Board Thread:Naruto Discussions/@comment-12509038-20141124214040

Hello, and welcome to the official overview for the Naruto series! With this discussion, we will be talking about the series as a whole- the good, the bad, and the ugly (though I'd like to think you'd be leaning more towards the good, but this is here for you to say whatever you want). This is not going to be easy, as there is a lot to cover in a series of such epic proportions. So while you are free to say whatever you want, I thought it would be easier to break down the major points into a few categories. These are supposed to be treated with a more analytical attitude, and going much more in-depth about the entire series. The categories are as followed- I've also thought of a few more personal questions that pertain to you as a Naruto fan. These can be as in-depth as you want them to be, but either way you look at it, these questions relate to you, and you alone. The questions are as followed- As stated above, you don't have to follow this format, but as I said, with something so massive as this, using this format may be an easy way for you to compile your thoughts. Either way, I have presented the important elements that are up for discussion. There's a lot to say here, and I am eagerly looking forward to reading your thoughts of the entire Naruto series!
 * 1) Characters
 * 2) Plot
 * 3) Mythology and World Building
 * 4) Action
 * 5) Themes/Life Lessons
 * 6) Artwork
 * 1) Who is your favorite character, and why?
 * 2) What is your favorite story arc (from Part I, II, or both), and why?
 * 3) What is your favorite technique/chakra nature, and why?
 * 4) What is your favorite battle (from Part I, II, or both), and why?
 * 5) What is your favorite moment(s) of the entire Naruto series?
 * 6) What is your overall thoughts on the series as a whole, from beginning to end (I like to call this 'Personal Ramblings')?

My Thoughts on the Naruto Series- Analytical/Formal Portion
'''NOTE: Not only do I have a lot more to say for almost every category, but I would also like to to find some good images to add to the discussion. I had limited time,and this was such a massive task. I will work on improving it over the course of Thanksgiving break this week.'''

1. Characters- The characters in Naruto are one of its greater attributes. There are a variety of different personalities and traits that make each character unique in their own special way. Likewise, since there are so many characters, it is easy to find yourself relating to at least one of them. While many people do complain about the lack of character development for a large majority of the characters in Part II, this really is not as much of an issue, and I often have a hard time understanding these complaints (look at the next point for further elaboration). From Team 7, to the Konoha 11, to the rest of the shinobi of the other hidden shinobi villages, to even the rogues gallery, consisting of Orochimaru and Company, the Akatsuki, Madara Uchiha, etc, the characters are one of the greatest parts about this series.

2. Plot- The story of Naruto started out simple: Naruto wanted to become the Hokage and be acknowledged by everyone in Konohagakure. That initial goal became the basis for everything else that happened in the story. While the story evolved so much since that moment, with Naruto’s chase to save Sasuke and the issue of the Akatsuki becoming two key factors, the story is about a child chasing to accomplish his dream at the end of the day. As stated above, one of the reasons why the overall story of Naruto managed to succeed is because Kishimoto focused on the important characters by developing those who had the most potential for an intriguing story, and those who could help progress the story. While there were certainly moments where the story dragged and though it follows the standard Shonen concepts, the overall plot of Naruto is another overwhelming success.

3. Mythology & World Building- Initially, the world of Naruto seemed like such a strange entity, one that could not be understood. However, slowly but surely, Kishimoto began explaining the core ideas and history of the universe he had created in the Naruto world. Though the true history of the shinobi world was kept a secret for the majority of the series (in fact, the complete truth wasn't revealed until the final 100 or so chapters), Kishimoto did an excellent job of setting up the mythology, slowly revealing more and more each story arc. As far as world building goes, while some of it was explored in Part I, the majority of the series was secluded within Konohagakure. It wasn’t until Part II when Naruto and his friends began journeying outside of the village to other lands and hidden shinobi villages. Even still, much of this did not occur until the latter half of Part II, and so in a sense, some of the interactions between villages felt a bit rushed and unorganized. While Kishimoto could have handled the mythology and world building a little bit better than he did, it is still a satisfactory element, and deserves a passing grade.

4. Action- The action element of the Naruto series is another one of its greatest attributes, and it can be credited for catching the attention of the majority of the fan base. The best word to describe the action in Naruto is “escalation”- it started out as a basic ninja moves and gradually ended in nuclear explosions. In my humble opinion, the best part about the battle element in Naruto is how well it combines fast paced, blood pumping action with smart, clever battle tactics and strategy. All this results in Naruto producing some of the best fights in all of Shonen manga history. While some fights may drag on for too long (such as the final battle of the War against Tobi/Obito/Juubito, the reincarnated Jinchuriki, Madara/Juudara, the Ten-Tails, and Kaguya- which went for well over 100 chapters), and some be shorter than we would have wished (such as Naruto and Sasuke’s final battle- which was only about seven chapters long), there is still something to enjoy about every single moment of action/fight in the series (yes, even the Kaguya battle had a lot of good moments).

5. Themes- Something the Naruto series is never credited for often is how its lessons and themes can be applied to everyday life. More often than not, people consider Naruto (and other Shonen manga for that matter) to be a form of entertainment, and that’s it. However, there is so much more that the series has to offer than awesome ninja action. There are so many life lessons throughout the story that it is almost impossible to list them all and explore each one with depth. Some themes pertain to loneliness, self sufficiency, justice, revenge, love, world peace, perseverance, the importance of hard work, and (mostly focused on) the sense of camaraderie. Besides those, there are many of other themes that I didn’t even touch on. While there are certain times when the series can beat you over the head with their lesson (specifically with that last one), these are still important ideas that can have a major influence over the life of someone. While Naruto is certainly a major source of entertainment, it is important not to forget that there is a lot more below the surface, and that Naruto has a lot more to offer you in life.

6. Artwork- Finally, we come to the artwork. Masashi Kishimoto has drastically improved his art style over the past fifteen years. He has evolved from drawing crude, unclear, poorly drawn characters and backgrounds into one of the best mangaka of his generation. When comparing Kishimoto’s artwork to other manga, I personally believe he blows all of them out of the water in terms of his drawing style (specifically One Piece- I don’t know if it’s just me, but I can’t stand the artwork in One Piece!). Though he had a rough start, Kishimoto can now draw absolutely stunning versions of characters, backgrounds, landscapes, and two page spreads that really make the series amazing. Without this quality of artwork, the series as a whole would have never been as good as it was.

My Thoughts on the Naruto Series- Personal/Informal Portion
NOTE: I will only give my answer to the questions- the "why" part will be added later in the week.

1. My favorite character, and why- Sasuke Uchiha (who didn't see that coming?)

2. My favorite story arc (both Parts), and why- For Part I, the Sasuke Retrieval Arc; for Part II, the Itachi Pursuit Arc.

3. My favorite technique/chakra nature, and why- Kirin for the technique, and Lightning Release for the chakra nature.

4. My favorite fight (both Parts), and why- For both parts, my favorite fight is Naruto and Sasuke's battles in the Valley of the End (which is coincidentally the final fight of both parts). However, to add some variety- Naruto, Jiraiya, and Tsunade vs. Orochimaru and Kabuto for Part I; toss up between Naruto vs. Pain and Sasuke vs. Pain for Part II.

5. Favorite moments from the series as a whole- To be added later this week.

6. Personal Ramblings- To be added later this week.

Conclusion
Once again, this will be added later this week once the discussion has been fully completed.

What are your thoughts on the series as a whole? Let me know in the comment section below; I can't wait to read your thoughts! 