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Ben-To
Cover of Ben-To volume 1.
ベン・トー (Ben Tō)
Genre	Action, Comedy
Light novel
Written by	Asaura
Illustrated by	Kaito Shibano
Published by	Shueisha
Demographic	Male
Imprint	Super Dash Bunko
Original run	February 22, 2008 – ongoing
Volumes	10
Manga
Ben-To Zero: Road to Witch
Written by	Asaura
Illustrated by	Kaito Shibano
Published by	Shueisha
Demographic	Shōnen
Magazine	Super Dash Manga Program (Jump Square)
Original run	April 21, 2011 – October 2011
Volumes	1
Anime television series
Directed by	Shin Itagaki
Music by	Taku Iwasaki
Studio	David Production
Network	TV Aichi
Original run	October 9, 2011 – December 25, 2011
Episodes	12 (List of episodes)
Manga
Ben-To Another: Ripper's Night
Written by	Asaura
Illustrated by	Kaito Shibano
Published by	Shueisha
Demographic	Shōnen
Magazine	Super Dash & Go!
Original run	December 2011 – ongoing
Anime and Manga portal

Ben-To (ベン・トー Ben Tō^?) is a Japanese light novel series written by Asaura, with illustrations by Kaito Shibano. The first volume was published in February 2008, and 10 volumes have been released by Shueisha as of December 2011. Shibano also illustrates two manga adaptations titled Ben-To Zero: Road to Witch and Ben-To Another: Ripper's Night. A 12-episode anime TV series adaptation produced by David Production aired in Japan between October and December 2011.

Plot

While innocently reaching for some half-priced bento, Yō Satō finds himself beaten up on the floor of a supermarket. He soon learns that getting half-priced bento is an all-out brawl between customers. Yō is invited to the Half-Priced Food Lovers Club by one of the top fighters, Sen Yarizui, in order to train to compete in these battles.

Bento brawls

Bento brawls are big, all-out, free for all battles for half-priced bento boxes, where victors are decided by who claims the bento first. The brawls are governed by a set of unspoken rules among the brawlers, mainly to keep each brawl fair and even.

• Every brawler must wait away from the bento area until the God of Discounts, the ones who put the half-priced sticker on the bento boxes, put the sticker on the bento boxes and leave to the break room before beginning to battle. To take one beforehand and to harass the God of Discounts is disrespectful as the last thing they need at the end of their shift are people harassing them for their discount.
• If another brawler manages to get a bento for themselves, they cannot be attacked. If two or more brawlers get their hands on the same bento, then they fight among themselves until the other lets go of the bento.
• A brawler can only take one bento, to take another would be greedy and would spoil the victory for another.
• Brawlers should never do anything to cause a bento to spill, doing that would mean one less bento for someone to get.

Asides from that, whatever methods one can use in obtaining a bento can be used from simply brawling to using baskets and chopsticks as weapons, even running around avoiding fights altogether are valid strategies. Sometimes brawlers fight in groups, such as the Half-Priced Food Lovers Club (Yō, Sen and sometimes Hana) and the Orthros pair who will often fight with each other while going after separate bento or team up to take out a threat before brawling with each other.
Those that fight for bento boxes are often known as "wolves". Inexperienced bento brawlers are considered "dogs", usually considered as such when they do not understand the essence of bento brawls and use tactics that are looked down upon. Those that go against the rules and will selfishly go after bento and harass the staff are known "boars" and have no respect among brawlers. Bento brawlers will often do everything in their power to stop boars from obtaining bento as they go against everything brawlers stand for and thus do not deserve the bento. Strong and notable brawlers are often given titles (which are usually associated with personality or appearance), though how they get their title (and in the case of Yō, the title itself) are usually less than impressive.

Characters

Yō Satō (佐藤 洋 Satō Yō^?)

Voiced by: Hiro Shimono

The main character, a high school freshman who finds himself dragged into the battle for half-priced bento. He enjoys playing retro video games, particularly Sega games. Though at first shown not able to even hold his ground in a bento brawl, he soon shows remarkable strength, enough to be recognized as an equal by Yū, the Wizard, and win a one-on-one fight against Ayame. Following a particularly embarrassing incident, he ends up stuck with the title of Freak (変態 Hentai^?), which, ironically, fits his own personality; Ayame reveals several porn magazines in his room (given to him by a fellow classmate named Uchimoto), and hints that this habit of reading them started at a young age. Therefore, he often fantasizes about girls (usually Sen, whom he has a crush on), but despite his perverted behaviour, most of the female characters seem to have developed feelings for him (Ayame, the older Sawagi twin, Asabi, and even Sen), even if it is somewhat comedic (like Hana or Asebi). Nonetheless, he is able to focus on the task at hand and do what he is asked to do (again, usually by Sen).

Sen Yarizui (槍水 仙 Yarizui Sen^?)

Voiced by: Mariya Ise

A second year student who is the current president (and initially, the only remaining member) of the Half Priced Food Lovers Club. She is one of the strongest wolves of the west, leading her to be known as the Ice Witch (氷結の魔女 Hyōketsu no Majo^?). Her title comes from her accidentally almost buying a beer called Ice Cold (氷結 Hyōketsu^?) because she liked the design and assumed it was a normal drink, in addition to it being on sale. While usually calm, she's very innocent and does not particularly know a lot outside of bento brawls and can sometimes be pretty clumsy. She can be very stubborn as well, especially when it involves a challenge from another wolf. Sen, however, does have a good heart, preferring not to judge people by appearances or hold any grudges. She doesn't seem to have any dislikes, besides bento brawlers who do not follow the rules and boys who ignore girls that have been hurt. Despite Yō having many fantasies of Sen, she appears to be oblivious to this particular side of him. Regardless, she cares for his well-being and often shares bento with him, hinting that she may like him.

Ayame Shaga (著莪 あやめ Shaga Ayame^?)

Voiced by: Emiri Katō

Yō's half-Italian first cousin. Like Yō, she is an avid gamer, and enjoys flirting with him and occasionally Hana. She is also a wolf known as the Beauty by the Lake (湖の麗人 Mizūmi no Reijin^?), named so after eating a bento on a bench at a park next to a lake and ended up falling asleep there. She is well known for using chopsticks in battle. Her personality varies depending on her mood; normally, she is very out-going, and loves toying with Yō, but if she is hurt, she becomes very sensitive and harsh against him and Sen, much preferring to have Yō eat with her or be alone at that point. She often goes scouting out other wolves and usually hangs out with Yō and Sen, with whom she shares a friendly rivalry with.

Hana Oshiroi (白粉 花 Oshiroi Hana^?)

Voiced by: Aoi Yūki

An easily excitable girl who joins the Half Priced Food Lovers Club. Her hobby is writing yaoi erotic novels, having its characters inspired on other wolves. Not a fighter type at all, Hana usually resorts to sneaking past the other wolves while they are fighting to grab a bento for herself, which ironically, works most of the time. People used to bully her and get mad if she even touched them, saying that she has germs and will infect them, until she began to frantically apologize to anyone she touches and try to clean them up after the "contamination". Since meeting Sen and Yō, that behaviour has gradually changed and eventually, it no longer occurred.

Ume Shiraume (白梅 梅 Shiraume Ume^?)

Voiced by: Ai Kayano

The student council president of Yō's school who is interested in girls in general and is especially obsessed with Hana. She constantly abuses and slaps Yō out of jealousy for getting along with Hana, despite also being prone to flirt with other girls, like Ayame. She has a tendency to ask if it is okay for her to get angry or hit someone immediately after already doing so.

Yū Kaneshiro (金城 優 Kaneshiro Yū^?)

Voiced by: Mamoru Miyano

A third year student and a veteran wolf who is known as the Wizard (ウィザード Wizādo^?). A year before the events of the story, he was the president of the Half Priced Food Lovers Club, and personally taught Sen the rules of bento brawling.

Asebi Inoue (井ノ上 あせび Inoue Asebi^?)

