Released in 2014, The Last: Naruto the Movie remains one of the most popular movies borne out of the franchise, as well as being one of its most lucrative. It is beloved by die-hard Naruto fans, serving as a fitting end to Naruto Shippuden and perfectly setting up Boruto to take over.
However, The Last is unlike most Naruto movies and is definitely more than an epilogue to a hero’s journey. With its self-contained story, compelling and unique narrative style, and excellent visuals, The Last makes for a strong standalone anime movie. Its appeal goes beyond the fans of the series, the genre or even the medium itself, and could arguably act as a viable introduction to anime as a whole.
The Last’s Place in Naruto
Set two years after the end of the Fourth Great Ninja War, The Last introduces viewers to Naruto and his comrades as young adults. During the Rinne Festival, Toneri Otsutsuki — a descendant of Hamura Otsutsuki — kidnaps Hinata’s younger sister Hanabi and declares his plan to destroy all ninjas by making the moon crash into the Earth. The elite team from Konoha comprising Naruto, Hinata, Sakura and Sai, and led by Shikamaru, uses a little-explained ninja technique that conveniently allows them to travel all the way to the moon to battle Toneri, retrieve Hanabi and save the world
Throughout the movie, the characters’ growth from their days at the academy until the end of the war is a major highlight. Their increasing maturity, depicted through subtle moments such as Naruto and Hinata’s interactions and the implicit trust placed in Shikamaru’s leadership on such a vital mission, is felt not just by longtime fans of the series but also by the longtime members of its production team. The culmination of Naruto’s story also sets the stage for Boruto and the rest of his generation to take the reins of the franchise.
What Sets The Last Apart
Like most preceding Naruto movies, the story of The Last finds its conflict through the actions of a direct threat to the ninja world. However, in stark contrast to the rest, this movie utilizes Hinata as the pivotal character, and a large part of the narrative is driven through her. This narrative style is unusual for a shonen action movie and is more common in romantic dramas. Even the antagonist Toneri’s role is as much of an impedance in a budding relationship as it is the big bad in the overall plot.
Naruto and Hinata, a fan-favorite pairing decades in the making, are finally portrayed as a true leading pair, and significant importance is placed on their impact on each other’s lives. For the first time, Naruto’s growth occurs more in his identity as a man than as a ninja. Common romance tropes such as the moon and the red thread of fate (through the red scarf Hinata knits for Naruto) are employed amply and effectively to further emphasize their love story.
The Last can therefore be distilled down to a coming-of-age romance between two childhood friends who have supported each other throughout their lives. They have both faced pain, solitude and even ostracism together. Although one of them is pretty obvious about their feelings from the very beginning and the other is woefully oblivious until the very end, they at this point surmount astounding odds and end up together, happily ever after. That story, when done well, makes for as universally appealing a movie as any.
