I have, of course, heard very much about Naruto, and how popular it is, how many fans love the characters, etc. When I watched the first episode, however, I didn't find myself too impressed. Naruto seemed, frankly, like an annoying, bratty boy, and not too compelling of a hero. So I was wondering: Is Naruto really all that great?
If possible, I'd like to hear some specific reasons why or why not Naruto is worth watching hundreds of episodes for. I've also heard about Naruto Shippuden, where the characters are more of teenagers, rather than preteens. Is that better than the original? Does the original series need to be watched to comprehend Shippuden?
Thanks for your input!
Naruto: Worth My While?
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Naruto: Worth My While?
You can find out things about the past that you never knew. And from what you've learned, you may see some things differently in the present. You're the one that changes. Not the past.
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"There's a difference between maliciously offending somebody - on purpose - and somebody being offended by...truth. If you're offended by the truth, that's your problem. I have no obligation to not offend you if I'm speaking the truth. The truth is supposed to offend you; that's how you know you don't got it."
- Brad Stine
- Ellone, Final Fantasy VIII
"There's a difference between maliciously offending somebody - on purpose - and somebody being offended by...truth. If you're offended by the truth, that's your problem. I have no obligation to not offend you if I'm speaking the truth. The truth is supposed to offend you; that's how you know you don't got it."
- Brad Stine
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the_wolfs_howl - Posts: 3273
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Personally, I could never stick with the anime. A big part of the reason is that I too don't care much for Naruto as a character at all. However, the MAIN objection I have with the show is that it just doesn't work as well as the manga. Once the story finally gets moving it's actually really interesting, with a number of unexpected twists and some genuinely nice character development. Unfortunately, the realities of TV animation mean that the anime just can't do the action of the manga justice. Plus, all the flashbacks and explanations of various techniques really derail the pacing when you actually have to watch it in real time, they flow much more naturally on the printed page.
So, personally, I would say that you really should hunt down the manga, but the anime's not worth the trouble.
So, personally, I would say that you really should hunt down the manga, but the anime's not worth the trouble.
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Blitzkrieg1701 - Posts: 1884
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The anime? No, I don't think it's worth your time (at least I don't have the patience for the slow pacing). I would advocate more strongly for the manga, but even still it's far from the greatest series available. More specific reasons can be given if you like.
Shippuden is really just the continuation of the manga plot (after 100+ episodes the "first series" is all filler, which is generally agreed to be lesser in quality). The nature of the series is essentially unchanged. Reading the manga version of Shippuden, I'm not terribly impressed. Most of the new elements don't seem to flow naturally from the previous plot and just appear from nowhere.
It could, but being a weekly shonen anime it doesn't.
Shippuden is really just the continuation of the manga plot (after 100+ episodes the "first series" is all filler, which is generally agreed to be lesser in quality). The nature of the series is essentially unchanged. Reading the manga version of Shippuden, I'm not terribly impressed. Most of the new elements don't seem to flow naturally from the previous plot and just appear from nowhere.
Blitzkrieg1701 wrote:Unfortunately, the realities of TV animation mean that the anime just can't do the action of the manga justice.
It could, but being a weekly shonen anime it doesn't.
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uc pseudonym - Posts: 15506
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Before you take into the account of the opinions of the people who enjoy Naruto, make sure you're looking at what demographic they are.
That being said, Naruto isn't that impressive. I'd pass on it if I were you.
That being said, Naruto isn't that impressive. I'd pass on it if I were you.
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Mr. SmartyPants - Posts: 12541
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Sort of depends on what kind of series you like. It has some fun fights and characters, but is somewhat hampered by slow pacing(the first arc of the first series especially) and a very lengthy amount of filler episodes. I would suggest you check out the manga first.
Ignoring the flashbacks and such(which were a problem), I thought some of the fights were decently animated. And the Gainax-animated fights were pretty spectacular...
Actually, I believe most of the fans and so forth on the Internet are above that demographic regardless.
Unfortunately, the realities of TV animation mean that the anime just can't do the action of the manga justice. Plus, all the flashbacks and explanations of various techniques really derail the pacing when you actually have to watch it in real time, they flow much more naturally on the printed page.
Ignoring the flashbacks and such(which were a problem), I thought some of the fights were decently animated. And the Gainax-animated fights were pretty spectacular...
Before you take into the account of the opinions of the people who enjoy Naruto, make sure you're looking at what demographic they are.
Actually, I believe most of the fans and so forth on the Internet are above that demographic regardless.
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"Always seek to do good to one another and to all."
1 Thessalonians 5:15
"Every story must have an ending." - Auron - Final Fantasy X
"A small stone may make a ripple at first, but someday it will be a wave." - Wiegraf - Final Fantasy Tactics
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MasterDias - Posts: 2714
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I personally don't like Naruto the series that much, but the Naruto Abridged series is hilarious! (It's basically a parody of the series --worth looking up.)
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Sheenar - Posts: 2989
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Naruto is a decent shonen series for about the first...120/130 episodes. after that, you are bombarded with about 100 pointless filler episodes. the series begins to take a turn for the worst as we begin to fully realize how much of a cliched series Naruto really is. characters are constantly trying to grow stronger. this is an incredibly overused formula that i refer to as "the DBZ formula" (if you've seen the series, then you know what i'm talking about). like i said earlier, the series begins to focus purely on the main characters growing stronger by learning some "new special ultimate technique that cannot be topped" to defeat their enemy. unfortunately, that technique will sooner or later be topped. and the whole cycle of learning ANOTHER new technique begins. the progression of the plot grows utterly slow. more and more and more characters are introduced. things really grow out of hand. like i said, the first...120/130 episodes prove to be decent. after that, things go down the drain...