Voiced by: Ayana Taketatsu

A schoolmate of Ayame who is also in the gaming club at their school. She is cursed with extreme bad luck which spreads to anybody she touches (usually Yō), though she is oblivious to her curse and has a happy-go-lucky and childlike personality otherwise. She always has a cold so she is often seen wearing a scarf and hat. It is hinted she might have feelings for Yō, making him cookies and a bento (with unlucky results).

Ren Nikaidou (二階堂 連 Nikaidō Ren^?)

Voiced by: Kazuyuki Okitsu

A wolf who was once the head of a group known as the Gabriel Ratchet. After a strong showing from Yō, he declared him as his rival, though has a lot of problems when associating with him, especially because of the incident where Yō got the nickname of pervert which he personally helped spread. Despite being unwilling to have anything to do with Yō, he is somewhat similar to him in personality and preference; he has a crush on Matsuba (as Yō does with Sen) and often blushes whenever an awkward situation is presented to him (just as Yō does when he starts fantasizing). He often associates himself with Ayame as they are from the same area and will usually work with her to gather information about other wolves. Despite being a noteworthy wolf, he has yet to gain a proper nickname.

Kyō Sawagi (沢桔 梗 Sawagi Kyō^?) and Kyō Sawagi (沢桔 鏡 Sawagi Kyō^?)

Voiced by: Yukari Tamura and Yui Horie

A pair of twin sisters who are the respective Student Council President and Vice President of Ayame's school. Their names sound identical but spelled with different kanji; the elder twin is named with the kanji for 'bellflower' while the younger twin is named with the kanji for 'mirror'. Together, they form a fearsome bento brawling combo known as Orthrus (オルトロス Orutorusu^?), using shopping baskets to overwhelm their opponents with darkness and beat them so badly that they don't remember who attacked them. Before the start of the story, they were inspired to become bento brawlers after witnessing one at such a young age and became one of the strongest bento brawlers until a manipulative brawler known as the Club of Hercules made a deal with the other local wolves to simply let them pass by, thus taking the fun out of the brawls. Due to this, they lost all desire to continue until three years later, after they try to get a look of Sen in the hospital, when it was Yō who was hospitalized, not Sen.

Media

Light novels

Ben-To began as a light novel series written by Asaura, with illustrations by Kaito Shibano. The first volume was published on February 22, 2008 under Shueisha's Super Dash Bunko imprint.^[1] As of December 27, 2011, eight main novels in the series have been released, as well as two additional short story collections.^[2][3][4] Other short stories are published online on Super Dash Bunko's official website and in Super Dash Manga Program, a separate volume included with Shueisha's Jump Square manga magazine.

Manga

A manga adaptation illustrated by Kaito Shibano titled Ben-To Zero: Road to Witch serialized five chapters between the first issue of Super Dash Manga Program, included with the combined May/June 2011 issue of Jump Square sold on April 21, 2011, and the issue included with the October 2011 issue of Jump Square. A single tankōbon volume was released on October 25, 2011.^[5] Another manga also illustrated by Shibano titled Ben-To Another: Rippers Night started serialization in the debut December 2011 issue of Shueisha's Super Dash & Go! magazine.

Anime

A 12-episode anime television series adaptation produced by David Production and directed by Shin Itagaki^[6] aired in Japan between October 9, 2011 December 25, 2011 on TV Aichi. The main opening theme is "Live for Life: Ōkamitachi no Yoru" (LIVE for LIFE 〜狼たちの夜〜 LIVE for LIFE ~Night of the Wolves~^?) by Aimi, while the ending theme is "Egao no Hōsoku" (笑顔の法則 The Rules of Smiling^?) by Mariya Ise. The opening theme for episode four is "Treasure!" by Emiri Katō.

