsuya or his character, as he dies of an illness prior to the events of "Fruits Basket" and never receives a speaking role.

Aside from these three characters, however, it's impossible to say what other characters may appear in "Kyoko to Katsuya no Monogatari." On one hand, this might disappoint longtime fans who would be delighted to see more of the extended cast from the original "Fruits Basket." Nevertheless, the prospect of meeting new characters in new situations might make up for the lack of established characters.

At the very least, longtime fans should be invested in "Kyoko to Katusya no Monogatari" simply for what it adds to the overall "Fruits Basket" story. When the "Fruits Basket" manga originally received an anime adaptation, author Natsuki Takaya reportedly disliked it because it didn't follow the manga closely enough, as shared by Anime News Network's Director of New Media on the site's forum in 2010. In particular, it seems as though sections pertaining to Tohru's parents were left on the cutting room floor across the original three seasons. Giving Katsuya and Kyoko their own spinoff, then, is presumably the new anime's way of keeping that promise.

Therefore, it seems like "Kyoko to Katsuya no Monogatari" will lack the stories surrounding the Soma family and the zodiac curse, but the series is poised to make up for that by fleshing out Tohru's backstory. Her parents, both of whom are dead by the time "Fruits Basket" begins, have a storied history, and now fans will be able to learn more about Tohru through the adventures of her ill-fated mother and father.