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[SIZE="1"]
"Sometimes we don't present the Gospel well enough for the non-elect to reject it."
- John MacArthur
"In the total expanse of the human life, there is not a single square inch of which Christ, who alone is sovereign, does not declare, 'That is mine'."
- Abraham Kuyper
"God the great Creator of all things doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things, from the greatest even to the least, by His most wise and holy providence, according to His infallible foreknowledge and the free and immutable counsel of His own will, to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercy."
- Westminister Confession of Faith (Chapter 5, Section 1)
"The wisdom of God has found a way for the love of God to deliver sinners from the wrath of God all the while upholding the righteousness of God!!"
- John Piper
"Grace is the pleasure of God to magnify the worth of God by giving sinners the right and power to delight in God without obscuring the glory of God!"
-John Piper
"The very One from Whom we need to be saved, is the One Who has saved us."
- R.C. Sproul
"All of Christian life is ceaseless worship of God the Father, through the mediatorship of God the Son, by the indwelling power of God the Spirit, doing what God commands in Scripture, not doing what God forbids in Scripture, in culturally contextualized ways, for the furtherance of the Gospel, when both gathered for adoration, and scattered for action, in joyous response to God's glorious grace."
- Mark Driscoll
"Believers do not pray with the view of informing God about things unknown to Him, or of exciting Him to do His duty, or of urging Him as though He were reluctant. On the contrary, they pray in order that they may arouse themselves to seek Him, that they may exercise their faith in meditating on His promises, that they may relieve themselves from their anxieties by pouring them into His bosom; in a word, that they may declare that from Him alone they hope and expect, both for themselves and for others, all good things."
- Martin Luther
"I have to tell you first that I am ready to die. I have put my affairs in order. Your supreme weapon is killing. My supreme weapon is dying, because when you kill me, people all over Romania will read my books and believe on the God that I preach - even more than they do now."
- Dr. Joseph Ton, the exiled Romanian pastor (quoted by James Montgomery Boice)
"The best prayer I ever prayed had enough sin in it to condemn the whole world."
- John Bunyan
"If the Christian has lost sight of Calvary, that shows that he has lost his way."
- J.I. Packer[/SIZE]
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jon_jinn - Posts: 3261
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Personally, I really like this anime. Granted, there's way too much filler, so it might be a better idea to read the manga, but, in regards to your initial impression, the character Naruto does grow and mature, and the series gets better. Try to skip the filler, or just read the manga, and yeah, it's good. But don't watch the dub, as the first 30-ish episodes were really bad.
Anyway, check it out, definitely. It's one of my favorites, but I like that style of anime.
Anyway, check it out, definitely. It's one of my favorites, but I like that style of anime.
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Yokuo - Posts: 380
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Naruto is mostly for kids. Is it better than DBZ? Yeah, probably. That doesn't really mean a whole lot though.
I wouldn't waste my hours on it.
I wouldn't waste my hours on it.
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Godly Paladin - Posts: 2016
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Sheenar wrote:I personally don't like Naruto the series that much, but the Naruto Abridged series is hilarious! (It's basically a parody of the series --worth looking up.)
Is that like "Fullmetal Alchemist: the Artisically Abridged Series" done by the Artistic Men?
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"Do not underestimate the power of the muffin! The muffin will smite all those who question it! The muffin will crush all nay-sayers! He who controls the muffin shall control the entire world!" -Taishi, Comic Party English Dub
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AsianBlossom - Posts: 1376
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I actually like that version better then the original....but then again, I stopped watching Naruto after the 8th episode becuase I just couldn't take the pace (which is odd, cuase I'm often fine with slow pacing...as long as the plot keeps getting better) as well as the bratty, imature attitudes of the main characters.....Even something like Sonic X is easier to enjoy in the long run then this.....at least that's my opinion.....
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Danderson - Posts: 1277
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AsianBlossom wrote:Is that like "Fullmetal Alchemist: the Artisically Abridged Series" done by the Artistic Men?
I'm suddenly curious too. I loved their parodies.
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Alexander - Posts: 877
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I'll say this:
If you even REMOTELY enjoyed DragonBall Z, then chances are good you'll enjoy Naruto.
If you even REMOTELY enjoyed DragonBall Z, then chances are good you'll enjoy Naruto.
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KhakiBlueSocks - Posts: 2675
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Thanks, everyone, for your input! I think I'll check out the manga - I gave the anime a chance, so I might as well give the manga a chance as well. And if I don't like that either, then it'll just be one of those things, I guess.
I've never heard of this, but it sounds really interesting. Where can I get ahold of it, or find out more?
AsianBlossom wrote:Is that like "Fullmetal Alchemist: the Artisically Abridged Series" done by the Artistic Men?
I've never heard of this, but it sounds really interesting. Where can I get ahold of it, or find out more?
You can find out things about the past that you never knew. And from what you've learned, you may see some things differently in the present. You're the one that changes. Not the past.
- Ellone, Final Fantasy VIII
"There's a difference between maliciously offending somebody - on purpose - and somebody being offended by...truth. If you're offended by the truth, that's your problem. I have no obligation to not offend you if I'm speaking the truth. The truth is supposed to offend you; that's how you know you don't got it."
- Brad Stine
- Ellone, Final Fantasy VIII
"There's a difference between maliciously offending somebody - on purpose - and somebody being offended by...truth. If you're offended by the truth, that's your problem. I have no obligation to not offend you if I'm speaking the truth. The truth is supposed to offend you; that's how you know you don't got it."
- Brad Stine
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the_wolfs_howl - Posts: 3273
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