Boruto: Naruto Next Generations

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations

Cover of the first manga volume featuring Sarada Uchiha, Boruto Uzumaki, and Mitsuki
ボルト
Genre Action, Comedy, Fantasy
Manga
Written by Ukyō Kodachi
Illustrated by Mikio Ikemoto
Published by Shueisha
English publisher
Demographic Shōnen
Imprint Jump Comics
Magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump
English magazine
Original run May 9, 2016 – present
Volumes 3
Anime television series
Directed by
Written by
Music by
Studio Pierrot
Licensed by
Original network TV Tokyo
Original run April 5, 2017 – present
Episodes 19
Anime film

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations (Japanese: BORUTO-ボルト- NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS) is a Japanese manga series written by Ukyō Kodachi and illustrated by Mikio Ikemoto. Serialized in Shueisha's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump, Boruto is a spin-off of and sequel to Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto, and follows the exploits of Naruto Uzumaki's son Boruto and his ninja team while following a path to follow once they grow up. An anime television series adaptation directed by Noriyuki Abe started airing on TV Tokyo on April 5, 2017. Unlike the manga that started as a retelling of the film Boruto: Naruto the Movie, the Boruto anime acts like a prequel, before Boruto and his friends became ninjas.

Critical reception to the series has been largely positive with most critics liking the traits of the main characters, most notably Boruto who, while resembling his father Naruto, still has different reasons making pranks and at the same time bonds with others. Pierrot's anime prequel also earned praised for its use of both new and returning characters. Nevertheless, Shueisha shipped a million units of the manga series as of January 2017.

Plot

Years later after the Fourth Great Ninja War, Naruto Uzumaki achieves his dream of becoming the Seventh Hokage, after he and Hinata Hyuga married, and now oversees a new generation in the Ninja World. They have two children: Boruto and Himawari. Boruto has become part of a ninja team led by Naruto's protege Konohamaru Sarutobi, along with Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno's daughter Sarada, and Orochimaru's artificial son Mitsuki. Feeling that Naruto is placing his duties over his family, Boruto becomes upset at him for missing Himawari's birthday. Boruto meets Sasuke, when he returns to the village to warn Naruto about the impending threat. Boruto manages to convince Sasuke to teach the Rasengan to him for the upcoming Chunin Exam. Boruto uses Katasuke's inventing device called the Kote, but Naruto disqualifies Boruto for cheating the exam. The two have an argument until Momoshiki and Kinshiki Ōtsutsuki, the figures Sasuke warned Naruto of, appear and abduct Naruto, so they can use Kurama, a creature sealed inside his body, to revitalize the dying Shinju from the dimension which they came from.

Seeing his father risking his life to protect everyone, the repentant Boruto convinces Sasuke and the Five Kages to join them to make amends for Naruto. After Boruto, Sasuke and the Kages arrive in the other dimension to save Naruto, Momoshiki turns Kinshiki into a chakra fruit and he ingests to increase his strength, overpowering everyone due to Katasuke's interference. As Sasuke distracts Momoshiki, a weakened Naruto lends his remaining chakra to Boruto and he uses a giant Rasengan to defeat Momoshiki. Though dying, noting his killer's untapped potential, Momoshiki lives long enough to have a private discussion with Boruto and warns him that he soon will face much tribulation later on in his life. Without knowing what the future holds for him, Boruto accepts his fate.

Production

A countdown website was used under the name of "Next Generation" in order to promote the new manga. After its ending in December 2015, it was announced Boruto: Naruto Next Generations's serialization.[1] Masashi Kishimoto said that he wanted Boruto to surpass his own work.[2] Artist Mikio Ikemoto has been working as an assistant for Kishimoto ever since Naruto's early chapters whereas writer Ukyō Kodachi has been a writer for Gaara's light novel, Gaara Hiden, and assisted Kishimoto in writing the script of the movie Boruto: Naruto the Movie.[3][4]

Despite being more light than Naruto, the series begins by showing a dark scenario which the series would soon get to it. While Kishimoto is not writing the series, he created multiple characters for the staff to use, thinking Boruto will become more interesting thanks to them.[5] While not specifying whether Naruto or another important character will die, Kishimoto commented he finds this type of situation interesting due to the impact it could probably happen in the scenario and most notably Boruto, clarifying it would give the authors more freedom.[6]