Episode list

No.	Title	Original airdate
01	"Sticky Natto Okra Rice with Cheese Topping Bento 440kcal" "Nebare, Nattō Okura Don Bukkake Chīzu Toppingu Bentō 440kcal" (ネバれ、納豆オクラ丼ぶっかけチーズトッピング弁当 440kcal)	October 9, 2011[7]
Yō Satō finds himself beaten up on the supermarket floor, the last thing he remembers being going to get some half-priced bento. The next day, he encounters a silver haired girl who warns him not to go to the store again. He goes again alongside another student, Hana Oshiroi, and finds himself beaten up again upon reaching for the half price bento. The next day, he decides to act more strategically and witnesses an all-out battle for the bento that gets marked half-price, which is dominated by the silver haired girl, Sen Yarizui. After the battle ends in total defeat for Yō, Sen tells him to come to the Half-Priced Food Lovers club room.
02	"Mackerel Boiled in Miso Bento 674kcal" "Saba no Misoni Bentō 674kcal" (サバの味噌煮弁当 674kcal)	October 16, 2011[8]
Sen gets Yō and Hana to join the Half-Priced Food Lovers Club and starts training them in the ways of Bento Brawling. During one of the supermarket visits, they encounter a 'boar', a fat woman who raids all the half-priced bentos before a battle starts. The next day, Yō meets Yū 'Wizard' Kaneshiro, who encourages Yō to stand up to a boar so that the bento battle can properly take place. Yō comes to understand the pride of the 'wolves' and comes out with his first victory, obtaining a bento with an honor seal from the 'God of Discounts'. Yō then returns to the clubroom, where Sen congratulates him on his first victory and shows him a scrapbook showing the victories Yū managed to obtain.
03	"Large Serving of Cheese-Filled Katsu Curry 1080kcal" "Ōmori Chīzu Katsu Karē 1080kcal" (大盛りチーズカツカレー 1080kcal)	October 23, 2011
Yō gets a lot of hassle from the class president, Ume Shiraume, due to him hanging around Hana. As Yō and Hana go to a supermarket, they meet a kendo club member named Yamahara, who invites them to join a group called the Hounds, who use teamwork to help members get half-priced bento. As Yō and Hana take a trial period with the group, Yō feels the bento he obtains this method don't taste as good as he thinks. After reminiscing about old times, Yō turns down Yamahara's offer, realizing that food tastes best when you fight for it. Having realized the true meaning of half-price bento, Sen gives Yō and Hana keys to the club room. The next morning, Yō finds his cousin, Ayame Shaga, sleeping in his bed.
04	"Ginger Fried Pork Bento 852kcal" "Butaniku Shōgayaki Bentō 852kcal" (豚肉生姜焼き弁当 852kcal)	October 30, 2011
Ayame is revealed to be a wolf known as 'The Beauty of the Lake' who throws down a challenge to Sen. After barely escaping from the lust of Ume, Ayame accompanies Yō and Sen to a bento brawl, where she and Sen fight for the same bento. As Sen manages to defeat Ayame and claim her bento, Yō finds himself against a tough opponent but manages to win in the end.
05	"Fish Soup with Hokkaido Salmon 326kcal" "Hokkaidō no Shake o Tsukatta Arajiru 326kcal" (北海道の鮭を使ったあら汁 326kcal)	November 6, 2011
Yō goes through some hassle to meet up with Ayame, where he also meets Asebi Inoue, who gives bad luck to anyone she touches. As Yō goes to a store with the others, he finds himself up against Ren Nikaidō, who is part of a group known as Gabriel Ratchett, and gets severely beaten by Tadaaki 'Monarch' Endo. After Yō regains consciousness, Ayame explains how Endo seeks revenge for some ancient slight, while Sen questions why she didn't warn Yō about him.
06	"Special Seasoned Duck Bento 795kcal" "Tokusei Zangi Bentō 795kcal" (特製ザンギ弁当 795kcal)	November 13, 2011
As Sen heads towards a store alone, Ayame learns about how Yū triumphed over the previous Monarch Butterfly, Matsuba, with Endo, her successor, wanting revenge on Yū's successor, Sen. As Ayame warns Yō about this, Sen, who had gotten severely beaten up by the Gabriel Retchetts, arrives at the Ralph Store to face against Endo. As Ren feels regret after hearing words of disappointment from Matsuba, the current God of Discounts, he tries to stop Endo but is knocked away. As the brawl begins, Yō and Ayame arrive and together they manage to defeat Endo. Afterwards, Ren follows Matsuba's advice and starts to live for himself. Meanwhile, Yū leaves the country to study overseas, and Matsuba bids him farewell, after reminiscing about their bento brawl with each other and discussing Endo's plan to succeed her.
07	"Omelettits Bento 752kcal and Tent of Seafood Bento 1100kcal" "Omuppai Bentō 752kcal to Rokomokkori Bentō 1100kcal" (オムっぱい弁当 752kcalとロコもっこり弁当 1100kcal)	November 20, 2011
Matsuba gives Yō, Sen, Ayame and Hana free tickets to an indoor swimming pool, where they also run into Ren. There, they discover even a swimming pool has half-priced bento, featuring a unique bento brawl across the pool. As the waves provide a fierce battlefield, Yō manages to achieve his prey, albeit not without an embarrassing comeuppance.
08	"Jumbo Garlic Chive Hamburger Steak Bento 765kcal" "Tappuri Nira Hanbāgu Bentō 765kcal" (たっぷりニラハンバーグ弁当 765kcal)	November 27, 2011
Yō becomes hospitalized after jumping out of a window while trying to protect his Sega Saturn that Sen threw out the window, ending up completely wrapped in bandages. Meanwhile, a pair of twin sisters from Ayame's school both named Kyō Sawagi, the older of which appears to have a thing for Sen, infiltrate the hospital hoping to meet Sen. They mistake Yō for Sen and perform some curious inspections on him, leading to chaos when they actually learn the truth.
09	"Western and Japanese Food Mix 2910kcal and Warm Porridge Bento 340kcal" "Seiyō Wafū Makunouchi Tsumeawase Jū 2910kcal to Hokkori Okayu Bentō 340kcal" (西洋和風幕の内詰め合わせ重 2910kcal と ほっこりおかゆ弁当340kcal)	December 4, 2011
Asebi decides to make Yō a homemade bento, in which every component tastes of something completely different. Meanwhile, Ume meets up with the Sawagi sisters concerning both Yō and Ayame trespassing on each others' schools. Later that night, as Hana has an accident with her computer while finishing up one of her erotic novels, Ume believes her to have fallen sick and comes over to tend to her 'fever'. As she does, she discovers one of Hana's books which she had posted Yō's face all over. As Ume goes to punish Yo for this, Yo reveals Hana's passion for writing yaoi, but she does not believe him and beats him to a pulp.
10	"It was a Warm Gentle Flavor that Reminded Me of my Grandmother. A Japanese Dish that was Kind to Both Body and Soul. Plum and Dried Baby Sardines over Rice with Plenty of Seasonal Vegetables Stewed Bento 480kcal" "Sore wa Mukashi Sobo no Ie de Tabeta Atataka de Yasashii Ajiwai. Kokoro nimo Karada nimo Yasashii Wa no Ryōri. Ume to Chirimenjako Gohan to Kisetsu no Yasai Tappuri no Nimono Bentō 480kcal" (それは昔祖母の家で食べた温かで優しい味わい。心にも体にも優しい和の料理。梅とちりめんじゃこご飯と季節の野菜たっぷりの煮物弁当 480kcal)	December 11, 2011
Ayame is visited by Ren who tells her about a group called Orthros who are severely attacking other wolves and placing baskets on their heads. As Yō resumes his bento brawl duties, he becomes the latest victim to the Sawagi sisters. As Yō, Sen, Ayame and the others get together at a supermarket for a bento brawl the next day, Sen soon finds herself attacked by the sisters and, despite assistance from the others, is severely beaten.
11	"Pocari Sweat 125kcal" "Pokari Suetto 125kcal" (ポカリスエット 125kcal)	December 18, 2011
Yō goes to visit Sen, who had been absent from school with a cold, where she discusses plans to fight against the twins for eel bentos in a few days. After another defeat by the twins, Yō and Ren learn from Ayame that they are the daughters of a chain store owner who came over from Yumehiro. Ren travels to Yumehiro to find out more while Ayame passes on Sen's message to the twins, although Sen's cold has gotten worse. Ren learns that, three years ago, the twins were driven out of Yumehiro by a brawler known as The Club of Hercules.
12	"Japanese Grilled Eel Bento 790kcal" "Kokusan Unagi Bentō 790kcal" (国産うなぎ弁当 790kcal)	December 25, 2011
With four hours left until the bento brawl and Sen still not over her fever, Yō decides to let her sleep in while he goes in her stead. On the way he encounters Hercules, who tells him something that causes him to run away. As the twins arrive at the store, they encounter Hercules, who is forcing the cooperation of the other wolves to exclude them from the fight, just like he did three years ago. However, Yō returns, having run to build up an appetite which reminds the other wolves why they fight and convinces them to brawl fairly. After beating Hercules, Yo manages to convince the twins to join in the fight, where the twins are defeated and Yō wins the prize seal to share with Sen.

This article is about the media franchise. For the title character, see Naruto Uzumaki. For other uses, see Naruto (disambiguation).

Naruto
Cover of the first Japanese Naruto manga volume
NARUTO—ナルト—
Genre	Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Manga
Naruto (pilot chapter)
Written by	Masashi Kishimoto
Published by	Shueisha
English publisher	NA Viz Media
Demographic	Shōnen
Magazine	Akamaru Jump
English magazine	NA Shonen Jump
Published	1997
Manga
Written by	Masashi Kishimoto
Published by	Shueisha
English publisher	AUS Madman Entertainment NA Viz Media UK Viz Media
Demographic	Shōnen
Magazine	Weekly Shōnen Jump
English magazine	NA Shonen Jump (formerly) Weekly Shonen Jump (currently)
Original run	November 1999 – ongoing
Volumes	64 (List of volumes)
Anime television series
Directed by	Hayato Date
Written by	Katsuyuki Sumisawa Junki Takegami
Music by	Musashi Project Toshio Masuda
Studio	Studio Pierrot
Licensed by	AUS Madman Entertainment NA Viz Media UK Manga Entertainment
Network	Animax, TV Tokyo
English network	AUS Cartoon Network (Toonami) AU Network Ten BI Jetix CA YTV, Télétoon, Neon Alley US Cartoon Network, Adult Swim (Toonami), Neon Alley
Original run	October 3, 2002 – February 8, 2007
Episodes	220 (List of episodes)
Novel
Naruto: Innocent Heart, Demonic Blood
Written by	Masatoshi Kusakabe
Published by	Shueisha
English publisher	NA Viz Media
Published	2002
Original video animation
Naruto: Find the Four-Leaf Red Clover!
Studio	Studio Pierrot
Licensed by	AUS Madman Entertainment
Released	2003
Runtime	17 minutes
Original video animation
Naruto: Mission: Protect the Waterfall Village!
Studio	Studio Pierrot
Licensed by	NA Viz Media
Released	2004
Runtime	40 minutes
Original video animation
Naruto: Hidden Leaf Village Grand Sports Festival
Directed by	Hayato Date
Studio	Studio Pierrot
Licensed by	NA Viz Media
Released	August 21, 2004
Runtime	11 minutes
Original video animation
Studio	Studio Pierrot
Released	December 22, 2005
Runtime	26 minutes
Original video animation
Naruto: The Cross Roads
Studio	Studio Pierrot
Released	2009
Runtime	28 minutes
Anime television series
Naruto Shippuden
Directed by	Hayato Date
Written by	Junki Takegami
Music by	Yasuharu Takanashi
Studio	Studio Pierrot
Licensed by	NA Viz Media
Network	Animax, TV Tokyo
English network	AUS Cartoon Network CA Neon Alley US Disney XD, Neon Alley
Original run	February 15, 2007 – ongoing
Episodes	304 (List of episodes)
Related works
Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel Naruto the Movie: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom Naruto Shippuden: the Movie Naruto Shippuden 2: Bonds Naruto Shippūden The Movie: Inheritors of the Will of Fire Naruto Shippuden The Movie: The Lost Tower Naruto the Movie: Blood Prison Naruto the Movie: Road to Ninja Naruto video games
Anime and Manga portal

