Fans of Naruto know well about headbands. These bands are more than just a part of accessories. It symbolizes the entire series. But their origin might surprise you.
The creator of Naruto Masashi Kishimoto, in the beginning, did not plan them to be so important. This “lazy” move turned out to be genius, while he made them for a simple reason. It gave Naruto something special.
Something that other popular anime don’t have like that of One Piece and Bleach. A simple thing that can be easily recognizable by the fans. The headbands have become a big part of Naruto’s success.
The Lazy Origin of an Iconic Symbol by Masashi Kishimoto
Naruto’s iconic symbol other than “Dattebayo” is his now-famous headband. The early concept of Kishimoto for the character featured a pair of goggles as his distinct item. In the initial chapters of the series, these goggles were worn by Naruto himself. The visually appealing goggles were ultimately overshadowed by the headbands in the series.
The shifting of goggles to headbands came about interestingly. Manga artists, like Weekly Shonen Jump, take lots of work to finish. They take any chance to minimize their loads. Thus, the design of the goggles was too time-consuming to illustrate frequently.
The decision leads Kishimoto to choose the more streamlined headband. The headbands became iconic symbols of various ninja villages. Not only in the Naruto franchise but also adorned fan merchandise and cosplays.
Headbands as Cultural Icon
Naruto’s headbands have grown into a cultural phenomenon. Fans worldwide recognize the headbands instantly, even those having little familiarity with the series. These are both iconic and versatile.
The “lazy” move turned into the smart move. The headbands served in the narratives as pride, allegiance, or character growth. Every ninja village has their symbols curved on the metallic plate of the headbands. It explains the deep devotion to their villages.
Fans can wear them in all sorts of ways. These work as neckbands, hairbands, or bandannas depending on the individual. This flexibility gives the headbands more style options than Kishimoto’s original idea of goggles.
Naruto’s Headband Set it Apart From One Piece & Bleach
In Naruto, the headband icon became highly recognizable. If a fan just wears it or carries it, it becomes clear that they are Naruto’s fan. This implies a unique identifier for the series.
One Piece features Monkey D. Luffy’s straw hat as a recognizable item. But it does not direct to the series like that of Naruto. The straw hat means Luffy or his pirate crew as a whole.
In the case of Bleach, despite its popularity, does not have any iconic items that can easily be incorporated. Fans cannot recognize until and unless they are fully equipped with the costumes.
Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto has proven to have a long-term impact due to his “lazy” move in design choice. In the Anime industry, the success of Naruto’s headband continues to evolve. The headband was the right move above the goggles.
You can watch Naruto and Boruto on Hulu
