Naruto is the most celebrated and loved brainchild of Masashi Kishimoto. The popular ninja manga is iconic through its portrayal of heroism and friendships. While it is among the canon of Jump’s Big 3 of Shonen anime, its sequel spin-off Boruto often gets the middle-child treatment.
With new generations and villains, Boruto captures the idea of individualism paired with lighthearted elements of friendship and bonds. However, the author’s original plans for the sequel had the potential of breaking the hate the series received as revealed in an interview.
Boruto drifted from Masashi Kishimoto’s original plan
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations is a sequel spin-off to Masashi Kishimoto‘s series Naruto. The series follows Boruto Uzumaki’s pursuit of his self-identity and growth as a Shinobi. It also draws a fine line between the original series and the sequel in terms of the protagonist’s goals.
The sequel has parallels with the original series in terms of core themes. For Naruto, it was loneliness, however, for Boruto, it was the ever-looming absence of his father. The persistent absence triggers his character development and growth. It also paves the way for his goals and ambitions.
However, the author’s initial plan differed from how the story turned out. In an interview shared by the user @UzuRepo on Twitter, Mikio Ikemoto the illustrator for the sequel series revealed Kishimoto’s original plan and how the series diverged from it. He quoted:
I needed to create for myself a new outcome for the shonen part and a concept for the seinen part. Once that was decided, Ada and Demon were born. Kashin Koji’s role was renewed, and Amado’s escape to Konoha followed.
Moreover, Code should’ve died a long time ago. To be honest, an even more important character’s life was also spared. Even if the initial idea is to make the manga even more engaging, we are far removed from what was originally planned.
Ikemoto has previously worked with the author in Naruto as his chief assistant. As an illustrator for the sequel spin-off, he manages the storyline. While the series diverges from Kishimoto’s original plan, it most certainly doesn’t deserve the hate it receives.
Boruto’s fresh perspective is overshadowed by fans’ hate
Boruto gets unprecedented hate in terms of its storyline and concepts. While it may not be the ideal sequel for most fans, it offers a fresh perspective. From walking in his father’s shadow, the protagonist breaks free from expectations to pave the way for his own goals. It also breaks the monotonous need for nostalgia related to Naruto which doesn’t sit well with the fanbase. And there’s more to it.
The reason why Boruto is hated so much is the lackluster and bland illustrations by Mikio Ikemoto. While the series highlights a move away from the old generation to the new, the constant need to recreate nostalgia backfires every single time. Such is the case with Amado Sanzu’s cloning of Jiraiya. Besides that, the series’ treatment of the iconic Naruto characters is underwhelming in every way.
From underutilizing Shino Aburame to reducing Kaguya Otsutsuki’s potential, the series failed to cater to the element of nostalgia. Moreover, its inconsistency in animation, power levels, and a rushed plotline adds to the further hate. All in all, it gives a fresh perspective on friendships, heroism, and growth while failing to instill nostalgia in Naruto fans.
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations is available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
