Be it overworking or relentless burnout, a manga creator’s life isn’t easy. To stretch out a manga for decades is a back-breaking task. Such is the case with Naruto. Masashi Kishimoto’s hard work and overworked hours paid off. Apart from being a great ninja story, Naruto is one of the Big 3 of Shonen Anime.
While Naruto’s serialization process lasted for 15 years, Boruto’s process was within the timeframe of 8 years. Besides that, Kishimoto’s other works include a sci-fi manga for which he maintained discreetness.
Masashi Kishimoto was discreet in his plans for his sci-fi manga
Masashi Kishimoto is a manga artist widely recognized for his popular shonen manga Naruto. Apart from creating the celebrated ninja story, he is also popular for creating the spin-off series Boruto: The Next Generations. While he is famous for his ninja stories, his niche transcends the stereotype of the ninja genre.
The author’s lesser-known works include one-shot mangas such as Karakuri (1995), Bench (2010), and Mario (2013). Apart from one-shot mangas, Kishimoto has also worked on several art books and novels. However, his works also include a discreet sci-fi manga for which he remained close-lipped for several years until its release.
In an interview held at Meet The Creator, Apple Soho in 2015, Masashi Kishimoto responds to a fan’s question regarding his upcoming sci-fi manga. He is seen along with his editor Jo Otsuki. His translator Mari Morimoto translated his answer to the question in English. He quoted:
As much as I can reveal it will be or it is planned to be a sci-fi series. But definitely not as long as Naruto. I’m trying to keep it shorter. Other than that.. Other than the fact that I definitely think its a fun concept I really can’t talk about it partly because I’m worried someone else might steal the idea and publish it before I do. So just hang in there.. Hang tight a little bit longer and hopefully in the very near future we’ll be able to release more details.
The sci-fi manga created by Kishimoto is indeed a short series comprising 5 volumes. It is a lesser-known work by the author. It is a refreshing take on the sci-fi genre. While it isn’t a popular work by the author, it most certainly is a lesser-known gem.
Naruto’s 15 years of serialization were brutal for Masashi Kishimoto
Amidst the overarching aura of the manga industry’s popularity is the growing competition. This is followed by overworking, packed schedules, deteriorating health, and whatnot. What’s even more brutal is the serialization process behind publishing the manga. Be it editing or reworking, the serialization of a manga isn’t talked of.
Naruto’s serialization process lasted for 15 years. What makes the whole idea of serialization frustrating is the relentless working and reworking of drafts. The frustration coupled with burnout and competition often takes its toll on the manga artists. In Tite Kubo‘s case, it was so extreme that he took a hiatus.
While this may come as a surprise to most readers and viewers, the debate regarding manga artists and their health has been prevalent for decades. From breaking into cold sweats to overworking for deadlines, Masashi Kishimoto isn’t divorced from this reality. From the initial draft to the final draft, the 14 years of serialization of his manga paid off.
Naruto is available for streaming on Crunchyroll