Naruto (NARUTO—ナルト— NARUTO^?) is an ongoing Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto. The plot tells the story of Naruto Uzumaki, an adolescent ninja who constantly searches for recognition and dreams to become the Hokage, the ninja in his village who is acknowledged as the leader and the strongest of all. The series is based on a one-shot comic by Kishimoto that was published in the August 1997 issue of Akamaru Jump.
The manga was first published by Shueisha in 1999 in the 43rd issue of Japan's Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine. Currently, the manga is still being serialized; sixty-three tankōbon volumes have been released so far. The manga was later adapted into an anime, which was produced by Studio Pierrot and Aniplex. It premiered across Japan on the terrestrial TV Tokyo network and the anime satellite television network Animax on October 3, 2002. The first series lasted 220 episodes, while Naruto: Shippuden, a sequel to the original series, has been airing since February 15, 2007. In addition to the anime series, Studio Pierrot has developed eight movies for the series and several original video animations (OVAs). Other types of merchandise include light novels, video games and trading cards developed by several companies.
Viz Media has licensed the manga and anime for North American production. Viz has been publishing the series in their Shonen Jump magazine, and as well as the individual volumes. The anime series began airing in the United States and Canada in 2005, and later in the United Kingdom and Australia in 2006 and 2007, respectively. The films, as well as most OVAs from the series, have also been released by Viz, with the first film premiering in cinemas. The first DVD volume of Naruto: Shippuden was released by Viz in North America on September 29, 2009, and it started broadcast on Disney XD in October of the same year. Viz Media will begin streaming both series on their upcoming streaming service Neon Alley this fall.
Naruto is one of the best-selling manga series of all time having sold more than 126.5 million copies in Japan alone. Serialized in Viz's Shonen Jump magazine, Naruto has become one of the company's best-selling manga series. The English adaptation of the series has also appeared in the USA Today Booklist several times and volume 7 won the Quil Award in 2006. Reviewers from the series have praised the balance between fighting and comedy scenes, as well as the characters' personalities, but have criticized it for using standard shōnen plot elements.

AlurLihat juga: Daftar karakter Naruto dan Ninja Dunia
Dua belas tahun sebelum dimulainya seri, makhluk yang kuat dikenal sebagai Sembilan-tailed Fox Demon menyerang ninja Konoha desa, menewaskan banyak orang. Sebagai tanggapan, pemimpin Konoha-Hokage Keempat-mengorbankan hidupnya untuk menyegel iblis di dalam baru lahir Naruto. Konoha, bagaimanapun, dianggap Naruto seolah-olah ia adalah rubah iblis itu sendiri dan mistreated dia seluruh sebagian besar masa kecilnya. Sebuah keputusan yang dibuat oleh Kage saat ini, Hokage Ketiga, melarang ada lagi serangan dari iblis rubah ke orang lain. Ini termasuk Naruto, yang tidak menyadari iblis dalam dirinya. Bertahun-tahun kemudian, Naruto ditipu oleh pemberontak Ninja Mizuki menjadi mencuri sebuah gulungan terlarang yang akan mengajarinya teknik ninja yang rahasia, tapi dia dihentikan oleh gurunya, Iruka Umino. Ketika Iruka hampir meninggal saat melindungi Naruto dari Mizuki, yang juga mengungkapkan bahwa ia adalah wadah dari Sembilan-tailed Fox, Naruto menggunakan jurus ia belajar dari gulir yang menciptakan beberapa klon dari dirinya sendiri, Shadow Clone Teknik, untuk mengalahkan Mizuki.
Naruto ditugaskan bersama Sasuke Uchiha, yang ia sering bersaing dengan, dan Sakura Haruno, yang ia naksir, untuk membentuk tim tiga orang bernama Tim 7 di bawah sensei yang berpengalaman dan parah, elit Ninja Kakashi Hatake. Seperti semua tim ninja dari setiap desa, Tim 7 dibebankan dengan menyelesaikan misi yang diminta oleh penduduk desa, seperti melakukan tugas atau menjadi pengawal. Setelah beberapa misi, terutama misi mereka untuk Gelombang Negara sebagai penjaga Tazuna pembangun jembatan, Kakashi memungkinkan Tim 7 untuk berpartisipasi dalam ujian ninja di mana mereka dapat maju ke peringkat yang lebih tinggi, dan dengan demikian, mengambil bagian dalam misi lebih sulit. Selama ujian, Orochimaru, seorang penjahat di bagian atas daftar paling dicari Konoha, serangan Konoha dan membunuh Hokage Ketiga dalam aksi balas dendam. Hal ini akan memaksa salah satu dari tiga ninja yang legendaris, Jiraiya, untuk mencari mantan rekan setimnya Tsunade, yang telah dinominasikan untuk menjadi Hokage Kelima. Selama pencarian, ia mengungkapkan bahwa Orochimaru keinginan untuk mendapatkan Sasuke karena warisan genetik yang kuat nya, Sharingan. Percaya Orochimaru akan bisa memberinya kekuatan yang dibutuhkan untuk membunuh saudaranya, Itachi, yang menghancurkan klan, Sasuke akhirnya bergabung dengan dia setelah kekalahan memalukan di tangan saudaranya. Tsunade mengirimkan sekelompok ninja termasuk Naruto untuk membuat Sasuke kembali ke Konoha, tapi Naruto tidak mampu mengalahkannya dan membawanya kembali ke desa. Naruto tidak menyerah pada Sasuke, namun, dan dia meninggalkan Konoha untuk melatih untuk dua setengah tahun di bawah bimbingan Jiraiya untuk mempersiapkan diri pada saat berikutnya ia bertemu dengan Sasuke.
Setelah periode pelatihan, sebuah organisasi kriminal bernama Akatsuki upaya untuk menangkap sembilan ekor binatang kuat yang disegel dalam orang-termasuk Ekor Sembilan Demon Fox disegel dalam Naruto. Beberapa ninja dari Konoha, termasuk Tim 7, berperang melawan anggota Akatsuki dan mencari Sasuke rekan satu tim mereka. Meskipun mereka berhasil menyelamatkan Gaara, tuan rumah binatang Satu-Ekor, Akatsuki berhasil dalam menangkap tujuh lainnya makhluk yang host mati dalam proses. Sementara itu, Sasuke mengkhianati Orochimaru dan wajah Itachi untuk membalas dendam. Setelah Itachi meninggal dalam pertempuran, Sasuke diberitahu oleh pendiri Akatsuki dan pemimpin Tobi bahwa Itachi diperintahkan oleh kepemimpinan Konoha untuk menghancurkan klan. Sedih dengan wahyu ini, Sasuke bergabung dengan pasukan Akatsuki untuk membunuh atasan Konoha yang mengatur penghapusan Uchihas '.
Sementara itu, karena beberapa anggota Akatsuki dikalahkan oleh ninja Konoha, pemimpin boneka mereka, Pain, menyerang desa untuk menangkap Naruto. Namun, Naruto mengalahkan dia dan meyakinkan dia untuk meninggalkan Akatsuki. Dengan Pain akhirnya kematian, Tobi-menyamar sebagai salah satu pendiri Konoha ayah Madara Uchiha-mengumumkan bahwa ia ingin mendapatkan semua sembilan binatang berekor untuk melakukan ilusi cukup kuat untuk mengontrol semua umat manusia. Para pemimpin dari lima desa-desa ninja menolak untuk membantu dia, dan sebaliknya, bergabung untuk menghadapi dia dan sekutu-sekutunya. Ini hasil ke perang dunia ninja keempat antara tentara terpadu dari Lima Negara Besar kolektif dikenal sebagai "Ninja Aliansi Angkatan Darat" dan pasukan Akatsuki. Selama konflik, ia mengungkapkan bahwa Tobi sebenarnya Obito Uchiha, mantan rekan setimnya Kakashi yang seharusnya mati, tapi dia diselamatkan oleh Madara Uchiha nyata dan telah bekerja di bawahnya sejak saat itu.Produksi
Masashi Kishimoto pertama kali membuat satu-shot dari Naruto untuk Agustus 1997 isu Akamaru Jump. [1] Meskipun hasil positif yang tinggi dalam jajak pendapat pembaca, Kishimoto pikir "[yang] seni bau dan cerita kacau!" Kishimoto awalnya bekerja pada Karakuri untuk Hop Step Award ketika, tidak puas dengan draft kasar, ia memutuskan untuk bekerja pada sesuatu yang berbeda, yang kemudian dibentuk menjadi seri manga Naruto. Kishimoto telah menyatakan keprihatinan bahwa penggunaan chakra dan tanda tangan membuat Naruto terlalu Jepang, tapi masih percaya itu menjadi bacaan yang menyenangkan. [2] Ketika ditanya tentang apa tema utama Naruto selama Bagian I, Kishimoto menjawab bahwa itu adalah bagaimana orang menerima saling mengutip pembangunan Naruto di seluruh seri. Kishimoto mengatakan bahwa karena dia tidak mampu untuk fokus pada percintaan selama Bagian I, ia menekankan lebih dalam Bagian II, bagian dari manga awal dengan volume yang 28, meskipun kesulitan. [3]
Ketika awalnya menciptakan cerita Naruto, Kishimoto memandang Shonen manga lain sebagai pengaruh atas karyanya, meskipun ia berusaha untuk membuat karakter yang unik mungkin. Dia mendasarkan itu dari budaya Jepang [4] Pemisahan karakter menjadi tim yang berbeda dimaksudkan untuk memberikan masing-masing kelompok yang spesifik rasa. Kishimoto berharap untuk setiap anggota untuk menjadi "ekstrim," memiliki jumlah tinggi bakat di salah satu atribut yang diberikan belum bisa berbakat di negara lain. "[5] penyisipan penjahat dalam cerita itu sebagian besar agar mereka bertindak sebagai tandingan ke karakter 'nilai-nilai moral. Kishimoto telah mengakui bahwa ini fokus pada menggambarkan perbedaan nilai merupakan pusat ciptaan-Nya dari penjahat ke titik itu, "Saya tidak benar-benar berpikir tentang mereka dalam pertempuran." [6] Ketika menggambar karakter, Kishimoto konsisten mengikuti proses lima langkah:. Konsep dan sketsa kasar, penyusunan, tinta, shading, dan mewarnai Langkah-langkah ini diikuti ketika ia menggambar manga yang sebenarnya dan membuat ilustrasi warna yang biasanya menghiasi sampul buku manganya, sampul Weekly Shonen Jump, atau media lain, tapi toolkit ia memanfaatkan perubahan sesekali. [7] Sebagai contoh, ia dimanfaatkan sebuah airbrush untuk satu ilustrasi untuk sampul Weekly Shonen Jump, tetapi memutuskan untuk tidak menggunakannya untuk gambar masa depan sebagian besar disebabkan oleh pembersihan diperlukan . [8] Untuk Bagian II, Kishimoto mengatakan bahwa ia berusaha untuk tidak "berlebihan gaya khas manga" dengan tidak termasuk "terlalu banyak deformasi" dan menjaga layout panel untuk memudahkan bagi pembaca untuk mengikuti alur cerita. Kishomoto mengatakan nya gaya gambar berubah dari "manga klasik melihat ke sesuatu yang sedikit lebih realistis." [9]
Kishimoto menambahkan bahwa, sebagai Naruto berlangsung di sebuah "dunia fantasi Jepang," dia telah menetapkan aturan-aturan tertentu, dengan cara yang sistematis sehingga ia bisa dengan mudah "menyampaikan cerita." Kishimoto ingin "menarik" tradisi zodiak Cina, yang memiliki kehadiran lama di Jepang, tanda tangan zodiak berasal dari ini. Ketika Kishimoto adalah menciptakan setting manga Naruto, dia awalnya berkonsentrasi pada desain untuk desa Konohagakure, pengaturan utama dari seri. Kishimoto menyatakan bahwa desain untuk Konohagakure diciptakan "cukup secara spontan tanpa banyak berpikir", tetapi mengakui bahwa pemandangan ini didasarkan pada rumahnya di Prefektur Okayama di Jepang. Tanpa periode waktu tertentu, Kishimoto termasuk unsur-unsur modern dalam seri seperti toko-toko, namun secara khusus dikecualikan proyektil senjata dan kendaraan dari alur cerita. Untuk bahan referensi, Kishimoto melakukan penelitian sendiri ke dalam budaya Jepang dan menyinggung dalam karyanya. [10] Mengenai teknologi Kishimoto mengatakan bahwa Naruto tidak akan memiliki senjata api. Dia bilang dia mungkin termasuk mobil, pesawat terbang dan "pemrosesan rendah" komputer, Kishimoto tertentu komputer akan "mungkin" menjadi delapan-bit dan bahwa mereka akan "tidak jelas" menjadi enam belas-bit [11].
Mengenai panjang seri ', Kishimoto terkejut ketika seri mencapai volume yang kesepuluh sebagai akibat dari popularitasnya. [12] Ia juga menyatakan bahwa ia memiliki ide visual bab terakhir dari seri, termasuk teks dan cerita . Namun, ia mencatat bahwa mungkin diperlukan waktu lama untuk mengakhiri seri karena "masih ada begitu banyak hal yang perlu diselesaikan." [13] Selain itu, ia berkomentar bahwa ia tidak tahu kapan cerita akan berakhir karena ada masih banyak hal untuk memecahkan.