Media

Manga

Written by Ukyō Kodachi and illustrated by Mikio Ikemoto, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations launched in the twenty-third issue of Shueisha's manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump on May 9, 2016. Original series creator Masashi Kishimoto is supervising the series illustrated by his former assistant and written by his co-writer of the Boruto: Naruto the Movie screenplay.[7] A spin-off manga titled Boruto: Saikyo Dash Generations (BORUTO-ボルト- SAIKYO DASH GENERATIONS) has been written by Kenji Taira and serialized in Saikyō Jump since the May 2017 issue.

Volumes

No.TitleJapanese releaseEnglish release
1Boruto Uzumaki!!
Uzumaki Boruto!! (うずまきボルト!!)		August 4, 2016[8]
ISBN 978-4-08-880756-0		April 4, 2017[9]
ISBN 978-1-4215-9211-4
  1. "Uzumaki Boruto!!" (うずまきボルト!!, Uzumaki Boruto!!)
  2. "The Training Begins!!" (修行開始!!, Shūgyō Kaishi!!)
  3. "The Chunin Exam Begins!!" (中忍試験開始!!, Chūnin Shiken Kaishi!!)
Naruto: The Path Lit by the Full Moon (NARUTO−ナルト−外伝 ～満ちた月が照らす道～, Naruto Gaiden: Michita Tsuki ga Terasu Michi)
2Stupid Old Man!!
Kuso Oyaji…!! (クソオヤジ…!!)		December 2, 2016[10]
ISBN 978-4-08-880827-7		September 5, 2017[11]
ISBN 978-1-4215-9584-9
  1. "Stupid Old Man!!" (クソオヤジ…!!, Kuso Oyaji…!!)
  2. "Momoshiki and Kinshiki!!" (モモシキとキンシキ!!, Momoshiki to Kinshiki!!)
  3. "Buffoon" (ウスラトンカチ, Usuratonkachi)
  4. "Collision...!!" (激突…!!, Gekitotsu…!!)
3My Story!!
Ore no monogatari...!! (オレの物語...!!)		May 2, 2017[12]
ISBN 978-4-08-881078-2		March 6, 2018[13]
ISBN 978-1-4215-9822-2
  1. "You'll Need to Do It" (お前がやるんだ, Omae ga yarunda)
  2. "You Remind Me Of..." (まるでお前は, Marude omae wa)
  3. "My Story!!" (オレの物語...！！, Ore no monogatari...!!)
  4. "A New Mission!!" (新たな任務！！, Aratana ninmu)

Chapters not yet in tankōbon format

These chapters have yet to be published in a tankōbon volume. They were originally serialized in Japanese in issues of Weekly Shōnen Jump.

  1. "Friends...!!" (友達...!!, Tomodachi...!!)
  2. "The Value of a Trump Card!!" (切り札の価値!!, Kirifuda no Kachi!!)
  3. "Teamwork...!!" (チームワーク...!!, Chimuwaaku...!!)

Anime

At the Naruto and Boruto stage event at Jump Festa on December 17, 2016, it was announced that the manga series would be receiving an anime project,[14] which was later confirmed to be an anime television series adaptation that will feature an original story.[15][16] The anime series, supervised by series creator Ukyō Kodachi, will be co-directed by Noriyuki Abe and Hiroyuki Yamashita, with series composition by Makoto Uezu, animation produced by Pierrot, character designs by Tetsuya Nishio and Hirofumi Suzuki, and music co-composed by Yasuharu Takanashi and -yaiba-. It premiered on TV Tokyo on April 5, 2017.[17] Viz Media has licensed the series in North America.[18] From episodes 1-onwards the opening theme is "Baton Road" by KANA-BOON. From episodes 1-13, the first ending theme is "Dreamy Journey" by The Peggies. From episodes 14-onwards the second ending theme is "Sayonara Moon Town" by Scenario Art.[19]

