Even though Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto came to an end seven years ago, it has left an indelible mark in the minds of its viewers. Just like many weebs, the Shonen series is probably the first anime that they have watched and utterly enjoyed. Unfortunately, when the show ended, it started receiving mixed reviews from the fans because the conclusion did not sit well with them.
Well, the dissatisfaction arose from the anime being 50% filler, where even the finale came to a conclusion showcasing filler arcs. These sudden episodes resulted in the show being too lengthy, and it ruined the flow of the ongoing arc.
As a result, fans have criticized Kishimoto-Sensei, but he was not at fault for ruining his series because the anime ended differently than the manga. Fans blame Studio Pierrot too, who have been stretching out the series to ensure it is one of the longest-running anime series of all time.
Masashi Kishimoto Wasn’t The Only One Who Ruined Naruto
Masashi Kishimoto’s magnum opus, Naruto, has often been a hot topic of conversation among the otaku community. This is because, central to the complex themes and the tension of the arc, the show diluted the tension with its penchant love for filler episodes.
Though filler episodes are commonly used in anime titles to allow the manga to progress, Studio Pierrot chose to use this technique to lengthen the series and thus undermined the main plot’s stakes. Viewers who were deeply engrossed with Naruto Uzumaki’s goal of becoming the Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village have often complained that their patience has been tested time and again.
As a result, fans have felt that these filler episodes have heavily disrupted the narrative flow, even affecting the character development and plot development of certain main arcs that could have made the original plot so much better.
In r/Naruto, a fan shared a post asking, “Did Naruto’s character development peak too early in the series?” The post was met with negative comments, as a majority of the fans complained the anime was stretched more than it should have, resulting in a disconnection between the arc.
The Fourth Great Ninja War Arc is a prime example of Studio Pierrot’s misuse of filler episodes. The emotional investment of the fans and the tension that had been built over the years that unified the four ninja villages to fight the biggest threat in their world, known as Madara Uchiha, were totally ruined.
The sheer volume of filler episodes led to fatigue, and many fans of the Shonen series decided to call it quits when their emotional commitment to the show was disrespected by the animation studio. Hence, when the user decided to share the post, it led to fans releasing their frustration that has been built over the years.
Fans React To Naruto Having A Lot Too Many Filler Episodes
There’s no denying that the sheer number of filler episodes led to a sense of fatigue among the viewers, who had to wait two years to see the end of the Fourth Ninja War. Moreover, fans who have read the manga would know that the final episodes of Naruto: Shippuden’s anime version were comparatively different and featured some additional episodes, showcasing more adventures of the main characters.
As a result, when the user asked about Uzumaki Naruto’s character development being too early in the series, fans lashed out, criticizing how they had to wait so long for the anime to come to an end.
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Nevertheless, had Masashi Kishimoto and Studio Pierrot decided to feature fewer filler episodes in the series, which did not negate the emotional tension of the arcs, it surely would have been one of the greatest series with probably the most emotionally gripping storyline ever.
Naruto can be streamed on Crunchyroll.