Naruto

Main article: List of Naruto episodes

Directed by Hayato Date and produced by Studio Pierrot and TV Tokyo, the Naruto anime adaptation premiered in Japan on TV Tokyo October 3, 2002, and ran for 220 episodes until its conclusion on February 8, 2007.^[31][32] The first 135 episodes are adapted from the first twenty-seven volumes of the manga, while the remaining eighty episodes are original episodes that utilize plot elements not seen in the original manga.^[33] Beginning on April 29, 2009, the original Naruto anime began a rerun on Wednesdays and Thursdays (until the fourth week September 2009 when it changed to just Wednesdays) in HDTV with new opening and ending themes under the name Shōnen Hen (少年篇^?, "Youth Version").^[34]
Episodes from the series have been published in DVD. The first DVD series has been the only one to be collected in VHS format.^[35] There are a total of five series, with each of the including four episodes per volume.^[36] The series has also been collected in a series of three DVD boxes during 2009.^[37][38] The newest DVD series is Naruto The Best Scene which collects scenes from the first 135 episodes from the anime.^[39]
Viz licensed the anime series for broadcast and distribution in the Region 1 market. The English adaptation of the anime began airing on September 10, 2005 and finished on January 31, 2009, with 209 episodes aired.^[40] The episodes have been shown on Cartoon Network's Toonami (United States), YTV's Bionix (Canada) and Jetix's (United Kingdom) programming blocks. Beginning on March 28, 2006, Viz released the series on DVD.^[41] While the first 26 volumes contain four episodes, since DVD volumes have five episodes.^[42] Uncut editions are compiled in DVD Box Sets, each containing 12-15 episodes, with some variation based around story arcs.^[43] In the American broadcast, references to alcohol, Japanese culture, sexual innuendo, and the appearance of blood and death were sometimes reduced for the broadcast, but left in, in the DVD editions.^[44] Other networks make additional content edits apart from the edits done by Cartoon Network, such as Jetix's stricter censoring of blood, language, smoking and the like. The series has also been licensed to the websites Hulu, Joost, and Crunchyroll, which air episodes online with the original Japanese audio tracks and English subtitles.^[45][46][47] The last Naruto episode aired on YTV's Bionix block on December 6, 2009 at 12:30am ET.^[48]

