A Naruto fan artist re-envisioned the popular shonen as a Cartoon Network-style series.
Posted on Reddit by user Ok_Examination8810, the art, created by Layson Cley, showcases gender-swapped versions of Naruto characters drawn in a style reminiscent of CN shows like Steven Universe. In addition to “Narito’s” main title card and drawings of Team 7 and the other Hidden Leaf ninjas, Cley also animated an opening sequence with scenes inspired by openings from the original Naruto TV series.
NARITO: Naruto as a Cartoon Network series, by Layson Cley from CartoonNetwork
Cley’s work is yet another example of the great efforts that many Naruto fans put forth when creating artwork for the beloved franchise. Recently, TikTok user staceyaveri showcased an intricately detailed Naruto leaf carving that depicts Kakashi Hatake and young versions of Sasuke, Naruto and Sakura. Earlier this year, an artist named Chien Chih Kang also created a piece honoring not only Naruto Uzumaki, but also Monkey D. Luffy from One Piece and Son Goku from Dragon Ball Z by drawing them in an ancient Japanese art style called “Ukiyo-e.”
The Ninja-in-Training, Naruto
Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto manga launched in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1999, and Studio Pierrot’s popular anime adaptation of the series debuted in 2002. The story of both revolve around a boy named Naruto Uzumaki who inhabits a world where ninja can harness an inner force called chakra to do incredible things, like control elemental forces or create clones of themselves. Although Naruto dreams of becoming the greatest ninja of all time, he is reviled by his fellow villagers for housing the dreaded Nine-Tail Fox Spirit inside of him. Despite his initial failures, Naruto ultimately graduates from the Ninja Academy and joins Team 7, led by Kakashi Hatake, to complete missions for his village with his teammates, Sakura Haruno and Sasuke Uchiha.
While the original Naruto manga ended in 2014, a sequel manga launched in 2016 called Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. This currently ongoing series, written by Masashi Kishimoto and Ukyo Kodachi with artwork by Mikio Ikemoto, follows the adventures of Naruto’s son as he begins training with his father’s old friend and rival Sasuke with the hope that he will one day surpass Naruto in strength. Pierrot’s anime adaptation of the series debuted in 2017.
Naruto, Naruto Shippuden and Boruto: Naruto Next Generations are available to stream on Hulu. The Naruto and Boruto manga series are available in English from VIZ Media.
Source: YouTube, via Reddit
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