Light novels

A novel titled The New Konoha Ninja Flying In the Blue Sky! (青天を翔る新たな木の葉たち!Se, iten o Kakeru Aratana Konoha-tachi!) was released on May 2, 2017.[20] A second one was released on July 4, 2017 under the title of A Call From the Shadows! (影からの呼び声!, Kage Kara no Yobigoe!).[21]A third novel will be released on September 4, 2017.[22]

Reception

The manga has been generally well received in Japan, with the compilations appearing as topsellers multiple times.[23][24][25] It also has one million copies in print as of January 2017.[26] The manga's first volume has also sold well in North America.[27] Rebecca Silverman from Anime News Network admitted Boruto appealed to her despite having never gotten into the Naruto manga. She praised how the writers managed to deal with the protagonist's angst without coming across as "teen whining" as well as how Sasuke Uchiha decides to train him. Amy McNulty found it appealing to fans of the original Naruto series, stating that while Mitsuki does not have a large role in the story, the sidestory helps to expand his origins. Nik Freeman, another writer from the same site, criticized Boruto's lack of development when comparing him with his first introduction in the Naruto's finale and there were multiple differences as to why both the young Naruto and Boruto vandalized their city. Nevertheless, Freeman also liked Mitsuki's backstory as he did not feel it rehashed stories from the past.[28] Reviewing, the first chapter online, Chris Beveridge from the Fandom Post was more negative, complaining more about the large focus between Naruto and Boruto's poor relationship, the rehash elements of Boruto: Naruto the Movie and criticized the adaptation of Kishimoto's artwork. Nevertheless, she praised the relationship between Naruto and Sasuke as well as the foreshadowing of an older Boruto fight.[29] Melina Dargis from the same site reviewed the first volume, commenting she was looking forward to the development of the characters despite having already watched the Boruto movie and was also pleased by seeing Mitsuki's role in his own sidestory.[30] Leroy Douresseaux from Comic Book Bin recommended it to Naruto fans, explaining how the new authors managed to use the first volume to establish the protagonists' personalities.[31]

The anime was popular with Japanese readers of Charapedia who voted it the ninth best anime show of Spring 2017.[32] IGN writer Sam Stewart enjoyed the focus of the new generation of ninjas and their differences from the previous generation, praising the return of other characters like Toneri as well as famous "Eye Techniques".[33] Crunchyroll's Naruto expert and Brand Manager, Victoria Holden, joined once to discuss whether Next Generations could live up to the success of the old series while still reviewing previous episodes of the series.[34] Stewart enjoyed the characterization of both Shikadai Nara and Metal Lee seeing their relationship and accidental fight as interesting to watch, and that Next Generations managed to improve itself with each episode.[35] Beveridge enjoyed the series' first episode, remarking he felt Boruto's characterization was superior to the one from the manga.[36] In a more comical article, Geek.com writer Tim Tomas compared Boruto with the series The Legend of Korra as, while sharing themes with its prequels, they were still different.[37] Sarah Nelkin considered Boruto as a more lighthearted version of Naruto series but Amy McNulty from ANN acclaimed its 13th episode for the focus on a subplot that has been developing ever since its first episode and how the revelation of it made the series darker.[38][39] Stewart agreed with McNulty, commenting on how the developers reached the climax of the anime's first story arc as well as the characterization of the revealed villain which impressed the reviewer.[40] Allega Frank from Polygon noted that during the start of both the manga and anime, multiple fans were worried in regards to a flashforward; in this sequence an older Boruto is facing an enemy named Kawaki who implies Naruto might be dead so his fate left them worried.[41]