Opening and Ending Themes

Openings			Endings
Nº	music Theme	Episodes	Nº	Music Theme	Episodes
1	"Rocks" (by Hound Dog)	1-25	1	"Wind" (by Akeboshi)	1-25
2	"Haruka Kanata" (by Asian Kung-Fu Generation)	26-53	2	"Harmonia" (by Rhythm)	26-51
3	"Kanashimi wo Yasashisa ni" (by Little by Little)	54-77	3	"Viva Rock" (by Orange Range)	52-64
			4	"Alive" (by Raiko)	65-77
4	"GO!" (by FLOW )	78-102	5	"Ima Made Nando Mo" (by The Mass Missile)	78-89
			6	"Ryūsei" (by Tia)	90-103
5	Seishun Kyōsōkyoku (by Sambomaster)	103-128	7	"Mountain a Gogo Two" (by Captain Stridum)	104-115
			8	"Hajimete Kimi to Shabetta" (by GagagaSP)	116-128
6	"No Boy, No Cry" (by Stance Punks)	129-153	9	"Nakushita Kotoba" (by No Regret Life)	129-141
			10	"Speed" (by Analog Fish)	141-153
7	"Namikaze Satellite" (by Snorkel)	154-178	11	"Soba ni iru Kara" (by Amadori)	154-165
			12	"Parade" (by Chaba)	166-178
8	"Re:member" (by FLOW)	179-202	13	"Yellow Moon" (by Akeboshi)	179-191
			14	"Pinocchio" (by Ore Ska Band)	192-202
9	"Yura Yura" (by Hearts Grow)	203-220	15	"Scenario" (by Saboten)	203-220

Naruto: Shippuden

Main article: List of Naruto: Shippuden episodes

Marquee at the Viz Media headquarters in San Francisco advertising Naruto Shippuden on Disney XD

Naruto: Shippuden (NARUTO -ナルト- 疾風伝 Naruto Shippūden^?, lit. "Naruto: Hurricane Chronicles") is the ongoing sequel to the original Naruto anime and covers the Naruto manga from volume twenty-eight on. The TV adaptation of Naruto: Shippuden debuted in Japan on February 15, 2007 on TV Tokyo. It is developed by Studio Pierrot and directed by Hayato Date.^[33][49] ABS-CBN is the first TV network outside Japan to broadcast Naruto: Shippuden; it aired the first 40 episodes of Naruto: Shippuden, running the show through March 19, 2008. On January 8, 2009, TV Tokyo began broadcasting new episodes via internet streaming directly to monthly subscribers. Each streamed episode is made available online within an hour of its Japanese premiere and includes English subtitles.^[50] Viz began streaming English subtitled episodes on January 2, 2009, on its official website for the series. The uploaded episodes include both previously released episodes and the new episodes from Japan.^[51] Since October 2009, the English dub of Naruto: Shippuden started airing weekly on Disney XD.^[52]
The series is being released to Region 2 DVD in Japan with four or five episodes per disc. There are currently four series of DVD releases divided by story arc.^[53] There is also a special feature included with the seventh Naruto: Shippuden compilation DVD based on the second ending of the series called Hurricane! "Konoha Academy" Chronicles.^[54] Besides the regular DVD series, on December 16, 2009 Kakashi Chronicles: Boys' Life on the Battlefield (カカシ外伝～戦場のボーイズライフ～ Kakashi Gaiden ~Senjō no Bōizu Raifu~^?) was released featuring episodes 119-120 which are set during Kakashi Hatake's childhood.^[55]
The first North American DVD of the series was released on September 29, 2009.^[56] Only the first fifty-three episodes were collected in this format that ended with the 12th volume released on August 10, 2010.^[57] Following episodes have been released as part of DVD boxes that started release on January 26, 2010 with the first season.^[58] In the United Kingdom, the series is licensed by Manga Entertainment who released the first DVD collection on June 14, 2010.^[59]

Opening and Ending Themes

Openings			Endings
Nº	music Theme	Episodes	Nº	Music Theme	Episodes
1	"Hero's Come Back!!" (by nobodyknows+)	1-30	1	"Nagareboshi" (by HOME MADE Kazoku)	1-18
			2	"Michi ~to you all~" (by alüto)	19-30
2	"Distance" (by LONG SHOT PARTY)	31-53	3	"Kimi Monogatari" (by little by little)	31-41
			4	"Mezamero! Yasei" (by MATCHY with QUESTION?)	42-53
3	"Blue Bird" (by Ikimono Gakari)	54-77	5	"Sunao na Niji" (by Surface)	54-63
			6	"Broken Youth" (by NICO Touches the Walls)	64-77
4	"Closer" (by Joe Inoue)	78-102	7	"Long Kiss Good Bye" (by HALCALI)	78-90
			8	"Bacchikoi!!" (by Dev Parade)	91-102
5	"Hotaru no Hikari" (by Ikimono Gakari)	103-128	9	"Shinkokyuu" (by Super Beaver)	103-115
			10	"My Answer" (by Seamo)	116-128
6	"Sign" (by FLOW)	129-153	11	"Omae Dattanda" (by Kishidan)	129-141
			12	"For You" (by AZU)	142-153
7	"Tōmei Datta Sekai" (by Motohiro Hata)	154-179	13	"Jitensha" (by Ore Ska Band)	154-166
			14	"Utakata Hanabi" (by Supercell)	167-179
8	"Diver" (by NICO Touches the Walls)	180-205	15	"U' Can do It" (by Domino)	180-192
			16	"Mayonaka no Orchestra" (by Aqua Timez)	193-205
9	"Lovers" (by 7 ~seven oops~)	206-230	17	Freedom" (by HOME MADE Kazoku)	206-218
			18	"Yokubou o Sakebe!!" (by OKAMOTO'S)	219-230
10	"newsong" (by tacica)	231-256	19	"Place to Try" (by TOTALFAT)	231-242
			20	"By My Side" (by HEMENWAY)	243-256
11	"Totsugeki Rock" (by THE CRO-MAGNONS)	257-281	21	"Cascade" (by UNLIMITS)	257-268
			22	"Kono Koe Karashite" (by AISHA Feat. CHENON)	269-281
12	"Moshimo" (by Daisuke)	282-306	23	"Mother" (by MUCC)	282-295
			24	"Sayonara Memory" (by 7!! ~seven oops~)	296-306
13	"Niwaka Ame Nimo Makezu" (by NICO Touches the Walls)	307-	25	"I Can Hear" (by DISH//)	307-

Rock Lee & His Ninja Pals

Main article: List of Rock Lee & His Ninja Pals episodes

In February 2012, Shueisha announced that the spin-off manga Rock Lee no Seishun Full-Power Ninden would receive an anime adaptation.^[60] Produced by Studio Pierrot, the series premiered in TV Tokyo on April 3, 2012.^[61] Crunchyroll simulcasted the series' premiere in their website and will also stream its following episodes.^[62]

CDs

Cover of Naruto Shippūden Original Soundtrack

The Naruto soundtracks were composed and arranged by Toshio Masuda. The first, titled Naruto Original Soundtrack, was released on April 3, 2003 and contained twenty-two tracks that appeared during the first season of the anime.^[63] The second, called Naruto Original Soundtrack II was released on March 18, 2004 and contained nineteen tracks.^[64] The third, called Naruto Original Soundtrack III was released on April 27, 2005 and contained twenty-three tracks.^[65]
A series of two soundtracks containing all the opening and ending themes of the series, titled Naruto: Best Hit Collection and Naruto: Best Hit Collection II were released on November 17, 2004 and August 2, 2006, respectively.^[66][67] Of all tracks of the series, eight were selected and released as a CD called Naruto in Rock -The Very Best Hit Collection Instrumental Version- that was released on December 19, 2007.^[68] Each of the three movies of the first anime series has a soundtrack that was released near its release date.^[69][70][71] On October 12, 2011, a CD collecting the themes from Naruto Shōnen Hen was also released.^[72] Various Drama CD series have also been released in which the voice actors play original episodes.^[73]
The soundtracks of Naruto: Shippuden have been produced by Yasuharu Takanashi. Although in a few Shippuden episodes did feature tracks from the first series. The first, Naruto Shippūden Original Soundtrack was released on December 9, 2007.^[74] The second CD, Naruto Shippuden Original Soundtrack II, was published on December 16, 2009.^[75] Naruto All Stars was released on July 23, 2008 and consists of ten original Naruto songs remixed and sung by characters from the series.^[76] Ten themes from the two series were also collected in the DVD box Naruto Super Hits 2006-2008 released on July 23, 2008.^[77] Each of the films from the sequel also had their soundtracks, with the first released on August 1, 2007.^[78][79]

