Few characters in the universes of manga and anime have held the interest of readers as much as Naruto Uzumaki. An entire generation of fanbase has grown up with this lively ninja from Hidden Leaf Village. However, the design of adult Naruto in the sequel series Boruto: Naruto Next Generations has sparked widespread debate and criticism among fans, as they believe it is a degradation of Masashi Kishimoto’s original design.
It makes sense to assume that Naruto would appear more wild or strong as he grew older as most shounen protagonists follow this general pattern. However, Naruto’s current design practically contradicts that guideline. Many fans believe that Naruto’s present design doesn’t align with his teen image, as it lacks the vibe of fierceness that was his character’s trademark.
Fans’ Opinion On Naruto’s Current Design
In a recent Reddit post, user Naruto_Loyalist sparked a discussion by criticizing adult Naruto’s design on Boruto. He shared two fan-arts of Naruto on his post, which could have been perfect for Naruto’s current design ideas.
The shared fan art closely resembles Naruto, while also combining a more mature and wild aura with it. And it contradicts the current version of Naruto’s design, which makes him look older than his actual age.
Many fans have agreed with this statement, as they feel more connected with this design than the original one. The reply section has been filled with many hilarious remarks and comparisons from fans till now, highlighting a particular comment of Superrgiantss,
Instead we got a Mark Zuckerberg Naruto.
The criticism went beyond merely pointing out the physical similarities to reveal a more basic focus on the way Naruto’s character had been treated during his adult life. Naruto’s stiff and plain look, which many believed was unfitting with the character’s bright and dynamic nature, led to the hilarious comparison to Mark Zuckerberg.
The main problem is that there seems to be a mismatch between Naruto’s mature design and his persona. With this, Mikio Ikemoto might have missed an opportunity to present Naruto’s development in a way that was true to Masashi Kishimoto‘s original essence.
The fan art, on the other hand, demonstrated that a more fulfilling design was achievable by successfully balancing the character’s inherent qualities with maturity.
Looking Ahead at the Bigger Picture
This specific topic has brought up in-depth concerns regarding character development and viewer expectations in the long-running Shounen series. The difficulty for illustrators lies in preserving the fundamental qualities of their characters as they grow older and the plot develops through their designs.
Ikemoto probably wanted Naruto’s transition into a more responsible leader to be reflected in his attempt to portray a more mature character. But the execution seemed to be poor, creating a disconnect between the beloved character in the Naruto series and the one in Boruto.
Additionally, the fan art in question not only showcased the creativity and passion of the Naruto fanbase but also highlighted an alternative vision that resonated more deeply with what fans believed Naruto Uzumaki should have become.
You can watch Boruto: Naruto Next Generations on Crunchyroll.
