Naruto

Anime:

(From the manga creation of Masashi Kishimoto published in 1999)
Originally Aired: October 3, 2002
Status: ongoing at Cartoon Network

Summary: During the rule of the Yondaime Hokage (Fourth Hokage), the Hidden Village of Leaf (Konoha Gakure) was attacked by the fierce Nine-Tailed Fox Demon (Kyuubi), predicting the destruction of the village if it was not captured and sealed. Knowing his responsibility to protect the village and the villagers, Yondaime Hokage sacrificed himself and sealed the fearsome Kyuubi in the belly of a baby boy named UZUMAKI NARUTO. The Sandaime Hokage (Third Hokage) resumed his position in the village after the death of the Yondaime and made a rule that no one in the village must speak a word about the Kyuubi being sealed within Naruto.

Ever since he was young, Naruto was hated by the people of Konoha for they presume that Naruto is the Kyuubi. Naruto did not understand the reason behind the coldness of the villagers towards him. In order to attract attention from them, he did all sorts of pranks and idiocy but still did not succeed. Until he became a student at the village’s ninja academy he went on with his antics trying to amuse himself despite his solitude. At the age of 13, for the third time, Naruto failed in the academy test which featured his worst technique (jutsu), Bunshin no Jutsu. Though depressed, Naruto overcame the challenges and temptations including the ability to learn the first forbidden technique sealed by the Yondaime Hokage in a sacred scroll, the Kage Bunshin no Justu (Shadow Clone Technique). After all that has been done, Naruto finally graduated in the academy and became a Genin.

Now part of the team seven of a three-man team, with his fellow genin ninjas Uchiha Sasuke & Haruno Sakura and their Jounin sensei Hatake Kakashi, Naruto strives towards his dream of being the Hokage while learning the value of friendship, responsibility and strength.

Comments:
When I started watching Naruto from the local television station, I instantly got hooked by the funny antics of Naruto himself. The presence of action, drama, comedy and all that jazz amazes me in a way that I can’t stop my self from watching it over and over again! Though I totally rock the anime version, I must say that the manga version is much different and somehow better that of the anime. But still, in the anime, you see the real action so it might be best to read both. As of now, there are 185 anime episodes wherein 45 or so are fillers that are created for some reasons of the mangaka, Masashi-sama, and the producers of the anime. Yeah, it’s very long but I don’t mind as long as they don extend it too much. Overall, Naruto is quite an action packed anime tied up with comedy and drama though I could sue the fillers because as of now, the most decent filler arc was regarding the Hidden Star Village. Sigh, if I only don’t like this anime, I wouldn’t stick my self, waiting for the slow progress of the anime. I wanted to beg Masashi-sama to please, please, please release the part two of the animated version… I miss Gaara already. Hehehe! ;)