Few authors have had as much of an impact on the anime and manga genre as Masashi Kishimoto, the guy behind the worldwide hit Naruto. Kishimoto’s admiration towards Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball, led him to pursue the path of manga artist. This admiration can be seen in Kishimoto’s own work, where he combined action-based storylines with humor and warmth.
The series depicts the journey of teenage ninja Naruto Uzumaki by its fascinating characters, complicated storylines, and meaningful emotional arcs. However, fans of this series might be surprised to learn that the backstories of Naruto’s parents, Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki, were almost not included initially.
Masashi Kishimoto’s Inspiration Behind the Parental Theme in Naruto
In a February 2012 interview conducted by Misaki C. Kido, Masashi Kishimoto provided a fascinating peek into the original plan for Naruto, which did not include the detailed exploration of Naruto’s parents, Minato and Kushina. Kishimoto’s personal life experiences, especially his journey into parenthood, had an important impact on his artistic growth. He included the parental theme in Naruto after becoming a father himself.
This change in viewpoint gave the story more depth and relatability by introducing layers of emotion. Kishimoto’s decision to explore Naruto’s parents’ backstory was driven by his desire to impart a sense of legacy and love. Naruto is a character that symbolizes both Kishimoto and his child, as well as the struggles and personal development that come with trying to figure out their own identity. As in Kishimoto’s words,
It has to be told from the kid’s point of view. Even if I died someday, I want to leave a work in the world that would let my kids understand what I always wanted to tell them.
This narrative decision highlighted the everlasting bond between parents and children and improved the protagonist’s growth while striking an emotional chord with the readers.
Kishimoto’s Evolution as an Artist Through His Narrative
Kishimoto’s idea of Naruto’s bond with his parents depicts his sophisticated approach to character development. As Naruto’s initial unhappiness and rebellion were fueled by his lack of identity and parental affection, his perspective completely changed when he got to know about his parents’ love and sacrifices for him.
Kishimoto’s belief in the changing power of parental love is an important theme that resonates deeply with audiences. By giving Naruto the experience of understanding his parents’ love, Kishimoto himself discovered the impact of familial bonds. Kishimoto’s storytelling ability to touch the hearts of fans through the tales of Minato and Kushina, as Naruto continues to inspire and entertain new generations of fans. The core theme of Naruto, “The power of love and sacrifice”- serves as a reminder of their legacy within the Naruto universe.
The interview with Masashi Kishimoto provides valuable insight into the artistic process of the manga artist who has made a lasting impression on the manga and anime communities. His comments on his earliest influences, the creative process, and his own growth offer an in-depth understanding of the factors that influence his work. In addition, it also inspires aspiring manga artists to pursue their dreams in the future.
You can read Naruto manga on Viz Media.