Original video animations

There are five Naruto original video animations (OVAs). The first two, Find the Crimson Four-Leaf Clover! and Mission: Protect the Waterfall Village!, were aired at the Shōnen Jump Jump Festa 2003 and Jump Festa 2004, respectively, and were later released on DVD in Australia under the title "Naruto Jump Festa Collection".^[80] The English localization of the second OVA was released on DVD by Viz on May 22, 2007 in USA under the title "Naruto - The Lost Story".^[81] The third OVA, Konoha Annual Sports Festival, is a short video released with the first Naruto movie. In North America, the OVA was included in the "Deluxe Edition" DVD from the first film.^[82] The fourth OVA, Finally a clash! Jonin VS Genin!! Indiscriminate grand melee tournament meeting!!, was released on a bonus disc with the Japanese edition of the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 3 video game for the PlayStation 2.^[83] The fifth OVA, Naruto: The Cross Roads, was featured at the Jump Festa 2010. It is focused in Team 7 after their encounter with Zabuza and Haku.^[84] A short OVA was also included within the DVD "Naruto x UT Original DVD" released on January 1, 2011 as promoted by UNIQLO.^[85]

Films

The series has also led to nine films; with the first three situated during the first anime series, the remaining from Naruto: Shippūden. The first film, Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow, was released on August 21, 2004 in Japan. It tells how Team 7 is dispatched to the Land of Snow to protect the actors during the shooting of the new Princess Fuun movie, to whom Naruto became a fan. As a bonus, the short original video animation Konoha Annual Sports Festival was included with the Japanese release of the film.^[86] It premiered on June 6, 2007 in the United States.^[87][88]
It was followed by Legend of the Stone of Gelel, which was released in theaters in Japan on August 6, 2005. The film involves Naruto, Shikamaru and Sakura during a ninja mission in which they are involved in a war between the Sunagakure village and a large number of armored warriors.^[89] Unlike its predecessor, Legend of the Stone of Gelel did not see a theatrical release in the United States, and was direct-to-video instead. It aired on Cartoon Network on July 26, 2008 and then was released to DVD July 29, 2008.^[90]
The third film, Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom, was originally released on August 5, 2006. It shows how Naruto, Sakura, Lee, and Kakashi are assigned to protect the future prince of the Land of Moon, Hikaru Tsuki.^[91] The English dub of the movie aired on Cartoon Network and was released to DVD on November 11, 2008.^[92][93] On July 3, 2008, Sony released a Japanese DVD Box containing the first three movies.^[94]
The series' fourth film, Naruto Shippuden: the Movie, was released on August 4, 2007, and chronicles Naruto's assignment to protect the priest Shion who starts having visions of his death.^[95] The fifth film, Naruto Shippuden The Movie: Bonds, was released on August 2, 2008. It tells how ninja from the Sky Country attack Konoha and to stop them, Naruto and Sasuke join forces although the latter has already left two years ago.^[96] The next film is Naruto Shippūden The Movie: Inheritors of the Will of Fire, which premiered in Japan on August 1, 2009.^[97] Naruto Shippuden The Movie: The Lost Tower followed it in Japan on July 31, 2010, while Naruto the Movie: Blood Prison was released on July 30, 2011.^[98] A new movie, Naruto the Movie: Road to Ninja was released on July 28, 2012.^[99]

Light novels

Three Naruto light novels, written by Masatoshi Kusakabe, have been published in Japan by Shueisha, while the first two were released in English in North America by Viz. The first, Naruto: Innocent Heart, Demonic Blood (白の童子、血風の鬼人^?), retells Team 7's mission in which they encounter the assassins Zabuza and Haku. It was released on December 16, 2002 in Japan and November 21, 2006 in North America.^[100][101] The second novel Naruto: Mission: Protect the Waterfall Village! (滝隠れの死闘　オレが英雄だってばよ！ Takigakure no Shitō Ore ga Eiyū dattebayo!^?, lit. The Waterfall Village's Fight to the Death I am the Hero!), based on the 2nd original video animation of the anime, was published on December 15, 2003 in Japan and October 16, 2007 in the United States.^[102][103] A novel titled Naruto: Tales of a Gutsy Ninja (NARUTO―ナルト―ド根性忍伝 Naruto: Dokonjō Ninden^?) was published on August 4, 2009. It's presented as the in-universe novel written by Naruto's master Jiraiya, and follows the adventures of a fictional shinobi named Naruto Musasabi, who served as Naruto's namesake.^[104] Novelizations of the two Naruto films, Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow and Blood Prison, have also been published in Japan.^[105][106]
Viz has also published new novels called Chapter Books written by Tracey West, and with illustrations from the manga. Unlike the series, the novels are aimed to children aged 7 to 10 years old.^[107] The first two novels were released on October 7, 2008 and currently at least 11 novel have been published.^{[108][109][110]}

Video games

Main article: List of Naruto video games

Naruto video games have appeared on various consoles from Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft. Most of them are fighting games in which the player controls one of a select few characters directly based upon their counterparts in the Naruto anime and manga. The player pits their character against another character controlled by the game's AI or by another player, depending on the mode that the player is in. The objective is to reduce the opponent's health to zero using basic attacks and special techniques unique to each character that are derived from techniques they use in the Naruto anime or manga.^[111] The very first Naruto video game was Naruto: Konoha Ninpōchō, which was released in Japan on March 27, 2003, for the WonderSwan Color.^[112] Most Naruto video games have been released only in Japan. The first games released outside Japan were the Naruto: Gekitou Ninja Taisen series and the Naruto: Saikyou Ninja Daikesshu series, released in North America under the titles of Naruto: Clash of Ninja and Naruto: Ninja Council.^[113][114] In January 2012, Namco Bandai announced that they have sold 10 million Naruto games worldwide.^[115]

Trading card game

Naruto Collectible Card Game (NARUTOカードゲーム Naruto Kādo Gēmu^?, lit. Naruto CardGame) is a collectible card game based around the Naruto series. Produced by Bandai, the game was first introduced in Japan in February 2003.^[116] Bandai began releasing the game in English in North America in April 2006.^[117] The game is played between two players requiring players use a customized deck of fifty cards from the set, a game mat, an item to act as a "turn marker" for noting whose turn it is, and a "Ninja Blade Coin" which is primarily used to flip for making decisions. In order to win, a player must either earn ten "battle rewards" through their actions in the game, or they must cause the other player to exhaust their deck.^[118]
The cards are released in named sets, called "series" in the form of four different 50-card preconstructed box sets.^[116][117] Each set includes a starter deck, the game mat, a turn-counter, and one stainless steel "Ninja Blade Coin". Additional cards are made available in 10-card booster packs, and deck sets, primarily for retailers, contain all four box sets available for each series. Cards for each set are also made available in collectible tins, containing several booster packs and exclusive promotional cards in a metal box.^[119] By October 2006, seventeen series had been released in Japan spanning 417 unique cards.^[116] As of August 2008, ten of these series have been released in North America.^[120]

Art and guidebooks

Several supplementary books of the Naruto series have been released. An artbook named The Art of Naruto: Uzumaki contains illustration from the Part I manga and was released in both Japan and the United States.^[121][122] For the Part II manga, an interactive book called PAINT JUMP: Art of Naruto was released by Shueisha on April 4, 2008.^[123] The latest artbook was published on July 3, 2009 under the name of Naruto with its English version released on October 26, 2010.^[124][125]
A series of guidebooks for the Part I called First Official Data Book (秘伝·臨の書キャラクターオフィシャルデータBOOK Hiden: Rin no Sho Character Official Data Book^?)^[126] and Second Official Data Book (秘伝·闘の書キャラクターオフィシャルデータBOOK Hiden: Tō no Sho Character Official Data Book^?)^[127] were released only in Japan focusing on Part I. The third databook, Character Official Data Book Hiden Sha no Sho (秘伝・者の書 ― キャラクターオフィシャルデータBOOK Hiden: Sha no Sho - Kyarakutā ofisharu dēta book ^?) was released on September 4, 2008, and adapted Part II from the manga.^[128] These books contain character profiles, Jutsu guides and drafts made by Kishimoto. The third book will be released by Viz on January 10, 2012.^[129] For the anime, a series of guidebook called Naruto anime profiles were also released. These books contain information about the production of the anime episodes and explanation of the characters designs.^[130] On October 4, 2002, it was released a manga fanbook named Secret: Writings from the Warriors Official Fanbook (秘伝・兵の書 ― オフィシャルファンBOOK Hiden: Hei no Sho - Ofisharu fan book^?).^[131] Viz published it in North America on February 19, 2008 under the name of Naruto: The Official Fanbook.^[132] Another fanbook was released to conmemmorate the series' 10th anniversary. It includes illustrations of Naruto Uzumaki by other manga artists, a novel, Kishimoto's one-shot named Karakuri and an interview between Kishimoto and Yoshihiro Togashi.^[133]

