Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto has only risen in popularity 25 years after its initial release, continually enjoyed by its global fans across different generations. During the time of the series’ release, Kishimoto-san was struggling as a mangaka, but this series changed everything as it established him as one of the greatest mangakas with unparalleled skills in storytelling, equipped with intricately crafted characters.
The manga became so popular that in 2002, the manga received its anime adaptation, and it instantly became a fan-favorite series. Even though the anime series came to a conclusion in 2017, it sits comfortably at #13 in ANN’s list of ‘Top 500 Most Popular’ anime in history. Despite the series always being kept in high regard by the fans, they are throwing a fit after a giant Monkey D. Luffy mascot shows up in Paris.
Naruto Fans Displayed a Temper Tantrum After Witnessing Monkey D. Luffy’s Birthday Celebration
5th May marks an important date for anime and manga fans because it celebrates the birthday of Monkey D. Luffy, the protagonist of Eiichiro Oda’s magnum opus, One Piece. The captain of the Straw Hat Pirates is an essential figure in the real world, despite being a fictional figure, as he teaches its viewers what it means to possess boundless optimism, unyielding loyalty towards one’s friends and always inspiring his viewers to chase their dreams.
The series has left a lasting impact on its viewers by featuring memorable fans of the protagonist such as Gear 5 transformation, the Battle at Marineford, or Ennie’s Lobby Arc. As a result, fans of One Piece never leave an opportunity to show their love to the 5th Emperor of the Sea!
To make the birthday more special, celebrations took place around the world with a giant mascot of Sun God Nika in Paris shared by a fan (@pewpiece) on X, leaving Naruto fans to complain about Masashi Kishimoto for not showing enough love to his protagonist.
Dude got 4/5 balloons across the world right now just for his b-day and people trying to tell me he's not iconic 😭😭
— Drung (@Drungodurk) May 5, 2024
I think Paris Gear 5 is at least three times bigger than Spain´s Gear 4 xD
Look how big it is compared to me hahaha#LuffyBirthday2024 pic.twitter.com/ilAnPRIohS
— Ralux (@protocolo_friki) May 5, 2024
Is this preparation for the grand celebration?
— Senpai D Luffy (@orewa_zorojuro) May 5, 2024
the KING IS LOOKING GOOOD!!!!
— vegetableman (@fruitman110) May 5, 2024
Naruto and boruto never get this treatment btw
— rafli (@plesiothhitbox) May 5, 2024
While fans are disappointed with Kishimoto-san for not showing enough love to his protagonists, Monkey D. Luffy is clearly the better-written character compared to the protagonist of the Shinobi series.
Eiichiro Oda’s Luffy is a Better Protagonist Than Naruto Uzumaki
For ages, it has been debated in the anime and manga community who is the better hero, The Future King of The Pirates or The 7th Hokage of Konoha? While both characters showcase a lot of similarities due to their similar storyline, they are different.
When we keep them side by side, we can notice how Oda-Sensei has made his protagonist different because he doesn’t bind him by any village rules that will obstruct him from taking any action. The captain of the Straw Hat Pirates is free and cruises the seas with his crewmates, making him independent.
On the other hand, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is often bound by the rules of the village, often obstructing him from making any decisions. Moreover, there are instances where the shinobi has to often depend on his friends for help, but Luffy likes to be large and in charge and goes for the main antagonist to become the most renowned pirate.
More importantly, the 5th Emperor of the Sea is more funnier than his shinobi counterpart as there have been numerous instances where the pirate has made us laugh hysterically with his innocent yet funny actions. Lastly, if we look at the personalities of Monkey D. Luffy and The 7th Hokage, both of them carry the traits necessary to be a protagonist of a series.
However, in a subtle sense, Straw Hat is more charismatic than Kishimoto-san’s protagonist. This is because Luffy’s ideologies resonate more with other characters of the show, forcing them to believe in him and making them side with him.
One Piece can be streamed on Crunchyroll.
