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 | |
| Demographic | Shōnen |
| Magazine | Akamaru Jump |
| English magazine | |
| Published | 1997 |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Masashi Kishimoto |
| Published by | Shueisha |
| English publisher | |
| Demographic | Shōnen |
| Magazine | Weekly Shōnen Jump |
| English magazine | |
| Original run | November 1999 – ongoing |
| Volumes | 64 |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Hayato Date |
| Written by | Katsuyuki Sumisawa Junki Takegami |
| Music by | Musashi Project Toshio Masuda |
| Studio | Studio Pierrot |
| Licensed by | |
| Network | Animax, TV Tokyo |
| English network | |
| Original run | October 3, 2002 – February 8, 2007 |
| Episodes | 220 |
| Novel | |
| Naruto: Innocent Heart, Demonic Blood | |
| Written by | Masatoshi Kusakabe |
| Published by | Shueisha |
| English publisher | |
| Published | 2002 |
| Original video animation | |
| Naruto: Find the Four-Leaf Red Clover! | |
| Studio | Studio Pierrot |
| Licensed by | |
| Released | 2003 |
| Runtime | 17 minutes |
| Original video animation | |
| Naruto: Mission: Protect the Waterfall Village! | |
| Studio | Studio Pierrot |
| Licensed by | |
| Released | 2004 |
| Runtime | 40 minutes |
| Original video animation | |
| Naruto: Hidden Leaf Village Grand Sports Festival | |
| Directed by | Hayato Date |
| Studio | Studio Pierrot |
| Licensed by | |
| 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 | |
| Network | Animax, TV Tokyo |
| English network | |
| Original run | February 15, 2007 – ongoing |
| Episodes | 304 |
| Related works | |
|
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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 |
|
|
(by Hound Dog) |
|
|
(by Akeboshi) |
|
|
|
(by Asian Kung-Fu Generation) |
|
|
(by Rhythm) |
|
|
|
(by Little by Little) |
|
|
(by Orange Range) |
|
|
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(by Raiko) |
|
|||
|
|
(by FLOW ) |
|
|
(by The Mass Missile) |
|
|
|
(by Tia) |
|
|||
|
|
(by Sambomaster) |
|
|
(by Captain Stridum) |
|
|
|
(by GagagaSP) |
|
|||
|
|
(by Stance Punks) |
|
|
(by No Regret Life) |
|
|
|
(by Analog Fish) |
|
|||
|
|
(by Snorkel) |
|
|
(by Amadori) |
|
|
|
(by Chaba) |
|
|||
|
|
(by FLOW) |
|
|
(by Akeboshi) |
|
|
|
(by Ore Ska Band) |
|
|||
|
|
(by Hearts Grow) |
|
|
(by Saboten) |
|
Naruto: Shippuden
Main article: List of Naruto: Shippuden episodes
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 |
|
|
(by nobodyknows+) |
|
|
(by HOME MADE Kazoku) |
|
|
|
(by alüto) |
|
|||
|
|
(by LONG SHOT PARTY) |
|
|
(by little by little) |
|
|
|
(by MATCHY with QUESTION?) |
|
|||
|
|
(by Ikimono Gakari) |
|
|
(by Surface) |
|
|
|
(by NICO Touches the Walls) |
|
|||
|
|
(by Joe Inoue) |
|
|
(by HALCALI) |
|
|
|
(by Dev Parade) |
|
|||
|
|
(by Ikimono Gakari) |
|
|
(by Super Beaver) |
|
|
|
(by Seamo) |
|
|||
|
|
(by FLOW) |
|
|
(by Kishidan) |
|
|
|
(by AZU) |
|
|||
|
|
(by Motohiro Hata) |
|
|
(by Ore Ska Band) |
|
|
|
(by Supercell) |
|
|||
|
|
(by NICO Touches the Walls) |
|
|
(by Domino) |
|
|
|
(by Aqua Timez) |
|
|||
|
|
(by 7 ~seven oops~) |
|
|
(by HOME MADE Kazoku) |
|
|
|
(by OKAMOTO'S) |
|
|||
|
|
(by tacica) |
231-256 |
|
(by TOTALFAT) |
|
|
|
(by HEMENWAY) |
|
|||
|
|
(by THE CRO-MAGNONS) |
|
|
(by UNLIMITS) |
|
|
|
(by AISHA Feat. CHENON) |
|
|||
|
|
(by Daisuke) |
|
|
(by MUCC) |
|
|
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(by 7!! ~seven oops~) |
|
|||
|
|
(by NICO Touches the Walls) |
|
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(by DISH//) |
|
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
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]
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