Reception

Manga

Naruto has been well received in both Japan and the United States. As of 2007, the manga has sold over 71 million copies in Japan,^[134] while in 2008 it increased to 89 million.^[135] In April 2010, Shueisha announced Naruto sold 100.4 million copies, becoming the fifth manga from Shueisha that sold more than 100 million.^[136] In 2011 its sales increased to over 113 million copies, and by February 2012 it had sold over 126.5 million, becoming Shueisha's fourth best-selling manga series.^[137][138] During 2008, volume 43 sold 1.1 million copies becoming the 9th best-selling comic from Japan. Volumes 41, 42 and 44 also ranked within the top 20, but had smaller sold copies.^[139] In total, the manga sold 4.2 million copies in Japan during 2008, becoming the 2nd best-selling series.^[140] In the first half from 2009, it ranked as the 3rd best-seller manga from Japan, having sold 3.4 million copies.^[141] In such period, volume 45 ranked 5th with 1.1 million sold copies, while volume 46 ranked 9th, having sold 864,708 copies and volume 44 at 40th place.^[142]
The Naruto manga series has become one of Viz's top properties,^[143] accounting for nearly 10% of all manga sales in 2006.^[144] Gonzalo Ferreyra, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Viz, noted that the volumes's sales of Naruto astonished him as the attrition on the series is relatively low.^[145] ICv2 has listed it as the top manga property from North America several times.^[146][147] The seventh volume of Viz's release became the first manga win a Quill Award when it claimed the award for "Best Graphic Novel" in 2006.^[144] The manga also appeared in the USA Today Booklist with volume 11 holding the title of the highest ranked manga series on the list, until it was surpassed by volume 28, which claimed the 17th rank in its first week of release in March 2008.^{[148][149][150]} Volume 28 also had one of the biggest debut weeks of any manga in years, becoming the top selling manga volume of 2008 as well as the second best-seller book in North America.^[151][152] During its release, volume 29 ranked #57, while the volume 28 had dropped to #139.^[153] In April 2007, volume 14 earned Viz the "Manga Trade Paperback of the Year" Gem Award from Diamond Comic Distributors.^[154] The manga series also became the top manga property from 2008 in the United States with 31 volumes having been published during the chart.^[155] Searches for the word "Naruto" were #7 on the Yahoo! web search engine's list of the top 10 most popular search terms of 2008, and #4 from 2007.^[156] Responding to Naruto's success, Kishimoto said in Naruto Collector Winter 2007/2008 that he was "very glad that the American audience has accepted and understood ninja. It shows that the American audience has good taste... because it means they can accept something previously unfamiliar to them."^[157]
The series has received praise and criticism by several reviewers. A. E. Sparrow from IGN noted how some manga volumes focus only in certain characters to the point the number of fans increases. He also praised the way that Kishimoto manages to make a remarkable combination of fighting scenes, comedy and good artwork.^[158] The anime and manga magazine Neo described Naruto's character as "irksome", but attributed the series' "almost sickening addictiveness" to its level of characterization.^[159] Carl Kimlinger from Anime News Network (ANN) praised the designs of the characters, since every one shows their unique way of acting and appearance. He also noted how even the "goofiest looking character" can act "damn cool" when he fights. However, Kimlinger noted that in some volumes there are several fights, so the plot is not able to develop, but he praised how each of the battles were emotional.^[160] The series has also been praised for remaining enjoyable after several volumes by Javier Lugo from mangalife, who also praised the antagonists as well as the fights scenes from the manga. Kishimoto's artwork was also commented by Lugo as it makes the story "dramatic, exciting, and just right for the story he’s telling".^[161] The start of Part II has been praised in another review by Casey Brienza from ANN. She noted how well the characters were developed as they had new appearances and abilities. Brienza also praised the balance between plot and action scenes allowing the readers the enjoy the volume. However, she noted that it is not frequent that all the volumes have the same quality.^[162] Briana Lawrence from Mania Entertainment added that in Part II, the manga feels "adult" due to the growth from various of the characters. However, Viz's translations were criticized for being "inconsistent" due to the change of some Japanese terms to English, while other words were left intact.^[163]
The Spanish webcomic author Jesús García Ferrer (JesuLink) created the parody webcomic Raruto, based on Naruto. As of 2008 about 40,000 people in Spain read Raruto.^[164]

Anime

In TV Asahi's latest top 100 Anime Ranking from October 2006, Naruto ranked 17th on the list.^[165] Naruto Shippuden has ranked several times as one of most watched series in Japan.^[166][167] The Naruto anime adaptation won the "Best Full-Length Animation Program Award" in the Third UStv Awards held in the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines.^[168] The first of the DVD compilations containing thirteen episodes, released by Viz was nominated at the American Anime Awards for best package design.^[169] It also ranked as the third best-seller anime property from all 2008.^[170] Naruto was named "Best Full Animated Program" at the USTv Student's Choice Awards 2009 held at the UST Medicine Auditorium on February 19, 2009.^[171] In ICv2's "Top 10 Anime Properties" from the first half of 2009, Naruto ranked as the second best anime franchise.^[172] The episodes from Naruto: Shippuden have appeared various times in Japanese Anime TV Ranking.^[173][174] DVD sales from Naruto: Shippuden have also been good, having appeared several times in the Japanese Animation DVD Ranking.^[175][176] The freely streamed episodes from Naruto: Shippuden have an average of 160,000 viewers a week.^[177] Naruto has also been 20th among shows and channels from Hulu in February from 2009. In Joost, it was first during the same month. In February, Naruto: Shippuden was first among the animated shows on Joost while Naruto stayed second.^[178]
The Naruto anime was listed as the 38th best animated show in IGN's Top 100 Animated Series.^[179] Reviewers noted that the primary focus of the series was on the fighting since they consider that the fight scenes are more dedicated than backgrounds. The music has also been noted to be a good match with the fighting scenes though it sometimes interferes with the dialogues.^[180] Martin Theron from ANN criticized the series for long fights, but he also noted that most of them break the "stereotypical shōnen concepts." The soundtracks have been praised for enhancing the excitement and mood of the storytelling.^[181] Although Christina Carpenter of T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews considered the characters from the series as "likeable", she commented that most of them did not surpass the "stereotypics" that appear in shōnen manga. She also considered Kishimoto "an average artist at best" and derided the poor transition of his artistic style into animation.^[182] Despite this, the second reviewer from T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews, Derrick L. Tucker, admitted that when the animators were at their best, they produced "artistic renderings that leave little to be desired on the part of fans of the manga", but concluded the animation was "a mixed bag". He also added that while fights were entertaining, due to the large number of them, the plot takes time to continue.^[183]
Naruto: Shippuden received a good response from Activeanime's David C. Jones who commented on the new character designs and the improved animation. Jones also felt the series to be more serious and dramatic.^[184] The series was noted by ANN to have a more serious tone, and a good balance between comedy and drama in the first original episodes made specifically for the TV series. Unlike the panned fillers from Naruto, Naruto: Shippuden's have been praised thanks to its likable storylines and connection with the main plot.^[185][186] While the pacing for the first episodes has been criticized for being slow, the delivery and development in the interactions between the characters has received positive comments.^[187][188]