In 2017 Masashi Kishimoto’s opus Naruto officially ended. The series was a rage in the 2000s for every anime fan and has gone on to garner popularity. Its worldwide fanbase can vouch for its relevance and notoriety as an impeccable series. And though it may have ended, its impact and legacy lives on.
This is reflected in its recent win as the most-watched anime on Netflix in 2024. Interestingly, it isn’t Shippuden, but the original series that made the mark. The win, however, is a huge clapback for the haters and proved a point.
Naruto is Netflix’s most-watched anime of 2024
There are several reasons as to why fans cherish Naruto so much. The series impacted many viewers and readers. The characters, fight scenes, worldbuilding, and power system are unique and novel. The mangaka’s approach to ninjas is quite outlandish considering their conventional portrayal.
The depth, layers, and complexities are what fans live for and that is what the plot does. From pain and loneliness to loss and suffering, the mangaka unpacks heavy emotions through his characters. This also runs parallel with their development in the series.
Growth and strength aren’t merely limited to the ninja’s powers, but also their character. As they brave through the obstacles, they strive to be the best version of themselves. This is evident in Sakura’s development, along with Tenten’s mastery of different skills.
Other than that, it stands as one of the bestselling series by the mangaka to this date. No wonder it was inducted as one of the big three of shonen jump. While it may not be a recordbreaker as One Piece, it continues to thrive and stay relevant. This holds for its recent win that might silence the critics.
On r/Naruto fans celebrated the original series being deemed as one of the most-watched anime on Netflix in 2024. It is truly a goated series that still manages to tug at the viewers’ heartstrings. Its impact isn’t something that can be disputed in any case.
Above all, though, this win might shut the haters up for good. This is especially the case with other fandoms whose series are ongoing. As for Naruto, one thing is certain and that is, it is picking up momentum. The sequel is the ultimate key to the franchise’s regaining its deserved crown.
Masashi Kishimoto’s franchise is gaining momentum
Masashi Kishimoto may have fumbled big time with Boruto, but that did not stop him from his kickback. The mangaka is all set to take the series to new heights, especially with the time-skip manga Two Blue Vortex. The bar is raised pretty high with the notorious villains and the new generation.
There are certain things that the timeskip manga is doing right, be it the reintroduction of iconic jutsu or new techniques. This seamlessly blends the idea of modern and the traditional as there’s less dependency on old techniques. With daunting foes, powerups are the way to go.
But the manga is more than that as it holds the third rank on MangaPlus. Not only that, it ranked 7.89/10 on MAL. It is well-received compared to its predecessor, which is promising in more ways than one. All is not lost for the franchise, especially with this series’ growing success.
As for its potential, only time will tell. For all we know, the timeskip manga has the potential to surpass Bleach and One Piece in many aspects.
Naruto is available for streaming on Netflix. The manga is available for reading on Shueisha’s Manga Plus app.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
