What the heck is Naruto?

[DreadPirateMurphy]

So, it is impossible to cruise YouTube without running into a hundred vids associated with something called Naruto. My knowledge of Anime is pretty limited, so could somebody explain this to me?

 

[KenM]

From what I saw on a Video game based on it reviewed on G4, its about a kid that wants to be a stealthy ninja, wearing a bright orange tracksuit.

 

[Filby]

From what I understand, it's pretty much the #1 most popular cartoon in Japan amongst the preteen set, and its popularity has carried over to the States.

 

[trancejeremy]

Wikipedia explains this pretty well

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NARUTO

Except exactly why it's so popular. Other than it's about a ninja.

 

[ThirdWizard]

It's popular becuase it has neat characters and cool fight scenes with a decent plot.

You'd be surprised how hard that is to find.

Oh yeah, and it starts getting really really bad around episode 150.

 

[Nightfall]

Well the anime sure, since they do all that filler...but at least the manga is interesting. If the anime ever gets there.

Also check out this link Jetstream!

It can show you the first ep.

 

[Chain Lightning]

Naruto is a pretty fun anime show and manga comic.

Be careful on how you taste test it though because there are two versions. The edited watered down version and the original version. I recommend the unedited. First box set of the first 13 episodes just came out on DVD here in the States. I think its called Naruto Uncut Box DVD or something along those lines. If you're gonna rent or netflix it, get that one.

I hear it gets a little too Dragon Ball Z-ish with filler and things that stretch out the fight, after episode 100 or so....but yet, a ton of people watch it....so must be something to it.

Me? I've only seen the first 13 episodes from the uncut box set. I'm hooked for now. Why do I like it? Well, to keep it short....I'd say its got the same appeal that Harry Potter does. Mundane school life spiced up by a cooler premise. Something we all wished our school life was like instead. Except instead of a wizard school...its ninja school. Another reason why I like Naruto is because the fight scenes are well written. Instead of most fight scenes in cartoons (and even in live-action) with people with powers that have inconsistant and unimaginative battles....Naruto fights are clever.

 

[Mad Mac]

Naruto is fun, at least up to the point I've seen it. One thing I think it has going for it is the "1,001 cool ninja ideas" effect. Naruto makes good use of it's background characters, to the point where you'll see side characters you thought were just filler start kicking serious arse and be like "Whoa, he's actually cool--and so's she!"

It helps a lot that Naruto himself is sort of an anti-goku. He doesn't dominate the action and hog all the fights for himself, to the point where it's actually kind of a treat when he stops fumbling around and really gets his ninja-mojo on from time to time.

 

[sniffles]

It helps a lot that Naruto himself is sort of an anti-goku. He doesn't dominate the action and hog all the fights for himself, to the point where it's actually kind of a treat when he stops fumbling around and really gets his ninja-mojo on from time to time.

That's good, because from what little I've seen he's the most annoying character on the show.

The character designs are pretty interesting. It's like they jumbled up styles from a bunch of different types and eras of anime.

 

[Nightfall]

Well Naruto can be obnoxious and certainly he's not the brightest bulb in the history of shinobi, but he makes up for it by heart, determination and certainly never willing to quit.

Course while I like Naruto (the character) Kakashi is my hero.