After the release of episode 293, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations anime announced an indefinite hiatus. To the chagrin of many fans, there was no update regarding the anime’s return for more than a year.
That was until recently when the staff hinted at a huge change in Boruto‘s airing format. Fans have been debating the seasonal vs weekly airing format for years now, and Studio Pierrot might just humor seasonal anime lovers with a shocking transformation of Boruto.
Michiyuki Honma Talks Future of Studio Pierrot with a Hint at Boruto
The Boruto: Naruto Next Generations anime is produced by Studio Pierrot. Recently, the president of the studio, , had an in-depth interview with Japanese publication, Comic Natalie. During the interview, Honma revealed his goals for the upcoming years and the changes he is ready to make.
Honma first discussed the poor working environment in anime studios all across Japan. Due to his efforts, Pierrot’s sales have more than doubled in the past decade. Next, Honma explained what he had learned while working in the industry in recent years.
Bleach began airing in 2004 and aired weekly with no breaks. However, Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War aired in a seasonal format and received enormous praise and viewership. Similarly, season 1 of Kindom aired for 38 episodes that were released continuously for a bit less than a year. However, it later evolved into a more seasonal format.
These changes were produced by Honma’s sense of crisis, which he learned from the huge success of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.
“I think Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba was a major turning point for the anime industry. It was a high-quality work that took a lot of time and a generous budget to make, and it was broadcast and became a big hit, attracting people from a wide range of age groups.”
After watching the anime, Honma felt that Studio Pierrot also had to change how they created things since other studios were producing high-quality anime.
“I think it’s definitely wonderful to create one work for a long time like Pierrot has done up until now. At the same time, big budget and time running costs come with big risks.”
Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War was a huge success both in Japan and overseas. All of Pierrot’s employees have changed their mindset and are determined to make it work.
Will Boruto become a seasonal anime? Will it benefit Boruto?
Michiyuki Honma was quite clear that Studio Pierrot is now ready to move forward with the seasonal format instead of the weekly one. Since Boruto is another anime that has been airing weekly, the Studio might want to bring it back with 12-24 episodes like Bleach.
🚨Boruto's TV Anime could air in Seasonal Format with an Increase in Animation Quality!
— AL DO (boruto Stan⚡️) (@Aldo93_4) April 19, 2024
Hope this rumor is True.
Boruto deserve it since wonderful and Epic Arcs , just for a poorly animation has not been so much popular!
Prophecy Arc will be Outstanding and change Everything🔥 pic.twitter.com/A0sjzAGiAi
Honma is also bent on creating anime with better animation quality like Bleach: TYBW. However, better animation quality demands more time, and an episode cannot be animated in just a single week. Thus, it is highly probable that Boruto‘s indefinite hiatus is serving as extra time for the creators to animate the upcoming higher-quality episodes.
Honestly, it would be much better seasonal. The way that the manga is now I wouldn’t want any type of filler in the anime just because of how serious it is. I want straight combat.
— Evan Morton (@evan__morton) April 20, 2024
Imagine this stuff in seasonal format, every episode gonna be a banger… pic.twitter.com/aSFcPn1yyh
— Kyo (@boruto_oo7) April 18, 2024
Some fans are of the opinion that the Boruto anime is hated because of its fillers and a seasonal format would get rid of them and introduce the main plot of the manga. The pacing issue will also cease to exist as the fillers in Boruto are present because the episodes catch up to the manga too soon.
However, the filler arcs that make Boruto lengthy also provide us with important insight into the characters and sometimes a fun repose from the heavy battles. If Boruto gets rid of its fillers, it might look like Chainsaw Man or Jujutsu Kaisen, hugely popular Shonen with astonishing animation. However, this would prevent the audience from finding out more about the characters, which is Masashi Kishimoto‘s main focus.
100 percent facts. Been telling Boruto fans this since the anime ended, seasonal doesn't always=massive upgrade…you got some seasonal anime that don't look as good as some weekly series.
— Kryptonian Saiyan (@NarutoExplained) April 18, 2024
The exceptions to the rule don't make the standard. https://t.co/ljJradhWTE pic.twitter.com/9mEycQgl5g
If the BORUTO anime will be seasonal, I hope it will follow the My Hero route.
— Saoud (@SaoudSays) April 19, 2024
Give me 12-24 episodes each year with anime original incorporated into them and a healthy schedule
I never want to wait years for content in between seasons for just 11 episodes pic.twitter.com/1TjuBO7vgs
boruto can go seasonal or not idc but i just need a longer training arc with sasuke and a shopping arc pic.twitter.com/2NcsnQGFiK
— lily (@eifielvr) April 18, 2024
You can read Boruto and Boruto: Two Blue Vortex manga on Viz Media and watch the anime on Crunchyroll.
