Naruto is one of the big three anime, and it is extremely popular, having been a part of many people’s childhood. The anime was adapted from a manga series of the same name, and it was written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto.
The series was originally published in Shueisha’s Shounen Manga magazine Weekly Shounen Jump from 1999 to 2014. The anime initially premiered in Japan on October 3, 2002. The series ran for 220 episodes and was followed by a sequel series, Naruto Shippuden, which ran for 500 episodes from 2007 to 2017.
The series has been a huge success, with the manga having sold over 250 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling manga series of all time. The anime series has also been popular, with the first series being one of the most-watched anime series in Japan.
The series has been adapted into numerous video games and feature films, and it has continued to be one of the top anime to have been made. Naruto’s spin-off manga series Boruto which follows the life of Boruto, Naruto’s son, was published in May 2016 under the title Naruto: The Next Generation. The series was adapted into an anime, and the first episode was aired in 2017.
How Many Seasons Are There In Naruto?
Naruto’s original series, which was released in 2002, has a total of 5 seasons and 220 episodes. The story follows a young ninja called Naruto who has lived his life being shunned by other ninjas in the Hidden Leaf Village.
When he was born, the soul of a spirit-monster, Kurama, was trapped in Naruto’s body, and the other villagers were terrified of Naruto due to his unique existence. Having been called a monster all his life, Naruto was determined to become the Hokage of the village so that everyone would finally acknowledge his strength and he could have a place where he belonged.
After many hardships and unlikely friendships, Naruto ended after the death of the 4th Hokage and his friend and rival Sasuke’s disappearance. Soon after, Naruto: Shippuden was released, which continued our favorite protagonist’s life. Naruto: Shippuden had 21 seasons and a total of 500 episodes. The entire Naruto series has 720 episodes that are compiled into 26 seasons.
Naruto grows into a teenager in Naruto: Shippuden, where he trains under the Great Sage Jiraya and gains more power and skills. Naruto also becomes somewhat successful in controlling the Nine-tailed Fox Kurama’s chakra and losing control when he is agitated.
The risk of Kurama completely engulfing Naruto in his moments of mental weakness continues to persist, and the threat looming over all Jinchurikis becomes more and more evident. We are also introduced to the nefarious Akatsuki, the history of Uchiha Clan, and the great shinobi Madara’s ultimate plan.
Is Naruto Worth Watching?
Naruto is a long-running franchise with over 700 episodes, filled with adrenaline-fueled action scenes, and it also addresses social issues and emotions. Naruto has great worldbuilding that has enticed the viewers with the different Shinobi villages and skills.
The series has a diverse cast of characters that have their own unique personalities, like the optimistic and simple-minded Naruto, eccentric Rock Lee, shy and under-confident Hinata, and many others. The most popular characters of the series include the talented Kakashi, heroes like Naruto and Jiraya, and even villains like Pain, Obito, and Madara have their own convoluted history.
The series is exciting and well-animated, and the story is continuously moving forward with tons of twists and turns that make it engaging. Even though the series is quite long, Naruto doesn’t feel repetitive, with our characters trying to be the best version of themselves.
Just like a lot of other Shounen series, Naruto has an underwhelming importance and representation of strong female characters. The kunoichis that are featured in the series are shown to be weak and helpless and are even disliked by the overall community. The female characters have a minimal role overall, which can be off-putting for a lot of people.
Even with its flaws, Naruto remains one of the most popular anime, and its fanbase still continues to grow and expand. The series has a thrilling story and an immersive world that has the ability to captivate readers. It is a series worth watching if you want a simple yet emotional action anime filled with fantasy elements and unique powers.
Naruto: Where to Watch?
Naruto is available to watch on a number of streaming platforms like Crunchyroll, Netflix, Hulu, and Funimation for both Sub and Dub watchers.
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