Until and unless you are living under a rock, you might be aware of the rivalry between Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece and Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto fans. One Piece and Naruto are two of the most iconic franchises in anime history. Although both series earned legendary status thanks to their splendid narrative, fans constantly debate which anime truly reigns supreme.
While some fans claim One Piece is top tier, others have supported Naruto since day one. Despite making its debut after One Piece went live, Naruto captivated a large audience overseas compared to Genius Oda’s OP. Interestingly, Naruto’s editor recently disclosed the secret behind the anime’s immense popularity among Western fans which could spark considerable debate.
Naruto’s Editor Unveils Why the Anime Thrived in the West While One Piece Struggled
Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto captivated an entire generation of fanbase for decades thanks to the series’ mind-boggling world-building and terrific action scenes. Moreover, Naruto was showcased as an orphan frequently shunned by villagers who viewed him as a threat. This made several viewers sympathize with our beloved protagonist’s character.
Although Kishimoto’s manga debuted later after One Piece, the series received a lot of support from overseas in comparison to Japan. Interestingly, Naruto‘s editor revealed the hidden secret behind the anime’s success among Western fans and highlighted the importance of complex drama, which some fans overlooked.
At Shonen Jump, editors Yahagi Kosuke and Kazuhiko Torishima broke down the key differences between Naruto and One Piece. Yahagi Kosuke who worked as an editor of Naruto alongside Masashi Kishimoto supported One Piece as a supreme anime. In the interview, Yahagi revealed:
The drama of One Piece is very interesting. On the other hand, Naruto is easier to understand because of the action and other aspects rather than the drama. I have children, and when I show it to them, the thing they don’t understand the most is the drama.
Yahagi revealed that the key factor behind One Piece‘s immense popularity is the drama. Eiichiro Oda explores complex themes and touches on gray areas, which inevitably becomes an immense challenge for any manga creator. Yahagi further adds:
We’ve been reading manga for a long time, so we tend to read deeper into what makes manga interesting. But many people overseas don’t understand Japanese manga. I think that’s probably because they don’t have literacy or reading comprehension. So, ultimately, I think that Naruto doesn’t require that kind of reading comprehension.
Yahagi claims that Kishimoto’s narrative focuses heavily on our beloved protagonist’s journey to become Hokage; whereas Oda’s One Piece consists of tons of complex drama which ultimately hindered its potential success overseas.
The editor also reveals that Western people focus mostly on plot and intense action scenes which makes the anime more captivating for viewers than One Piece overseas.
The Epic Showdown Kishimoto Always Intended
The Fourth Great Ninja War left a lasting impression on the audience. From Ten Tail to Edo Tensei No Jutso, fans were left stunned by Kishimoto’s splendid narrative. Although the Fourth Great Ninja War was the biggest highlight of the Shippuden series, the mangaka planned the anime’s ending even before the anime production began.
The epic rivalry between Naruto and Sasuke back when they were just kids captivated many fans throughout the series. Kishimoto once revealed that he desired to conclude the series with an epic showdown between the most beloved characters. The mangaka always wanted his audience to have a cinematic experience, and the anime’s epilogue beautifully showcased the two rivals’ contrasting ideologies and beliefs.
Naruto is available to stream on Crunchyroll as of August 16, 2024.
