About Naruto

Naruto is a Japanese manga series turned TV show written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto. It tells the story of Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja who seeks recognition from his peers and dreams of becoming the Hokage, the leader of his village. The show is a mix of comedy, adventure, and drama, exploring themes of friendship, rivalry, and the eternal quest for identity and purpose.

Making / Production

Naruto was first adapted into an anime series by Studio Pierrot and Aniplex, which aired 220 episodes in Japan from 2002-2007. An English adaptation by Viz Media aired in the United States from 2005-2009. The series was followed by Naruto: Shippuden, a sequel to the original series, which aired from 2007-2017.

Actors

• Junko Takeuchi as Naruto Uzumaki: Infused the character with both the spunk and vulnerability of an outcast trying to prove his worth.
• Noriaki Sugiyama as Sasuke Uchiha: Perfectly captured the character's cool demeanor and inner turmoil.
• Chie Nakamura as Sakura Haruno: Portrayed Sakura's growth from a naive girl into a mature and strong kunoichi.
• Kazuhiko Inoue as Kakashi Hatake: Effortlessly conveyed the mentor role with a blend of wit and wisdom.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The name 'Naruto' can mean 'maelstrom', and is also the name for a sliced stick of fishcake with a pink whirlpool design, which is used in ramen – Naruto's favorite food.
• Despite certain characters having their symbols and logos, The Uzumaki Clan's is the most shown throughout the series. It is even on the back every single flak jackets.
• In total, there are 720 episodes of Naruto (including Naruto Shippuden), making it one of the longest-running anime series.

Awards

The TV series has won several awards, including "Best Full-length Animation Program Award" in the Third UStv Awards and "Best Anime TV Series Award" at the American Anime Awards.

Quotes

• "I'm not gonna run away, I never go back on my word! That's my ninja way." - Naruto Uzumaki
• "The next generation will always surpass the previous one. It’s one of the never-ending cycles in life." - Kakashi Hatake
• "You have the same eyes as I do...the eyes, filled with hatred and death, that long for strength. Just like mine. Your eyes tell the story of a dead man... " - Sasuke Uchiha

Music, Soundtrack

• "Rocks" by Hound Dog: The first opening theme.
• "Wind" by Akeboshi: The first ending theme and one of the most iconic songs from the Naruto soundtrack.
• "Go!!!" by FLOW: A fan-favorite opening theme from the Chunin Exams arc.
• "Sadness and Sorrow": A instrumental track often played during the series' most emotional moments.