How to Be a Naruto Anime Fan

The “Naruto” anime is an epic series based on the manga by Masashi Kishimoto. It began airing in Japan on October 3, 2002 and first aired in the U. S. on Cartoon Network’s Toonami on September 10, 2005. “Naruto” has passionate fans of all ages around the world. The following are some pointers for developing an appreciation for “Naruto” and enjoying the anime with your children.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Start watching “Naruto” from the beginning. “Naruto” has many episodes which involve a lot of back story and development for the characters. You could get lost if you don’t watch episodes in order from the beginning. If you can’t start from the beginning, you can rent “Naruto” on DVD.
2. Get to know the main characters. “Naruto” revolves around Team 7, which includes Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke, and their sensei, Kakashi. The story will follow the complexity of their relationship and how it changes.
3. Get to know the secondary characters. “Naruto” boasts a lot of important secondary characters. They have distinct personalities and abilities. They may be featured in several episodes in a row and then disappear for a while. It can be easy to forget who they are.
4. Talk with other fans about the show. There are many “Naruto” message boards, mailing lists and LiveJournal communities where you can discuss episodes and your favorite and least-favorite characters. If you have children, you can talk about the major issues “Naruto” addresses, such as friendship, teamwork, trust, betrayal, self-confidence and self-esteem.
5. Learn about the cultural relevance of the characters’ names and histories. Many of the characters have attributive names that give clues about their personalities or families. You can find this information in various “Naruto” communities and on fan websites.
6. Stay away from the filler episodes. Filler episodes don’t follow Kishimoto’s storyline. They’re created when the anime has caught up with the manga and the manga writer needs more time to develop the story. There’s a lot of “Naruto” filler where the characters don’t behave as they normally would, which is frustrating for a lot of fans.

Tips & Warnings

• Reading the “Naruto” manga can show you things the anime left out or changed from the original story.
• You can show your appreciation for “Naruto” by cosplaying as your favorite character. If you have children who are fans of the anime or manga, you can help them make their own “Naruto” costumes.
• Gamers can experience the world of “Naruto” in several RPGs and fighters based on the anime.