Highlights
- Naruto fans have been eagerly awaiting the release of new episodes, but the planned release dates have been continuously delayed, leaving fans frustrated and uncertain.
- The official announcement of the new episodes came in 2023, coinciding with the announcement for Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.
- The lack of updates and official statements since the August announcement has led to widespread speculation among fans, with theories ranging from the remake of Naruto: Shippuden to scheduling conflicts.
Naruto, the tale of a young ninja embarking on a journey to become the Hokage of his village, originally debuted as a manga in 1999, with the anime following shortly after in 2002. Over the past two decades, Naruto has soared to the pinnacle of anime popularity, often hailed as one of the “Big Three” anime series.
With Naruto: Shippuden concluding in 2017, fans of the original series have felt a void, as some believe that Boruto does not entirely fill that gap. Therefore, when the announcement was made last year about the release of four new Naruto episodes, fans were overjoyed. However, months have passed since the initially announced release dates, and no episodes have been seen. Where are these episodes, and when can they be expected?
The Official Announcement Came in 2023…
A dedicated website was established to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Naruto, showcasing new visuals, event information, and a message from Masashi Kishimoto, the series creator. On March 9, 2023, an announcement declared, “Starting in September 2023, a new anime project will begin (4 episodes total planned) in celebration of the 20th anniversary!” This revelation coincided with a similar announcement for Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.
But Production Hit a Snag in August
However, on August 29, 2023, the official Naruto website dropped a bombshell: the highly anticipated release scheduled for September 3rd would not proceed as planned. The Naruto Anime Production Committee unveiled that a decision had been made to allocate extra time to enhance the quality of the upcoming episodes. In lieu of the eagerly awaited Naruto content, Boruto episodes were slated to fill the designated time slot. The news was accompanied by a formal apology on the Naruto official Twitter page.
Fan reactions were diverse, reflecting a spectrum of emotions. Many expressed their displeasure, with one commenter lamenting, “They keep starving Naruto fans, man.” Animated gifs flooded the comment section, depicting the collective frustration and disappointment. Despite the discontent, a significant portion of fans acknowledged the decision, understanding the pursuit of delivering the best possible episodes. One supportive comment read, “This is a good decision, to make sure we get the best episodes possible. We look forward to it! Also curious to see what Boruto episodes will be their selection; it’s hard to choose too many good ones.” Another fan conveyed patience, stating, “…can wait as long as I want!…As an otaku, I’m really happy that you made this with all your heart…”
Theories Fly as Confusion Continues Among Fans
Fans are finding themselves in a state of confusion as the Naruto community continues to be kept in the dark since the August announcement, with no official statements providing updates on the delayed episodes. This silence has led to widespread speculation among eager fans, who are awaiting any news regarding the highly anticipated Naruto anime revival with bated breath. Despite high expectations, there was no mention of the Naruto episodes at Jump Festa, held on December 16 and 17, 2023. Jump Festa is an annual anime and manga exposition in Japan organized by Shueisha, the publisher of popular manga magazines such as Weekly Shonen Jump. Weekly Shonen Jump is the best-selling comic/manga magazine of all time and has serialized some of the most popular manga of all-time including One Piece, the Dragon Ball series and Naruto. Hence, the absence of any announcements during Jump Festa 2024 has left fans bewildered, prompting them to express their concerns online.
A tweet from Anime News and Facts, a popular social media account with over 200 thousand followers, discussing the lack of updates at the event has gained attention and sparked debates and theories among fans.
Some fans speculated, without official confirmation, that the production team might be considering remaking the entire Naruto: Shippuden series rather than releasing just four episodes, leading to a more extended wait. However, this claim has been largely dismissed as wishful thinking, given the absence of official hints or announcements supporting this rumor. In the midst of the uncertainty surrounding the delay, Reddit users have engaged in speculative discussions. One user proposed a plausible explanation, suggesting, “The broadcaster probably had a slot ready for it, but when it got postponed, they probably had no more good dates for a while. The episodes won’t air until the broadcaster says they can air.” As with other claims, this explanation lacks official substantiation.
So Where Are the New Naruto Episodes?
As of now, there are no updates on the content or release date of the episodes. No trailers, new visuals, or cast announcements have been revealed, except for a compilation trailer titled Road of Naruto: Naruto 20th Anniversary Trailer released by Viz Media on their official YouTube channel. This trailer, while not featuring new footage, revisits iconic moments from Naruto’s journey – like Naruto turning into his Nine-Tails Chakra Mode form or even some hilarious ones like Rock Lee blowing kisses at Sakura.
Speculation persists regarding the return of the original cast, but this remains unconfirmed. Despite growing anticipation and, in some cases, frustration, it underscores the profound impact of the journey of the young ninja on audiences. The desire to see Naruto again is a testament to the lasting importance of his story and the eagerness of fans to continue the adventure for more decades to come.
Naruto is currently available for streaming on Netflix.
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