References

  1. ↑ "Viz's English Shonen Jump to Publish New Boruto Manga, 1-Shot". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Boruto Manga Gets Anime Project in April 2017". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  3. ↑ Kishimoto, Masashi (2005). Naruto, volume 6. Viz Media. p. 106. ISBN 978-1-59116-739-6.
  4. ↑ "Boruto -Naruto the Movie- Reveals Naruto, Sasuke Designs". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Jump Festa 2017 Interview – Masashi Kishimoto And The Future Of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations!". Otakukart. January 31, 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  6. ↑ Aschcraft, Brian (May 8, 2017). "Sounds Like Naruto's Creator Just Talked About Killing Off A Character". Kotaku. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Naruto Spinoff Manga Boruto Launches on May 9". Anime News Network. March 14, 2016. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
  8. ↑ BORUTO―ボルト―　　1 [Boruto: Naruto Next Generations 1]. Shueisha (in Japanese). Retrieved December 26, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Boruto, Vol. 1: Naruto Next Generations". Amazon.com. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
  10. ↑ BORUTO―ボルト―　　2 [Boruto: Naruto Next Generations 2]. Shueisha (in Japanese). Retrieved December 26, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Boruto, Vol. 2: Naruto Next Generations". Amazon.com. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
  12. ↑ BORUTO―ボルト― 3 [Boruto: Naruto Next Generations 3]. Shueisha (in Japanese). Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Boruto, Vol. 3: Naruto Next Generations". Amazon.com. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Boruto Manga Gets Anime Project in April 2017". Anime News Network. December 17, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Anime Reveals Promo Video, Key Visual, Returning Cast (Updated)". Anime News Network. December 17, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  16. ↑ "Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Anime Features Original Story". Anime News Network. January 26, 2017. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  17. ↑ "Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Anime Reveals More Cast, Staff". Anime News Network. February 23, 2017. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  18. ↑ "Viz Media Licenses Boruto TV Anime, Plans Simulcast (Updated)". Anime News Network. March 23, 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  19. ↑ "Scenario Art Performs New Ending Theme For Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Anime". Anime News Network. June 1, 2017. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  20. ↑ "TVアニメと連動した忍者学校での物語を小説化！『BORUTO -ボルト- -NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS- NOVEL 1』本日発売！" (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  21. ↑ "『BORUTO -ボルト- -NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS- NOVEL2』7月4日発売！マンガ本編の前日譚！アカデミー編ノベライズ第二弾が登場！" (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  22. ↑ "『BORUTO -ボルト- -NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS- NOVEL3』9月4日発売！マンガ本編の前日譚！ＴＶアニメでは明かされなかった委員長・スミレの物語、収録！" (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
  23. ↑ "Japanese Comic Ranking, May 22-28". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  24. ↑ "Japanese Comic Ranking, December 12-18". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  25. ↑ "Japanese Comic Ranking, August 1-7". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  26. ↑ "Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Anime Features Original Story". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  27. ↑ "TOP 300 GRAPHIC NOVELS ACTUAL--APRIL 2017". ICv2. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  28. ↑ "The Spring 2017 Manga Guide Boruto Vol. 1". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  29. ↑ "Boruto Chapter #1 Manga Review". The Fandom Post. May 10, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  30. ↑ "Boruto Vol. #01 Manga Review". The Fandom Post. May 19, 2017. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  31. ↑ "Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Volume 1 manga review". Comic Book Bin. April 3, 2017. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  32. ↑ "Japanese Fans Choose the Spring 2017 Anime Worth Watching". Otaku USA. May 7, 2017. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  33. ↑ "BORUTO: NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS EPISODE 8: "THE DREAM'S REVELATION" REVIEW". IGN. May 25, 2017. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  34. ↑ "CAN BORUTO LIVE UP TO NARUTO'S LEGACY?". IGN. May 25, 2017. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  35. ↑ "BORUTO: NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS EPISODE 3: "METAL LEE GOES WILD!"". IGN. April 20, 2017. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  36. ↑ "Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Episode #02 Anime Review". The Fandom Post. April 5, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  37. ↑ "What To Expect From Viz Media For the Next 3000 Years". Geek.com. October 10, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  38. ↑ Nelkin, Sarah (May 16, 2017). "Boruto Is Basically What Naruto Would’ve Looked Like if the World Had Been at Peace". Anime Now. Archived from the original on June 12, 2017. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  39. ↑ McNulty, Amy (June 28, 2017). "Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Episode 13". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  40. ↑ "BORUTO: NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS EPISODE 13: "THE DEMON BEAST APPEARS!" REVIEW". IGN. June 29, 2017. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
  41. ↑ Frank, Allega (April 6, 2017). "Boruto premiere leaves fans nervous about Naruto’s fate". Polygon. Archived from the original on April 8, 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
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